Match Gallery: Yeovil Town 3 Dartford 1
2024-04-13
Yeovil Town are National League South Champions, Gary Brown was pitch side for the proceedings.
Pictures courtesy of Gary Brown. Please ask for permission before using.
Cooper: W*ymouth decision is horrendous
2024-04-13
Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper has described the National League’s decision to award W*ymouth three points from the abandoned Easter Monday fixture was “a horrendous decision.”
He said the Football Association had cleared the club of any wrongdoing after the game was abandoned in the 75th minute after a medical emergency in the crowd with the Terras leading 1-0 and, having waited until Yeovil were crowned National League South champions, the league announced on Friday the game would not be replayed.
Following the 3-1 home win over Dartford on Saturday, Cooper was asked by BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins about the potential of his side reaching 95 points with victory on the final day at already relegated Dover Athletic.
He said: “It would be 98 points if I had my way! But the National League has made a horrendous decision. We want to go out with as many as we can get.
“We 100% wanted to play the game again, we would have taken the staff to play it if we had too. We are cleared by the FA of any wrongdoing, but we are still deemed to be at fault that the game got called off. They are basically saying we got the lady ill, made the air ambulance land on the pitch, and it was our fault there was no time resolution as to when we were going to start again.
“I don’t know where the fault is, but it just shows the National League for what they are this season. It has been a complete shambles.“
Whittle: This is a League club
2024-04-13
Full back Alex Whittle has has spoken of his delight at his decision to move to Yeovil Town in the summer as he picked up his National League South championship medal.
The 31-year-old arrived following his release by York City in the summer and admitted he had other options of which club to join, but chose to join a defensive unit which has been at the heart of the club’s success on the pitch this season.
Joining BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins in the Press box after the 3-1 home win over Dartford on Saturday, he said: “This is a League club, definitely. This fan base is League Two or League One fan base with the club and the facilities. I am so happy I came here in the summer because I had a few options but I knew the Gaffer (Mark Cooper) and Charlie (Cooper). This club is on its way back up, everyone was wondering why I stepped down at this level, but it was the best decision I have made.”
The Glovers’ defensive unit has kept 17 clean sheets this season and contributed to winning 28 league matches – plus two in the FA Cup – this season, and Whittle was keen to pay tribute to his team-mates.
He said: “The defence never really gets the credit, it is the goalscorers that get the credit. But me, Jay (Foulston), Wanno (Jake Wannell), Smudge (Michael Smith), Morgs (Morgan Willams) and Brooklyn (Genesini) when he came in, we have been great. The back four has changed a few times, but I have especially enjoyed the partnership with Wanno. I said to him at the start of the season that he’s 30 and I am 31, but that is not that old these days with the way the game has changed. So I said to Jake, he’s come on so much this season. It’s been a great team effort.
“The home form has been exceptional, we had a slight dip in form when we lost to Welling and Chippenham, but that gave us a little kick to go ahead. But, 28 wins is amazing.
“Hopefully we will get a few out tonight and enjoy ourselves these next few days but obviously we want to go to Dover (next weekend) and win again.“
Cooper: The dark times are gone
2024-04-13
Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper said he always had confidence he could build a squad capable of getting promoted back to the National League Premier at the first time of asking.
The Glovers’ boss saw his side win 3-1 against a Dartford side which headed out of National League South on Saturday and then lifted the division’s title on the pitch in front of a crowd of 5,701 at Huish Park.
He said he believed the squad needed to add “five or six really good players” if they wanted to compete in the top tier of the non-League game next season.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins and our own Ian Perkins after the game, he said: “Talk is cheap, but I knew if someone would give me the opportunity to put a squad together I knew I could do it. I have done it at every level in the National League. The owner (chairman Martin Hellier) came in and backed us to put a good squad together and we have done that and it just shows if people come to a club and you trust people who know what they are doing, not trust people that do not, you have a chance to succeed. If you get it wrong, you get relegated.”
He added: “It means a lot because I felt a real sense of responsibility for the players that were here last season. I wanted a chance to build the club because I liked what I saw even in the dark times, I knew it could be a good club if we had the opportunity to build it. The owner put his money where his mouth is and has given us that chance. Those dark times have been lifted by the tremendous achievements of the players and fans, they have been amazing.
