Gloverscast #390 – “What’s bigger than Jesus?”
2025-01-17
What a week eh? Ian, Dave and Ben discuss it in true Gloverscast fashion.
Wright: Clean sheet is the priority
2025-01-16
Not surprisingly goalkeeper Ollie Wright is making keeping a clean sheet a top priority as Yeovil Town prepare to face Gateshead under the Huish Park floodlights on Friday night.
The Southampton loanee has not kept a clean sheet since the 2-0 win away at Woking at the end of November and said this will be his aim against the Tynesiders.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah on Thursday, he said: “Keeping clean sheets is the most important thing and we have not done that for a while, so (against Gateshead) first and foremost we need to keep a clean sheet and hopefully the lads up top can put the ball in the back of the net. We have a lot of talent in the team, as you saw with Sean (McGurk’s) goal on Tuesday night, you can see what he can do.
“We have been unfortunate with red cards and injuries, but I would back everyone in my back line to do a job. It has chopped and changed and it is difficult, but whoever comes in I back them to do their jobs.”
Gateshead are the National League Premier’s second-highest goalscorers with 50 goals in their 26 matches so far this season, but they have suffered the loss of top-scorer Owen Oseni who has joined Scottish side St Mirren.
Brighton & Hove Albion youngster Louis Flower has been brought in on loan but they started with Ben Worman and Jovan Malcolm, who have four goals between them this season, up front in the 3-1 home defeat to FC Halifax Town on Tuesday night.
Wright said his team-mates saw the quality their opponents possess when they were beaten 3-1 on Tyneside at the end of August and will be expecting another tough game.
He said: “When we played them (in August) they were really good on the ball, so we have to be really solid off-the-ball. It will be a good game. Our home form has not been great, but first and foremost we have to keep a clean sheet.
“The group we have and the staff, we are very solid with very talented players. We could be higher than we are, but there are still a lot of points to play for, so we just have to keep our heads down and keep playing.“
Cooper: It’s a mentality thing
2025-01-16
Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper has called on his players to regain their “winning mentality” as they look to shrug off a disappointing 1-1 draw at bottom club Ebbsfleet United on Tuesday night.
The Glovers took the lead in Kent through a stunning goal from loanee Sean McGurk before a defensive lapse saw them throw away a lead for the fourth time in as many games to drop points.
They take on play-off chasing Gateshead under the floodlights at Huish Park on Friday night knowing they need to cut out the errors quickly.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah on Thursday, the manager said: “That’s our Achilles’ Heel at the minute, we have to try and get the second and third goal so those mistakes are not killing us at the end of the game. It was a game we should be winning.
“It is a mental thing now, a winning mentality, that we make sure we get over the line and get the win. We have thrown so many points away this season, but it is just individual errors that are defensively hurting us. We could easily have 15 points (without those mistakes), but we just have to keep the scoreboard ticking, adding points and see what happens.
“To play the way we play when we dominate the ball, we have plenty of courage, we ask players to take the ball in tight areas. It is a mentality thing, it is not a coaching thing now, it is just about making sure we get over the line. We had a couple of great chances to finish the game off (against Ebbsfleet) but we missed the target or picked the wrong finish, so if we can get that we will be fine.”
Cooper said that his side picked up “one or two bumps and bruises” on Tuesday night, the biggest concern being the loss of striker Aaron Jarvis who limped off with a hamstring injury. There was no update given on his progress, but the Glovers were also without full-back Michael Smith who was not in the squad having picked up a hamstring injury in the previous match.
Loanee Pedro Borges was recalled by his parent club Exeter City ahead of the trip to Ebbsfleet and subsequently loaned back out to National League South side Weston-super-Mare, but Yeovil did strengthen their attacking options with the arrival of forward Lewys Twamley from Merthyr Town on Thursday.
He is expected to be available to face Gateshead and the manager did not rule out potential further new signings. He said: “We are always looking and if we can find quality which will improve us, of course we will recruit. Everybody is after the best players and usually the teams with the most money get the best players. We have to look at it more organically and find little nuggets that are unmined and there are some out there we are keeping tabs on.
“There are more players coming available from League clubs, but you have the issue of them not wanting to drop into the non-League and then there is a pecking order. We are happy with where the squad is, but if we can add a couple of additions.”
One player who has been missing in recent matches is left-back Alex Whittle, who returned on the substitutes’ bench on Tuesday night, albeit did not feature. Cooper said he had not given up on trying to add further cover in that position.
He said: “We have tried to sign two or three left-backs because we were not sure how long Alex was going to be out. It is going to be a big ask for him to play every game, so we are still exploring that option. Most of the goals we have conceded have come down that (left) side, because we have not got a natural left-back, so hopefully he is fit and ready to go.”
