August 2025

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

On a wet Saturday afternoon, it was further heartbreak for Yeovil Town, as they fell to a narrow 3-2 defeat away at FC Halifax Town, which you can read more about here. Let’s see what else happened in the National League on Saturday…

We begin in Tyne and Wear, where Gateshead and Aldershot Town played out an exciting 3-3 draw – Kyle Hurst got the scoring underway just five minutes in for the hosts, before Kwame Thomas and Cameron Hargreaves gave the visitors the lead before half-time. Two goals in two minutes from the aforementioned Hurst, and Harry Chapman, handed the Heed the lead once again, but Hady Ghandour equalised for the Shots with 13 minutes to go to share the points.

Rochdale took their spot at the top of the table with a convincing 3-1 win at Wealdstone; Aidan Barlow and Devante Rodney gave the visitors the lead going into half-time, before yet another Mani Dieseruvwe strike put the game to bed, Alfie Massey getting the consolation goal for the hosts. Truro City registered their first ever National League points with a 3-0 thumping over Boston United, as Rekeil Pyke opened the scoring just before half-time, Tyler Harvey scoring a penalty just four minutes into the second half, and Will Dean adding a third just five minutes later. Former Glover Aidan Stone made his league debut for the Tinners too, keeping a clean sheet.

There were three 2-1 score lines, with the most impressive coming at Sutton United, Edon Pruti and David Ogbonna scoring for the hosts to register an impressive victory over Carlisle United, Georgie Kelly netting a consolation for the visitors. In the lunchtime kickoff, Southend United continued their impressive start to the campaign with a win over Tuesday night’s hosts Solihull Moors, two Andrew Dallas goals sandwiching a Dan Creaney effort for the home side. The final 2-1 result saw Eastleigh defeat Altrincham, as summer Yeovil target James Gale scored for the visitors in the first half, before Kieron Evans and Harvey Saunders secured the three points for the Hampshire side.

Woking secured their first win of the campaign on their travels to Morecambe, former Glover Jamie Andrews bagging one of the goals, and Sam Ashford finishing off the scoring for the visitors in the 94th minute. In the evening kickoff, a 98th minute goal from Danny Waldron cancelled out a Danny Whitehall penalty, as Brackley Town and 10-man Scunthorpe United shared the points, while there were 0-0 draws for Braintree Town and Forest Green Rovers, and Hartlepool United and Boreham Wood.

York City and Tamworth didn’t play on Saturday, due to the former’s continued involvement with the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

National League results – in full

Solihull Moors 1-2 Southend United
Braintree Town 0-0 Forest Green Rovers
Eastleigh 2-1 Altrincham
FC Halifax Town 3-2 Yeovil Town
Gateshead 3-3 Aldershot Town
Hartlepool United 0-0 Boreham Wood
Morecambe 0-2 Woking
Sutton United 2-1 Carlisle United
Truro City 3-0 Boston United
Wealdstone 1-3 Rochdale
Brackley Town 1-1 Scunthorpe United

National League table

By:
On:
In: Five Conclusions

Life after Mark Cooper began in West Yorkshire for the Glovers, but despite fighting back from 1-0 down to lead 2-1 at FC Halifax Town, Yeovil Town came away empty handed.

Gloverscast Ben was in attendance at The Shay and here are his Five Conclusions.

Confidence and mentality.

There’s no doubt in my mind that this group of players is good enough to win games of football at this level, plenty of them too.

But, from 3-0 up to lose 4-3 at home to Gateshead on Bank Holiday Monday and to fight back from a half-time sucker punch to lead 2-1 away at Halifax, and AGAIN come away with nothing has to sting.

Five goals scored in two games, but zero points returned.

Now, there was lots to like about the performance, you’ll read about some of those in a moment, but my overriding feeling is that we let a point (at least) fall by the way side.

In crucial moments, in the final 15 minutes, we don’t seem to be able to wrestle back control and dictate the play.

Who can be the one to put their foot on the ball and take charge, to be the quarter-back and let everyone else around them know it’s going to be okay, because they’re in charge? 

Find that quarter-back and we wont just be looking to control those key moments, but really turn the screw.

Harvey Greenslade and his missing match ball.

He was the first to admit it in his post-match interview, but he really should be taking home a nice new shiny football to play with.

I was really impressed with everything HG21 did on Saturday, ok, nearly everything.