“If you looked at our team at Braintree and Slough, the team on the pitch would be in a bottom tier budget. Without the likes of Alex Whittle, Jake Hyde, Rhys Murphy, Michael Smith, we had a lot of young players like Jahmari Clarke, Brooklyn Genesini, there were a lot of young players on the pitch. People will talk about our budget this season and it is alright having loads of money and being the favourites like Torquay were, but you have to make sure you use that money wisely. I think that is what we have done.”
Asked about how he felt about next season, he said: “It is a tough league. We have the nucleus of a good squad, I have had to be ruthless at times and do the best thing for the club. We need to sign five or six really good players that are going to complement the group we have because they deserve that.”
On Saturday, Yeovil fell behind to an early goal from Dartford captain Luke Coulson, but were quickly back on level terms when Sam Pearson equalised before an own goal from the visitors’ Ronny Nelson and a second half tap in from Alex Fisher sealed the win.
Cooper said he was never worried despite going behind early, saying: “The goal was probably the best thing that could have happened, but I was never worried or panicky. I just trust the players implicitly to get it done.
“It was an incredible football performance and we are going to play a lot more football if I have anything to do with it, I just think that is the way the game should be played. I do not want to make it a lottery, of course we are going to give balls away in rubbish areas at times but you see the amount of chances we created, we should have scored ten.
“It was nice to go out with a nice, convincing win in our final home game and the scenes at the end I just said to the boys ‘it is a shame it is not like this every year, but let’s try and make this the thing.’”
For Fisher, it was another chapter in his fairytale return following a horrific double leg break he suffered almost exactly a year earlier and the manager was full of praise for his striker.
He said: “Fish has come back and scored some goals to get us over the line. He’s a great bloke, an experienced professional and he will enjoy that first promotion in England. These players have crossed over the line today, a lot of them have a (C) on their CVs which, as a manager, you look at these things when you ask ‘is he a winner?’ We know we have a few that can whether it is here or elsewhere that they do it, you can never take this promotion from them.”
The Glovers finish the season with a long journey to already relegated Dover Athletic on the final game of the season next weekend and Cooper is going to win.
He said: “I said on Thursday night (after the win over Truro which sealed the title), we were desperate to win this game and go out in style. We did that and we will be desperate to go to Dover and get three points. We might have an opportunity to play a few of the boys who are coming back from injury and freshen it up because you have some boys in there that ran 13km on Thursday and did it again today. We have some warriors in there, and we need to add to that in the summer, add wisely and get the right characters.”
Nouble: We are hungry for more
2024-04-13
Frank Nouble has said his Yeovil Town team-mates do not want to go back in to the National League Premier to make up the number next season.
The striker missed from the penalty spot as the Glovers’ coronation as National League South champions got underway with a 3-1 home win over Dartford at Huish Park.
Speaking immediately after the final whistle, he told BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah: “There is a real unity now between the club and the supporters and that is the main thing and we are hungry for more. We are going to go for it again next year but we will enjoy it for today. You do not win leagues every year.
“This season has been amazing, I am just so proud of everyone, really proud. We have been such a close-knit squad and we feel every emotion, when we lose a game it really hurts and we know when we get back out there, we have to show it. But it means a lot to everyone else as well, there’s lots of people representing the club as well.“
Man of the Match Voting: Dartford (H)
2024-04-13
Don’t let our choice of picture sway your judgement. Who was your Man of the Match against Dartford today?
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.
Match Report: Yeovil Town 3 Dartford 1
2024-04-13
The coronation of Yeovil Town as National League South champions was completed with a comfort win over a Dartford side who were relegated out of the division after a 3-1 defeat at Huish Park.
It was the visitors who stunned a packed home crowd by going ahead after just five minutes when Luke Coulson headed home, but Sam Pearson got the Glovers back on level terms soon after turning home after good work from Fisher.
A Dylan Morgan effort took a wicked deflection from Ronny Nelson three minutes from half-time which put Yeovil in front and, despite Frank Nouble having a penalty saved in the second half, the game was wrapped up when Alex Fisher tapped home the third with 70 minutes gone.
But all of the home fans in the 5,701 crowd were only there for one thing – to see their heroes lift the championship trophy at the full-time whistle.
First half
But, if the script was supposed to be a title-winning parade for the Glovers, Dartford had not read it and took the lead after just five minutes. A good move down the right by Olly Box and got the ball in to captain Luke COULSON who got in between Morgan Williams and Jake Wannell to put a superb header past Joe Day.
