April 2025 (Page 6)

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Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper gave full credit to his players after a 2-1 home win over an Oldham Athletic at Huish Park this afternoon.

A double from midfielder Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, who the boss revealed was playing despite suffering illness this week, saw the Glovers deservedly pick up the three points despite a late consolation goal from the visitors.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Mark Stillman after the game, Cooper said that his squad had not used the off-the-field turmoil following the decision of owner Martin Hellier to step down as chairman and put the club up for sale as an excuse for poor performances.

He said: “The players deserve all the credit today. With all that has been going on off-the-pitch, they have not used that as an excuse, they have kept going and got some good results. We should have got a result (in the 2-1 defeat at Altrincham) last weekend, we won two games before that and we have put ourselves in a healthy position in the table and hopefully things get resolved off the pitch. The current owner is kindly still funding the club and we need that to continue until something is resolved.”

Jake Wannell started his first game since the end of February. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

The day started with the news that on loan defender Kyle Ferguson had been recalled by his parent club Rochdale, on top of on loan Oldham winger Otis Khan being ineligible to play against his parent club, and injuries to midfielder Charlie Cooper. Defenders Jake Wannell and Michael Smith made their first starts since coming back from injury and there was an appearance off the bench for Morgan Williams, his first in more than two months.

Cooper said:  “We are besieged with issues, losing players late yesterday with Kyle Ferguson (being recalled from his loan spell), Otis (Khan) obviously could not play (against his parent club), Charlie Cooper’s Achilles was not right, Sonny turned up not well, Michael Smith not ready to start, Morgan (Williams) was not really ready. It was just a case of managing the minutes enough so we did not risk any repeat injuries.

“(Jake) Wannell did not really want to play 90 minutes but we had to leave him on because of the state of the game. The players deserve all the credit, they stuck to the game plan, we nullified a lot of what Oldham did and always carried a threat ourselves. The boys were great today against a squad full of really good players and we had to be good to get any points. We were really just committed.”

Williams, who has not featured since the 1-1 draw at Dagenham & Redbridge at the start of February, came on as a 57th minute substitute for Smith to counter the appearance of Oldham top scorer Mike Fondop, thrown on after Lo-Everton’s second goal four minutes in to the second half.

The manager added: “The physio was not happy I put him on. He was supposed to have 20-25 minutes, but at that point Michael Smith had to come off because we did not want to risk his hamstring going again. Once Oldham put Fondop on, we needed another big player to be able to defend the box.”

Lo-Everton took his tally to three goals for the season with a strike early in each half. Cooper said: “The second one was great play from Ciaran McGuckin. He doesn’t give up and managed to get a foot to it before it goes out of play and crosses it for Sonny. The first one is a great finish from Sonny. I thought we were really good in the first half, but once our players that are coming back from injury started to tire, you could see that was when Oldham started to get a bit of a foothold in the game. They are going to have a spell in the game, I could not see their goal coming, it is 40 yards out, drop ball and we should do better on that one, but we managed to see it through.“

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A double strike from Sonny Blu Lo-Everton sealed Yeovil Town a deserved victory over an Oldham Athletic side looking to secure a place in the play-offs this season.

The Glovers struck after just nine minutes when Lo-Everton was found by a great ball from Michael Smith to fire the opener and Yeovil looked good value for their 1-0 half-time advantage with Ciaran McGuckin coming close to adding a second.

Lo-Everton struck early again when great work from McGuckin found him at the back post with just four minutes of the second half played. Jake Caprice pulled a late goal back three minutes in to stoppage time, but it proved nothing more than a consolation goal.

First half

The first opportunity fell to Yeovil after good work from Sonny Blu Lo-Everton who found space after a good flick on by Ciaran McGuckin, cut inside and hit a weak shot which Mathew Hudson in the Oldham goal held on to easily.

On ten minutes, it was Sonny who put the hosts ahead. There will be complaints from Oldham who thought Michael Smith had run the ball out of play, but the Northern Irishman played to the whistle and threaded a great ball in to  LO-EVERTON running in to the box to shot across the keeper and in to the net.

The fast start from the home side continued with McGuckin and Sims combining nicely before the on loan Rotherham United man pulled his shot wide. Yeovil have started brightly, whereas Oldham look to be wobbling.

Oldham were forced in to an early change after 20 minutes when Jake Leach, on loan from Hull City, went down injured and was replaced by tricky winger Jesrun Uchegbulam.

