Ben Barrett (Page 20)

Yeovil Town manager Richard Dryden has demanded a reaction from his Glovers side when they go to Scunthorpe this weekend.

Speaking to BBC Radio Somerset’s Jack Killah, the manager was feisty in his reaction to Tuesday’s defeat and how they’ll attack this weekend’s trip up north.

“[Tuesday was] a horrendous, horrendous day for us. We were way too passive defensively, that’s down to us as a group of staff and players, but mainly the staff on that, but the passiveness did work and we won the ball back, without them creating too many chances. But, when we got the ball back, we were we were nowhere near the standard expected to keep the ball and create chances. So all in all, it was a horrendous day.

We get back on the pitch today we’re going to work on shape defensively and I’m not going to hide it, we’re going to be more more aggressive, which we’ve got to be, although Scunny are going to be a little bit different from Wealdstone, how they play, but we’re going to be more aggressive and I’m expecting when we do get the ball back, we’re going to be better with it.”

“I’m going to say it one more time. I’m expecting a good reaction.”

Looking at how things might change for the game on Saturday, there is hope that some of the injured members of the group could be available as well as the returning from suspension duo of Finn Cousin-Dawson and Harvey Greenslade.

“Brett, when he’s on the pitch, gives a lot of calmness. The good news is he’s training for the first time today, which is good. So he’s getting back to fitness. Yeah, we got three or four maybe. Maybe we can get one more in there, but we have to juggle people about a little bit. So we’ve got we got a sizeable squad, which we need. So there is potential to make make a few changes.

[Maddox is] still a while away, yet frustrating for him. He’s desperate to get back onto the five train with us. He’s on the grass, but he’s he’s a bit frustrated at the moment.

We’re hoping [Josh Sims will be available]  because, like I say, I think he’s coming to the building. He’s been he’s been quite a standout player for me. Yeah, I’ve heard good things about him. And he’s proved some people right. And, you know, he can play various positions. So it’ll be good to get him back if he if he’s fit.”

As for Scunthorpe, who sit comfortably in the play off places, the manager said that he was going to keep the focus on his own side with a reaction needed following Tuesday.

“They’ve done exceedingly well, you know, they’ve come straight up and and kept their good run going. So, you know I’m still I’m still hurting massively from Tuesday and I need to see a good reaction with and without the ball on Saturday.

They’re set up to do certain things. They’ve got players ready for it and certain things different from maybe the Boreham Woods and the Yorks and what they do they do well with what they’ve got. So, they’re set up well, but like I say, I’m not too worried about them or not to worry about anybody at the moment, but from apart from my form. So like I say, the emphasis now until Saturday is all about us.

I think that [Scunthorpe having no midweek game] makes no difference. I think we found it hard a little bit when it was constant like the Wednesday, Saturday, Tuesday and then you’re playing again on the Saturday. But like I say, it’s no excuses. There’s no excuses to turn a run around and and got ourselves right. And like I say, it’s not just the people on the pitch. It was people off it as well. So like I say, I can’t draw a line under it from this week. I’m not happy about it. And like I say, I’m going to say it one more time. I’m expecting a good reaction.”

It’s not every day Yeovil Town are reffed by an actual FA Cup Final official, let alone one that’s also a current FIFA International referee.

That’s exactly what we have on Tuesday night when Kirsty Dowle takes charge of the game against Wealdstone.

Dowle, from Kent, took charge of the 2022 Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley, Chelsea beating Man City 3-2 after Extra Time, in front of nearly 50,000 people. 

A year later, she also took charge of the Women’s League Cup Final. 

She was added to the FIFA International list in 2020, just six years after starting her referee career.

She’s taken part in an exchange programme with the Japanese FA and was a lead official at the Women’s Under 17s European Championships in the summer. That, is some CV!

This season, six games have seen 24 yellow cards issued and one red.

As far as we can tell, she has never refereed a Yeovil Town (or a Wealdstone) game before.

She will be assisted by David Nicholson and James Hooper, Bailey Walker will be in charge of the dugouts.

Dowle, (2nd official from the left) looks out at Wembley before the 2022 Women’s FA Cup Final

Yeovil Town FC (First Team) v Wealdstone FC (First Team)
National League – Premier    
Referee: Dowle, Kirsty
Assistant Referee: Nicholson, David
Assistant Referee: Hooper, James
Fourth Official: Walker, Bailey

There were only four games for Yeovil Town in the month of October and aside from the 1-1 draw with Carlisle to wrap the month up, things didn’t go to plan.

Two 3-0 defeats and exiting the FA Cup to lower league opposition didn’t exactly get the juices flowing.

But, that being said, we continued to give Gloverscast readers the chance for their Man of the Match.

The monthly winner was Harvey Greenslade, who picked up a total of 9 voting points, including a single MOTM win. He finished first, or second in all four games.

As a reminder, All MOTM winners are awarded 3 points towards a monthly total, second gets two, third gets one with any ties settled by the number of individual first places they get.

Jed Ward might have won MOTM twice, but only picked up 8 points for the month in total. 

Such is the quirk of the lack of games, Max Jolliffe’s single MOTM win vs Carlisle was enough to give him the bronze medal for the month overtaking Kyle Ferguson (2 points) and Byron Pendleton and George Nurse (1 point each).

Congratulations to all those nominated throughout the month and to Harvey for winning!