Ben Barrett (Page 71)

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Yeovil Town make the short trip north to face Gateshead on Saturday lunchtime… (12:30 kick off, remember!!!) and here is who will take charge of the game.

Martin Woods has the whistle, if that name rings a bell, Glovers fans, here’s why.

Back in 2020 he was in charge for the Yeovil game, at Huish Park against Hartlepool.

The game ended 2-2 (Goals from Matt Worthington and Charlie Lee, if you were wondering) but the talking point was a rather soft red card to Rhys Murphy.

Just before the hour mark, a fairly innocuous coming together between Murphy and a Hartlepool player ended in Murphy heading for the changing rooms.

After the game, Darren Sarll said they would be appealing the decision, which they did, and a few days later it was actually rescinded, meaning the Bagsman could return to action.

This season, Martin Woods has only reffed one game, a League Two game between Salford and Port Vale, a game with only two yellow cards shown.

He’s only ever taken charge of two Gateshead games, between them he’s shown just ONE yellow card and given one spot kick.

Mr Woods will be assisted by Jonathan Wyatt and Emmanuel Edet with Thomas Wilson making the cups of tea… sorry, I mean, holding the subs board.

Martin Woods Sends Off Rhys Murphy

By:
On:
In: Gloversblog

Has the heart rate dropped to normal yet? Gloverscast Ben‘s just about has… just.

Here’s how he saw it – from the comfort of his own home, on National League TV

That first half was positively delightful: Oh, I could watch that first half over and over again. There was pace, power, control, flying wingers, defenders heading stuff away.

We saw neat link up play, one-twos falling perfectly, we got some Frank Nouble specials – where he just bulldozes through the midfield, into the attack and does something nice. Pearson looked lively – and got booted about a lot, Worthington ran himself into the ground and Ollie Wright did what he had to do with minimal fuss.

We saw Whittle and Smith getting forward – the latter getting into the mixer to bag from close range. Give me more of that.

It was arguably the most complete 45 minutes of football we have seen since we took Taunton Town apart on Boxing Day. It had everything.

Brett McGavin Tuesdays: We have a real player on our hands here, don’t we?

I made a call on the podcast that McGavin might be someone who can win Glovies this year – and games of football, I spose – but for periods of the first half, the ball stuck to his foot, every pass was calm and concise and he’s got a turn and trick up his sleeve to get out of trouble.

He ran the show, orchestrated the midfield allowing others to play to their strengths and there’s no-one else in the team you’d want the ball to fall to 20 yards out, is there?

I heard “Brett McGavin Saturday Lunchtimes in Gateshead” are also a thing, which is handy.

Brett McGavin salutes the Thatchers Stand after his opening goal. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown

Josh Sims – Crikey I’m excited: In just a short amount of time, we’ve seen enough about Josh Sims to realise there’s a player in there that’s probably a bit too good for the National League.

We have a fitness management issue, he’s clearly not up to full fitness and two games in 48 hours this weekend might not be doable, but as he builds up a full level of fitness, so long as we’re careful, we’re going to get more out of him that maybe we quite know at this point.

His ability to link up, almost telepathically with Frank Nouble and Alex Whittle down the left hand side was very nice to watch in that first half.

He’s got a low centre of gravity, he thinks fowards – he wants to get up towards the opposition box, which sounds obvious, but isn’t always the case. He’s direct, he can change direction quickly. He only lacked a finish on Tuesday night to seal a pretty impressive 45 minutes.

He came close with a curled effort into the far corner after cutting in off the byline, but he definitely offers something different to Dylan Morgan, Jordan Young and Sam Pearson. 

He’s a player who’ll get Huish Park off their seats, he’ll raise the noise a decibel or two. 

If we manage him, especially early on, if we can get that final ball, or final finish from him… we’ve got another one we’ll be able to stand on a Michael Smith pedestal.

Josh Sims in the warm-up at Braintree Town.

What the heck happened after half-time?: Let’s get into it, shall we? Minutes 46-67 were, absolutely bonkers, weren’t they?

Firstly, at half time, the sub of Sims for Cooper confused me. We knew Josh Sims was only slated for 45 minutes, that’s fine – but to completely change shape, to bring on a defensive midfielder and change the set up when things were going so well in the first half seemed an odd call.

It felt like a “more of the same lads” type team talk and a Young or Greenslade swap for Sims. Same position, same link ups, same outcome… no? 

Ebbsfleet were always going to throw the kitchen sink at it, but Wannell and Williams hadn’t really had much to do and with Araoye coming on down the left, dealing with a few lumps into the box wouldn’t have been an issue.