The visitors had a great opportunity to level five minutes later when Charlie Raglan met Tom Pett’s free-kick with a header from inside the six-yard area which flashed just wide. A minute later Lo-Everton’s ball towards Dom Bernard was headed tamely towards Hudson at the other end.

There was another chance for Oldham just after the half-hour mark when Kian Harratt seemed surprised to find himself in space eight yards out allowing just enough time for Jake Wannell to clear it.

McGuckin wiggled his way in from the right-hand side and tried to bend one in to the far corner with Hudson at full stretch. It may even have clipped the post on its way out for a goal kick.

Aidan Stone had to be brave to deny Uchegbulum with five minutes of the first half remaining. The keeper came to meet the substitute on the edge of his area.

Half time: Yeovil Town 1 Oldham Athletic 0

 

Second half

Four minutes after the restart, Yeovil doubled their advantage with a goal made by McGuckin. Having been found by Bernard’s forward ball, the Rotherham United loanee looked to have a chance to shoot himself as he powered towards goal but instead did superbly to get a ball to the back post where LO-EVERTON was on hand to turn home his second of the day from close range.
 
Yeovil Town celebrate Sonny’s second. Picture courtesy of Debs Curtis.
 
Oldham responded immediately with a double change bringing on top scorer Mike Fondop and Vinsal Yoganathan, an attacking move with the visitors having to go for it.
 
The pair combined two minutes later when Yoganathan’s ball found Fondop and Stone had to do well to deny him before a ball hit Fondop in the face seconds later and managed to set Harratt through and Stone pulled off another impressive stop to deny him. They have been on the pitch literally minutes, but the substitutes have made an impact.
 
On 56 minutes, Morgan Williams replaced Michael Smith for his first appearance for more than two months. Williams went back in to a three-man back line with Finn Cousin-Dawson switching with Bernard to fulfil midfield position.
 
Cousin-Dawson had a great opportunity to make it 3-0 just after the hour. Great work from McGuckin (again) left an Oldham player on the floor and had a shot well saved by Hudson before the ball broke to Cousin-Dawson who hammered it goalwards and it was deflected over for a corner.
 
 
Oldham looked to have responded well after their substitutions, but Yeovil have quickly taken the sting out of them. Harvey Greenslade replaces Sonny with 63 minutes gone. Can anyone else take the Man of the Match award away from him? Surely not.
 
The visitors had a few efforts high and wide with Harratt and Conlon both off target before an 81st minute free-kick from Conlon landed at the feet of Fondop inside the box. But the striker’s first touch was heavy and the ball ran out for a goal kick.
 
But, with two minutes of seven added on at the end of the game the visitors pulled a goal back. Referee Stephen Copeland got in the way of the ball and was forced to give a drop ball which he dropped straight at the feet of an Oldham player who was unchallenged to knock it sideways to Jake CAPRICE who moved to within 30 yards of goal and unleashed a thunderous strike. A nervy last five minutes which seemed unlikely at any point before that.
 
If you wondered what this meant for the visitors, Mathew Hudson came up for two corners in the sixth minute of injury time. He didn’t get to them and Yeovil held on for a deserved victory.

Full time: Yeovil Town 2 Oldham Athletic 1

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Date: Saturday 12th April, 3pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Sonny Blu Lo-Everton 10 (1-0), Sonny Blu Lo-Everton 48 (2-0), Jake Caprice 90+2 (2-1)

Pitch: Held up well but started to bobble a bit in the second half
Conditions: Cloudy but warm

Attendance: 3373 (372 away supporters)

Bookings: 
Yeovil Town:  Josh Sims 45+7, Finn Cousin-Dawson 90+6
Oldham Athletic: Vinsal Yoganathan 87

Referee: Stephen Copeland

Yeovil Town (3-4-2-1)

Substitutes:  Morgan Williams (for Michael Smith, 56), Harvey Greenslade (for Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, 63), Kyrell Wilson (for Ciaran McGuckin, 77), Marcel Lavinier (for Josh Sims, 89), Lewys Twamley (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Oldham Athletic: Mathew Hudson, Mark Kitching, Tom Pett. Shaun Hobson, Tom Conlon, Joe Garner (for Mike Fondop, 53), Jordan Rossiter (for Vinsal Yoganathan, 53), Charlie Raglan, Jake Caprice, Kian Harratt, Jake Leake (for Jesurun Uchegbulam, 20).

