August 2024 (Page 3)

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It ends in defeat at home for Yeovil, as they fell to a late winner in a 1-0 defeat to Rochdale. Tom Bailey was in the stands for this one, let’s see what he thought.

A gutting result following a valiant effort. We just didn’t quite have enough in the end to get over the line, in a literal sense as well as a wider perspective. For the first 60 minutes, we looked like we had something about us, getting forward and putting the Rochdale defence under some pressure, including two goal line clearances, but it just wouldn’t get over the line today.

A shame to see us drop off in the last half hour or so, as we had another decent attacking showing today, with nothing to show for it.

I don’t think McCooper worked as a midfield duo today. I was initially surprised by the benching of Matt Worthington, before remembering he’d played every minute of every league match so far, and I then became curious at the possibilities of Brett McGavin and Charlie Cooper in the middle of the field. While it wasn’t a bad showing, I don’t think it quite worked today. McGavin felt a little lost at times, when he got on the ball he’d hold for too long in deeper areas, and at times Cooper felt like the attacking threat of the two – I see it working the other way round, with McGavin pushing forwards and Cooper sweeping up. Not against seeing it again, but it didn’t click for me today.

The subs didn’t work out. When Harvey Greenslade and Sam Pearson entered the field, renewed hope filled me, Greenslade will run until the sun goes down, and Pearson has proven to be a threat on both wings so far this season. Unfortunately, they simply vanished today, and it coincided with the team dropping off and Rochdale growing into the game. I wouldn’t say it’s their fault, purely bad timing, but Cooper’s usual subs to spark something didn’t help us today.

Sam Pearson. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

Just needed to speed things up a bit. At points today, there were opportunities to break quickly, and instead we closed ourselves off to build from the back. When you’re a goal ahead, or clearly dominating the game, this is all well and good, but when you’re hunting for that opening goal, particularly as times wears on, it becomes difficult to understand why we won’t counter with pace. When Sam Pearson came on, he had acres of space to run into from a caught corner, a brilliant opportunity for Ollie Wright to sling a long throw out into his path, but we waited… and waited… and waited… until Rochdale had regained their shape and high line, causing us to start from the back once again. A bit of pace and intensity could’ve got us over the line today I felt.

The fans were class today. A nod to the fans today, that second half was buzzing. I was in the Screwfix stand, and hearing the Thatchers off to my left in fine voice for a good 75 minutes or so was brilliant to see, and I do think it helped the boys along. A few long stoppages sucked the life out of the game and the fans unfortunately, but brilliant work you Glovers!

On to Boston!

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Manager Mark Cooper is looking to bring some experience in to his Yeovil Town side after they were beaten by an injury time goal from Rochdale on Bank Holiday Monday.

A strike from winger Connor McBride in the first minute of second half stoppage time meant the Glovers finished the long weekend with no points from their two National League Premier Division fixtures.

They travel to Boston United this weekend with the Lincolnshire outfit buoyed by an impressive win away at big-spending York City, a result which has left Cooper convinced that it will be “an open league” this season.

Speaking after the game, he said: “We need to do a bit of work in the transfer market. I have had a good luck at things now and we need to bring a couple in with a little bit of experience and we need to move a couple along, the lads who have not been playing much. We need to bring some real characters in.”

The Glovers, who were already without left-back Alex Whittle, saw defenders Morgan Williams and Michael Smith both go off in the second half on Monday.

Alex Whittle, who was missing with a hamstring injury. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Cooper said Williams had “a sore face after a whack off the ball“, but said Smith “just ran out of steam” when he was replaced after 69 minutes having played 72 minutes up at Gateshead just 48 hours earlier.

Asked whether the punishing schedule had contributed to the performance, the boss said: “The EFL and Premier League spend so much money on sports science and focus on recovery and the boys who do not have so much access to that get asked to play twice in 48 hours. It seems crazy to me, but that is the National League.”

Overall, Cooper said he felt his side made a contest of the match for the first hour and did not deserve to finish the match empty handed – but they were undone by an individual error.

He said: “For 60 minutes we played really well, controlled the opposition and we should have been comfortably ahead, but when you do not do that you have to be completely faultless in your defending.

“We did that except for one action when one of our lads has run out of a great position and their lad gets a free shot from 20 yards out and we get punished for it. No way did we deserve to lose.”

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Yeovil Town lost 1-0 at home to Rochdale on Bank Holiday Monday. 

A single Connor McBride goal on the stroke of 90 minutes was all that seaparated the sides on a roasting hot day at Huish Park.

First half

The opening changes suggested Yeovil were looking to press their opponents far more than they had been in the previous outing at Huish Park, the 3-2 win over Ebbsfleet United last Tuesday night. Frank Nouble was at the heart of it pressuring the Rochdale backline.

