Yeovil Town’s Away game at Aveley tonight is available to Stream via National League TV.
We were told recently that only select games would be available – and our Tuesday night fixture against Chippenham was one of those selected – well, it appears that so is the trip to Parkside.
Match Passes are available from £9.50 and can be bought HERE for those of you not heading to the penultimate plastic pitch of the season.
Yeovil Town are back in action on Monday night with an away trip to Aveley FC in store for Mark Cooper‘s men.
Just two days after their 3-1 win over mid-table Farnborough FC, the Glovers are off to Essex as they face the Millers in what could be a difficult way day for the Somerset team.
Aveley currently sit 10th in the league, after a brilliant start to the season, which saw them occupy second place for a while. Recent form suggests they are finding their feet again after three wins from five, however in their last outing against Chelmsford they lost 2-0.
Manager Cooper talked briefly about how “tough” it will be facing the Essex side. He said: “They’ve won their last few putting themselves into the playoff picture.
“Which makes it a tough game, it’s a tough pitch [being 3G] it will be difficult.”
The 54-year-old spoke after Saturdays win about “refuelling” for Avely. He said: “It’s about recovery for us now, making sure we get the recovery back in their legs and the bodies the best we can.”
The former Swindon boss also pushed there “there will be no excuses” around playing Saturday-Monday due to Yeovil having “better facilities to prepare in” compared to the teams his squad will face.
Aveley analyst Scott Wagstaff (no not that one) spoke to the club media after their eventful loss. He said: “It’s a free hit for us, they’re a massive full time outfit and are expected to win the league, we’re massively over achieving so why not, we can have a go.”
He continued: “We’ve done excellent against the full time teams this year so why not have a go, it’s something we can look forward to as a club and embrace these nights.”
Siju Odelusi is Aveleys key man with, with the midfielder top scorer for the Millers with 14 goals in the league, he has also made the most appearances with 36 games (35 starts) across all competitions.
Charlie Hughes is another name for Glovers fans to look out for, the forward has nine goals so far this season playing over 2,000 minutes this season.
The Millers will still be able to play Garret Kelly and Ryan Carr even though they were both sent off during Saturdays loss to Chelmsford. Manager Danny Scopes also saw red in that game but will also be allowed on the touchline alongside his physio who was given his marching orders in the same game.
For fans who can’t make the game it is available to stream on National League TV.
Yeovil’s “bouncebackability” was on full display yesterday as they left Farnborough with all three points after their 3-1 win. Let’s see how everyone else in the National League South got on!
We begin at Welling United, where they took on Braintree Town. On what was essentially a quagmire in some areas (take notes Taunton!), the two sides played out an entertaining 2-2 draw, in which the relegation-threatened hosts took the lead twice, only to be pegged back by their playoff-chasing visitors. Moving to Gloucester now, where Truro City played their “home” game, as they took all three points home with a 2-0 win over Taunton Town.
There were further 2-0 wins across the league, a dramatic one coming at last weekend’s hosts Chelmsford City, where a fight broke out just before half-time, resulting in one Chelmsford, and two Aveley players being sent off. Aveley’s manager Danny Scopes was also sent off in the second half, as well as one of their physios… we’ll see them all on Monday as their suspensions won’t kick in yet. Tonbridge Angels deepened Eastbourne Borough’s relegation worries with their win at home, while Havant & Waterlooville picked up another important three points with their win away to Hemel Hempstead.
Down to the South Coast now, where new BFFs W*ymouth and Torquay United met – the game finished in a 1-1 draw, Kevin Dawson making his long-awaited return from injury being the highlight for Glovers fans. The final game of the day took place at Dover, where they once again fell to defeat, Maidstone leaving as 1-0 winners.
There were a string of postponements across the division, thanks to the weird and wonderful weather… Chippenham’s game against Weston-super-mare will need to be rescheduled, as will Dartford’s home tie against Worthing. St Albans also failed a late pitch inspection, as they intended to host Hampton & Richmond, while the game at Slough was called off for a different reason entirely.
The game got underway, with Slough racing into a 4-0 lead over Bath as the two sides went into half-time. The visitors got two goals back, before a medical emergency in the crowd paused the game. After a delay, the game was abandoned, meaning the two sides will face each other once again. Our best wishes to the supporter in question, who it has been announced is healthy and well.
