Ian and Ben are joined by Ollie Marsh to chat through the Aveley match and we take a look ahead to the visit of Welling.
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Ahead of the visit of Welling United this weekend, Mark Cooper confirmed that Olly Thomas had returned to Huish Park after his injury.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah, Cooper said: “Olly Thomas is back. He’s back on the grass, his first day back training with us. We’re going to assess his fitness in terms of game time and whether he’s ready to take part.”
Whilst Thomas might not be ready for Saturday, Cooper said his side came out unscathed from two matches in 48 hours. “There was a handful of players that we couldn’t risk on Monday night, coming back from injury or data. They way we’ve looked at it we’ve got everybody through, no fresh injury concerns, we’ve got a point on the road and we’ve got everybody fresh going into Saturday.”
Last time the Glovers faced Welling, they were on the end of a 4-1 defeat and a Tristan Abrahams hattrick. Since then, there’s a been a bit of change at the Wings. Danny Bloor, the manager at the time, left at the end of January and was replaced by Rod Stringer. Since then, they’ve had some good results, including wins against Hampton & Richmond, Worthing and draws at Braintree and St Albans.
“I think they were nine unbeaten before the other night (1-0 loss at Farnborough) and they’ve played some big teams in that. So Rod, the manager, has gone in there and done remarkably well in a short space of time, they’ve added some players and they’ve been difficult to beat. So, we’re expecting, again, another tough game and like they’ve said it’s another free hit for them.”
With the back pages shouting about ‘five more wins’, Cooper stuck to message he has all season about the title hopes.
“We just concentrate on what we can affect, which is Saturday. If we get the right result on Saturday then we’re three points closer, that’s the only way you can look at it. And anybody who tells you different is kidding themselves in my opinion. Of course supporters are going to excited and carried away, and so they should, that’s what its about. But us, professionally, we have to just focus on Saturday and concentrate on getting three points.”
The manager provided an update on Jake Hyde and Rhys Murphy, indicating that we were more likely to see Murphy before the end of the season than Hyde who has “been at St Georges Park having some rehab work and they’ve added a couple of weeks on to his injury period of how long he’s going to be out.”
This is a big one! On this episode of the Glovers Past our guest is Marcus Stewart. Marcus talks us through plenty of subjects, including his signing for Yeovil Town from Bristol City, that night at the City ground, returning to the club last season and his MND journey.
Between 22nd and 24th of March, walkers will be taking part in March of the Day. Learn more about the event here.
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When the 2023/24 end-of-season DVD is released, fans won’t be flocking to the club shop to relive their Monday night trip to Aveley. However, despite a drab affair, Ollie Marsh was just about able to muster some conclusions:
We didn’t really look like scoring… after seven minutes. When golden chances fell to Jordan Young and Alex Fisher in the opening ten, it looked like a long night was in store for Aveley. Both were played in on goal in similar fashion; Young fluffed his lines after taking way too long to pull the trigger, while Fisher put his laces through it and was thwarted by the keeper. But after that, we struggled to put together the free flowing moves we’re used to seeing. Fisher and Frank Nouble got a half each, and Young, Jordan Stevens and Dylan Morgan seemed to be chopping and changing behind them throughout, but to no avail. The combination to unlock the Millers defence couldn’t be found.
Aveley did what they did very well. It became clear early on that Aveley had been set up to nullify. They were structured, organised, and disciplined, fearlessly pressing and applying pressure whenever Yeovil had the ball. They also packed a punch on the counter-attack and could perhaps be disappointed that they couldn’t find a way to nick it. There was also a pricklier side to their game which amounted to niggly fouls and slightly excessive physicality. One aerial dual between Will Dawes and Charlee Hughes – a pantomime villain in the reverse fixture earlier this season – led to Dawes having to limp off. But they played their gameplan to near-perfection, and the home fans seemed happy with both the method and result.
The Parkside pitch can get in the bin. There won’t be too many opportunities to break the Gloverscast rule on mentioning non-traditional playing surfaces, so I’ll take full advantage here. It probably would have been better to play the game on the car park outside the stadium, rather than the football-pitch shaped stretch of concrete painted green inside it.
