Highlights: Yeovil Town 3 Maidenhead United 1
2024-10-26
Three goals, three points – let’s watch it again,
Cooper: Goal was a bonus
2024-10-26
Yeovil Town midfielder Charlie Cooper said opening his goal-scoring account in the 3-1 home win over Maidenhead United was a bonus.
The 27-year-old found the net with a thunderous strike from outside the box after 63 minutes to open a two-goal advantage for the Glovers at Huish Park. His last goal came for Wealdstone in a 4-2 defeat at Altrincham back in April 2022.
Speaking to BBC Somerset reporter Ian Randall after the game, he said: “It was a bit of a relief to score, but all round it was a good day so that was a bit of an extra for me.
“It is not my main job to go and score goals, there are a lot of other lads in the team who are more gifted in that area than me. It is nice to have the goal as a bit of a bonus, but as long as I can do my main job in the team, being defensively solid, I am happy.”
Striker Aaron Jarvis netted early in both halves to give the side momentum and Cooper said his team-mates enjoyed themselves in what he described as their best performance of the season so far.
He said: “We scored two goals at good times (early in each half) but I thought all round we were very good today. I thought that was our best performance of the season today, it was a joy to play in, we just have to keep it going now.
“We were having loads of fun out there passing the ball around and that is what you want to do, you want to have some fun when you play and the scoreline reflects that.”
On Jarvis, he added: “He was a real joy to play with today, every time it went up to him he looked a threat and he got his reward with his two goals. He can be a real threat for us, he will be confident now so hopefully that will keep him going.”
On impressive Bristol Rovers’ loanee Kofi Shaw, he said: “The confidence and arrogance – in a good way – of how he gets on the ball and does things you would not think a 17-year-old could do was really good. So long may that continue. He is a raw player, like a street footballer, and we have seen that in the short time he has been here. I think he will just get better and better as long as we keep giving confidence, he will be a real asset going forward.”
The result moves Yeovil in to the National League Premier Division play-off places, ahead of eighth-placed Solihull Moors on goal difference, as they prepare for a weekend off in seven days time, virtue of their early exit from the FA Cup.
Cooper said he does not look at league tables at this stage of the season (maybe just a little peek, Charlie?), but admitted the side had a lot of momentum.
He said: “We have a lot of momentum at the minute, but we have a chance to have a little break and rest and recuperate and hit the ground running when we get back.
“Personally I do not look at the table, we just have to keep going, but if you said that to people around the club, you would snap your hand off. We know as a group, we just have to keep going.
“Everyone should be buzzing with how things are going following on from the promotion last year and coming in to this league and being competitive. Everyone around the club should be buzzing, if we have a little dip in form, so what? We will just get back on the horse and keep going.
“It should be a really positive place because when it is, it can be a real force to be reckoned with.“
Cooper: We are in a rich vein of form
2024-10-26
Following Yeovil Town’s 3-1 home win over Maidenhead United at Huish Park, manager Mark Cooper spoke to BBC Somerset reporter Ian Randall.
He was asked about the performance, in particular of two-goal hero striker Aaron Jarvis and impressive Bristol Rovers’ loanee Kofi Shaw, and gave an update on the future of winger Jordan Young, who was not named in the squad for the victory.
Here’s what the boss said…..
IR: Did that feel a comfortable afternoon for you?
MC: I thought we played really well again. We are in a rich vein of form and look accomplished and organised in the way we play and a threat. We competed for every ball as well, so I was really happy with the way we played. For me it never feels comfortable, we missed lots of chances to make it out of sight, but I will take 3-1.
IR: Aaron Jarvis’ confidence is evident at the moment. He made the first goal for himself and never looked likely to miss, and for the second goal he was in the right place for a poacher’s finish.
MC: He could have scored four or five today. The only downside is he got himself booked, he gets beaten up every week and if he gets stuck in he gets booked. I think he is suspended now which is a blow because we are losing players at the minute, but we keep performing really well.
IR: You made four changes today, but the machine still functioned, didn’t it?
MC: The players all know what they are doing, we have a distinct style and a clear way of playing. We are patient with our build-up and we try and get the ball in to the slots for the attacking players to go and attack. Whoever comes in understands their role and they have to effect the team and perform well.
