Ben Barrett (Page 141)

Yeovil Town defender Alex Bradley has had his suspension confirmed by the Football Association today.

Bradley was sent off during the Glovers’ 2-0 loss to Aldershot on Tuesday night in the 55th minute.

The FA Suspensions Website has been updated to show that the defender is scheduled to miss three games for breach of Law 12 S1.

However, manager Darren Sarll confirmed the club’s intention to appeal the decision saying;

I just don’t get it, I don’t understand it… it’s on the half line, it’s a professional foul to stop the attack, he’s clipped his heel… there’s no danger to the individual, how many of them do you see every week?”

“We’d like to think with an appeal and a clear mind the referee might do the right thing, becasue I found it very strange”

We will bring you news of the outcome of any suspension here on the Gloverscast, but as it stands Alex Bradley will missing for games against King’s Lynn, Maidenhead and Altrincham before being available again on the final day of the season against Stockport County.

 

 

Trophy Success At Villa Park

To many Yeovil Town fans, May 12th 2002 is the start of over a decade of near permanent success, as goals from Carl Alford and Adam Stansfield secure a 2-0 win over Stevenage in the FA Trophy Final at Villa Park.

The weather was glorious, the football from Yeovil equally so, as thousands of supporters filled the Holte End at Villa Park after travelling up from Somerset.

Carl Alford’s overhead kick early on set the Glovers on their way on 12 minutes, but it was Chris Weale‘s 1st minute save from Kirk Jackson which really set the tone for the afternoon.

Gary Johnson‘s men really took control after half time, Terry Skiverton forcing a goal-line clearance from Matt Fisher, but the second goal came not long after, a fine finish from Man of the Match, Adam Stansfield.

After the game, Gary Johnson told reporters: “The club and the fans have been waiting more than thirty years to win this and now we have won it for them, I’m delighted”

Yeovil: Weale, Lockwood, Tonkin, Skiverton, Pluck, Way, Stansfield, Johnson, Alford, Crittenden, McIndoe.

Subs: White, Sheffield, O’Brien, Giles, Lindegaard.

 

Yeovil Town midfielder Charlie Lee said he was “frustrated” to not come away with anything from the trip to Aldershot Town on Tuesday night.

The 34-year-old, who played as a makeshift central defender in the 2-0 defeat, said he had not seen an injury record like that being suffered by his team-mates in his career.

“In 20 years of football, I have never seen the luck we have had with injuries (this season) and it’s been the story of our season…We have not coped well with it. Lots of people played out of position today and gave everything and up until the sending off I thought we were really in the game, we looked solid and we are frustrated we have come away with no points.”

The 55th minute red card of Alex Bradley was a key turning point in the game. Darren Sarll confirmed the club intend to appeal the decision, but Lee was pleased with how the side responded.

“When you go a man down…..to be proper, they were excellent, sometimes a team can be negative when they have got 11 men against 10, but they really pressed and threw numbers forward….But, we were 1-0 down and we were going for the same, so we knew we would concede chances and we were left a little bit exposed at the back. That was all part of trying to get a result, we got a lot of set pieces and everyone gave 100% but at the end of the day we have come away with no points so we are really frustrated.”

Injuries seems to be the main talking point at the moment at Huish Park with upwards of ten players missing from availability, but things don’t seem to have got any better with not only a potential suspension but also more knocks to patch up.

“Poor Bill’s (Sass Davies) nose is all over the place, Dags (Chris Dagnall) has got a gash on his head, Bradders will be suspended, but no-one is going to complain, Especially the younger players are going to learn a lot from these next four games, you’re going to learn to be a winner in your career. You’ve got to step up and do what’s needed and everyone will give everything they’ve got, every game and fingers crossed we can get people available for the weekend.”

Focus turned to the remaining games of the season, whilst Lee confirmed that any feint hopes of a play off run were over, he was still insistent that everyone will be giving their all to the cause, especially when fans return to Huish Park next week.