Luckily, it did not take long to spark a response from the home side as Sam Pearson levelled the scoring three minutes after going behind. Great play by Alex Fisher found Brooklyn Genesini whose cross was flicked on by Fisher, but PEARSON bravely dived in to get on the end of it and felt the force of the post on his shoulder. Let’s start again, then.
As their early goal suggests, Dartford, who could be relegated if they lose and Eastbourne Borough win, set off determined to go for it this afternoon, but their front foot approach is leaving space with Genesini almost unmarked on the right side.
Another good bit of build-up play involving Frank Nouble saw the ball come to Pearson who instinctively hit it first time and found Dartford keeper Rhys Byrne equal to it and parry it away.
Dylan Morgan showed quick feet to get his shot away on 24 minutes but Byrne was level to it again as “stand up if you’ve won the league” rings around Huish Park.
Byrne was back in action after 34 minutes after great play by Morgan down the left got a ball in to Fisher whose header was clawed away by the keeper and almost immediately after Morgan was at it again cutting in to the box again and this time finding Genesini, only for the keeper to push it away with his foot. You feel a goal is coming.
Then, with three minutes remaining until half-time, it arrived. Nouble found Morgan who unleashed a great shot and the ball took a deflection off Ronny Nelson and crept in to the net. It was an OWN GOAL but no doubt that Yeovil had deserved it for their domination.
Having gone behind early, it has been all the champions since Pearson’s equaliser. Manager Mark Cooper told his players on Thursday night that he still wanted to win this game and you can tell that has got through to his players.
Half time: Yeovil Town 2 Dartford 1
Second half
The opening ten minutes at Huish Park was without much incident until Sonny Blu Lo-Everton had an effort XX minute tipped over the bar by Byrne. From the resulting corner the ball was worked out to Charlie Cooper whose effort was going towards the keeper, Morgan Williams challenged with Byrne and went down. Referee Harry Wager gave the penalty, which looked very soft. Frank Nouble stepped up and Byrne redeemed himself with a save. Justice done there, I think.
Lo-Everton ran in to acres of space and had a dipping shot which looked like it was destined for the top corner, but just crept past the box on 63 minutes. Seven minutes later it was 3-1 to the home side.
Cooper’s shot came off Dartford substitute Maxwell Statham and landed at the feet of Alex FISHER who touched it around Byrne and tapped home. He took a glance looking for the offside flag, but (unlike seven days earlier) it was not there. For it to happen almost in the spot where the striker suffered that horrific leg break just over a year ago feels like the script that was written. That’s five goals in 12 games for him, what a time to find his goal-scoring touch.
Jordan Young had an effort just past the post before Charlie Cooper pulled one wide soon after as the game moved in to the closing stages.
Three minutes from the end of normal time, there was a huge ovation for Fisher as he went off the pitch to be replaced by captain Matt Worthington, making his 227th appearance for the club. What a moment for both players.
The final whistle saw the Huish Park flooded by home supporters because, let’s face it, it means everything to them.
Full time: Yeovil Town 3 Dartford 1
Match Details
Venue: Huish Park
Date: Saturday 13th April, 3pm
Competition: National League South
Pitch: Good
Conditions: Good
Attendance: 5,701 (115 away supporters)
Scorers: Luke Coulson 5 (0-1), Sam Pearson 8 (1-1), Ronny Nelson o.g. 42 (2-1), Alex Fisher 70 (3-1).
Bookings:
Yeovil Town: None
Dartford: Olly Wall, Luke Byrne, Taylor Maloney,
Referee: Harry Wager
Yeovil Town (4-4-2)
Substitutes: Jordan Young (for Sam Pearson, 71), Josh Owers (for Dylan Morgan, 79), Matt Worthington (for Alex Fisher, 87) Michael Smith (not used), Jake Hyde (not used).
Dartford: Rhys Byrne, Luke Allen (for Fumnaya Shomotun, 71) , Alex Wall, Joash Nembhard, Paul Rooney, Jack Smith, Jordan Wynter (for Maxwell Statham, 46), Olly Box, Ronny Nelson, Harrison Sodje (for Taylor Maloney, 71), Luke Coulson.
Substitutes (not used): Jordan Greenidge, Tom Wray.