I’m so happy Super Joe Day’s in goal. While it was as nothingy as nothing could get after the half time, the highlights package will at least feature one clip from the second period. The fact that Joe Day had an altogether quieter evening only makes his sublime fingertip stop from Ikechi Eze’s would-be worldie in the dying embers of the game more impressive.
Four points from two away games is good going. Yeovil managed to get through two tricky away ties with a tight turnaround between them, and did so unbeaten. The win at Farnborough was great fun and this was not, but there should be no disappointment with that return overall. Mark Cooper showed that his small but perfectly formed squad had enough depth to rotate efficiently, and the results – combined with Worthing doing the business against Chelmsford – keep us well on track.
Yeovil Town extended their lead at the top of the National League South to 12 points on Monday night with a 0-0 draw against Aveley. In a tight game, that lacked many moments of real quality, Glovers boss Mark Cooper was pleased with his squad’s resilience.
Speaking to BBC Somerset and Gloverscast’s Ollie Marsh he said that it was not a result to look at negatively.
“I thought Aveley were really well organised, we just battled, it was a scrap, wasn’t it? A really difficult pitch, difficult weather, difficult wind, their home record on Monday night is exemplary, so for us to come and get a point, is not to be sniffed at.
Credit to the players, the boys that came in, we had to rest some players tonight and we’ve come away with it, with a point and we’re a point further forward.”
Cooper made four changes to the starting eleven on Saturday, a heavy pitch and over 100 minutes of football in the legs just two days prior meant that the gaffer wanted to make the best of the numbers he had available.
“What we had tonight was all we had, 17 players, that’s all we’ve got at the minute, Charlie Cooper missed out tonight because he played 100 minutes on Saturday after being out for four weeks with a hamstring [injury] and we couldn’t risk that with ten games to go, Josh Owers came in and got his opportunity, so it was important that we motivated the squad and gave those boys the opportunities to play.”
Jordan Young returned to the squad after missing two games with suspension, Cooper was glad to see him return and to see Josh Owers take his chance from the start too.
“[Jordan Young] has been a top player for us, now he’s got ten games to kick on again and try and get some more goals and assists,
It was a tough night for players out there, it was a scrap, Josh [Owers] had to scrap and battle, he acquitted himself well, got a booking quite early, it’s a tight rope then, but like I say, it was a real scrap.”
It was something of an agricultural performance from the hosts and there will be a fair few Yeovil players nursing some bumps and bruises, Will Dawes and Matt Worthington, both in the thick of it.
“[Will Dawes] has got a sore knee, we’ll asses that tomorrow and see how that is… I think [Matt Worthington] got a knee in the back of his hamstring and a couple of days rest and he should be fine.”
The gaffer admits to having one eye on Chelmsford v Worthing (2nd v 3rd) in the other game on the schedule on Monday night, but focus has already turned to this Saturday’s home game with Welling.
“Only later on, in the second half, once we saw the result [at Chelmsford] we needed to make sure we didn’t lose the game and saw it out which we did pretty comfortably… I think we just need to focus on what we do, if we do what we do, it doesn’t matter about the rest, tonight was just about making sure we got a result and got out of here with something.
We get an extra day’s preparation, the players need some time to rest now after two games in 48 hours, recover well, get back to training later on in the week and get ready for a massive game at Hush on Saturday.”
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Yeovil picked up a point on the road this evening at Aveley as both sides battled it out to a 0-0 stalemate.
It was an even affair and a game with few chances, but 48 hours after the win at Farnborough, a point will do the job for the Glovers who are 12 points clear
With two games in the space of 48 hours, Mark Cooper made four changes to the starting line up, with Will Dawes, Jordan Young, Josh Owers and Dylan Morgan in from the start, and Michael Smith, Frank Nouble and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton dropping to the bench and Charlie Cooper missing out altogether.
It didn’t take long for the Glovers to test the Aveley back line. Young had an early chance after being put through by the toe of Jordan Stevens but couldn’t beat the keeper when he probably should have. Moments after, Alex Fisher stung the gloves of the keeper, earning Yeovil a corner.