IR: Charlie did not know when his last goal was, is that something you feel he needs to add more to his game?
MC: The way we play with three central defenders and two midfield players, their job is to defend the back half of the pitch, win the ball and pass it safely to the players in front of them. So that means the only time they really get near the goal is in the second phase of an attack or from a set-piece, so I am not too worried about that. It would be nice if he could (score a few more), Brett (McGavin) has four goals and he has always scored goals. Charlie scored a lot of goals as a kid, but he has ended up being more of a defensive midfield player.
IR: What did you think of Kofi Shaw today?
MC: I thought he was tremendous, you would never think he was a 17-year-old from his performance, would you? We do not just go and sign players willy-nilly, we do a lot of work and we have been tracking Kofi since pre-season when we played Bristol Rovers. We had to wait and be patient and we really thank Bristol Rovers for letting us have him.
IR: Was it with a conversation about ‘if you would like to send him out on loan, we would like to have him’?
MC: No, it was about the right time. Bristol Rovers is a big club and they have to win games, like we all do. It is probably not the right time for Kofi to be starting for Bristol Rovers, but they feel it would do him good to drop down a couple of levels and start games. Kofi bought in to that and you can see from his performance today that playing in this environment and the way we play can only do him good.
IR: Jordan Young was not involved today and there has been a rumour circulating about other clubs making offers for him, what is his position at Yeovil?
MC: We have had an offer for Jordan, so we are discussing that and we will take some time over the weekend to see what happens.
IR: Do you think he will still be a Yeovil Town player when you play again in two weeks?
MC: I am not sure.
IR: Obviously he cannot go in to the Football League at this point because of the transfer window not being open, so it is presumably another National League club, is it?
MC: It is a National League club, yes. All I will say is we have to keep evolving, we have to keep trying to make the the squad better. We have to make sure everyone who comes here is desperate to play for us and all I would say is trust in what we are doing.
IR: Would you like another game next Saturday? I know you have not got one because it is FA Cup weekend, but you are six matches unbeaten in the league.
MC: We would still love to be in the FA Cup, we would never disrespect that. But if you get a little break where you do not play for a week, it gives you a chance to freshen everyone up. The players will get two or three days off and they can go and do a bit of early Christmas shopping! We are looking forward to freshening up and going to our next game at Southend United which will be a really difficult game. So we will have to do some work and get ready for that.
Glovers receive offer for Young
2024-10-26
Yeovil Town have received an offer from an unnamed National League club for winger Jordan Young.
Manager Mark Cooper confirmed the offer following the 3-1 home win over Maidenhead United on Saturday which saw the 25-year-old left out of the squad.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Ian Randall after the game, the boss called on supporters to trust him with decisions about the Glovers’ playing squad.
He said: “We have had an offer for Jordan, so we are discussing that and we will take some time over the weekend to consider that. All I will say is we have to keep evolving we have to keep making the squad better and make sure everyone who comes here is desperate to play for us and all I will say is trust what we are doing.”
Young, who joined from Chippenham Town in January 2023, appeared off the substitutes’ bench in the 0-0 draw at Tamworth on Tuesday night, but was not in the squad against Maidenhead.
Man of the Match Voting: Maidenhead United (home)
2024-10-26
It was two-goal hero Aaron Jarvis who got the sponsors’ Man of the Match in the 3-1 home win over Maidenhead United at Huish Park today, but who was your star in green-and-white?
Loading ...Match Report: Yeovil Town 3 Maidenhead United 1
2024-10-26
A brace from striker Aaron Jarvis and a blistering strike from Charlie Cooper saw Yeovil Town cruise to a 3-1 home win over Maidenhead United at Huish Park.
The Glovers took the lead after ten minutes when Jarvis did superbly inside the box before lashing home the opener, before the visitors’ Kevin Lokko pulled the game levelled when he flicked a header past Ollie Wright on 26 minutes.
But when Jarvis added his second on 52 minutes with a poacher’s finish from a cross from the impressive Kofi Shaw before a thunderous strike from Cooper sealed the win with 63 minutes on the clock.