Gateshead have lost key players in recent weeks with striker Owen Oseni, who has scored 12 goals this season, has joined Scottish side St Mirren whilst midfielder Callum Whelan has joined League Two outfit Carlisle United. They have brought in young forward Louis Flower from Premier League Brighton & Hove Albion and midfielder Max Sheaf, who recently left Ross County.
The Tynesiders still sit fourth in the National League Premier Division table despite losing their last three games, most recently a 3-1 defeat at home to FC Halifax Town on Tuesday night.
Cooper made no secret of his admiration for the visitors, saying: “They play a brilliant brand of football, total domination of the ball, but they take risks. They have lost some players over the last couple of weeks, but the way they play is difficult to play against. We have to try and implement our game on them if we can. I think it will be a technical game with a lot of good football, two decent teams so I am looking forward to it.”
Match Preview: Yeovil Town vs Gateshead FC
2025-01-16
After a disappointing performance at bottom club Ebbsfleet United in midweek, Yeovil Town are back in action on Friday evening when Gateshead are the visitors to Huish Park.
Form Guide…
It’s not been the best start to 2025 for the Somerset side, with two draws and a loss in the first three games in 2025.
Last time out was disappointing with Mark Cooper’s side succumbing to a 1-1 draw with bottom of the league Ebbsfleet United. The result has seen the club set up a fans’ forum after backlash from a section of supporters.
The Tyneside team have been in a purple patch recently, losing two of their last five, which was to York City. Last time out saw, the North East side lose 1-3 to FC Halifax.
After the departure of manager Rob Elliott who joined Crawley Town in October many would have worried for Gateshead, but the return of former goalkeeper and coach Carl Magnay has kept the team in the play-off places.
Magnay was named the National League Premier Division Manager of the Month for December after The Heed won four out of four, but their form has dropped off in recent weeks and they arrive at Huish Park on the back of three defeats.
After a 1-0 loss away at York City, they were dumped out of the FA Trophy at the hands of Boston United before going down 3-1 at home to FC Halifax Town on Tuesday night.
Key Players…
Yeovil – Sean McGurk
The on loan Swindon Town man has shown what a forward can and should do during his time on loan. It’s not only his two goals in four games that has been impressive.
The Scouser has worked hard and shown quality when in possession. His goal against Ebbsfleet in midweek proved his talent (check it out here).
Gateshead – Regan Booty
Gateshead haven’t had the best January with players leaving. Booty has however stayed so far. The central midfielder has been crucial in the creative areas for the Tynesiders this season, with nine assists to his name.
With striker Owen Oseni and midfielder Callum Whelan having departed this month , Booty will be hoping to link up with frontman Jovan Malcolm, like he did with Oseni.
Thats what he said…
Yeovil Town boss Mark Cooper gave his thoughts to the Press ahead of Friday night’s game. He said: “They play a brilliant brand of football, total domination of the ball, they take some risks but they have lost players.
But the way the play is really difficult to play against, you’ve got to get your press right, you have to make sure you’re spot on out of possession, while implementing our game on them.”
Gateshead manager, Carl Magnay also gave his thoughts before making the long trip south. He said: “It’s a tough game. Yeovil are a massive club in comparison to us, let’s not forget that. This a proper football club, a proper football league club, so they’ll be disappointed to what’s happened to them over the last few seasons.
“They’ve got some tidy footballers in midfield…it’s a tough game and a tough journey.”
We’ve met before…
The two teams have been evenly matched over the years with Yeovil taking seven wins, Gateshead have eight and there being four draws.
The clubs last met in August last year, when the Tyneside’s ran out 3-1 victors, Yeovil’s goal coming from striker, Aaron Jarvis.
Don’t I know you…
Just two ex-Glovers players thus weekend Brandon Haunstrup and Tyneside’s assistant Liam Bridcutt.
Haunstrup technically never signed for the Glovers but was a trialist during pre season ahead of the start of the current campaign. He has not featured for Gateshead since mid-November.
Yeovil were the first senior team of Bridcutt’s career back in 2007/08. Coming on loan from Chelsea making nine appearances in total.
Who’s been naughty then…
No Yeovil players missing through suspension to talk about this week.
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Twamley bolsters Glovers’ attack
2025-01-16
Yeovil Town have signed forward Lewis Twamley from Southern League Premier Division South side Merthyr Town until the summer of 2026.
The 21-year-old has scored 15 times in 21 appearances for the South Wales club this season having joined the club following his release by League Two Newport County in September 2023.
Speaking to the club’s YouTube channel, he said: “I feel this is the right move for me in my career now, I am obviously stepping up two leagues but I feel like I am ready for the move. I trained this morning with the lads and they welcomed me in.
