FC-D: I take responsibility for the second goal
Defender Finn Cousin-Dawson has accepted responsibility for the winning goal which saw Yeovil Town fall to a 2-1 defeat at home to struggling Wealdstone today.
The former Bradford City man had pulled the Glovers back level with a thunderous header from a Brett McGavin free-kick on the stroke of half-time, but was beaten by former Huish Park loanee Josh Grant who headed what proved to be the winner after 54 minutes.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Mark Stillman after the game, the 22-year-old said: “I don’t think you can doubt the effort from the boys, but we gave two really poor goals away. I take responsibility for the second (goal scored by Josh Grant) and I don’t think (goalkeeper Aidan Stone) had too much to do, but it is tough to win games when you concede goals like that.
“It is just concentration and defending the box better, but we have really gone for it (to get a second equaliser) and kept pressing and trying to put balls in to the box, the quality just was not there. But we should not have been chasing the game at that point.”
The defeat extended Yeovil’s run without a win to more than two months – with the last win coming on 14th December against Braintree Town – but they have a chance to put it right with the visit of Tamworth to Huish Park on Tuesday night.
The Lambs scored two minutes from the end at Woking this weekend to earn a 1-1 draw.
FC-D added: “Tamworth is going to be a tough game, they will work hard but we have to come together as a group with a good attitude and enthusiasm and try and get a result.”
Cooper: Horrendous defending cost us
Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper has said “horrendous” defending from his side was the difference in today’s 2-1 home defeat to struggling Wealdstone.
The Glovers conceded two goals from set-pieces early in both halves to go down to their 12th defeat of the season despite a header on the stroke of half-time from Finn Cousin-Dawson which briefly drew them level.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Mark Stillman after the game, the boss said: “When you are low on confidence, the goal (against us) takes all the stuffing out of us. We had bits and pieces again around the box and if we get a chance to get a shot off we hit someone up the backside or don’t get a clean strike, but if you concede crap goals, that is what happens. I am not sure we deserved that result today.
“We played two out-and-out centre forwards (Ciaran McGuckin and Kyrell Wilson) with a number ten (Sean McGurk) behind them, we played two wingers (James Plant and Josh Sims) as wing backs, but none of that matters if you concede rubbish goals. We have to be more resilient and diligent in our defending, but I don’t think we could have got more attacking players on the pitch today.”
Visiting winger Enzio Boldewijn gave Wealdstone, who remain in the bottom four of the National League Premier despite today’s victory, the lead when he rose unchallenged to head the opener after 15 minutes.
Cousin-Dawson scored by exactly the same method when he met a Brett McGavin set-piece with a thumping header on the stroke of half-time, but within nine minutes of the restart the visitors restored their lead through former Glovers’ loanee, defender Josh Grant.
Cooper added: “If you look at our goalkeeper, he has not had a save to make all game, but he has had to pick the ball out of his net twice. The game is decided on two horrendous goals we gave away. We are playing against another team that is struggling and we gave them the impetus with about six mistakes in the first goals and we just let their right winger head the ball inside the six-yard box.
“I thought we reacted well to (going behind) and we had chances and we scored a good free-kick and you feel the ascendancy going in to the second half, but then we conceded with a free header on the penalty spot. A 6’1″ defender against a 5’10” player and the little fella wins the battle and scores the header and that gives them something to hang on to. We were knocking on the door, but we could not break it down.
“I didn’t think the performance today was bad, I thought we were front foot and got after them and had some good chances (to score) in the first half. But the goals (we concede) are horrendous, you have to do your job as a defender and clear the ball. If you concede goals like that, it becomes difficult.”
The defeat means the Glovers have not won since the 3-1 home win over Braintree Town more than two months ago, but have another chance to pick up three points when Tamworth visit Huish Park on Tuesday night.
Match Report: Yeovil Town 1 Wealdstone 2
Yeovil Town’s run without a win stretched to nine games and two months after they were beaten by relegation battlers Wealdstone at Huish Park this afternoon.
The Glovers fell behind to a soft header from Enzio Boldewijn after just 14 minutes before Finn Cousin-Dawson thumped home a header as the game ticked in to first half injury time.
But, it was more poor defending which gifted former Yeovil loanee Josh Grant ten minutes in to the second half and then the home side were unable to break down a resolute Wealdstone defence.
