Ben Barrett
Loan Watch: Gulls win play-off clash
The Yeovil Town first team were picking up a point away in London, but what of the cohort of players out and about?
We start in the National League South, where defender Jordan Thomas helped his Torquay United side to a huge three points in the hunt for a play-off spot.
The Yellows left it late, but two goals after the 85 minute mark gave them all three points against fellow promotion contenders Eastbourne Borough.
⏱️24′ Thomas comes up with a tidy challenge inside the area to stop Bamba meeting a cross from the right.
— Torquay United FC (@TUFC1899) February 8, 2025
There was also a big clash at the other end of the table where W*ymouth, Will Buse between the sticks, were on the wrong end a 3-1 score line against Chesham. Ex-Glover Brooklyn Genesini with the only goal for the Terras, his third goal in just two games.
86’| Busey punches clear at full strength 🦾https://t.co/3UIQeeAl6z
🟣 🔵 2-1 🩷 | #TerrasTogether
— Weymouth FC (@theterras) February 8, 2025
Into the lower leagues, and Sherborne Town had their game called off because of a waterlogged pitch, as did Wellington AFC, which meant empty weekends for Corey Koerner and Jacob Shore.
Down at Bridport, Sol Padmore and George Geraghty were both involved in their 4-2 win over Torridgeside AFC.
Meet our starting XI for todays home game vs. Torridgeside AFC in the Walter C. Parson Peninsula League.
Kick-off at 3 PM 🕒.
Bar open from midday 🍻.Team sponsor: Palmers Brewery 🍺.#beelieve @palmersbrewery @swpleague pic.twitter.com/pQP7MwLETk
— Bridport FC (@Bridportfc) February 8, 2025
Earlier in the week, there was unfortunate news about Yeovil youngster Nansimir Nanev, who suffered a bad injury of Boxing Day, his loan club Sturminster Newton confirmed he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and will be out for a while.
We join Sturminster in wishing Nanev a swift recovery.
🍒 Injury update – @nansimir77 .
First team Manager @nicksquires146 gives a message updating the extent of Nansimir’s injury from our Boxing Day @_WesternLeague_ fixture at @GillTownFC .
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️@ytfcacademy @YTFC @IanNockolds @TonyIncenzo @NonLeagueCrowd… pic.twitter.com/xhRf24GYRx
— Sturminster Newton Utd FC (@SturNewUtdFC) February 5, 2025
Match Report: Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Yeovil Town 1
A Brett McGavin goal saw Yeovil Town get away from Dagenham & Redbridge with a point from a thoroughly forgettable encounter.
The Glovers had fallen behind to a fifth minute goal from the hosts’ Josh Rees before they were awarded a penalty – their first of the season when Kyrell Wilson was fouled inside the box after 39 minutes. McGavin’s initial effort was as saved by Nathan Harvey before the midfielder turned home the rebound.
Dave was one of the 311 in the away end at Victoria Road and here is how he saw it.
First half

Half time: Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Yeovil Town 1
Second half

Full time: Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Yeovil Town 1
Match Details
Venue: Victoria Road
Date: Saturday 8th February, 3pm
Competition: National League Premier Division
Scorers: Josh Rees 5 (0-1), Brett McGavin 39 (1-1)
Pitch: Not bad for this stage of the season.
Conditions: Cold and a bit damp.
Attendance: 1,703 (311 away supporters)
Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Brett McGavin 14, Morgan Williams 54, Finn Cousin-Dawson 64, Jake Wannell 90+4.
Dagenham & Redbridge: Trent Rendall 25, Josh Umerah 54.
Referee: James Bancroft
Yeovil Town (3-4-2-1)
Substitutes: Finn Cousin-Dawson (for Jacob Maddox, 54), Ciaran McGuckin (for James Plant, 75), Sean McGurk (for Kofi Shaw, 83), Dom Bernard (not used), Josh Sims (not used), Lewys Twamley (not used), Matt Gould (not used).
Dagenham & Redbridge: Nathan Harvey, Trent Rendall, Tom Eastman, Paul Kalambiya, Reagan Clayton (for Rafiq Khaleel, 75), Shiloh Remy, Jake Hessenthaler, Josh Rees, Ryan Hills, Josh Umerah (for Reece Grego-Cox, 83), Aaron Loupalo-Bi (for Oscar Rutherford, 75).
Substitutes (not used): Louis Jones, Chris Jones, Kayden Harrack, Christian N’Guessan.
Cooper: No Messing About After Break
Mark Cooper has told BBC Radio Somerset’s Josh Perkins that his team for the game against Dagenham has been picked on the merit of training since the Glovers’ enforced break.
Frank Nouble, Michael Smith, Morgan Williams and Kofi Shaw all come back into the starting line up with Aiden Stone making his debut in goal.

Pic GARY BROWN
Speaking on how the team have managed the gap between races, the gaffer said;
“It’s was basically a mixture of some rest, but some really intense work, it’s about trying to get that reset where, we gave the players a few days off, but came back knowing that there was no messing about, it was all front foot intensity, and we’ve picked the team on what we’ve seen in training.”