“Any chance of getting to the play-offs is long gone, so now you just have to get results for pride. Everyone is going to keep going and I will make sure and the staff will make sure that everyone is on it in training and we’ll give it everything. It’s been a major thing this season, (the fans) were a massive part of what we did last year and we were all immensely proud of what we did last year with a new team. We are all really disappointed this year. We had unbelievable support home and away for every game, and I am really excited about seeing the fans back in.”

Yeovil Town have back to back home games coming up vs King’s Lynn on Saturday and then Maidenhead on Tuesday night.


Despite succuming to a third successive loss, Yeovil Manager Darren Sarll was in fairly chipper mood about how his patched up side handled themselves in the 2-0 defeat to Aldershot on Tuesday night.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Tom Seymour, Sarll said: “I thought their application was magnificent, all night… I thought their commitment was excellent, they tried, Charlie (Lee) at centre half, (Josh) Neufville at right back, anyone that played out of position were very, very good.”

Lawson D’ath was a surprise inclusion on the bench returning after three months out and the Gaffer took time to praise his winger for his attitude.

“Lawson put himself into a position of availabilty after one day’s training and three months injured. I never asked him, he came to me, he said I want to help, we’re short, get me involved”

Injuries have meant that options at Sarll’s disposal have been thin on the ground with three outfield members of the Under-18s making the substitutes bench and Toby Stephens making his second professional appearance in the second half.

Sarll confirmed that there are concerns over the fitness of both Billy Sass Davies (Broken nose) and Chris Dagnall who had to have stitches in his ear at half time.

One pre-match positive was the return of Alex Bradley who was missing from Saturday’s squad with the flu, however, Bradley – who was being played in a central role – was sent off early in the second half for a professional foul.

Darren Sarll confirmed the club intend to appeal the decision. “I just don’t get it, I don’t understand it… it’s on the half line, it’s a professional foul to stop the attack, he’s clipped his heel… there’s no danger to the individual, how many of them do you see every week?”

“We’d like to think with an appeal and a clear mind the referee might do the right thing, becasue I found it very strange”

With half an eye on a return to Huish Park this Saturday for the visit of King’s Lynn, Sarll was cautiously optimistic that he might have a few more options, despite joking that picking a team would be easy, because he has no players available.

“We are still trying, we are still hoping on some of the injured players, (Luke) Wilkinson is trying really hard to be back and fit, he’ll be a huge player for us”

“If we can get Charlie back out there, Wilkinson back out there, Reid and I thought Quigley was great tonight… Dagnall, Sonupe, D’Ath will be another week further on, he might have to step in early”

Finally, Sarll was positive that seeing Yeovil fans back in Huish Park will bring out something more from his side.

“We’ve been better at home than away… and having supporters back at Maidenhead will give us all a lift, I’ve not looked forward to a game so much for a while. The only thing we’re really holding onto is supporters against Maidenhead, they don’t really realise how important they are, not only do they give us a lift, but they terrify the life out of the opposition, and we’re gunna need that”

Yeovil host King’s Lynn on Saturday before welcoming supporters back through the turnstiles the following Tuesday when Maidenhead are the visitors.

Yeovil Town’s injury hit squad has meant Darren Sarll has been forced to look to some of his younger players to fill recent squads.

We’ve taken a look at what we might expect from some of the Young Glovers if they are going to be in and around the side for the rest of the season.

Firstly, Toby Stephens. Toby made his debut in the loss against Wrexham coming off the bench late on in the game. Despite the result, Sarll made sure to praise the 17-year old for his work ethic in his cameo role saying: “I really like Toby, I have to remind of his midfield duties, but he took the ball, tried to win it back. For someone at 17 years-old, I think he’s got a really great opportunity,”

Another name that will have been spotted on plenty of team sheets this season is that of young ‘keeper Max Evans. He’s not yet had the chance to make his debut, instead deputising for Adam Smith, but the young stopper has regularly been included on Darren Sarll’s bench.

