October 2025 (Page 7)

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It was a big old bump back to reality yesterday as Boreham Wood put Yeovil Town to the sword in a 3-0 defeat for the Glovers. Mike Hudson was at Huish Park and here are his Five Conclusions.

It was always going to be a tough one. Boreham Wood have readjusted to this level as if they never left, with Luke Garrard’s side scoring plenty of goals and winning plenty of games since returning to the National League. Meanwhile, we’ve been recovering from a turbulent start to the season with impressive wins against struggling Sutton, Altrincham, and Aldershot. This recent form has rightly created a lot of positivity over the last ten days. However, Saturday was always going to be a much bigger test, and give us a much clearer picture of where we are as a club. The answer was humbling. In truth, at times it looked like we were playing a club a level higher than us, rather than a few places in the table at the start of play. There was plenty of fast flowing, attractive and attacking football at Huish Park on Saturday, but it was coming from the away team.

Jed Ward
Pic Gary Brown

We had our backs to the wall from the outset. The warning signs came fast and early as we struggled to deal with the Boreham Wood press and attack. The boys in Green and White struggled to keep hold of the ball for any length of time, and we spent a lot of the game penned in our own half as a result. While there is much to say for not changing a winning formula, after the shift these players have put in of late, this game was probably the time to add some freshness. Of course hindsight is 20-20, but in a game in which we were always likely to spend large periods without the ball, legs were going to be important and unfortunately I think we were lacking them. As we neared half time, the huge positive was that we had somehow stayed in the game, but as the stormy conditions continued, their second goal on the stroke of half time knocked the wind out of our sails completely.

Too many players were off it. I’ll say it again… Boreham Wood are a good side. They are playing the type of football I dream that we one day might. But we won’t get anywhere by just admiring them as a superior team. We have to reflect on our own performance, and the reality was too many players weren’t at it. There were mistakes and poor decision a-plenty. It would have been a tall task with everyone firing at 100%, but with a lot of players below par and a few really struggling it was mission impossible. That’s not a criticism of this squad, who have been unreal of late. It was an almost an inevitable outcome of lots of games, lots of turmoil, a small squad, and two teams with seemingly different ambitions. They kept battling to the end, and we arguably had our best period in the last quarter of the match.

Jed Ward is ridiculous. I know it’s nothing new, but what a keeper we have between the sticks. It’s rare that you lose 3-0 and your keeper wins Man of the Match, but he deserved the accolade. Three goals did not flatter Boreham Wood at all, and without some brilliant stops and quick thinking, it could easily have been six. We were humbled at home, but Jed stopped it being an humiliation.

Jed Ward
Pic Gary Brown

This team need help from above. The games are going to keep coming thick and fast, and if we have any intentions of a much needed cup run, alongside remaining competitive in the League, this team will need some help. Charlie Cooper, Jacob Maddox and James Daly getting closer to a return, may just feel like new signings. The board tried to dampen the fan noise after Danny Webb’s departure by promising increased funds, but so far we haven’t seen that turn into scarf based social media posts. It would be good to see some fresh bodies through the door soon, especially with bookings piling up, and a couple of players picking up knocks on Saturday. We saw how quickly a season can ebb away in the second half of our last campaign, and we are going to be asking a lot of our paper thin squad to keep going through a busy winter period. More than that, it would be good to see some sign of intent from this new ownership, and plans that extend beyond the end of the season. Huish Park crowds are not growing back to the 3000 number at the moment, although they were in fine voice considering. Also I do have this nagging feeling of discomfort …  Yes, context is very important, and there is lots of that, but personally I don’t want this club to get too used to being content with home losses to ‘better teams’ at a level we should aspire to be getting out of. Not for long anyway.

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An afternoon to forget for the Glovers, so here’s a lovely array of images of the day for you to remember it by! Sorry about that!

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Defender Kyle Ferguson said Yeovil Town’s players are fully focused on bouncing back from the 3-0 home defeat to Boreham Wood.