Yeovil were good value for their three points which moves us in to the National League Premier Division play-off places in seventh place, ahead of eighth-placed Solihull Moors on goal difference.
First half
Manager Mark Cooper made four changes to his starting line-up following the goalless draw at Tamworth four days earlier. Finn Cousin-Dawson replaced the suspended Morgan Williams, Alex Whittle came in for injured captain Matt Worthington with Dylan Morgan dropped to the bench in place of Bristol Rovers’ loanee Kofi Shaw and Frank Nouble replacing Ciaran McGuckin, who was recalled by Rotherham United in the week.
Following a quiet ten minutes, the first action of the match led to the opening goal for Yeovil. Neat play between Shaw and Brett McGavin found Nouble who picked out Aaron JARVIS. The striker still had a lot of work to do, he turned his defender one way and then the other before stroking a composed finish pass Craig Ross. A great start.
Jarvis had another shot blocked two minutes later before Shaw played a great ball through to Nouble who forced a fine stop from Ross. Jarvis was typically all-action and had a couple on ‘discussions’ with manager William Davies. A dangerous game to play with the striker on four bookings this season, one more means a suspension.
But on 25 minutes the visitors equalised. A soft free-kick conceded by Jake Wannell on Sam Barrett saw Barrett float a superb ball in to the box and centre half Kevin LOKKO got the faintest of touches on it to guide it in to the net. Maidenhead had created nothing in open play, but pick your cliche about the importance of set-pieces at this level.
Remember I mentioned about Jarvis? On 27 minutes, he got the booking which he had been warned about for a shove on Lokko and that means he will miss the next fixture at Southend United in a couple of weeks.
There was a nervous moment on 35 minutes when a quick break saw Shawn McCoulsky got the better of Cousin-Dawson and tried to lob Ollie Wright but the keeper did well to get something on it to turn the ball wide.
Four minutes before half-time, Jarvis almost got his second goal when his goal-bound header from Whittle’s cross was denied by a full stretch save from Ross. From the resulting corner, Cousin-Dawson glanced a header over from Brett McGavin’s corner.
As the game ticked in to injury time, a lovely shimmy from Shaw saw him create something from nothing and get a ball to the far post where McGavin could not quite get on the end of it. Shaw has definitely shown there is a lot of talent in his legs and someone who has a trick up his sleeve.
Half time: Yeovil Town 1 Maidenhead United 1
Second half
If you liked the early goal to the first half, how do you fancy it again in the second half? Okay fine. Shaw was involved with a lovely back heel which created space from Jake Wannell whose cross took a slight deflection and landed at the feet of Aaron JARVIS who turned home his second with 52 minutes on the clock.
Jarvis almost made it a hat-trick on 55 minutes when he could not quite get on the end of an early James Plant cross after good play between McGavin and Whittle, and then again five minutes later after another nice back heel from Shaw saw him pick out Jarvis whose effort was well saved by the knees of Ross.
On XX minutes, a wonderful bit of build up play found Wannell inside the 18-yard box and tried to find Jarvis but it was well defended by Maidenhead for a corner. From the resulting corner, Nouble had an effort blocked on the post by Barratt.
You just felt a goal was coming and then it came in some style. A McGavin corner was defended by the visitors and fell to Charlie COOPER who blasted it back through a crowded area and past an unsighted Ross. That is his first goal for Yeovil Town – and his first since scoring for Wealdstone in April 2022. Worth the wait.
For the second weekend in a row, the game feels like it has been put to bed with time to spare. Maidenhead have not threatened to create much and made a number of changes off the bench including ex-Yeovil striker Tristan Abrahams as the game crept towards the end.
The Glovers’ changes came soon after with Josh Sims replacing Alex Whittle and then Sonny Blu Lo-Everton replacing Shaw, who got a rapturous reception from the Huish Park crowd. Sandwiched in between them there was a booking for Dom Bernard, his fifth of the season as well. That means we will be without both Jarvis and Bernard and the already suspended Morgan Williams for the match at Southend in the next match.