“I did two years at Newport and it did not really go as planned, I went on loan twice (to Salisbury and Pontypridd) which did not really go as planned either, but I came to Merythr and I found a home. I have had a really good season this season and I am hoping to continue my form here.
“I got my move back up because of my form, 15 goals and 21 assists, I think it is, and I just cannot wait to get started here now. I like to get fans off their feet, I am quite a tricky player, left-footed, I like to get the ball on the half term and beat players, but I pride myself on goals and assists.”
He arrives to join a forward line including loanees Ciaran McGuckin, Sean McGurk and Kofi Shaw as well as permanent players Aaron Jarvis, Frank Nouble and Harvey Greenslade. The Glovers face Gateshead in the National League Premier Division at Huish Park on Friday night.
The Welshman joined his hometown team, Cardiff City, at the age of just six years old before moving on to Newport as a teenager and made three appearances in the Papa John’s Trophy in the 2020-21 season. His only other appearance for Newport came off the bench in the same competition at home to Arsenal Under-21s the following season.
Boston Home Game Rearranged
2025-01-16
Yeovil Town will welcome Boston United to Huish Park on Tuesday 11th March following the postponement of the original tie in early February.
Boston’s progression in the FA Trophy means they’ll be pre-occupied for the original date.
The game at. Huish Park kicks off at 7:45 and any tickets purchased for the original game remain valid.
Match Officials: Gateshead (H)
2025-01-16
Yeovil Town host Gateshead on Friday night and our referee for the game is officiating his first National League game of the season.
Ed Duckworth has been exclusively used in the EFL and Cup competitions this season but drops down to the 5th tier for the first time.
If you’re thinking ‘I’ve heard that name before’… you have, we’ve seen Mr Duckworth a few times over the recent years and not always fondly.
Most recently, he was in charge of the TV clash between Yeovil and Southend – you know, THAT one with Alex Fisher’s injury and goals for Murphy and Hyde before they joined us. Shudders.
But, he also sent Miguel Freckleton off for two bookings, the second of which was given for what can only be described as a really good recovering tackle.
Kick us when we’re down, why don’t you?
He also took charge of the 2-1 defeat to York City in North Yorkshire in February of the same season.
We’ve never won a game with Mr Duckworth in charge, whilst Gateshead have a record of four wins from six with him in the middle.
He will assisted by Alan Cresswell and Ravel Cheosiaua, with Lewis Sandoe on 4th Official duties.
Fans’ forum with owner and manager
2025-01-15
Chairman Martin Hellier has said he will answer questions from the club’s supporters alongside manager Mark Cooper at Huish Park next week.
In a post on the club’s social media accounts on Wednesday, the owner said he understood “frustrations” from supporters which came to the fore on social media following the 1-1 draw at bottom club Ebbsfleet United on Tuesday night.
The event will take place next Tuesday, January 21st starting at 7pm in the Alec Stock Lounge at Huish Park.
In his post, the chairman said: “We understand that frustrations are borne from competitive sports such as football. I am certainly pleased with the direction we are going in, as I think Mark (Cooper) is as well. Therefore I thought I would call an impromptu fans’ forum next Tuesday night at the club.
“It will be your chance to get your questions across to Mark and me and you can have that two-way street with us and we will happily answer anything you want to know and happily appease some of your concerns about the direction we are going in. Come on up to the club, have a drink, have a chat and we can chat things through. Hope to see you them.”
He asked any supporters looking to attend the event to comment on the post on the club’s social media to enable the club to estimate numbers of attendees in the venue, which holds around 130 people.
Responding to fans’ questions on social media, club press officer Dan Howell said the fans’ forum would be streamed on YouTube and the club would “take in to consideration and respond” the idea of questions being pre-submitted.
From us here at the Gloverscast, we think it is fantastic the club is looking to host a fans’ forum to speak directly to supporters and encourage anyone with an opinion (let’s be honest, that’s most of us!) to attend the event if you are able.
Yeovil Women’s Round Up – W*ymouth (A)
2025-01-15
Glovers reign supreme on derby day.
Yeovil Town Women came out on top against rivals W*ymouth at the weekend, after a 3-1 victory at the Bob Lucas Stadium. The result saw the Glovers leapfrog the Dorset outfit into second in the Regen Arable Division One South.
Paul Knight made three changes to the starting eleven as Mollie Childs, Laura Wensley and Ceyda Fordrey came into the team.
Yeovil started the stronger of the two sides, as within the opening minute, youngster Fordrey came inches away from giving the visitors a dream start, with her effort striking the woodwork.
Moments later, W*ymouth goalkeeper Issy Heybourne was called into action for the first time, as Chloe Davenport had an effort on goal.