National League South results – in full
Chelmsford City 2-0 Aveley
Chippenham Town P-P Weston-super-mare
Dartford P-P Worthing
Dover Athletic 0-1 Maidstone United
Hemel Hempstead Town 0-2 Havant & Waterlooville
Slough Town A-A Bath City
St Albans City P-P Hampton & Richmond Borough
Tonbridge Angels 2-0 Eastbourne Borough
Truro City 2-0 Taunton Town
Welling United 2-2 Braintree Town
W*ymouth 1-1 Torquay United
National League South table
Time to have another scoot around the divisions and see how those out on loan are getting on.
Firstly at Barnet, Jordan Maguire-Drew was back amongst the subs for the Bees, he’s missed the last few games but he made a 15-minute cameo in their 2-1 win over Hartlepool.
Down at W*ymouth, Malachi Linton was used from the start in the Terras’ 1-1 draw with Torquay United.
He was subbed off in the very final few seconds and did have a couple of chances to find the net again after a couple of goals in late February.
6’| Howe feeds Linton with a cross.
Linton heads wide.https://t.co/3UIQeeAl6z
💜 0-0 🟡 | #TerrasTogether
— Weymouth FC (@theterras) March 2, 2024
For Shepton, Charlie Bateson came on with half an hour to go in their Les Phillips’ Semi Final, the game ended 6-1 to the Mallet, with Bateson laying on an assist for the final goal. – All the best in the final, Charlie!
The final is scheduled for May 12th at Tiverton Town.
85| D Gould corner is flicked on by Bateson and Rutty gets his second and Shepton’s sixth. 6-1#towncalledmallet | #utm
— Shepton Mallet AFC (@Mallet_AFC) March 2, 2024
Mother Nature the winner elsewhere, Dorchester against Sholing was called off due to a waterlogged pitch, Melksham against Cribbs FC was all a bit damp, Welton vs Ilfracombe got a bit too squelchy for the ref, Sherborne vs Lymington was moist beyond reason whilst there was actually too much SNOW for Gillingham vs Bradford Town, which is a clash of teams with town names that sound like an all League Two clash rather than a Western League one.
Was it ever in doubt that Yeovil Town would bounce back from a knock on the road last weekend? Nah, not for anyone who has seen this team this season. Remarkably, Dave was at Farnborough to see us get back to winning ways and here are his conclusions.
Feed the Fish: This was a big win on the road. This maintained the 11-point lead. But this one was for Alex Fisher. He’s been very public in talking about how the road to recovery has been since that horrific injury last April and you could feel every person in that away end was genuinely delighted for him. He may not be the most prolific striker, but you cannot fault his effort and he deserved every minute of the adulation he got for a great performance.
Bouncebackability: I wrote about it in my conclusions after the defeat at Chelmsford seven days earlier, but the most important thing was to bounce back with a performance and three points. It may not have been pretty at times, but do not underestimate the significance of these three points. If Chelmsford, Worthing or anyone else thought we were faltering – sorry, not sorry. Please mind the gap.
How good is Sonny?: Honestly, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton is such a joy to watch some times. He may get a lot of time on the ball in this division but what he does with it is sensational. With Charlie Cooper back alongside him doing the dirty work, Worthy the engine alongside him, you felt he was able to enjoy himself. Took his goal superbly and was my Man of the Match. Sorry, Fish.
48 hours later: At the risk of sounding like a football manager, the next game is the most important. Especially as Aveley choose (according to some of their fans at least) to play on a Monday night. The window for recovery is very short and bringing off a number of players who ran their proverbials off again (well done, Sam Pearson) was important. Hopefully a fresh Jordan Young is chomping at the bit to go again after his two-match ban.
Jinx? What jinx? Okay, I’ll bite and, okay, probably not for the first time. As someone who has seen their fair share of defeats in a season when defeats have not been that common place, seeing a win was fantastic. I’ll put it next to St Albans, Truro and Taunton at home, Hampton, Worthing, Eastbourne and Tonbridge away. Plus a couple of points at Chippenham and St Albans. See you all at Braintree!
Yeovil gaffer Mark Cooper said that whilst certain aspects of the Glovers’ win over Farnborough aggravated him, the players deserve all the credit for finding a way to win in tough conditions.
Speaking post match to BBC Somerset’s Ian Randall, Mark Cooper said that the Glovers made a good start, but had some wobbles.
“We made hard work of it, we made some really poor decisions, I must say the pitch was really heavy and difficult, it’s not an excuse, but it was really heavy and I thought in the first 20 minutes we were in complete control, we got a goal, but then we made some really poor decisions with the ball, in the middle of the pitch, where the bodies were and where it was heavy, that led to giving them energy and they had some attacks, they got their throw ins into the box, I was disappointed in the last 20 minutes in the first half.”
