Ben Barrett (Page 128)

Toby Stephens claps the Yeovil fans

Yeovil Town midfielder Toby Stephens started his second game of his loan spell at Hemel Hempstead in their FA Trophy fixture against Stourbridge.

Stephens played the full 90 minutes for his adopted side, and could have won the game late on, but it wasn’t meant to be as the match ended 1-1.

That meant spot kicks and whilst a full list of penalty takers is hard to source, we don’t think the on loan midfielder took one, he certainly wasn’t one of the two Tudor players who missed from 12-yards.

Hemel Hempstead were eliminated from the competition whilst Stourbridge who go onto the third round proper, the round in which Yeovil Town will enter. (draw will be announced on Monday at 1pm)

As an aside, FA Trophy Player Registration Rule 5e states “a player shall not play for more than one club in the competition” and as such, he will NOT be eligible for the Glovers’ during this season.

Loan Stats

Appearances: 2
Minutes: 167
Assists: 0
Goals: 0

Dale Gorman returns from suspension to replace Sonny Blu Lo-Everton in the only change for today’s match with bottom club Dover Athletic today (3pm kick-off).

The Watford loanee drops to the substitutes’ bench having appeared in the 2-1 midweek win over Bromley.

He makes up a full compliment of five substitutes having  started the previous gene with just four subs.

Yeovil Town: Smith, Moss, Barnett, Wilkinson, Hunt, Staunton, Gorman, Worthington, Knowles, Wakefield, Yussuf.

Substitutes: Evans, Bradley, Williams, Haste, Lo-Everton.

 

Barnett in action vs King’s Lynn
Pic Courtesy of Mike Kunz

Yeovil Town’s Jordan Barnett was on media duty ahead of the game against Dover and said that the team spirit and bond with the supporters was the key to this recent run of good form.

“It’s been really, really good, it’s been a great experience for me being in the team, going unbeaten in seven game, it’s really good”

“Every single man in the team has done absolutely brilliantly and we can’t fault any single player”

The former Oldham and Notts County full back said that he was probably in the best form of his own career and was enjoying playing either as a left-back or further forward.

When asked what he put that run down to, he kept it simple – by announcing his love for all thing YTFC!

“I’m really loving Yeovil, it’s a club that should be in the Championship, the fans are absolutely unbelievable, they travel everywhere. I remember Stockport, that was a brilliant game they travelled five hours, and on Tuesday night (at Bromley) that was unbelievable, I’m loving every single minute of it.”

“We’ve got a great spirit in the changing room, on and off the pitch, it’s absolutely brilliant, all the lads love each other and work hard for each other.”

“Even the finishers who come on the pitch for the last 15 minutes, every single player, they’re all for the club”

Barnett promised there would be no complacency in the build up to the Dover game despite their lowly position with him promising the side are taking things one game at a time – but admitted there was a goal in mind for the end of the season.

“The Play-Offs is what we should be aiming for, I think we can achieve that if we carry on as we are, I think it’ll definitely (!!) happen if every single player is fit. I think we will end up reaching the play offs, but we need to keep working hard”

The National League Play-Off Final is currently scheduled for Sunday 5th June 2022… in case you wanted to book the day off work.

Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll talks to BBC Radio Somerset

Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll, spoke to the media ahead of the Glovers’ home game vs Dover and talked of the ‘respect’ he has for his opposite number, and that despite the difference in form, Yeovil wont be caught lacking.

“No ,these won’t be complacent, my group won’t be complacent, we know exactly where we are and what we have to do, we know exactly what we’re good at and what we need to get better at… we need to ensure we prepare as we have done all the time, with diligence, with professionalism, with respect”

 

Dover are currently winless in the league this season and crashed out of the FA Cup to Yate Town following a replay.

They remain on -9 points having only picked up three draws all season. Despite the ten places and 33-point gap in the table, Sarll will be making sure his side are ready for the challenge.

“I have massive respect for (Dover Manager) Andy Hessenthaler, a brilliant, brilliant player, we shared a mentor type figure in the brilliant Glenn Roeder, you can never take anything easy against an Andy Hennenthaler team, it’s not in his charachter.