The central defender, who has been an ever present in the starting XI since the departure of Mark Cooper in September, admitted the Glovers were outplayed by an impressive Wood side at Huish Park.

Speaking to BBC Somerset reporter Mark Stillman after the game, he said: “I felt like everybody was just a couple of yards off it today which is rare to see so many of us off it at one time, but we will take our medicine and make sure we come back stronger. They are up there (in the table) for a reason, they are a good team and there is no hiding from that, but we are also a good team. If we have aspirations of getting in the play-offs we have to be beating teams like that.

“The boys have put in a great shift over the past few games. With the manager (presumably Danny Webb) leaving, I think if you had said to any of the fans we would get nine points from the four games they would have snapped your hand off. We are happy with nine points, but we were aiming for 12 because we want to be up there.”

The Glovers fell behind to a goal from the impressive Abdul Abdulkarim after just 20 minutes before Matt Rush added a second on the stroke of half-time. Manager Richard Dryden made a triple substitution at the start of the second half but the visitors added a third just after the hour mark to end Yeovil’s three-match winning run.

Ferguson added: “We made a decision at half-time to just get after them in the second half and you could see in the second half that we just went man for man in the second half and tried to get ourselves back in the game. It is tough when they score on the stroke of half-time and you go in (2-0 down) but I think the reaction in the second half was a bit better.”

Kyle Ferguson. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

He thanked the club’s supporters for their support during a few weeks which have seen two managers, first Cooper and then the short-lived Danny Webb, depart. The 26-year-old said: “The fans have been brilliant with all we have been through, they have stuck with us. I am saying this from all the boys, the fans have been unbelievable. It has been a tough couple of weeks for the club and the boys have been really pushed on by the fans. Even after a not very good first half they are still cheering us on and it means the world to us and gives us a boost as well.”

Ferguson has started the past eight games having only started two matches under Cooper and believes he still has more to give. He added: “I came in wanting to play and the previous manager (Mark Cooper) just did not want to play me, but now I have had my chance to play I want to show everybody what I was like last season and keep performing to the level I know I can. I do not think I am anywhere near my best yet, I still think I have levels to go up. This is the first run of games I have had in a long time and I feel I am better every game.”

The Glovers will now have a seven-day break before they take on Hemel Hempstead Town in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round next weekend. It is a much needed break having played four matches in just ten days in the league.

Ferguson said: “That week really good because the games have been crazy, Wednesday, Saturday, Tuesday, three games in six days is a lot especially when it is the same eleven. But you cannot really change a winning eleven, so I understand why it has been the same eleven. But four games in under two weeks is a lot and we need to bounce back in the Cup and then the weekend after in the league.“

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Yeovil Town manager Richard Dryden gave credit to today’s opponents Boreham Wood after seeing his side outplayed in a 3-0 defeat at Huish Park on Saturday.

The visitors, who moved up to third place in the National League Premier Division table with the win, dominated from start to finish and Dryden was quick to praise their performance.

Speaking to BBC Somerset reporter Mark Stillman after the match, he said: “We were up against it from the first minute and I have to give credit to Boreham Wood, they outpressed us, outpassed us and I thought they were a really good working unit. We never really got in to the game. We were on the back foot after the first goal, it was a horrible time to concede a second in the last minute of first half injury time, we tried to change the shape in the second half which I am not a big fan of, to try and get a foothold in to the game.

“We were thinking about it ten minutes before (the second goal) to change it up a bit and give some people a rest, but the second goal so late in the first half is a tough one to take. They had a lot more chances to make it threes and fours, and we have got to get over it quickly and start again. We did not pass it like we did, we still have to be brave on the ball even when we are being pressed, but we ended up going long and did not create a lot on set pieces. All in all we have to say we were well beaten.”

Richard Dryden.