The team got deeper, the pressure mounted for a good ten minutes, we couldn’t get out of our half, because we invited them in. 

Then, a keeper error. Look, I’m a card carrying member of the GK Union (the Wednesday night 5-a-side branch, we’re not invited to the End of Season do… anyway, I digress) and I don’t quite know how Ollie Wright gets into bother when trying to deal with a cross, which should either have been claimed or dealt with in distance. In the end, neither happened and you end up with a 7-foot ‘keeper sprawled across the floor and the ball in the back of the empty net.

Then, it’s game on – and you leave yourself open to a pot shot from distance, a moment of magic. Blink and you’ve gone from 2-0 up and cruising to Desmond 2-2 and wondering what on earth was going on.

I hope we take stock of that moment and realise that this isn’t the National League South, teams are going to be good enough to get back into games… some of them are good enough to not let us win them either.

Harvey Greenslade fires Yeovil back in to the lead.

I’m chuffed for Harvey Greenslade: I really liked the addition of Greenslade this summer, we’ve said on the podcast that it was a signing that just ticked so many boxes and he’s made a real impact.

He looked lively in pre-season, he missed a couple of tough chances against Hartlepool and maybe didn’t quite get going to his absolute best against Braintree. 

But do you ever get the feeling this signing is just going to work out? That the player will be popular with fans, will run for the name on the front of the shirt and we’ll remember the name on the back?

It’s early days, of course it is, but I’m quietly (and now quite loudly) excited. Maybe it’s an impact role off the bench for now – he’s only 20 remember – maybe it’s doing a job as a 9 sometimes, as a 10, wider on occasions. But he’s giving more established attackers a headache now and wants their place in the side. 81st minute winners are a GREAT way to do it. I like it.

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Yeovil Town match winner, Harvey Greenslade has said that despite Ebbsfleet fighting back into Tuesday’s game, he and the rest of the players had no doubt they would go on to win the game.

The former Bristol Rovers man was introduced into the game for Aaron Jarvis seconds after Ebbsfleet had equalised and would go on to score the winner after good build up play from Frank Nouble.

Speaking to the BBC after the game, the front man said: “It’s a really good feeling, when I came on, there was only one thing I wanted to do – needed to do – I had to come on and work my socks off, and thankfully I got the goal.”

Harvey Greenslade fires Yeovil back in to the lead.

Pre-match there was some doubt that Greenslade would even be involved, saying he’d taken a fitness test to make the bench.

“I was a bit of a doubt for the game today, I came in early to do a bit of a test, I told the coaches ‘I’m ready, I’m ready to play’. I’m delighted to come on and get the goal.”

Of the goal itself, it was Greenslade who won the ball back for the Glovers before Frank Nouble had not one – but two – bites of the cherry in the penalty area. Mark Cousins in the ‘Fleet goal pulled off brilliant back-to-back saves, before the ball fell kindly to Greenslade to sweep home.

“I saw us on the counter, and thought ‘I better get up there and do my job’ and luckily the ball came to me and there was only one thing that was going to happen.”

“there was not a doubt for us players that we weren’t going to win that game”

A dominant first half display from Yeovil was nearly all undone in five crazy second half minutes. Greenslade admitted things were tough for a while, but that he had little doubt the Glovers would see the game home.

“The first half, I thought we were really good, some things to work on, but some really good football played, the lads did really well first half.

“It’s always hard when you concede a goal when you’re 2-0 up, the momentum always goes to them and the game changes. I thought we still did well, we showed a lot of character towards the end. The whole team played their part, there was not a doubt for us players that we weren’t going to win that game. Yeah, ok, the two goals went in, but objective was still the same and get three points.

“The main message was to stay calm, we’ve been here before, especially the lads who were here last year that went on to win the league. I don’t think they know how to crumble, coming into it [the group] we’ve got a good team and structure to work on. The lads did really well to bounce back.”

Looking forward, Greenslade said he has high ambitions for the group… although he did admit the coach journey to Gateshead might not be fun on Friday.

“Coming back [to the National League] there’s only one thing I want to do, that’s get promoted, like the lads did last year, there’s no reason why we can’t.”

By:
On:
In: Match Reports, Latest Yeovil Town News

A second half goal from substitute Harvey Greenslade saw Yeovil Town survive a scare from Ebbsfleet United and pick up their first home win of the season.

The Glovers were in cruise control in the first half and deservedly led 2-0 at half-time with goals from Brett McGavin and Michael Smith, but a flurry of substitutions saw the visitors score twice in the space of five minutes.