First half
Half time: Yeovil Town 1 Wealdstone 1
Second half
Full time: Yeovil Town 1 Wealdstone 2
Match Details
Venue: Huish Park
Date: Saturday 15th February, 3pm
Competition: National League Premier Division
Scorers: Enzio Boldewijn 14 (0-1), Finn Cousin-Dawson 45 (1-1), Josh Grant 55 (1-2),
Pitch: Slippy and patchy in front of the Thatchers End
Conditions: Overcast and chilly
Attendance: 3,179 (143 away supporters)
Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Jake Wannell 19, Kofi Shaw 87
Wealdstone: Adrian Mariappa 19, Alex Reid 30, Craig Eastmond 61, Connor McAvoy 66, Alex Dyer 88, Luca Gunter 90+2
Referee: Issac Searle
Yeovil Town (3-4-2-1)
Substitutes: Kofi Shaw (for Sean McGurk, 61), Lewys Twamley (for Dom Bernard, 69), Harvey Greenslade (for Ciaran McGuckin, 75), Frank Nouble (for Josh Sims, 83), Michael Smith (not used), Matt Gould (not used).
Wealdstone: Luca Gunter, Anthony Georgiou, Adrian Mariappa, Josh Grant, Connor McAvoy, Enzio Boldewijn (for Dominic Hutchinson, 46), Max Kretzschmar, Craig Eastmond, Harrison Sohna, Micah Obiero (for Alex Dyer, 79), Alex Reid.
Substitutes (not used): Dante Baptiste, Henry Jeffcott, Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong, Jeffrey Sekyere.
Williams out with a hamstring injury
Yeovil Town defender Morgan Williams misses out on today’s home game with Wealdstone with a hamstring injury picked up in training during the week.
He is one of five changes to the starting line-up which drew 1-1 at Dagenham & Redbridge last weekend with Finn Cousin-Dawson, Dom Bernard, Sean McGurk, Josh Sims and Ciaran McGuckin all starting at Huish Park today.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Mark Stillman ahead of the game at Huish Park, he said: “Morgan Williams pulled his hamstring in training on Thursday which is a massive blow for us because he has been really good for us, so we are one short on the bench. But everyone gets problems, you just have to adapt and get on with it.”
The Glovers go in to the match looking for their first win since 18th December when they won 3-1 at home to Braintree Town whilst Wealdstone are also after their first win since 21st December.
Speaking about the opposition, Cooper added: “Every team has decent players, it is about what happens at 3pm. You can talk about what has happened before and the fact they lost (their last game), but it’s about who performs on the day the best on the day. We have to make sure that is us.“
Team News: Wealdstone (home)
There is no Morgan Williams or Jacob Maddox in the Yeovil Town squad to face Wealdstone as they return to action at Huish Park for the first time in almost a month.
The pair are among of five changes from the 1-1 draw at Dagenham & Redbridge seven days ago with Finn Cousin-Dawson, Dom Bernard, Sean McGurk, Josh Sims and Ciaran McGuckin all in the starting line-up.
Frank Nouble, Michael Smith and Kofi Shaw, who all started in East London, are all among the six substitutes named by the Glovers.
In his pre-match press conference on Thursday, manager Mark Cooper said his squad had “a few bumps and bruises” and would be without the suspended Charlie Cooper and injured striker Aaron Jarvis.
Foot In The Opposition Camp – Wealdstone (H)
Ben catches up with Leo from Stonescast ahead of Wealdstone’s visit to Huish Park.
Match Preview: Yeovil Town vs Wealdstone FC
Yeovil play at Huish Park for the first time in a month on Saturday as they host relegation threatened Wealdstone.
Form Guide…
The home side comes into the game off the back of some poor performances, having not won in eight games.
Last time out the Glovers faced an out of form Dagenham & Redbridge but went 1-0 down early on. However, Brett McGavin saved the day when equalising just before halftime. If things don’t improve Mark Cooper will have some difficult questions to answer.
For Wealdstone it has been a season of difficulty. Currently sat in 22nd the London club are on a similar run of form to that of Yeovil. With no wins in their last seven, they have won a game more recently than their counterparts on Saturday.
In their last game, The Stones were comfortably beaten by a very good Gateshead side 0-4.
With the form of both teams this will either be a brilliant game of football or very dull.
Key Players…
Yeovil – Brett McGavin
Another week, another McGavin write up on being our key player. At this point we are am running out of things to say about him.
McGavin has been superb in midfield this season. With 15 G/A, he leads the club in goal contributions, ahead of the likes of Aaron Jarvis, Ciaran McGuckin and James Plant.