Cooper: We want to go out with a bang
2024-04-13
Manager Mark Cooper has said his Yeovil Town players will not allow their standards to slip as they take on relegation-haunted Dartford in front of another bumper crowd at Huish Park.
They face a visiting side desperate for points to survive as they sit 21st in the National League South table, two points behind Eastbourne Borough who are just the right side of the dotted line, knowing 22nd-placed Taunton Town and Eastbourne have games in hand over them.
The Glovers will lift the league title at the end of the match having sealed automatic promotion at the first time of asking with a 2-0 victory against Truro City on Thursday night, but Cooper said he still wants to win today’s fixture.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins ahead of kick-off, he said: “The occasion will take care of itself. They should be able to play in a relaxed manner. The majority of footballers whether they are playing table tennis, darts, or croquet they want to win.
“I don’t think it is in them to go and play like it doesn’t matter and with a big crowd they will not let that happen anyway.
The away support on Thursday night was incredible, they have travelled everywhere, and at home 99.9% of the fans have been incredible and let’s hope we can go out with a bang today.”
On Dartford, he added: “It is a horrible situation for them and we have to be respectful of that which we will be. They have to win the game and we have to make sure we maintain the integrity of the game and do our best to win it.”
Captain Matt Worthington and full-back Michael Smith, who both took heavy knocks in the win over Truro in the week, are both dropped to the substitutes’ bench and there is no place for striker Rhys Murphy or winger Jordan Stevens, who both limped off with injury on Thursday night.
They are replaced by Brooklyn Genesini, Dylan Morgan, Sam Pearson and Alex Fisher.
Cooper added: “We have got a few who are not ready to start. Michael Smith is one of them, goodness knows how he got through the game on Thursday.
“That is still a really strong team. You have Frank (Nouble) and (Alex) Fisher up top, Sam Pearson who was at a Championship club last year and Dylan Morgan who we are desperate for him to catch fire. There are two really good players in midfield and a solid back four.”
The boss admitted he had reflected with “a lot of pride” since securing promotion and told his players they would go down in history as the division’s best team this season.
He added: “When it is such a long season with so much work going in to it from so many people to achieve promotion, it is such a relief. To get it done was such a relief for so many people and a great celebration with the most important people – the fans.
“When you get a promotion, it does not matter what level you work at, to win a title means you are the best team in the league and these players will always have that. That will never been taken away from them.
“I have been saying to them all season, it is so difficult to get a championship on your CV, and they have now achieved that. Great credit to them.”
Team News: Dartford (home)
2024-04-13
Yeovil Town have made four changes as they prepared to lift the National League South title against Dartford at Huish Park this afternoon (3pm kick-off).
Captain Matt Worthington, who will get his hands on the silverware at the end of the game, drops to the bench alongside full-back Michael Smith after both players picked up knocks in Thursday night’s win against Truro City which secured promotion.
There is also no place for midfielder Jordan Stevens or striker Rhys Murphy, who both limped off injured early two days ago. Replacing the quartet are Brooklyn Genesini, Dylan Morgan, Sam Pearson and Alex Fisher.
Striker Jake Hyde, who has been missing since the turn of the year with an injury, is named among the substitutes.
Pollock leaves Yeovil
2024-04-12
Midfielder Scott Pollock has “reached an agreement to mutually terminate” his contract with Yeovil Town, the National League South champions have confirmed.
In the briefest of statements issued on Friday afternoon, the Glovers confirmed the exit of the former Hashtag United and Boston United player who has not featured since completing 90 minutes in the 1-0 defeat at Boreham Wood on the final day of last season.
In its statement, the club said: “Yeovil Town Football Club and Scott Pollock have reached an agreement to mutually terminate Scott’s contract. All parties wish each other well.”
The 23-year-old has not featured at all in the club’s immediate return back to the National League Premier this season with manager Mark Cooper repeatedly confirming he had a remarkably persistent injury. In November, he underwent knee surgery, but nothing appears to have improved enough to see him enter contention for selection.
Pollock arrived in March when the club was under the ‘stewardship’ of SU Glovers, the group led by now-York City owner Matt Uggla, and was undoubtedly one of the players who Cooper has said was signed by that group. He played seven times as the club plummeted to relegation and, well, that was about it.
Do not be surprised if you see a tweet from York with the signature emoji followed by the announcement of Pollock’s signing at some point in the coming weeks and months.