I loved how he hung onto the central defender’s shoulder and spun off to create room, he can arch a run across the back line like the best of them at this level, his hold up play was good, his linking, particularly with Josh Sims was lovely and 100% deserved his goal.

But, he snatched at an early volley opportunity, he missed a chance to gamble from a Pendleton cross, had a one-one-one which bobbled the wrong way and slipped over after chopping the ball back onto his left foot with the whites of the ‘keepers eyes in his sights.

In a game of fine margins, these moments count and on another day, we’re out of sight by half time and Greenslade has a nice new shiny football for his collection.

Yeovil Town celebrate Harvey Greenslade’s goal to put the Glovers 2-1 up at The Shay.

The subs made a difference

Halifax had some real game changers to bring off the substitutes’ bench and they really shone when they came on after an hour.

Will Harris and Angelo Capello had half-an-hour to go at Yeovil and they totally changed the game. Capello, who isn’t an out and out left-back gave our right side all kinds of problems whilst Harris was a real handful and he and David Kawa were a really lively duo in attack.

Our subs, weren’t quite as impactful. I don’t think Tahvon Campbell was really suited to his wider role and Aaron Jarvis was deployed as something of a battering ram. Finn Cousin-Dawson was a make shift right back in place of Bryon Pendleton when he limped off.

I think that just shows the fragility of the depth, no obvious replacement for either full back or even the centre of midfield in case of emergency on the bench and I think FC-D is better than playing the role of the universal square peg for whichever round whole needs filling.

It would have been harsh to throw Ben Wodskou in, maybe, and Kyle Ferguson’s time will come, but we lacked that different option on the bench. Halifax didn’t; another fine margin that favoured the home side.

Overall, it was much better than we have seen of late.

Some of the things I enjoyed. Josh Sims dancing down the right whipping crosses in, Luke McCormick absolutely flying into tackles and travelling with the ball, Alex Whittle and Byron Pendleton with chalk on their boots forever being a proper outlet for an attacking pass.

There’s the link up play between the ‘bank of tens’ and there’s players not being afraid to try something, even if it doesn’t always come off. Aaron Jarvis hitting the post in the dying seconds, a McGavin free kick whistling just over a top bin and Junior Morias pumping his legs for 40 yards to chase down a 95th minute breakaway. 

We had a right go, and on another day, maybe with a bit more finesse and final quality, we win that game 3-2. 

There was an ‘easy’ out for the team today to defend and try and stifle a decent enough side but we didn’t, we rolled the dice and maybe found ourselves a little open.

But, so what? There was a sense that because it was entertaining, and at times brilliant, if one of those fine margin games goes the other way, so be it. 

Solihull is a glorious chance to get back to winning ways.

If the Halifax game showed that we can play with a bit of style, Solihull looks like a game for substance. 

The only team in the division without a win to their name – they lost 2-1 at home to Southend United in Saturday’s early game – and with 12 goals conceded, there’s a chance for more goalmouth action.

That’s the challenge now, against what will be a hugely physical side, can we find that quality to get out noses in front and stay there?

Can we control a big side in the aerial battles and make sure we stop the crosses coming in?

Can we find someone to replace Pendleton at right back if his injury in severe enough to not be able to feature on Tuesday? Can we find someone to play the role of midfield general? 

Let’s take the green shoots of the performance on the very green surface at The Shay and turn them into the perfect combination of style and substance. 

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Loan Watch

Sherborne Town will finish the weekend top of the Wessex League Premier Division after a 3-0 win on Saturday.

The Zebras beat Cowes Sports fairly comfortably, with the third goal come from young Glover Ollie Hughes.

What’s more, Jaydon Biss, George Geraghty and Blake Watts were all named in the squad  whilst Joe Crisp was so influential in midfield he was named Man of the Match. Nice work from all the lads.

We’re keeping an eye on Bridport FC as well this season, with two new names to keep tabs on.

Matt Reed and Alec Thomas continue to get valuable minutes in the adult game and they were part of the squad for the ‘Port’s 4-1 win over Middlezoy Rovers on Saturday.

They also had a midweek game, a 6-0 win over Honiton, Thomas played the whole game and Reed was used from the bench.

So, they, like Sherborne sit top of their league – South West Peninsula League – Premier East.

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Match Officials

A midweek in the midlands for the Glovers with an away day at Solihull Moors. 

It will be a match of significance for referee Harrison Blair who will take charge of his first match at this level as well as his first ever Yeovil Town game.