McGavin not only is an asset going forward but he also is a rock solid midfielder who can do the dirty stuff when needed. He also gets bonus points for a brilliant head of hair.
Wealdstone – Adrian Mariappa
The Jamaican defender joined The Stones in the summer and has been key part of their defence. At 38 years old the centre back has a lot of experience across the football pyramid, including 168 appearances in the Premier league.
Mariappa has led by example using his experience to help guide the team through a difficult season. This experience has also led to him being named Wealdstone captain. The defender has played 26 games so far this season in the league so has shown age is just a number.
He will provide tough opposition for Yeovil’s attacking players.
That’s what he said…
Yeovil boss, Cooper, gave his thoughts to the BBC ahead of the game. He said: “It is about 90 minutes and performing and doing the best that we can. You cannot always control the result, but what we do try and do is control our performance.”
Wealdstone manager, Neil Gibson spoke ahead of his sides visit to Huish Park. He said: “The preparation has been really positive.
“Yeovil is a club with Football League history and they will have set their sights on promotion at the start of the season. They’ll be looking to reignite their campaign, but we’ve done our due diligence. We’ve analysed their games and I’ve watched them live a couple of times. We have a game plan and now it’s about execution.”
We’ve met before…
Yeovil and Wealdstone have been very evenly matched since their first meeting in 1974. Since that game Yeovil have gone into win nine games with Wealdstone also winning nine games, the two sides have drawn ten time however.
Last time the two teams met was in October last year when Yeovil won 0-3. That game saw McGavin open the scoring in the 26th minute, with Jarvis bagging the second and McGuckin finishing the off with the third goal.
Don’t I know you…
Craig Eastmond is a player that will a familiar name to the Huish Parl crowd, even if did only make one appearance for the Glovers. This season hasn’t been great for Eastmond having joined from Sutton on a free he has only played in seven games so far this campaign with his last coming against Yeovil in October.
Anthony Georgiou will be another known name. The Cypriot came to Somerset on loan in 2022 for a month, making two appearances. Georgiou has faired better at Wealdstone this year playing 26 times assisting twice.
Who’s been naughty then…
Charlie Cooper is still suspended.
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Council leader: We will seek to protect Huish Park
The leader of Somerset Council Bill Revans has said the authority will “seek to protect” the future of land at Huish Park which is in its ownership.
The authority which took over from South Somerset District Council following a local government reorganisation in April 2023 is the landlord of land Yeovil Town’s stadium sits after the club’s former owner <NAME REDACTED> sold it for £2.8m in May 2022.
The club’s current chairman Martin Hellier has an exclusive buy-back clause on the land which expires in May 2026 and recently told a fans’ forum that its long-term ownership was “on the radar” and that any development of the land would benefit the club.
When Mr Revans appeared on BBC Radio Somerset this afternoon to answer questions on a range of topics, the Gloverscast posed one about the future of the land, namely: “As its owner, how does Somerset Council view the future of the land at Huish Park? Is the council committed to the long-term future of the land being used for sports beyond the 2026 exclusivity period that the football club’s owner has on the buy-back of the land?”
In reply, Mr Revans said: “I understand the new owner of the club says he wants to buy the land and he has an exclusive option on that buy-back until May 2026. I would hope that comes forward and after that we would have to have negotiations about what was possible to bring that forward, but we want to see Yeovil Town continue to thrive and prosper and one day they may reach their former heights.”
Following this initial response, BBC Somerset presenter Charlie Taylor posed a follow-up question about what would happen if an offer came in for the land from a group not interested in the site continuing as a football club. He asked: “If someone wanted that land to do something else with it, would the council be in a difficult position given the financial state of affairs? Could you say ‘no’ to such an offer to protect Yeovil Town FC, or would the money take precedence to protect things like social care?”
In response, Mr Evans said: “We are getting in to multiple levels of hypothetical situations now, but if anyone came forward with an offer we would have to have a conversation. But, I do not foresee that happening. Yeovil Town in absolute integral to the community of Yeovil, we own a number of sports grounds across the county and fully recognise the importance of our sports clubs to local communities and we would seek to protect them if we at all could. One reason we do everything we can to keep control of local finances is so we can recognise local priorities. If we had commissioners (people sent in to sort out failing councils) appointed by the government, they would not be able to respond to local needs as your caller suggests.”
You can listen to Mr Revans in full on the BBC iPlayer – HERE – the question and answer about the land ownership starts at 02:49:00 in to the broadcast.