Full time: Yeovil Town 3 Maidenhead United 1
Match Details
Venue: Huish Park
Date: Saturday 26th October – 3pm kick-off
Competition: National League Premier Division
Scorers: Aaron Jarvis 10 (1-0), Kevin Lokko 25 (1-1), Aaron Jarvis 52 (2-1), Charlie Cooper 63 (3-1)
Pitch: Looking decent for October – despite the burst sprinkler which required a pre-match repair
Conditions: Low autumn sunshine meaning goalkeepers requiring baseball caps
Attendance: 3,333 (70 away supporters)
Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Aaron Jarvis 28, Dom Bernard 85
Maidenhead United: Will de Havilland 34
Red Cards:
Yeovil Town: Text
Maidenhead United
Referee: William Davies
Yeovil Town (3-4-2-1)
Substitutes: Josh Sims (for Alex Whittle, 84), Sonny Blu Lo-Everton (for Kofi Shaw, 87), Harvey Greenslade (for Aaron Jarvis, 89), Dylan Morgan (for James Plant, 90+3), Caleb Hughes (not used), Matt Gould (not used).
Maidenhead United: Craig Ross, Will De Havilland (for Alan Massey, 84), Kevin Lokko, Thierry Latty-Fairweather, Nathan Ferguson, Shawn McCoulsky (for Tobi Sho-Silva, 74), Casey Pettit, Reece Smith (for Ruben Carvalho, 80), Miles Welch-Hayes (for Owen Cochrane, 80), Sam Barratt (for Tristan Abrahams, 64), James Golding.
Substitutes (not used): Harvey Collins, Kane Ferdinand.
Cooper: FC-D has earned his chance
2024-10-26
Yeovil Town boss Mark Cooper says defender Finn Cousin-Dawson has deserved his chance in the starting XI for today’s home match with Maidenhead United.
The defender, a summer signing following his release by Bradford City, replaces the suspended Morgan Williams who is banned following his sending off in the goalless draw at Tamworth on Tuesday night.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Ian Randall ahead of the match, Cooper said: “Finn Cousin-Dawson replaces Morgs, there is no drama there. Finn has waited patiently for his chance, trained really hard so he gets an opportunity. Whittle comes in on the left and we have switched Plant across to the right, he is right-footed, so that is an easy one for us.”
The 22-year-old has made seven appearances ahead of today’s game although only started twice. He is one of four changes to the Glovers’ XI with Alex Whittle, Frank Nouble and Kofi Shaw all in the starting line-up.
New signing Caleb Hughes is named among the six substitutes – of the seven able to be named this season – and Cooper revealed pre-match that the original plan had been to loan the former Cardiff City academy product out.
He said: “Caleb has been training with us for a number of weeks now and initially the thought was that we were going to get him in and loan him straight out, to give him a chances to get some games under his belt. But we need him today for numbers, so he will be on the bench.”
Following the match, the Glovers will sit out next weekend following their exit from the FA Cup, but the manager said the break would give injured players including full-back Michael Smith and injured captain Matt Worthington more time in their own fitness fights.
He added: “It enables us to clear a few little niggles up. We would rather be in the FA Cup, but it gives Michael Smith and Worthy an extra week and it gives some of the players who are not quite up to speed yet a chance to top up.”
Team News: Maidenhead United (home)
2024-10-26
Yeovil Town make four changes to the side which drew 0-0 at Tamworth in midweek as they take on Maidenhead United at Huish Park (3pm kick-off).
Finn Cousin-Dawson replaces the suspended Morgan Williams, Alex Whittle and Frank Nouble are in for injured captain Matt Worthington and Dylan Morgan and there is a first start for Bristol Rovers’ loanee Kofi Shaw, who replaces Ciaran McGuckin following his recall by Rotherham United in midweek.
Morgan and new signing Caleb Hughes are among the six substitutes – with seven the maximum number allowed this season – but there is no place in the Glovers’ squad for winger Jordan Young.
Foot In The Opposition Camp – Maidenhead (H)
2024-10-26
Match day morning and that means one thing, Foot in the Opposition Camp…!
Maidenhead are the visitors today and Ben has spoken to David Simoes from the Maidenhead United Supporters Group, about our opponents for today’s clash at Huish Park.