A regular match official for the Regional divisions of the National League as well as plenty of experience as a fourth official in the EFL, in recent seasons.

Blair has a rather cool story to tell from his journey to this point having spent time refereeing in Japan earlier this year.

He was part of an exchange program between the JFA and the FA PGMOL where he got to take charge of some league games and even a J League Cup tie.

He’s not afraid to use a card (or three), in 28 National League South games, he’s brandished the yellow one 86 times, the red one five times and pointed the spot five times as well. 

Jordan Brooks and Grzegorz Kornasiewicz (yes, I copied and pasted that) are waving the flags, Kevin Howick is on subs board duties.

Harrison Blair, top right in Japan

Solihull Moors FC (First Team) v Yeovil Town FC (First Team)
National League – Premier    
Referee: Blair, Harrison
Assistant Referee: Brooks, Jordan
Assistant Referee: Kornasiewicz, Grzegorz
Fourth Official: Howick, Kevin

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News
Harvey Greenslade celebrates a goal.

Yeovil Town goal-scorer Harvey Greenslade said his team-mates know they need to defend better after losing from a winning position for the second consecutive game.

The Glovers led 2-1 with an hour gone at FC Halifax Town but ended up on the end of a 3-2 defeat just five days after being 3-0 up at home to Gateshead and coming away with nothing, a result which spelt the end of Mark Cooper’s time as manager.

Greenslade put the visitors ahead in West Yorkshire with a superb near post header from Josh Sims’ cross just before the hour mark at The Shay, but defensive errors cost them again as they conceded two goals to squander three points.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins after the game, the former Bristol Rovers man said: “We have gone from not scoring at the start of the season to scoring quite a few goals. We should not have lost that game and we should not have lost the Gateshead game, so we need to be better as a group, it is not just the defenders, we need to be better defending the goal for the whole 90 minutes. It was too good a performance to chuck it away.”

Greenslade had some great opportunities to put Yeovil ahead before Halifax midfielder scored the first of his brace a minute in to first half injury time and he admitted he should have done better with the chances.

He added: “There were a couple in the first half when the ball was bouncing a bit and I felt like I could have had one or two goals, so that is annoying. It is nice for me and that is obviously two goals in two games for me now, but it is not about personal pride for me it is about helping the team. The team has helped me when I have been out of the team and now I have to repay them.”

Yeovil Town's players jump on striker Harvey Greenslade after his 58th minute goal.
Yeovil Town celebrate Harvey Greenslade’s goal.

Asked about the current managerial situation with interim boss Richard Dryden, who was brought on to the coaching staff by Cooper in the summer, whilst the club look for a permanent replacement, Greenslade added: “It is strange. Speaking for myself, I have never worked for the Gaffer (Richard Dryden) before, I really liked working with Mark (Cooper) and now having to go under new management is a bit of a change, but the lads are approaching it professionally and we have just got to get on with it.”

Yeovil have an opportunity to put right the mistakes of the past two matches when they travel to a Solihull Moors side sat bottom of the National League Premier Division table after six matches on Tuesday night.

Speaking about that game, the striker said: “I want to say thanks to the fans for making the journey, Halifax is not that close to Yeovil! We have a really good fanbase and when things turn around, which they will, the place will be bouncing at Huish Park. Even today we could hear them all game and hopefully we will see them on Tuesday as well. It is a must win for us, we have to focus on getting those three points. We can’t keep losing when we have been winning, that is two games in a row now, I will do everything I can to help the team and I know the boys will do everything they can to bring the points back.“

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Interim manager Richard Dryden was planning to show his Yeovil Town players a video nasty on their long journey home from the 3-2 defeat at FC Halifax Town.

The Glovers threw away a 2-1 advantage in West Yorkshire, the second time in five days they have given away leads to lose a game, as they began life after former boss Mark Cooper with a defeat.

It was three defensive errors from balls in to their box which cost them all three goals and Dryden told BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins that defending crosses in to the box would be the focus on training ahead of their next game at Solihull Moors on Tuesday night.

He said: “There are a lot of positives, a few negatives, but probably more positives. The big negative is we have not taken any points. We have had a conversation (in the dressing room) about stopping crosses and defending balls in to the box, but you cannot keep scoring two away from home and coming away with nothing. I said to them before the game that they are not going to be hammered if they give the ball away or do the right things but you will get hammered if you work hard and people will see that they worked hard today. We have got back with nothing but we have created chances and played some really good football.