The defeat brings a three-match winning run to an end for Yeovil, but Dryden was keen to bring a sense to perspective despite the disappointing performance. He said: “It is one game and I said before the game that (Boreham Wood) are up there for a reason. From what we have seen on the analysis there is every chance they can stay there.”

The Glovers suffered a double blow with the loss of Josh Sims after just 21 minutes before on loan Port Vale player James Plant was forced off with a shoulder injury just ten minutes to the second half.

Dryden made a triple substitution at half-time with captain Jake Wannell, who has been struggling with injury, striker Junior Morias and defender-turned-midfielder Finn Cousin-Dawson all replaced at the break.

The boss said: “Hopefully Simsy is not too bad, he took a hell of a crack. He was getting treatment at half-time, but he is a warrior and hopefully it was just a big impact and nothing more than that. Planty’s shoulder popped out a little bit when he came off, but hopefully that is not as bad as it sounds. Wans has been struggling with one of his glutes, so we decided to go four at the back and take him off and rest him.”

Goalkeeper Jed Ward was awarded the sponsors’ Man of the Match – you can cast your vote in our poll here – and Dryden admitted that summed up his side’s performance. He said: “He has been brilliant and a big asset. It probably sums it all up when you get beaten 3-0 and your goalkeeper gets Man of the Match. That was how far behind Boreham Wood we were.”

Jed Ward. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

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Yeovil Town’s recent good form came to a juddering halt at the hands of an impressive Boreham Wood side who ran out comfortable winners at a blustery Huish Park on Saturday.

The visitors started the match in fifth place in the National League Premier Division and quickly showed why as they took the lead through the impressive Abdul Abdulmalik and striker Matt Rush added a second deep in to first half stoppage time.

With the wind at their backs after the break, Yeovil failed to take advantage of the conditions and Boreham Wood continued to toy with their hosts and full-back Femi Ilesanmi was there to turn it home. Game, set, match.

First half

Manager Richard Dryden named an unchanged starting XI for the fourth consecutive match as they went in search of their fourth consecutive win. The visitors attacked the Thatcher’s End with Storm Amy giving them a major advantage with the wind literally in their sales from the start.

It was visiting midfielder Zak Brunt who was the first to try his luck with a wind-assisted shot from distance in the eighth minute with an effort which whistled over the bar.

There was an early blow for Yeovil after Josh Sims suffered an injury after an awkward landing having jumped for a header and the former Southampton man was off the pitch when Boreham Wood took the lead after 20 minutes. Abdul ABDULMALIK cut inside and stroked the ball in to the far corner leaving goalkeeper Jed Ward with no chance. Byron Pendleton replaced Sims before the game restarted. A double blow for the Glovers.

Jed Ward can’t keep out Abdulkarim’s strike. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

For the second week in a row, Yeovil faced a side which played the ball around nicely with the ball spending plenty of time on the deck, similar to the second half against Altrincham seven days earlier. Yeovil changed their formation with Pendleton going across to the left and trying to match their visitors’ 4-2-3-1 formation.

After 34 minutes, experienced full-back Jeff King fired in a free-kick which was tipped around the post by Jed Ward who was at full stretch to deny the visitors a second. The windy conditions definitely helped that one on its way.

Abdulmalik had another effort four minutes before half-time which deflected off team-mate Charles Clayden and went behind for a Yeovil goal kick, and Brunt put an effort in to the side netting in the second minute of seven minutes of first half injury time.

Just as it looked like we would go in at the break just one goal down, Boreham Wood grabbed a second with just seconds remaining. Abdulmalik skipped away from Morgan Williams with ease down the left side, fed Clayden and he played a cross in to Matt RUSH was there to double the visitors’ advantage.