The Glovers’ bright start was rewarded in the 8th minute as Fordrey opened the scoring. She classily took the ball round Heybourne and finished into an empty net, gifting Yeovil the dream start they sought.
Following the goal, the hosts began to grow into the affair. In the 16 th minute Lucy Roberts forced the first meaningful save out of Emily Hall via a free kick, which the Yeovil goalkeeper parried away confidently.
Despite Yeovil’s positive start, with ten minutes left of the half, Weymouth levelled up proceedings, as Annie Redding converted.
An admirable response to the equaliser saw the Glovers retake the lead on the stroke of half time, courtesy of midfielder Abbie Carslake. Despite the sprawling efforts of W*ymouth’s defenders, Carslake’s effort ended up in the back of the net, to restore Yeovil’s advantage
going into the break.
The opening exchanges of the second half stood in stark contrast from that of the first, as neither side took control at the beginning of the second period.
The hosts produced the first scare of the half, as club captain Charlie Wilson struck a first time effort, forcing Hall into her first involvement of the half, as she impressively tipped the ball over the bar.
Despite the Terras’ pressure Yeovil defended gallantly and doubled the advantage on the 70 minute mark via a devastating counter attack. Zara Hunt collected the ball and drove towards goal before finishing in clinical fashion, to give Yeovil daylight on derby day.
A dream debut. 3-1.
FT | Weymouth 1-3 Yeovil Town
Bringing three points back home from Dorset 🧤#YTFC 💚 pic.twitter.com/2BPN4RbcDi
— Yeovil Town Women FC (@YTWomenFC) January 12, 2025
The Glovers did not let up and came close to rubbing salt in W*ymouth wounds, as the crossbar was struck in the 77 th minute.
A strong display in both boxes from Yeovil Town Women saw the match finish 3-1 in their favour, as the Glovers earned their first win of 2025 in stunning style.
The result saw Yeovil swap places with W*ymouth in the league, now sitting in second place with 19 points.
Paul Knight’s side return to action on Sunday 19 th January, as they travel to Highburn Athletic in the Women’s senior cup.
Cooper: Errors cost us again
2025-01-15
Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper spoke of mistakes at both ends of the pitch costing his side at bottom club Ebbsfleet United.
The Glovers went in to the break 1-0 up courtesy of a stunning solo effort from Swindon Town loanee Sean McGurk before a defensive lapse saw Aaron Cosgrave equalise after 57 minutes.
They failed to muster a shot on target despite Ebbsfleet, who have now conceded 65 goals in their 27 league matches, having defender Mustapha Olagunju sent off on 66 minutes.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins after the game, Cooper said: “It is just one mistake that is really hurting us. There’s no really any danger and then we switch off defensively and they run through and score, but I thought we dominated large parts of the game. Second half, we had some brilliant chances, and we have to finish the game, but we didn’t.”
Against an Ebbsfleet side willing to sit in and grab anything they could to aid their relegation fight, Yeovil looked devoid of any attacking threat following the departure of Aaron Jarvis on the hour mark with a hamstring injury.
Cooper said: “We had some brilliant chances in the second half. People will say we didn’t cross the ball enough, but they’ve got ten men inside the box and it is about trying to pull them out of position, which we did a couple of times. That should have led to more goals and a comfortable win. But you have to take the point sometimes and respect it. We are frustrated but we have to move on.”
He added: “The biggest (sign of our) frustration is to shoot from anywhere when you need to keep working the ball side to side and not try and go through the middle, because that’s where their bodies are. We did that brilliantly, I think it was Dom (Bernard) who pulled it back and (Sean) McGurk side-footed it over the bar, (Josh) Sims got in, we did it numerous times. You have to be patient and cut them open and get the pull backs, which is what we did, but we just didn’t have that final finish.”
The loss of Jarvis on the hour mark broke any rhythm Yeovil had in their attacking play and Cooper said the striker was suffering a hamstring injury, the same injury which kept him out of action for long periods at Torquay United last season.
Speaking immediately after the match, the manager said he expected to be without Jarvis for “a couple of weeks”. He also confirmed full-back Michael Smith missed out with a hamstring injury sustained in last weekend’s 1-1 draw at home to Woking.
Next up for the Glovers is Gateshead who make the long journey down to Somerset on Friday night looking to bounce back from a 3-1 home defeat to fellow play-off chasers FC Halifax Town on Tuesday night.
Asked what his side needed to do to turn around their form of no wins in five matches, Cooper said: “Mentality. It’s not coaching thing, it’s a mentality thing. We are conceding individual mistakes that are costing goals. It’s about it’s having that personality and winning mentality to make sure that you’re not the man to make the mistake. If we get 11 players doing that, then you start to keep clean sheets again, which we’ve got away from recently.”