The hosts had a decent opportunity after a cross in towards the back post with Manny Ogunrinde beating Stevens in the air but only heading straight at Joe Day.
Both sides exchanged possession without really creating anything clear cut. A great switch of play from Dawes set Stevens on his bike on the left wing but Alex Fisher couldn’t divert his cross into the back of the net.
The next chance fell to Aveley with Frankie Terry’s looping header giving Day something to stretch for.
Yeovil caused a bit of mayhem, inside the Aveley box with Morgan Williams throwing himself at a cross that the keeper was equal to.
Mark Cooper’s side enjoyed a spell of sustained pressure around the box without stretching the keeper.
Aveley were next to get a good attacking opportunity. Alex Fisher couldn’t make the ball stick and the hosts flew forward with an inviting ball by Kenny flashed across the face of Joe Day’s goal.
At half time, Alex Fisher made way for Frank Nouble and not a massive amount happened other than a booking for Aveley’s Charlee Hughes after a clash with Will Dawes. Dawes was replaced soon after by Michael Smith. The final substitute for Yeovil came on the 69th minute with Josh Owers making way for Sonny Blu Lo-Everton. Genuinely, the only notable incidents in the second half so far have been the substitutions.
And with that, Aveley had a decent chance charged down by Jake Wannell. Frank Nouble dallied on the edge of the box and Carr couldn’t capitalise after pinching the ball.
The second have was in danger of petering out into nothingness, but Joe Day was alert as Aveley countered from a loose pass and Carr struck low. Day got down sharply to save, filling his socks annoying 3G rubber crumbs in the process.
Morgan had a speculative effort from distance which was comfortably saved and there were some good attacking moments in wide areas without forcing a save from North.
Day was on the spot again to save from Carr in the 88th minute and was called into action in stoppage time with a fantastic tip over the bar.
There was a late yellow card for Dylan Morgan, but the game ended level.
Venue: Parkside
Date: Monday 4th March 2024
Competition: National League South
Pitch: Plastic
Conditions: Still
Attendance: 688
Scorers: No one.
Bookings:
Aveley: Hughes 53,
Yeovil Town: Josh Owers 39, Matt Worthington, 45, Morgan 90+3.
Referee:
Yeovil Town (4-2-3-1)
Substitutes: Frank Nouble (for Alex Fisher, 46), Jay Foulston, Michael Smith, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, Sam Pearson
Aveley: North, Ring, Vaz, Eze, Jones, Terry, Krasniqi, Carr, Aileru, Ogrunrinde, Hughes
Substitutes: Odelusi, Kyei, Brown, Gibbs, Coleman De-Graft
Jordan Young returns to Yeovil’s starting lineup at Aveley tonight, after serving a two-match. Mark Cooper has rung the changes with Will Dawes, Josh Owers and Dylan Morgan starting. Frank Nouble, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, Michael Smith and Sam Pearson all drop to the bench, with Charlie Cooper absent entirely.
Who knows what the shape is…Ben’s taken a punt at two!
Another week, another Glovers man making the official Vanarama Team of the Week.
Sonny Blu Lo Everton makes the cut after his opening goal set Yeovil on their way to a 3-1 win over Farnborough.
Nice one, Sonny.
Ben has been left stranded by Ian and Dave this week, so we’ve called in the cavalry!
BBC Somerset’s Liam McGuinn, Cider Drinker Elliot Watts and Gloverscast Ben are joined by the Goal Scoring Man of the Hour, Alex Fisher.
We chat about the emotion of a first goal for over 300 days, we talk about how the season has been going… and where it’s going, there’s Farnborough chat, there’s Aveley chat, and of course we take your GCQs!
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Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Leave us a review and share the pod with a pal. If you have an idea for the website, want to contribute or just want to send us a message, feel free to email ian@gloverscast.co.uk.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Leave us a review and share the pod with a pal. If you have an idea for the website, want to contribute or just want to send us a message, feel free to email ian@gloverscast.co.uk.