Pic: Gary Brown
He said that Goalkeeper, Aidan Stone has settled into the group well and confirmed that there are still some injury concerns within the group.
“Sonny [Blu Lo Everton] is fit, but not quite ready for the match, Caleb Hughes is injured, he’s a long term, he had a really bad rupture of his hamstring
“Aaron [Jarvis] has a long term injury and it’s boring for the players, it’s the same old thing every day, it’s rehab, the aim is to try and get him back two weeks ahead of schedule so he can take part in some of the games”
Team News: Dagenham & Redbridge (A)
James Plant and Aidan Stone go straight into the Yeovil Town starting XI for today’s trip to Dagenham & Redbridge (3pm kick-off).
Stone, who joined on a permanent deal following his arrived following his release from Notts County, takes over in goal following the departure of Ollie Wright to Solihull Moors via his parent club Southampton.
Plant, who has re-signed on loan until the end of the season, starts at left wing-back – we are guessing.
On the bench are loanees midfielder Sean McGurk and striker Ciaran McGuckin.
Plant the perfect recipe for Glovers
Port Vale loanee James Plant has told BBC Radio Somerset’s Jack Killah he’s delighted to be fit again and back at Huish Park for the rest of the season, after securing a loan move from the League Two side until the end of the campaign.
Speaking ahead of the weekend’s game with Dagenham & Redbridge he said that he was just itching to get going…in the kitchen as much as on the pitch.
“I’m really happy to be back. Obviously, [I] got back in there with the lads and [I’m] just looking forward to a game now. Can’t come fast enough, really.
Speaking about the injury which cut his previous spell on loan in Somerset, Plant said: “It was just a hamstring injury. Obviously [they’re] quite common in football, but I was gutted. I ended up doing my rehab at Vale, just a five-week period of rehab, and then did a couple of weeks training with them. Then I just asked a question: ‘Can I go back to Yeovil’? And the answer was yes. So here I am!”
Plant returned to Huish Park on the EFL’s deadline day and is looking forward to getting more game time and being on the pitch more often than not.
“I just want to play, games. Here is the place that I’m doing that. It seemed like the best thing to do. [Port Vale] were really happy about it. I think that’s what they wanted as well.
“They just wanted me playing as many games as many games as possible. So it was a bit of a setback with the injury, but hopefully we can go again now to the end of the season.
“I just want to play every game from now to the end of the season. That’s my main target. I’ll look at individual games and how I want to perform in them games, but as a whole, I just want to play every game to the end of the season.”

Plant was adamant that despite a few changes to the squad there’s still a belief the club can be successful this campaign: “We’re all aiming for the same things. [There’s] a few new faces in there that I’m getting to know, which is always good, but, yeah, similar goals.
“I just think with football, anything can happen. We’ll take it one game at a time, but there’s a lot of games coming up, and we could be in a really good position after the next two or three weeks. So we’ll just work from game to game, try and be as solid as we can, and also try and get forward, get goals, and then you never know.”
Plant’s second Glovers debut will likely come at Dagenham on Saturday – a side he’s already faced this season with the club.
“They’re a decent side. I remember we played them here. It was one of my first games, and we played really well, but they still tested us. We came away 1-0, so we were buzzing. Hopefully we can go to that place and do the same.”

Finally, a new loan deal brings with it, challenges for any young player, it turns out that James Plant can still turn to his Mum to help with getting creative in the kitchen… there’s a joke here about Plant-based meals… or something, you can see where we’re going with this.
“It’s first time I’ve really had to move away for football. It’s part of the part of the job. So I think it’s good for me to experience it so young, and obviously it’ll help me in the future as well. My mum’s sending me like recipes down, because I’m quite boring with my food. I’ll just cook the same thing every night, just the standard stuff, but she says she said I should try and change it!”
Cooper looking for ‘new energy’ from Glovers
Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper has said that he hopes the side’s enforced rest from competitive action will only be seen as a positive, if the group return with a ‘new energy’ heading into the final months of the season.
The Glovers haven’t played since January 25th when a second half collapse, the likes of which the England cricket team would be proud of, saw Rochdale run out 4-0 winners.
There’s been change a plenty at Huish Park in the last few days BBC Radio Somerset’s Jack Killah started by asking about the change in goalkeeper, after Ollie Wright returned to Southampton and Aidan Stone join the club.

Cooper said: “We got the opportunity to sign a permanent goalkeeper through circumstance really, that somebody that’s moved into the area. It’s something that we felt, for the long term future, we had to do. Obviously Southampton recalled Ollie, and he’s gone straight back out to Solihull. So, I think we can look at it from Ollie’s point of view, as a really positive loan. He played every minute of every game, and he’s gone away from here having a really positive experience.
“[Aidan’s] got a little bit more experience. He’s played League football. He’s played in a promotion final in League Two and won it with Port Vale, so he understands. He can kick the ball a long way, which will help us. Just [adds] a bit of experience. It’s no slight on Ollie, the only thing was it was a chance for us to get a permanent player.”
Aidan Stone will be joined at Huish Park another player with Port Vale connections. Vale’s James Plant returned to the club on loan for the remainder of the season, something which seems to have gone down well with, well, everyone!
“Of course, you always want as many good players as you can, and we’ve missed James and and he did great for us. And like I said, we’re always trying to improve the squad, and he would definitely do that.”