“Second half, we came out, we got another goal and then another poor decision, they score from a long throw and then [it’s] game on again, we’re scrambling, but we managed to get a third one to kill it off.”
Farnborough’s goal came from a long throw, something which Cooper said he made the team aware of and had a plan to overcome.
“My instruction and coaching on Friday and Thursday was; when our defenders have the ball deep, or the ball is in the channel, do not kick the ball out of play, I’d rather us take the risk and keep the ball in play because I think the ball is more dangerous out of play – and in the first minute one of our defenders kicks the ball out of play, near the corner flag, they throw the ball in our box.
At the minute, just little things, aggravating, but, it’s probably pressure because of the position we’re in, the games are whittling away and we’re getting closer and closer to where we want to be and it might be feeling the pressure – but, full credit to the players, again, they got it done.”
“Chelmsford came here the other night and drew, we’ve come here and scored three goals and got the three points.”
A couple of nice moments to see the game out towards the end, Alex Whittle’s first Glovers goal and Alex Fisher’s first goal for the season and for nearly a year after his leg break at the end of last season.
“It’s great for Fish, he worked hard for that goal, he’s contributed now, that’ll make him happy, it makes us happy, it got us on the way.
[Alex Whittle] toe poked that one in, I think he got a nose bleed from the first effort and I think he just toe poked it and hoped for the best.
“It’s about picking up points, whenever we’ve lost, we’ve bounced back and we’ve done it again, so full credit to the players, unbelievable following from the boys and girls behind the goal.”
Looking ahead to Monday and Mark Cooper is fully aware he’ll have to use his squad to the full, the return of Jordan Young will add a bit of depth with a couple of players nursing some bumps and bruises.
“We’ve got some players that won’t be able to play on Monday, so, it’s important now that we use the squad,
I’ve said to them that tonight, to only have four pints instead of eight, but it’s about trusting them, because, when they leave us today, you don’t know what they’re going to do, do you, but we’ve trusted them all season and they’ve been really good, recovery is key and really important…”
Asked if the squad were in for training on Sunday, Cooper said;
“We’re not sure yet”
On Aveley, specifically the gaffer is under no illusions that his side are in for a difficult 90 minutes.
“They’ve had a terrific season, they’re up and around the play off picture… they’ve done brilliant and we’re expecting a really tough game again.”
Yeovil Town goal scorer, Sonny Blu Lo Everton says the Glovers got what they deserved out of their 3-1 win over Farnborough on Saturday.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Ian Randall after the game, he said that whilst their hosts made it tough for them, three points was exactly what the side had earned.
“It was tough, it’s always nice to get on the score sheet, but we made it hard for ourselves – it should be game over, and they get one from a scabby long through and you go back against the walls again, but we get the third and then, we got what we deserved.
It’s such a cliche to say that 2-0 is the hardest score line or the worst score line in football, but, when we get that second goal, early-ish in the second half it should be game over.
it’s a frustrating one for us, because we shouldn’t be putting ourselves in that position, but when we get the third, it’s game over.”
Farnborough did have their chances and a Rory Delay-esque long throw in their armoury, but despite late pressure, the defence once again stood firm to see the game out and keep the Glovers 11 points clear at the top.
“When you do go 1-0 up or 2-0 and the time begins to go down, they gamble players forward which means, they follow them, which means we go deeper, we’re further away from their goal, they’re closer to our goal, that’s just how it works… when they start gambling players forward, it’s going to be tough, but we defended really well.
You could hear them on the sidelines, it was five minutes to go in the first half and they just said ‘stay in, keep it 1-0 before we go in’.”
Yeovil’s second goal came from Alex Fisher, his first of the season and first since a terrible double leg break against Southend last season, prompting emotional scenes from everyone associated with the Glovers.
“It’s so good to see Fish on the score sheet, he’s worked really hard to this position that he’s at, he’s been really patient to wait for his opportunity and today he took it.”
Looking ahead to Monday (and beyond) the former Watford and Derby man, is keeping it simple, one day at time, one game at a time, one win at a time… starting, hopefully, on Monday at Aveley.
“It is [tough], as is every game in this league, we just get one less day’s recovery, but we’ve got the people around us and we’re all switched on enough to know how to recover for the next game.
We’re taking it game by game, if we win, we get the points, it’s in our hands, we can’t rely on anyone else to drop points, it’s solely on us, we don’t think about anyone else, we don’t look at anyone else’s scores, if we win the game, we win the game.”