“It is another ball across the box and we have to defend better. We have not got a lot of time, but you might have a rough idea what (we might be focusing on in training) on Monday morning. Sometimes you get camped in bit and sometimes  you do get overloaded and if that happens we have to be better in the box, not just the goalkeeper or the back three, it is everyone who is in there. Everybody has to work hard defensively.

“We will watch the bad bits on the way home massively and some good bits. We need to iron out the bad bits.”

After an even opening 45 minutes where they both threatened to find an opening and were threatened by Halifax, Yeovil fell a goal behind one minute in to first half injury time when Shaymen midfielder Oli Bray fired the home side ahead.

But, the visitors came out for the second half firing and levelled when midfielder Luke McCormick went down in the box to win a penalty which was confidently put away by striker Junior Morias for his second goal in as many games.

Six minutes later Harvey Greenslade headed a Josh Sims cross in to put the side ahead before a second goal from Bray and a winner ten minutes from time from substitute Will Harris sealed the defeat.

On his side’s goals, Dryden said: “Luke has done really well, got himself in to the box, he’s been brave because you know he is going to get hit there and it is a penalty. It is nice to see Junior put it in. The second goal is a really nice goal, we have worked it wide which we did a lot of in the first half and did not get anything out of it, it is a brilliant run by Simsy and is the centre forward is on the near post you have half a chance of scoring.”

There was a worrying moment when on loan Birmingham City wing-back Byron Pendleton went off after a heavy tackle in the 76th minute, but Dryden said he did not know the severity of the injury.

He confirmed that midfielder Charlie Cooper, who has now not featured in the last three matches with an Achilles injury, was still “a couple of weeks” from fitness. Dryden will lead the side in to the match at Solihull Moors where they will face a home side sitting bottom of the division after a 2-1 home defeat to Southend United on Saturday.

Dryden said: “It is another big test. You can’t brush over by saying ‘it was a great performance, but we got beat’, it was an alright performance going forward, but when balls come in to the box we have to be better.“

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Match Reports

Yeovil Town let a lead slip for the second consecutive game as they started life after Mark Cooper with a defeat at FC Halifax Town on Saturday.

The Glovers spurned opportunities to go ahead in the first half before conceding a goal to Owen Bray late in injury time, but a penalty from Junior Morias and a great header from Harvey Greenslade saw them lead with an hour gone.

But, having taken the lead, the visitors sat back at Halifax came roaring back and Bray pulled them level before substitute Will Harris struck the winner with ten minutes remaining.

Interim manager Richard Dryden was left to look back on the all too familiar story of missed opportunities and soft goals conceded as he prepares to pick the Glovers up ahead of Tuesday night’s visit to Solihull Moors.

First half

After ten minutes, a dangerous ball in to the box caused confusion inside the Yeovil area which led to a scramble before a clearance, it has been a shaky start for the visitors who seem to be still trying to figure things out.

On 13 minutes, the visitors’ first sight on goal fell to Harvey Greenslade who could not get any contact on an Alex Whittle cross from the left wing. 

Greenslade had the ball in the back of the net in the 17th  minute after he got slipped through on goal by Josh Sims and found the net, but could not beat the offside flag having made his run just too early.

Brett McGavin fires a free-kick in on goal.

A mistake from Halifax keeper Sam Johnston after 26 minutes saw him fail to claim Brett McGavin’s ball in to the box, Morgan Williams picked up the loose ball and laid it off to Junior Morias who twisted and turned on the edge of the box but his effort sailed harmlessly over the bar.

This game seems to go in five-minute spells of either side dominating possession; when we get going we look a real threat but we look really threatened when Halifax get their game going as well.

Keeper Jed Ward had to get behind a long range effort from Bray after Sean Tarima’s ball in to the box had evaded David Kawa inside the area and shortly after Ward was forced in to an acrobatic save to deny Jay Turner-Cooke who was the latest Halifax player to try his luck from distance.

Greenslade had a glorious chance to open the scoring with seven minutes of the first half remaining when he ran on to a long ball over the top from Williams, but the striker’s first touch betrayed him and Johnston was able to come and gather. 

As the game crept in to injury time there was the feeling that not taking our chances was going to cost us and a minute in that is what happened. Jamie Cooke whipped a ball in from the right, Williams’ attempt to intercept it cannoned off Ward and Kawa was there to pick up the pieces and find Owen BRAY who stroked it home. The Yeovil players were incensed feeling there was a push on McGavin in the build up.