Substitutes (not used): Tom Donaghy, Josh Lundstram, Corry Evans, Joe Pritchard.

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Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper has told his side they have to “get after” today’s opponents play-off hopefuls Oldham Athletic at Huish Park today.

The Glovers have named an unchanged starting XI for the last two matches but have been forced in to three changes with an injury to midfielder Charlie Cooper, the recall of loan defender Kyle Ferguson by his parent club Rochdale, and loan winger Otis Khan unavailable to face his parent club.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Mark Stillman ahead of kick-off, the manager said: “We have to make it really difficult for Oldham. We have to go toe-to-toe and get after them and make sure we are always in with a chance of getting something to stay in the game. We have to be front foot and get after them.

“We should have got a result last weekend (in the 2-1 defeat at Altrincham). A negative last 20 minutes where we did not go on the front foot and it cost us, you run the risk of conceding a fluke goal and that is what has happened. But today we are at home and hopefully the fans will get behind the team for 90 minutes and go and get after them.”

The visitors have also made four changes from Tuesday night’s 2-1 home defeat to Oldham Athletic with top scorer Mike Fondop replaced by the experienced Joe Garner, who is celebrating his 37th birthday today.

There is no place in the visitors’ squad for ex-Glovers’ captain Matt Worthington, who moved to Greater Manchester from Somerset at the end of January.

Oldham are looking to cement their place in the National League Premier Division play-offs. They sit in fourth place, nine points behind third-placed Forest Green Rovers, who visit Huish Park on Good Friday, and six points off Altrincham who sit in eighth, just outside the play-off places.

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Jake Wannell and Michael Smith both return to the Yeovil Town starting XI for today’s match from Oldham Athletic at Huish Park (3pm kick-off).

The Glovers announced the departure of loan defender Kyle Ferguson ahead of kick-off and Wannell is back in the centre of defence in place of him.

Charlie Cooper is also not in the squad having gone off after 28 minutes in last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Altrincham with tendonitis in his Achilles. Harry Kite, who replaced him seven days ago, is given his first start for the club.

There is no Otis Khan who is unable to play against his parent club whilst defender Morgan Williams and on loan Swansea City forward Kyrell Wilson are named on the bench. Ryan McLean, who is on loan from AFC Wimbledon, is also not in the squad.

Former Glovers’ captain Matt Worthington, who swapped the South West for the North West at the end of January, is not in the visitors line-up with top scorer Mike Fondop named among the substitutes.

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Defender Kyle Ferguson has been recalled from his loan at Yeovil Town by his parent club Rochdale

The 25-year-old joined until the end of the season just under a month ago having been out of favour in Greater Manchester, but has been recalled to cover for defensive injuries.

It is a blow for the Glovers ahead of today’s home match with Oldham Athletic after Ferguson had played the previous four matches and forming an impressive partnership alongside fellow loanee, Frankie Terry,

The Scotsman is out of contract at Spotland this summer having signed a two-year contract with the National League Premier Division side in June 2023 when he arrived from Harrogate Town.

The news comes just a few days after the son of Glasgow Rangers interim manager and former Scotland international midfielder Barry said that his decision to come to Somerset had saved his season.

Speaking on Thursday, Ferguson said: “I was not too happy with my season until I came here, but since I came here I am feeling a lot better. I have just loved the team here and the chance to play here and showing people how good I can be.

“This is the first three or four games I have played in a row in a long time and I never got the chance to do that at Rochdale. I feel like the Gaffer believes in me here and has given me the chance to go out and play football and show what I can do.”

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We’re taking a trip down memory lane for this one to commemorate one whole year since we were on the pitch at Gloucester after beating Truro to win the National League South (in the North!)

Ben and Dave are joined by Elliot Watts to talk all about it as well as chatting about the Oldham clash this weekend.

Oh, and Happy Birthday to Charlotte, a long time Gloverscast listener!

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Defender Morgan Williams is in contention to be involved for Yeovil Town in this weekend’s home match with Oldham Athletic.

Manager Mark Cooper has confirmed the former Coventry City player has been in full training all week and said the Huish Park coaching staff would make a decision whether to risk him for the National League Premier Division fixture. Williams has not featured since the 1-1 draw at Dagenham & Redbridge at the start of February.