We need to be fully prepared, highly motivated, we’re obviously in good form, there’s no denying that and we need to make sure our form stretches at least one more game”

Joe Quigley hammers home
Pic of Mike Kunz.

Yeovil Town Manager Darren Sarll revealed on Friday that Glovers’ top scorer Joe Quigley is unlikely to be available for the next month.

Quigley hurt his knee in the final moments of Yeovil’s 1-0 win over Dagenham and was absent from the squad against Bromley.

Sarll told the media that his front man could miss the next five or six games.

“I don’t think Joe will be back with us before Christmas, it’s sad, disappointing for him, but his knee is not great at the moment.”

“He’s going to need a period of rehabilitation, we are still waiting on exact details, the estimates of what it is going to take him (to play again), but this is what happens when these players put their bodies on the line”

“Joe got this injury going into the corner with a couple of minutes to go at Dagenham, and what happens when the other team are desperate to get the ball back? You end up like a tree getting hacked away at”

“One little move and he’s opened his knee up, he’s in discomfort, he’s been in pain all week”

Sarll praised Quigley’s courage and ability but will now have a wait to see when his top scorer when will be available to him.

The striker has six goals to his name so far this season with five games to go until Christmas (potentially six if a replay is needed in the cup) it will fall to Adi Yussuf and a recovering Reuben Reid to lead the line.

 

Reuben ReidYeovil Town front man Reuben Reid has been back in training this week as he steps up his recovery from injury.

Darren Sarll confirmed the former West Brom man was back on the training pitch and could edge closer to a return to the match-day squad soon.

“Reuben has trained two or three days this week, which is very good good, it’s the first time since pre-season, the build up to the Weston Super-Mare friendly”

“He was great, it took him almost 30 seconds of a training session to telling someone what he liked and didn’t like, which is true Reuben style, he’ll do another session today (Friday), I think tomorrow (vs Dover) is too soon”

It might not be much longer before the ex-Cheltenham and Forest Green forward is back as Sarll said he was targeting the FA Cup game against Stevenage for a potential return to seeing Reid on the team sheet.

Reid has seven league goals in 46 appearances across two spells so far.

Glovers’ Ollie Haste
Pic From @yeovilcollege

Yeovil Town’s Ollie Haste has been called up to the England College’s Men’s team following a successful trial.

Haste, who was on the bench for the Glovers’ first team in the win over Bromley, has made Darren Sarll’s squads on a couple of occasions and has been played from the start in both Somerset Premier Cup games so far this season.

The youngster attends Yeovil College as well as playing as part of the Glovers’ Under 18s, he had to get through two stages of trials to get selected where he will join players from all over the country.

Head Coach, Darin Killpartrick said: “The trial phase is always a difficult and subjective process. The standard this year was very balanced and there were hardly any differences in players’ abilities, making the process incredibly difficult and challenging.”

The England College team currently has one fixture listed, with more expected to be announced, should Ollie be selected, this does fall on what is currently an empty midweek for the Glovers, but it would be filled should there be a need for a replay following the FA Cup clash with Stevenage.

England College FA Fixtures

Thursday, 16 December 2021
Venue: St George’s Park
ECFA vs Independent Schools

Huge congratulations from everyone at the Gloverscast to Ollie and his family.

Yeovil Town recorded their second away win in 72 hours and stretched their unbeaten run to seven with a 2-1 victory over Bromley on Tuesday, on co-commentary duty for the BBC was Marcus Duncomb who penned a few thoughts for us here at the Gloverscast

This Yeovil team is special. In terms of mentality and fight, they could not be further away from what we’ve had to get used to from Yeovil for the past eight or so years. In years gone by if we’ve taken the lead and then concede an equaliser it seems to have always led to a collapse – and that is unfortunately what Yeovil fans have grown to expect. But not this team. We conceded a soft penalty right before half time away at a team on an 11-match unbeaten run. Charlie Wakefield’s response? Instantly go down the other end bang one into the top corner against his former side. I can get behind that.