Following the departure of Matt Worthington the question of who takes the title of ‘club captain’ and who leads the side out was raised with plenty of the senior Yeovil players having worn the armband this season, but Cooper sees the armband as something fairly symbolic and wants multiple players to show leadership on and off the field.
“Jake Wannell was captain for the last game. The captaincy for me is just an armband. I think you need 11 captains, and there’s different kind of captains. You lead by example on the pitch, you rant, rave, scream, shout. But, you need lots of different captains in different areas of the pitch. So for me, it’s an armband, unless you’ve got one real standout candidate. I think those days are gone now. Where you get your Vinnie Jones, Terry Butcher [ed. or Skiverton, maybe?], Tony Adams. I think those, those kind of captains are not about as much now. So Jake Wannell will continue to to be the captain at the moment, and he’s got all the credentials and attributes.”

Speaking of the break, Cooper was keen to emphasise that hitting the ground running heading into four games against sides who currently sit below the Glovers in the table, was key.
“I think it was good for us to reset and digest and have a look where we were. The reset only works if you come in with a new energy. It doesn’t work if it’s just back to the same old. So, we’ve tried to change a few things and give it a real new energy and a new feel about it, and be a bit more front foot. It’s been a really good week.”
Speaking of the first of those opponents, Dagenham, who have played and lost twice since the Glovers last played, the manager said: “They’ve showed some good bits. Lewis [Young], the manager, is trying to make his way in the game. He’s brought in a really knowledgeable assistant, Terry Connor, who I know, [is] a brilliant sounding board for Lewis. They’ve had some difficult results, Forest Green twice, York, and been narrowly on the wrong side. That can happen and I’m sure they’ll be looking to bounce back on Saturday.
With an eye on the game, the Glovers will have a new look midfield as Charlie Cooper starts the first of a two-game ban for the accumulation of 10-yellow cards, but says that everyone else is fit… we’re not sure if that means Aaron Jarvis’ hamstrings have healed VERY quickly or if his absence was kind of assumed.
Finally, as an aside, the manager was asked about the National League’s ‘3 Up’ campaign, an effort to try and secure a third promotion spot from the National League to the Football League. The gaffer is on board.
“I think it should happen because, I think if you look at the league above, four promotion places, so four up, two down didn’t really make sense. It should be a meritocracy, really. It should be the same in our level where there’s more teams going up. I think back in the day, people would say, ‘I’m not sure the Non-League teams could cope with going full time’. Everybody’s ready now, at our level – everybody’s ready and could handle it. I think it is 15 ex-League teams in the National League Premier. I think it would make it even more interesting. It’s definitely something that I think should be pushed through. But it’s turkeys voting for Christmas. And, if you’re in a bottom seven, eight of League Two, you’re not going to vote for another place going down. I think they have to get 70/75% of the vote as well. So I can’t see EFL, League Two Chairman, Chief Execs voting for it, but I think that should be something that should be forced through. Fingers crossed.”
Match Officials: Dagenham (A)
For the second time this season, Yeovil Town will be officiated by James Bancroft.
Bancroft took charge of the bonkers game between the Glovers and AFC Fylde – a seven goal thriller that Yeovil came out on the right side of.
That actually represented Bancroft’s first ever game in charge of Yeovil – and he barely got a mention in our match report, which is normally a good thing.
Only Dom Bernard saw Yellow for the Greens on the day.
Overall, Mr Bancroft has been in charge of 10 games at this level so far this season, given 40 yellows, three reds and just the one penalty.
He’s NEVER refereed a Dagenham fixture.
A quick google of his name and we can’t even find much in the way of highly controversial stories surrounding him either; he did call off the Boxing Day clash between York and Oldham due to bad fog – but it was really foggy.
He will be assisted by Michael Chard, Alex Shipp and Harrison Blair will be on fourth official duties.
Here’s a picture of James Bancroft at Fylde… oh and some other people too.

Wright returns to Saints
Yeovil Town have announced the departure of goalkeeper Ollie Wright after his season-long loan from Premier League Southampton was cut short.
The 22-year-old joined back in July and has been the Glovers’ first choice number one since his arrival, but has returned to his parent to club ahead of schedule.
On Monday evening, a club statement said: “We can confirm Ollie Wright has returned to Southampton after being recalled from his loan spell.”
The former Worthing stopper has been an ever-present for the Glovers this season.
He has kept nine clean sheets in his 29 league appearances in all competitions, including making made some vital saves against Boston, Gateshead and plenty others… and nearly, got on the end of a last gasp corner or two.
With only goalkeeping coach Matt Gould available as cover, one assumes we can see another gloveman heading in to Huish Park at some point before this weekend’s trip to Dagenham & Redbridge.
Thanks for your efforts, Ollie.