Overall, an even first half with both sides having opportunities to get the opening, but it is the same old story of not taking our chances and then getting punished for doing so.

Half time: FC Halifax Town 1 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

The second half started with Yeovil on the attack with McGavin putting a free-kick just over the bar two minutes after the restart before Greenslade had an effort blocked shortly after. 

In the 52nd minute, Yeovil played the ball around well and found Luke McCormick breaking in to the box from the right side, he was felled by a thunderous tackle from Cody Johnson and the referee  awarded a penalty. With our record from the spot, it is fair to say there was some nerves in the away end but one man who showed no nerves was not was Junior MORIAS who smashed it low and hard past the reach of Johnston who guessed the right way.

The bright start continued with Yeovil playing some attractive passing football to retain possession and and led to a second goal after 58 minutes. I lost count of the number of passes which led to Josh Sims’ beautiful ball from the right side which was met by a superb near post header from Harvey GREENSLADE.

Yeovil Town celebrate Harvey Greenslade’s goal.

Remember how I said that for every spell we had, Halifax had one as well? The response to us going ahead was a couple of substitutions for the home side with striker Will Harris and winger Angelo Capello, the scorer of the only goal last time we visited The Shay, introduced on the hour mark.

Their arrival caused all kinds of problems for the Yeovil defence and a spell of sustained pressure we could not deal with and, you guessed it, a goal. With 65 minutes gone, Kawa was allowed to run in to the box and fired a ball across to Owen BRAY who was gifted the freedom of the penalty area to add his second goal of the game. The arrival of the substitutes has seen Kawa shifted over to the left side and he was causing problems.

We had sat back after going ahead and invited the home side to attack which they have been more than happy to do especially after the substitutions. Defensively we just do not look slow and completely unable to deal with balls going in to our box.

It was therefore no surprise that what turned out to be the winning goal came from a ball in to our own box. Josh Hmami played a ball to the back post this time from the right and our defence failed to deal with, Williams missed his header and the ball bounced inside the box where Will HARRIS was given time to smash a volley in to the roof of Jed Ward’s net. It had been coming since we went ahead.

Yeovil made substiutions of their own with former Halifax striker Tahvon Campbell and fellow frontman Aaron Jarvis replacing Sims and Greenslade whilst Finn Cousin-Dawson came on for Byron Pendleton, who was forced off with an injury after a heavy challenge.

As the board went up for nine additional minutes, James Plant got away down the right side and delivered a ball in to the back post but Jarvis’ header came back off the post.

Full time: FC Halifax Town 3 Yeovil Town 2

Match Details

Venue: The Shay
Date: Saturday 30th August, 3pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Owen Bray 45+1 (0-1), Junior Morias pen 52 (1-1), Harvey Greenslade 58 (2-1), Owen Bray 65 (2-2), Will Harris 79 (2-3)

Pitch: Surreal-ly green if you have ever visited The Shay before
Conditions: Overcast

Attendance: 1,280 (143 away supporters)

Bookings: 
Yeovil Town: Harvey Greenslade 62, Tahvon Campbell 73
FC Halifax Town: Cody Johnson 51, Jamie Cooke 53, Angelo Capello 90+8, James Turner-Cooke 90+8

Referee: Richard Aspinall

Yeovil Town (4-2-3-1)

Substitutes: Tahvon Campbell (for Josh Sims, 71), Finn Cousin-Dawson (for Byron Pendleton, 76), Aaron Jarvis (for Harvey Greenslade, 76), Kyle Ferguson (not used), Ben Wodskou (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

FC Halifax Town: Sam Johnson, Adam Adetoro, Will Hugill (for Jack Jenkins, 88), Josh Hmami, Jamie Cooke (for Will Harris, 60), Owen Bray (for Jake Griffin 90), David Kawa (for Tom Pugh 88), Jay Turner-Cooke, Sen Tarima, Cody Johnson, Thierry Latty-Fairweather (for Angelo Cappello 60).

Substitutes (not used):  Nathaniel Ford, Harvey Sutcliffe.

 

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Team News

Yeovil Town have named an unchanged starting XI for today’s trip to FC Halifax Town (3pm kick-off).

The first side selected by interim manager Richard Dryden looks as if it features the same defensive (back four?) which raced in to a 3-0 lead at home to Gateshead, a match which the Glovers lost 4-3.