Joining from the Oxford United system at the start of the season, Evans has played this season whilst on loan at Frome Town

Jiah Medrano in action for Yeovil’s Under 18s

That leaves us a couple of new names to have a look at, Jiah Medrano and Adam Heaton.

Medrano is described as a defender, born in September 2002 (!) who actually started in academy set ups in the midlands with experience in the Stoke City Regional Talent Centre.

Back in October, Glovers fans were asked to vote for Medrano is a ‘League Football Education’ Goal Of The Month award for a blinding free kick, suggesting he might be on the set pieces should he be given a chance in the team.

Finally, Adam Heaton (born in November 2002!!) is listed among the midfielders on the Under 18s section of the official site, he has tasted a bit of first team experience during pre-season coming off the bench in a friendly against Bournemouth U23s.

Both Medrano and Heaton are 2nd year scholars at the club having signed forms alongside a certain Alfie Lloyd who this week signed for QPR for an undisclosed fee.

Both have been playing regularly for the Under 18s with recent wins over Swindon and Forest Green Rovers in the bag.

Best of luck to all the young Glovers between now and the end of the season.


Jiah Medrano’s Goal Of The Month contender

Former Yeovil Town goalkeeper Marek Stech has been told he is being made available for transfer following the end of the 2020/21 season.

Stech, who has been in and out of the side at Mansfield Town this season, made 24 appearances for the Stags as they finished in 16th in League Two.

The Czech ‘keeper made 90 appearances for the Glovers across three spells and was most famously, named Man Of The Match in the 2013 League One Play-Off final success vs Brentford.

As it stands, Yeovil Town will need to reinforce their goalkeeping options for next season as current Number 1, Adam Smith is on loan from Forest Green Rovers…

You’re always welcome at Huish Park, Marek…

 

End of season awards time is fully upon us and two former Glovers stars have made their way into ‘Team of the Season’ selections in the Championship

Firstly, congratulations to Asmir Begovic who has been named in the official EFL Championship team of the season, the former Glovers Loanee has been brilliant for Bournemouth in a season which will see them take on the play-offs as they search to join Watford and Norwich in the Premier League next season.

Secondly, the team over at WhoScored.com have also published their best XI, this one includes former Yeovil front man Kieffer Moore, now of Cardiff City.

It’s unsurprising that both of these sides are made up heavily of Norwich players, but only one Watford player is represented across both teams.

Moore scored 20 goals this season and won more aerial duals than anyone else in the division (440), he also landed no fewer than 12 Man Of The Match titles, via the WhoScored.com rating system.

Congratulations to both Asmir and Kieffer for their successful campaigns and best of luck to Asmir and the Cherries in the Play-Offs.

Yeovil Town played their first ever Football League Play Off fixture on this day in 2007.

The Glovers welcomed two-time European Cup winners, Nottingham Forest to Huish Park for the first leg of the League One play off semi final.

Despite outplaying their counterparts Yeovil would succumb 2-0 in the end, thanks to a couple of penalties from Kris Commons and James Perch.

Nearly 9,000 supporters were in the ground for the game with the pictures beamed around the world on Sky Sports as well.

After the game, Forest were famously rumoured to be planning their trip to Wembley already with the players measured for suits and hotels all booked before the return leg at the City Ground.

… and we all know what happened on ‘that night on the side of the River Trent’, more on that on a later ‘On This Day’.

Yeovil: Mildenhall, Lindegaard, Guyett, Forbes, Jones, Gray, Barry, Cohen, Davies, Morris, Stewart.
Subs Not Used: Behcet, Brittain, Kalala, Lynch, Knights.

Yeovil Town will be hoping to put back-to-back 3-0 losses behind them on Tuesday night when they travel to take on fellow mid-table side, Aldershot Town.