He is one of a number of injury question marks in the squad with full-back Alex Whittle suffering a nasty cut on his head during last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Altrincham, which saw both him and midfielder Charlie Cooper (tendonitis) withdrawn after just 28 minutes.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins on Thursday, Cooper said: “Morgan Williams is back in full training this week, so we have a decision to make about whether he has done enough or are we putting him at risk by playing him in maybe putting him on the pitch at some point. That is something we are assessing.

Morgan Williams is back in full training. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

“Alex Whittle had a really bad cut on his forehead and we are not sure whether he will be able to play. It is certainly going to open up the cut again, but amazingly we did not even get a foul or a free-kick. Charlie has been struggling with tendonitis in both of his Achilles tendons, so it is a difficult one. We are not blessed with lots of players so we will have to see how that goes.”

The boss also gave an update on the fitness of striker Aaron Jarvis, who has not featured since suffering a hamstring injury in mid-January, adding: “If Aaron Jarvis is going to play any part (this season) it will possibly be the last two games off the bench.”

Oldham arrive in Somerset looking to arrest indifferent form which has seen them lose their last two games including a 2-1 defeat at home to Woking on Tuesday night.

The Glovers went down to a 1-0 defeat in the reverse fixture in Greater Manchester in September when a goal from top scorer Mike Fondop was the difference between the two sides in a match which saw Cooper sent off for his protests to the referee.

He said: “It was a tight game up there. They are in a little bit of indifferent form and I think they have a few injuries, but they have really good players and a manager who knows how to get out of the league and they will be in the play-offs, it just comes down to which position they finish in. They are a massive club, probably the biggest in the division, so we are expecting a tough game. We have to be concentrated on what we do, be really difficult to play against like we have been in the last few weeks and hope we get a bit of luck.”

Matt Worthington played 68 minutes of Oldham’s 2-1 home defeat to Woking on Tuesday night. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

One familiar face in the visiting squad will be former Glovers’ captain Matt Worthington who switched the South West for the North West at the end of the January having clocked up his 250th appearance for Yeovil.

Cooper said: “It will be great to see Worthy again, he was a great servant for us. He has been in and out of the team, but played the other night. He has got himself a good move to a big club, so we cannot begrudge that.”

The manager was also asked about how his planning was going to retain and build a squad for next season with the off-the-field uncertainty caused by the decision of chairman Martin Hellier to step down in recent weeks. The local businessman has declared his ambition to sell the club.

Cooper said: “When you realise what is going on above, it is very difficult to do any planning and that needs to be resolved before we get to that stage. At the moment it is just about everyone doing as well as they can to put themselves in a good position whether that is here or elsewhere.“

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On loan defender Kyle Ferguson has said his move to Yeovil Town has saved his season after a difficult time without regular action at his parent club Rochdale.

The centre half, who arrived from National League Premier Division rivals just under a month ago, has formed a good partnership alongside fellow loanee Frankie Terry and started all four games since arriving.

He made just four starts for Rochdale in the league this season with the majority of his 12 appearances coming off the substitutes’ bench.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s home match with Oldham Athletic, the 25-year-old said: “I have loved my time here, the Gaffer (manager Mark Cooper) has been really good with me. I have been playing which is a big positive for me, but the boys, the staff, the Gaffer especially have been great to me and the fans have been so welcoming, so I have loved it here so far.

“I was not too happy with my season until I came here, but since I came here I am feeling a lot better. I have just loved the team here and the chance to play here and showing people how good I can be.

“This is the first three or four games I have played in a row in a long time and I never got the chance to do that at Rochdale. I feel like the Gaffer believes in me here and has given me the chance to go out and play football and show what I can do.”

Kyle Ferguson. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

The son of Glasgow Rangers’ interim head coach Barry Ferguson will be looking to give his parent club a helping hand this weekend when their local rivals, Oldham Athletic, come to Huish Park looking for points to cement their place in the play-offs.

The Latics arrive in Somerset in fourth place in the National League Premier Division table, nine points adrift of third-placed Forest Green Rovers, having lost their last two games.

Ferguson said: “I am expecting it to be a really physical game and a tough game as well because they are pushing for the play-offs and want to finish as high as possible to have a shot at getting promotion. I think it will be a really tough, physical game, but prior to the Altrincham game we have been really good, so hopefully we can take confidence going in to this game.”