Striker Alex Fisher scored his first goal since coming back from a horrific double leg break to lead Yeovil Town to a 3-1 win at Farnborough.
Having taken a 1-0 lead through a well taken goal from Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, Fisher was in the right place to turn home a second on the hour mark.
Olly Pendlebury pulled a goal back for the home side soon after before Alex Whittle wrapped up the points with his first goal for the club.
The three points meant the Glovers maintained their 11-point lead over second-placed Chelmsford who picked up a 2-0 home win over Aveley, who host Yeovil on Monday night. That game saw Aveley play the entire second half with nine men and Chelmsford finish with ten.
The opening exchanges were dominated by the home side but the nearest they came to finding a breakthrough was a long-range effort by full-back Jordan Norville-Williams which comfortably went wide of Joe Day’s post.
As Yeovil began to find their rhythm, they started probing of the opposition defence with increasing effect and on 13 minutes the breakthrough came. Sam Pearson threaded a ball through to Sonny Blu LO EVERTON who coolly gave the visitors the lead.
On 20 minutes, the scorer almost became the provider for the Glovers’ second. A beautiful move down the left saw him pick out Matt Worthington in the middle but his effort was well blocked by keeper Jack Turner.
Two minutes after the inevitable booking for Farnborough midfielder Aaron Kuhn, a burst in to the box by Frank Nouble, cutting in from the right side saw him brought down inside the area. No real appeals from the Yeovil players.
But the threat to Day’s goal was virtually zero. A cross flashed across the face of goal by Salim Saied before Reggie Lambe and then Olly Pendlebury flashed efforts over the bar.
Second half
It took quarter of an hour of the second half before the patient build up fashioned an opportunity for Yeovil. It was one brought about by good pressure from Nouble, who held up Edon Pruti enough to allow Pearson to nick the ball, break in to the box and get a shot away but his effort rose over the bar.
Then, on the hour mark, Yeovil doubled their advantage. It was Pearson who created the opening inside the box, playing it in to the six yard box where Alex FISHER was on hand to turn it home. A special moment for the striker, his first goal since returning from a horrific double leg break last April.
But two minutes later, Farnborough pulled a goal back through Olly PENDLEBURY for what appeared to be a hit through a crowd of players. From the other end of the pitch it was difficult to give it much more analysis than that, to be honest.
On 66 minutes, Fisher came within inches of doubling his tally but his header from Pearson’s right wing cross was superbly tipped over by Turner in the hosts’ goal.
Farnborough were buoyed by their goal and that save and Hisham Kasimu had an effort turned wide by a smart stop from Day.
Day was back in action with ten minutes to go. This time a nice move from the hosts broke to goalscorer Pendlebury who fired in a venomous strike which the keeper turned wide, perhaps with the assistance of his goal frame.
Jay Foulston replaced Fisher with nine minutes remaining and the back five with Alex Whittle and Michael Smith at wing backs, and four minutes later Whittle made it 3-1.
Stevens broke away down the right and cut it back in to the box to WHITTLE had to have two goes at before it got past Turner.
Dawes immediately replaced Pearson after the goal and whilst there was a bit of Farnborough in the dying embers of the game, a shot wide by Pendlebury was as close as they came.
Venue: Cherrywood Road
Date: Saturday 2nd March – 3pm
Competition: National League South
Pitch: Amazingly playable albeit boggy in the goalmouths
Conditions: Glorious sunshine for the first time this month.
Attendance: 1880
Scorers: Sonny Blu Lo-Everton 13 (1-0), Alex Fisher 60 (2-0), Olly Pendlebury 62 (2-1), Alex Whittle 85 (3-1).
Bookings:
Farnborough: Aaron Kuhl 30, Guy Hollis 77, Edon Pruti 90+3.
Yeovil Town: Charlie Cooper 64.
Referee: Harry Jones
Yeovil Town (4-2-3-1)
Substitutes: Jordan Stevens (for Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, 70), Jay Foulston (for Alex Fisher, 81), Will Dawes (for Sam Pearson, 88), Josh Owers (not used), Dylan Morgan (not used).
Farnborough: Jack Turner, Jack Ball, Jordan Norville-Williams, Guy Hollis, Edon Pruti, Reggie Young, Olly Pendlebury, Hisham Kasimu, Taylor Clark, Selim Saied, Aaron Kuhl.
Substitutes: Joe Haigh (for Selim Saied, 68), Harvey Bradbury (for Taylor Clark, 68), Miller Matthews-Lewis (for Hisham Kasimu, 78).
Who was your Man of the Match in the Glovers’ game against Farnborough?
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