An error from goalkeeper Ollie Wright saw him spill the ball to the feet of Lewis Page on 64 minutes before Dominic Samuel bent one in from the edge of the box three minutes later to leave Huish Park stunned.

At that point, it would have taken a brave person to call which way this encounter was going to go, but it was Greenslade who struck with nine minutes of normal time remaining to seal the three points for Yeovil.

First half

There was a slightly worrying moment after eight minutes when Michael Smith went down awkwardly having vaulted over the visitors’ Lewis Page. The experienced defender went down looking to be in some discomfort, but returned to the fray soon after.

The opening 15 minutes saw Ebbsfleet willing to work hard to close down Yeovil who typically tried to keep the ball on the floor and pass their way through their opponents. It meant the visitors pressured the Glovers’ backline without creating anything to threaten Ollie Wright, whereas the home side kept patient.

Winger Josh Sims, making his first start for his hometown team, was involved in our best forward play missing out to Ebbsfleet keeper Mark Cousins on 18 minutes, before he linked up with Frank Nouble three minutes later to break in to the box but his effort was blocked.

But with 25 minutes the breakthrough came. Alex Whittle got away down the left and got a ball in to the box, Sam Pearson swung a boot at it in the middle of the box but only hit fresh air and Brett McGAVIN was there to fire an unstoppable strike in to the net. The first real opportunity for either side in the game and we’re in front.

Brett McGavin salutes the Thatchers Stand after his opening goal. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown

The persistence of hard-running striker Aaron Jarvis almost paid dividends just after the half-hour mark when he snuck up on visiting defender Louis John and almost left the Ebbsfleet made red-faced.

There was a bizarre moment on 34 minutes when Cousins came charging out of his area to meet Nouble charging down the right side, he managed to see the ball out for a corner and Matt Worthington’s ball in was flicked on by Morgan Williams, who got a head to it but it was never threatening the visitors’ net.

The visitors lost striker Kwame Thomas to injury with seven minutes of the first half remaining and two minutes later the Glovers doubled their advantage.

A beautiful bit of interplay between Sims and Pearson down the right caused chaos in the Ebbsfleet defence, Jarvis tried to bundle it home but it was Michael SMITH who was there to smash home from close range.

There was a glorious opportunity to make it 3-0 soon after. McGavin’s corner found Nouble at the near post and he tried to flick it goalwards but broke to Worthington who was denied by a last-ditch challenge and the grateful Cousins dropped on the ball.

Sims came close with a minute of normal time to go, cutting in from the left and curling an effort not far over the angle of post and bar. This lad has some quality, I’m telling you.

After a slow opening 20 minutes, Yeovil have done exactly what we always talk about needing to do – taken their opportunities. But, the two goals they scored both came from fantastic moves.

Half time: Yeovil Town 2 Ebbsfleet United 0


Second half

There were changes for both sides at half-time with Sims going off as advertised by manager Mark Cooper in his pre-match interview along with Whittle with Charlie Cooper and on-loan Bristol City defender Raphael Araoye coming on to replace them.  The change for Yeovil saw Cooper sitting in midfield giving Worthington and McGavin more licence to push forward, whilst Araoye slotted in at left-back.

For the visitors, striker Dominic Poleon, who had scored in their opening two matches of the season, also came on.

The Yeovil pressure  – not dissimilar to the job Hartlepool United did on them back on the opening day of the season continued after the break. Pearson was in the middle of the early opportunities, first setting up Nouble whose effort was blocked and then almost finding Williams, who could not get enough on it.

Nouble put an effort high, wide and not so handsome soon after, but if anyone thought the half-time changes were Mark Cooper shutting up shop, the opening ten minutes proved otherwise.

With ten minutes of the second half gone, Ebbsfleet manager Danny Searle decided he saw enough and made two other substitutes. They are yet to lay a glove on the Glovers yet, but the changes brought a bit of impetus and the Kent side pulled a goal back on 64 minutes.

A ball in from the right from one of the new arrivals, Dominic Samuel, was not dealt with by Ollie Wright who spilt it to the feet of Lewis PAGE who steered it home.

That seemed to rock Yeovil who allowed themselves to get penned in by their visitors who found an equaliser three minutes after reducing the deficit. Worthington went in for a tackle just inside the penalty area, but he could not clear the ball and it broke to Dominic SAMUEL who fired in from the edge of the box.

With an hour gone it would have taken a very brave person to have suggested Ebbsfleet had any chance of finding their way back in to the goal. 

Mark Cooper responded with changes with three changes inside five minutes with Harvey Greenslade replacing Aaron Jarvis, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton coming on for McGavin and then Jordan Young coming on for Pearson.