Boreham Wood thoroughly deserve their half-time advantage, they have taken full advantage of the windy conditions and Yeovil will have to do the same in the second half if they are to get anything out of this one.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Boreham Wood 2

Second half

Richard Dryden made three changes at half-time with Brett McGavin, Aaron Jarvis and Alex Whittle replacing and Finn Cousin-Dawson, Junior Morias and captain Jake Wannell. McGavin in particular was needed to bring some control in the middle and hopefully get Yeovil’s attacking players who have proved some potent in the previous three matches involved in the second half.

It looks like we are starting with a 4-4-2 (cue Mike Bassett quote) formation with Jarvis and Tahvon Campbell paired together up from. Within eight seconds of the restart, Aaron Jarvis was penalised by referee Niall Smith. What does that man have to do to get a decision from a match official?!

Andrew Oluwbori. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

It was Boreham Wood who had the first chance of the second half after seven minutes of the restart, Clayden exploited the space left by Yeovil’s change in formation and curled a wonderful shot in. Luckily, Jed Ward was able to pull off an equally impressive save to deny him. The on loan Bristol Rovers’ man could have a busy half if we are going to push to get back in to his game.

James Plant became the second enforced change of the match of the match on 55 minutes. The on loan Port Vale player appeared to injure his shoulder and was replaced by Harvey Greenslade. That is all our substitutes made with only ten minutes of the second half played.

Campbell had an opportunity to set Andrew Oluwabori away but the striker could not get the ball under control and Wood defender Chris Bush stole the ball off him to start an attack which led to Zak Brunt dragging a chance wide. That could easily have been 3-0.

On 64 minutes, it was 3-0 to Boreham Wood after 63 minutes. It all started with Abdulmalik again, he skipped past a couple of players and the Yeovil defence were statuesque as Femi ILESANMI turned it home. You cannot say the visitors do not deserve this scoreline.

It took until the 72nd minute for Yeovil to have a meaningful effort on goal. McGavin’s ball forward was cleverly stepped over by Campbell and Greenslade coming in from the left side tried to caress it in to the corner but Finn Herrick in the visitors’ goal did well to turn it around the post. 

Ward had to pull off another great save to deny Jeff King after 75 minutes. We have struggled to cope with the pace of this Boreham Wood side all afternoon and that was the case again there. The visitors had the ball in the net three minutes later when substitute Lewis Richardson had a shot saved by Ward and Rush was there to put the ball in the net, but the offside flag was up.

McCormick had a shot well saved by Herrick with ten minutes remaining. The wind which was gusting towards the Thatcher’s in the first half appears to have dropped, but we have simply not been allowed to play in anything like the attacking style we have seen in the last three matches. Credit has to go to Boreham Wood for standing up to us better than we have had a go at them.

Richard Dryden. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

There was still time for the visitors to cut through Yeovil like a hot knife through butter and Brunt fired in another dipping shot which Ward tipped over the bar. The keeper picked up another sponsors’ Man of the Match award and it’s hard to argue with it.

It was one way traffic all afternoon and it looks as if it was a game too far for our small squad.

Full time: Yeovil Town 0 Boreham Wood 3

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Date: Saturday 4th October, 3pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Abdul Abdulmalik 20 (0-1), Matt Rush 45+7 (0-2), Femi Ilesanmi 64 (0-3),

Pitch: Still looking good
Conditions: Blowing a gale towards the Thatcher’s End in the first half, dropped a little after the break

Attendance: 2,660 (48 away supporters)

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Luke McCormick 90+2
Boreham Wood: Tom White 90

Referee: Niall Smith

Yeovil Town (3-4-1-2)

Substitutes: Byron Pendleton (for Josh Sims, 21), Alex Whittle (for Jake Wannell, 46), Brett McGavin (for Finn Cousin-Dawson, 46), Aaron Jarvis (for Junior Morias, 46), Harvey Greenslade (for James Plant, 55), Ben Wodskou (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Boreham Wood: Finlay Herrick, Femi Ilesanmi, Chris Bush, Charlie O’Connell, Zak Brunt, Abdul Abdulmalik (for Jon Benton, 87), Jeff King (for Cameron Coxe, 79), Callum Reynolds, Charles Clayden (for Lewis Richardson, 64), Tom White, Matt Rush.