With eight minutes gone, Yeovil spurned two great opportunities to take the lead. Rochdale captain Ethan Ebanks-Landell pulled up with an injury and the Glovers capitalised with Young bearing down in goal, it bounced around inside the box until eventually Charlie Cooper hammered in a shot which was saved by Luke McNicholas.

Luke McNicholas class for the ball under pressure from Jordan Young. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

It bounced out to the right side where Michael Smith lifted it in and picked out Aaron Jarvis on the back post, but he could not get enough power on it and it was hacked off the line. Those are exactly the type of chances we have to be taking at this level.

Ebanks-Landell went off, replaced by Kyle Ferguson before the visitors had a good opportunity of their own after ten minutes. A moment of hesitancy from goalkeeper Ollie Wright who hesitated on his line as visitors’ striker Kairo Mitchell broke through and Morgan Williams had to make a last ditch dash to bail out his keeper.

This was definitely a game of two sides who showed in the opening 20 minutes that they like to keep the ball down.

With just under half-an-hour gone, a great turn in the middle of park from Frank Nouble saw him set Josh Sims away, but the winger could not get his shot away and Rochdale shepherded the ball out for a corner. From the resulting Brett McGavin flag kick, Williams’ got his head to it but could not control it.

Rochdale keeper Luke McNicholas scrambles back….

On 38 minutes, Yeovil came about as close to taking the lead as is possible. McNicholas’ attempted to clear it and Jordan oung managed to get a header on it from fully 40 yards out, the ball lofted over the keeper and bounced towards the goal as McNicholas scrambled back to clear it.  Assistant Oliver Taylor judged it did not cross the line despite him being at least ten yards behind the ball with the only people able to tell you whether it did cross the line being the away supporters.

Two minutes later visiting midfielder Tarryn Allrakhia fed an inch-perfect ball through to Kairo Mitchell who beat the offside trap and the striker fizzed a shot just over the bar, literally centimetres over the bar.

A pretty even first 45 minutes with both teams trying to move the ball quickly past each other, not end-to-end but a good standard of football on show for the Bank Holiday crowd.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Rochdale 0

Second half

The visitors made two substitutions at the start of the first half with former Glovers’ loanee winger Courtney senior replaced by Tobi Adebayo-Rowling and Finlay Armstrong coming off in place of Connor McBride. No changes for Yeovil.

With five minutes of the half gone, Nouble did superbly to take the ball forward down the right-hand side and fizz a ball in where Aaron Jarvis was arriving, but the striker could not bundle the ball past McNicholas in front of the Thatcher’s End.

McGavin lashed one over from distance a couple of minutes later, but a hat tip to the build up largely involving Josh Sims which led to that chance. Judging from McGavin’s YouTube reel, you can’t blame him for having a go from 30-odd yards.

McGavin hammers one over…..

With 64 minutes on the clock, Jordan Young, who had become a father on Sunday, and Josh Sims were withdrawn in place of Sam Pearson and Harvey Greenslade. Sims had not had the impact that he had in his previous appearances and the arrival of Pearson and Greenslade should offer additional pace.

Three minutes Greenslade had a great chance chipping one towards the back post which caused problems without getting over the line in front of a very noisy sounding Thatcher’s End.

On 73 minutes, it was the visitors’ chance to have a go at goal having worked the ball in nicely from the right-hand side and Aaron Henry’s effort went just over the bar. Sam Beckwith had an opportunity soon after and the danger was definitely coming down that flank with Araoye and Greenslade finding themselves in problems.

The game was starting to slow at this point with chances coming at a premium.

Morgan Williams blocked a fierce shot from a Rochdale forward and the impact seemed to really rock the defender, after a couple minutes of treatment on the pitch, he was replaced by Finn Cousin-Dawson for his home debut.

Aaron Henry saw an effort sail wide with a few moments left, the visitors enjoying the majority of the ball in the latter stages.

Then, no sooner had the fourth officials board gone up to signal seven additional minutes, did Connor MCBRIDE fire home. The ball broke loose to the forward on the edge of the box, he had time to his spot down to Ollie Wright’s right hand side and the keeper, at full stretch was unable to get close.

The Glovers upped the urgency for the remainder of added time, even Wright found himself forward for a last ditch free kick, but there was nothing more significant than an Aaron Jarvis booking to speak of as the ref sounded for full-time.

A frustrated Huish Park streamed for the exits; what might have been.

Full time: Yeovil Town 0 Rochdale 1

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Date: Monday 26th August – 3pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier

Pitch:  Superb, as we have come to expect
Conditions: Red hot

Attendance: 3,686 (182 Away)

Scorers:  Connor McBride (0-1 ’82)

Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Aaron Jarvis ’95
Rochdale: Tarryn Allrakhia 40, Aaron Henry 47.