Darren Sarll said in pre-season that he was doing things differently this season. The manager said that he had been focussing on making sure they had a solid defensive base before anything else. I think it’s clear to see that this coaching has been effective. The whole team looks so structured and everyone knows their role defensively. Even when Sarll changed things up for the final 20 minutes as he subbed Morgan Williams on, it did not disrupt the team’s cohesion and understanding. It’s not just the structure of the defending which is promising, but it’s also their attitude towards it. These players will do anything to make sure that ball doesn’t end up in the back of the net.

Adi Yussuf scores v Weymouth
Credit: Weymouth Flickr

Adi Yussuf was so good at what he needed to do yesterday. Coatesie mentioned in his Dagenham conclusions that Yussuf is a back to goal striker and he did exactly that against Bromley. It was not an easy job for him. The whole Yeovil team spent much of the second half in and around their own penalty box with Yussuf being the only one staying on the halfway line. Every time Yeovil cleared it, Yussuf would somehow find a way to get onto the ball and keep it for as long as he could. The Bromley fans around me were getting frustrated with how often Yussuf was winning headers and keeping the ball for Yeovil which says it all.

As the players were celebrating jubilantly with the fans at the end (and I wished I was there and not in the press box…) a bitter Bromley fan saw my Yeovil scarf and said to me “Does this win mean a lot to you then? It’s like a cup final celebration!”. I explained to him that we celebrate every win like this and that it doesn’t matter who we’ve beaten. Where would the fun be if after winning a game there was a quick round of applause and then everyone popped home? We’re not going to win every game (sorry), so enjoy these moments and remember them when things aren’t going as well. This squad is down to its bare bones – just look at yesterday’s bench – and is performing ridiculously well considering.

Can we play at Hayes Lane every week? Since relegation from the EFL, Yeovil have enjoyed some great outings to Bromley. A Rhys Murphy 90+7th minute equaliser, a 120+2nd minute winner in the FA Cup, *finally* getting a first league win in December 2020 and now ending their 11-match unbeaten run through a thoroughly professional performance. I’m already looking forward to Luke Wilkinson’s 90+4th minute free kick winner in the FA Trophy semi-final at Hayes Lane in April…

 

Yeovil Town defender Max Hunt spoke to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins following the Glovers’ 2-1 win over Bromley and was full of praise for his team mates.

“It’s a special night, the gaffer and Tel (Skiverton), spoke to us about what we needed to do, gave us the confidence before the game to go out and do it, to see the boys back it up – every one of us – putting a shift in, defending like we did in the second half… to hold out and for Granty (Grant Smith) to make that save was brilliant”

The former Carlisle defender referenced how in previous seasons Bromley may have got an equaliser, but another rear guard action saw the game out for the win, thanks to whole defensive unit.

“It’s brilliant, I love every minute of it, going out there, and whether it’s Robbo (Jack Robinson) or Jordan (Barnett) there, you know everyone is going to put a shift in.

(Luke) Wilko and I have got a great relationship and have done since day one, and (Dan) Mossy has been faultless and to have Granty behind us is… you can’t ask for much more”

Yeovil have won back to back away games at Dagenham and Bromley and Hunt thinks that shouldn’t be underestimated.

“To come away twice in a week to two very tough teams, that are both up there and are always going to be up there, both good sides, to do a job on both of them is massive, and it shows how far we’ve come and the spirit of the boys”

“(We are) Looking forward to getting back to Huish on Saturday (vs Dover), put all this behind us, enjoy it tonight and make sure we start prepping properly this week”

Joe Quigley celebrates his goal against Altrincham.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll confirmed that Glovers’ top scorer Joe Quigley could be missing for a little while with a knee injury.

Speaking after the 2-1 win over Bromley, Sarll told BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins, the front man has had a scan after picking up the injury late in the win over Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday.

“When he (Quigley) went into the corner on Saturday, late on to see the game out, he opened his knee up so we’re going to have to scan him.”

“We’re a little bit worried about that one, so I don’t think we will see him Saturday (vs Dover), poor Joe is not in a great frame of mind, so hopefully his scan comes back as good as it can be, but he’s in a lot of discomfort.”

Sarll also confirmed that captain Luke Wilkinson only made the squad at the last moment with the Glovers restricted to just four subs on the bench with Dale Gorman suspended, Toby Stephens out on loan and long term injuries to Reuben Reid and Mark Little not ready to return just yet.