The injury ravage Glovers  head into the game with the Shots on almost identical records with Aldershot one place above Yeovil in the table on goal difference.


Form

Both sides come into the game off the back of two losses, the Glovers have fallen 3-0 to both Wrexham and Halifax whilst the Shots will be hoping to put away defeats to Sutton (3-1) and Torquay (2-1) behind them.

In an odd quirk of the fixture list, Aldershot haven’t played since the 1st of May, an 11-day break between matches, Yeovil’s two most recent games have come since their opponents last outing.

Aldershot midfielder Josh Rees is their top scorer this campaign with 12 goals,


Team News

Darren Sarll has a longer list of players potentially unavailable rather than ones he can actually call upon.

At the time of writing, there are concerns over (deep breath); Alex Bradley, Luke Wilkinson, Max Hunt, Albi Skendi, Carl Dickinson, Josh Staunton, Jimmy Smith, Lawson D’ath, Matt Worthington and Rhys Murphy.

In addition, Matt Warburton has returned to Northampton and Gabby Rogers is still unavailable for selection.

In better news, Charlie Lee will be available again after suspension and might be asked to play in three different positions.
Toby Stephens can expect to find himself in the squad once more along with potentially one or two more young faces from the club’s Under 18s.


When we last met

Yeovil took four points from a possible six when the sides met during the 2019/20 season, a 3-1 away win was followed with a 2-2 draw at Huish Park,

One of the quirks of that 3-1 win was that the Shot’s 19th minute equaliser was scored, but none other than Max Hunt, now of course, in the green and white of Yeovil Town – plus anyone at the Recreation Ground that night will remember one of those atmospheres among the travelling fans.

Earlier on this season, it was a Courtney Duffus brace and a third from Albi Skendi that secured all three points in a comfortable 3-0 win, Joe Quigley was sent off in the final moments to dampen the mood slightly,
You can watch highlights of that 3-0 win below.


Foot in both camps

We here at the Gloverscast took an extensive trawl through the archives (ok, Wikipedia…) for some names who can be associated with both clubs, and here’s some that we found.

Steve Collis: the fomer Glovers Gloveman joined Aldershot on loan from Yeovil in 2002, he played just three times for the Shots before returning to stop shots at Yeovil.

Harry Cornick has spent time on loan at both clubs before, whilst Nick Crittenden has racked up well over 200 appearences for these two sides.

Even the Gloverscast own David Coates, was born in the town… a long time ago, mind.

Tune In

Fans wishing to watch the game can head HERE to buy a streaming pass, with the usual radio coverage from BBC Somerset and Three Valley’s Radio also available – and don’t forget all the post match discussion including the Gaffer’s quotes can be found right here on Gloverscast.co.uk


Yeovil Town announced the signing of 21-year old Hereford United forward Gavin Williams on a two-year contract.

It was reported that the Glovers parted with little over £20,000 to sign the Welshman.

At the time Ciderspace described Williams as “an exciting twenty-one-year-old who can play anywhere up front, or in midfield. He has shone in a frankly poor Bulls team, and was the club’s top scorer last season. The Glovers have been interested in him for some time, and in fact tried to sign him in a double package with current Player of the Season Michael McIndoe during the 2000-01 campaign. His capture now, in the face of strong interest from several other Conference and League clubs, is testimony to the growing ambitions and stature of Yeovil Town. We at Ciderspace believe this will prove to be a signing of consequence, and are sure Gavin will be a great success in the green and white in the coming seasons”

Williams would, of course go on to become a Glovers legend across multiple spells, including a stint on loan in 2010 before joining the team permanently once again in 2011 and would end his time at Huish Park as part of the 2013 League One Play-Off winning squad.

Gav would eventually depart Somerset for West Ham in 2004 before spending time at Ipswich, both Bristol clubs, Woking and was most recently seen as Player-Manager at Merthyr Town in Wales.

Super Gav reperesented Yeovil 188 times, scoring 34 times.