Referee: Alan Dale

Yeovil Town (4-2-3-1)

 

Substitutes: Sam Pearson (for Jordan Young ’64),  Harvey Greenslade (for Josh Sims ’64), , Matt Worthington (for Michael Smith ’69), Sonny Blu Lo-Everton (for Charlie Cooper ’78, Finn Cousin-Dawson (For Williams ’83),  Dylan Morgan (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Rochdale : Luke McNicholas, Kyron Gordon, Finlay Armstrong for Connor McBride, 46), Ryan East, Aaron Henry, Ethan Ebanks-Landell (for Kyle Ferguson, 10), Tarryn Allarakhia, Kairo Mitchell (for Ian Henderson ’69), Courtney Senior (for Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, 46), Jake Burger (for Devante Rodney ’82), Sam Beckwith.
Substitutes (not used): Bradley Kelly, Ody Alfa,

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Yeovil Town boss Mark Cooper said the four changes he has made to his side’s starting line-up will freshen them up as they take on Rochdale at Huish Park this afternoon.

The Glovers’ boss has brought in on loan Bristol City defender Raphael Araoye, midfielder Charlie Cooper and forwards Jordan Young and Frank Nouble from the side which started the 3-1 defeat at Gateshead on Saturday with full-back Jordan Thomas, captain Matt Worthington and Sam Pearson and Harvey Greenslade, making way.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Mark Stillman ahead of the game, the manager said: “We had a big game on Tuesday night and then  another one on Saturday, it seems ridiculous playing another 48 hours late, so we have had to monitor one or two players’ loads and there are one or two who are at risk of injury, so we have freshened things up.

“Matt Worthington will have a little bit of a breather today, but he will probably play the last half-an-hour, and Raph Araoye comes in as the left-sided defender, I felt we needed more of a natural defender there.

“We have been monitoring players throughout this first part of the season until we get this batch of games out of the way, we do not want to risk too many injuries so we have to manage the players’ workloads without weakening the team.”

Matt Worthington is on the bench. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

Full-back Alex Whittle is missing from the squad with a hamstring injury he picked up in the first half of last Tuesday night’s 3-2 home win over Ebbsfleet United, and Cooper is hoping he will be fit for the trip to newly-promoted Boston United on Saturday. He said: “He’s not quite made it today and with hamstring injuries you have to be careful.”

Rochdale, who have made a four-hour trip (probably more with Bank Holiday traffic) down from Greater Manchester, picked up a point from a goalless draw at home to big-spending Forest Green Rovers on Saturday.

Cooper said: “They are a good football team and they try and play football and pass the ball across the pitch, so they will be a dangerous opposition. They are a big club, a Football League club up until the last couple of years, so we are expecting a really tough game.“

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Yeovil Town have made four changes for the Bank Holiday Monday match with Rochdale at Huish Park today (3pm kick-off).

On-loan Bristol City defender Raphael Araoye, midfielder Charlie Cooper and forwards Jordan Young and Frank Nouble are all named in the starting XI having missed the 3-1 defeat at Gateshead on Saturday. Captain Matt Worthington, Sam Pearson and Harvey Greenslade all drop to the bench, whilst there is no place for Jordan Thomas.

The visitors also make four changes including bringing in former Yeovil loanee Courtney Senior to their starting XI. The winger arrived in Greater Manchester in the summer following his release by Barnet.

Substitutes: Matt Gould, Finn Cousin-Dawson, Matt Worthington, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, Sam Pearson, Dylan Morgan, Harvey Greenslade.

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48 hours after they departed Gateshead, Yeovil Town prepare to face a Rochdale side who have faced a long journey from Greater Manchester to Huish for the Bank Holiday Monday fixture.

Form Guide…

Having had a convincing 3-0 win at newly-promoted Boston United on the opening day of the new season, Rochdale have had to settle for two draws and a defeat from their other three fixtures of the season.

The goalless draw at home to Forest Green Rovers on Saturday saw them respond to a 1-0 defeat at York City in midweek, give them five points from their opening four matches.

The big news at Spotland this summer has been the takeover of the club by a trust set up by tech billionaire Sir Peter Ogden, who was born in the town.  Towards the end of last season there had been fears the club was on the brink of liquidation.

Yeovil, under the ownership of their own local businessman, Martin Hellier, have six points from their opening four games having picked up two wins and two defeats.

Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Gateshead followed back-to-back victories at Braintree Town and then Ebbsfleet United at Huish Park on Tuesday night, and the Glovers will be hoping a return to home comforts can see them get back to winning ways.