Substitutes (not used): Erico Sousa, Junior Dixon, Joe Newton, Aaron Henry.

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Yeovil Town manager Richard Dryden has no concerns about naming an unchanged starting XI for the fourth consecutive game.

The Glovers take on in-form Boreham Wood, who have not lost since the opening day of the season, at Huish Park looking to extend their own winning run to four matches.

The boss is hoping to have winger James Daly and midfielder Jacob Maddox back to fitness in the coming weeks. He has confirmed the pair have both returned to light training.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Mark Stillman ahead of kick-off, Dryden said: “We are waiting for one or two to come in, but we are planning to keep the same side. There is a lot of talk everywhere about why we are not bringing players in but at the moment the players that are in or are filling the bench are doing a job.

“It is not just the goalkeeper and the back three (which have contributed to our defence) it is the people in midfield and in the wide areas and the forwards pressing. The goalkeeper and defenders get the plaudits when you keep a clean sheet, but it is a whole team effort when we score and when we keep clean sheets.”

The game will be played in blustery conditions with Storm Amy battering the country with winds of up to 100mph this weekend.

Dryden said: “”I have driven down from Wiltshire today and I have gone through all kinds of weather on the way here, I am glad I got here safe and sound with the wind. It is brightening up with the weather, it is going to be windy, but we have to adapt to that.”

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Yeovil Town have named an unchanged starting XI for the fourth consecutive match as they take on fifth-placed Boreham Wood at Huish Park this afternoon (3pm kick-off).

The Glovers have won their last three matches since manager Richard Dryden has placed in charge until the end of the season whilst today’s visitors have not lost since the opening day of the National League Premier Division season.

Finn Cousin-Dawson, who lines up in midfield yet again, is making his 50th appearance for the club.

 

 

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Yeovil vs Hemel Hempstead - Image Courtesy of Dan Finill

It’s almost time for the road to Wembley to begin and ironically we will not be passing far from the Arch to get to Vauxhall Road, the home of Hemel Hempstead Town in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round.

We have obviously been there before on the opening day of the 2023-24 National League South season, an match we would all rather forget, so hopefully this visit will prove more enjoyable.

Pricing for tickets is simple, no differentiation between seating and standing. They are available to buy now – here.

Adults: £17.00
Concessions (65+, Students, Military Emergency Services): £12.00
Under 18s: £7.00

Identification is required for any concessionary rates. For Under 18s, the following forms of identifications are acceptable: Current Passport, EU National ID Card, Current Full UK Driving Licence, Student Identification Card (or ISIC), UK Armed Forces ID Card, OAP Travel Pass.

Former chairman Martin Hellier arrives in the away end at Hemel Hempstead on the opening day of the 2023/24 season.

Hemel also point out that “racial, homophobic, sexist or discriminatory abuse, chanting or harassment is strictly forbidden and will result in arrest and/or ejection from the ground” – and no starting fights with your own supporters either, okay?

There is presently no information available as to whether Vauxhall Road will be segregated, but we are likely to be given the Adeyfield School End of the stadium as we were in 2023. It is a fair sized terrace which is raised above (plastic) pitch level to give you a good view – which will hopefully be a good thing this time. There are no details as to what provision and where has been made for any away fans who might have difficulty standing for a whole match but it is implied where will be some.

Turnstiles for this terrace are to the left as approach via the entrance to the ground with the main (now home) turnstiles in front of you, across the small carpark towards an astro training pitch.

Disabled

There’s nothing I can find on the website about disabled provision. From memory, only having been to this ground three times across about 30 years, a couple of areas will be accessible to wheelchair users and think recall a ramp that allows entry to the club house. The contact point with particular queries or assistance requests is via email: secretary@hemelfc.com