Harvey Greenslade was the match-winner as Yeovil ran out 3-2 winners over Ebbsfleet;. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

 

Key Players…

Josh Sims

Since signing for his hometown team just ten days ago, winger Josh Sims has been feeling his way back to fitness having not played since turning out for Ross County in the Scottish Premiership relegation play-off in May.

But the 27-year-old has shown plenty in his minutes on the pitch in the last three matches to suggest he can be a vital asset for Mark Cooper’s men. Having featured for 20 minutes at the end of the win at Braintree, Sims played the first half of last Tuesday’s 3-2 home win over Ebbsfleet United and then an hour up at Gateshead on Saturday.

Josh Sims in action. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

Devante Rodney

Former Manchester City academy player Devante Rodney will be a threat for Rochdale at Huish Park on Bank Holiday Monday.

He has started all four of their matches this season playing alongside Cairo Mitchell and bagged twice in the opening day win at Boston United.

 That’s what he said…

Yeovil Town boss Mark Cooper wasted no time in his preparation for the visit of Rochdale watching their goalless draw with Forest Green Rovers on National League TV on the journey back from Gateshead

Speaking after the defeat on Saturday, he said: “We will try and watch it on our way home, we have watched some of their games already, so we will look at how they set up. We have limited time to prepare, so we can’t waste any time.”

Rochdale head coach Jim McNulty, who much like his opposite number Mark Cooper signed a new long-term deal in the summer, said he thought his side dominated Forest Green on Saturday, but could not find the breakthrough.

He said they were “searching for answers to show a bit of quality and find the back of the net” against Forest Green and hoped that Yeovil would attack his side more on Monday 

McNulty said: “You would think they will not just sit in and maybe that could lead for a different game. It will be a long trip down there (to Yeovil), so it will be able recovery, being positive and bouncing in to the next game knowing we can win a game.”

Dale suffered a blow with midfielder Harvey Gilmour limped off with a hamstring injury after 55 minutes on Saturday, and questioned the “crazy scheduling” which sees his side make the four-hour journey to Somerset just 48 hours after playing.

Asked what preparation he could do following the Saturday fixture, he said: “We can’t do anything on Sunday, we just have to travel to Yeovil. All we can do is plan for how that game might go, some very, very light stuff, but it’s uncharted territory to have a game so soon.”

We’ve met before…

It has been almost a decade since these two sides met with Rochdale coming out the winners with a 2-1 victory in Greater Manchester back in March 2015. James Hayter was the scorer for Yeovil on that day.

The last time they met at Huish Park, Ian Henderson, the veteran Dale striker who is still a key part of the squad, scored twice in a 3-0 win. In fact, you have to go back to April 2012 to find a Yeovil win, a 3-1 victory at Huish Park.

But, Rochdale holds a special place in Yeovil Town history with Spotland being the location of our first Football League fixture – and win – back on a blisteringly hot day in August 2003. Let’s enjoy that one, eh?!

Don’t I know you?

Courtney Senior is a player whose Yeovil Town ‘career’ you could easily have missed, but the winger made four appearances during a one-month loan at Huish Park in National League South last season.

He was released by Barnet at the end of last season and moved to Greater Manchester on a one-month contract earlier this month. He has appeared off the bench as a 87th-minute substitute in the goalless draw against Forest Green on Saturday and the defeat at York City last Tuesday.

Who’s been naughty then?

There are no suspensions for either side. Bit early for that.

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Bank Holiday Monday and Huish Park is the setting for the Glovers taking on Rochdale.

Do referee’s get time-and-a-half for working on Bank Holidays? I assume not, but if they do, here’s who is earning that coin.

Alan Dale will take charge of the game.

Dale has been a referee at this level for a number of years and has taken charge of five Glovers game in his time, two of which were at Huish Park.

Both of those games ended in Green and White wins, as did the last occasion where Mr Dale was in the middle – a 2-0 win over Dagenham & Redbridge in January 2023 (you know, before it all went to pot).

Goals from Jordan Maguire-Drew and Matt Worthington sealed the points.

Dagenham defender Harry Phipps was sent off for DOGSO in the incident that led up to JM-D’s goal, with Daryl McMahon saying after the game.

“The referee’s decision to send Phippsy off, I’ve seen it back during the game and at half-time, Phippsy was outside the box so it wasn’t a penalty and we had two players round covering as well, so to give a red card I think is a bad decision,” 

In a slightly odd twist, Mr Dale also took charge of Dagenham v Yeovil in the 2020/21 season, where he also gave a red card, this time to Luke Wilkinson – also for DOSGO – when he dragged back a Daggers attacker on the break.

Both of Mr Dale’s assistants for Monday are called Oliver, with Ollie Spender and Ollie Taylor flagging about with David Nicholson standing by just in case,.