Nouble was inches from getting on the end of a Pearson ball in moments before the Welshman’s departure, but the attacking verve of before that quickfire double from the visitors was sorely lacking.

Greenslade could not control a header after a lovely forward run and chipped ball in to the box from Smith found him unmarked with 77 minutes gone.

But it was the substitute who both created and finished the goal which restore the Yeovil lead  on 81 minutes. The ex-Bristol Rovers man won the ball in midfield and fed Nouble who had two efforts at goal, including one off the post, before GREENSLADE was on hand to sweep the ball home.

Harvey Greenslade fires Yeovil back in to the lead.

Soon after Jordan Young drifted in from the right side and curled an effort just the wrong side of the post and despite pressure from the away side, Yeovil were able to hold out to take the win.

No-one saw that coming after the first half, but three points on the board nevertheless.

Full time: Yeovil Town 3 Ebbsfleet United 2

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Date: Tuesday 20th August – 7.45pm

Competition: National League Premier

Pitch: Looking in good nick.
Conditions: Dry.

Attendance: 3,295 (95 away supporters)

Scorers: Brett McGavin 25 (1-0), Michael Smith 40 (2-0), Lewis Page 46 (2-1), Dominic Samuel 67 (2-2), Harvey Greenslade 81 (3-2)

Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Ollie Wright 42, Frank Nouble 82
Ebbsfleet United: Lewis Page 45+6, Franklin Domi 89

Referee: Greg Rollason

 

Yeovil Town (4-2-3-1)

Substitutes: Charlie Cooper (for Josh Sims, 46), Raphael Araoye (for Alex Whittle, 46), Harvey Greenslade (for Aaron Jarvis, 68), Sonny Blu Lo-Everton (for Brett McGavin, 71), Jordan Young (for Sam Pearson, 73), Jordan Thomas (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Ebbsfleet United: Mark Cousins, Luke O’Neill, Lewis Page (for Greg Cundle, 83), Josh Wright (for Franklin Domi, 55), Louise John, Jim Kellermann, Wes Fonguck (for Dominic Poleon, 46), Ben Chapman, Tom Dallison, Craig Tanner (for Toby Edser, 55), Kwame Thomas (for Dominic Samuel, 39). Substitutes (not used): Dylan Berry, Tyler Cordner.

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

New signing Josh Sims has been handed his first start as Yeovil Town take on Ebbsfleet United at Huish Park tonight (7.45pm kick-off).

The Yeovil-born winger is joined by Sam Pearson in the starting XI with Jordan Young and Harvey Greenslade both dropping to the substitutes’ bench having started the 1-0 win at Braintree Town on Saturday.

There is no place on the bench for either midfielder Dylan Morgan, who picked up a knee injury in pre-season, or defender Finn Cousin-Dawson. Both were in the squad for the opening day defeat against Hartlepool United, but neither featured at Braintree at the weekend.

For the visitors, striker Dominic Poleon, who has scored in both of Ebbsfleet’s opening two matches of the season, is named on the bench with former Wrexham striker Kwame Thomas looking like a lone frontman for the visitors from Kent.

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Tickets for this Saturday’s (24th August) away game against Gateshead are now on sale.

REMINDER THIS MATCH IS NOW A 12:30 KICK OFF.

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

There are multiple ticket types for Glovers’ fans to purchase.

🎟 AWAY FAN – Adult Admission (aged 22-64) – £22
🎟 AWAY FAN – YOUNG ADULT (aged 17-21) – £12
🎟 AWAY FAN – YOUTH (aged 15/16) – £7
🎟 AWAY FAN – CONCESSION (aged 65+, Blue Light, Serving & Veteran Armed Forces) – £17
🎟 AWAY FAN – CARER – Allows access with some one who needs assistance that has their own ticket. NOT VALID ON ITS OWN – FREE

For all age-banded categories proof of eligibility may be asked for, if you can not provide, you will be asked to pay the additional to an Adult priced ticket.

For the recent home game against Ebbsfleet, the Gateshead ticket site said that those ages 14 or Under are admitted FREE of charge with a paying adult, (which is really rather good), but something to consider when travelling up.

Away fans are situated in the North end of the Tyne and Wear Stand and can enter from 11am through turnstiles One and Two.

All online purchased tickets are delivered to your email address and will need to be scanned/shown to enter the ground, so make sure your phone is charged!

If anyone has any questions or required additional support from Gateshead, they give the contact email address as info@gateshead-fc.com

Other away tickets currently on sale to Yeovil Fans
(correct at time of writing)

BOSTON AWAY – SATURDAY AUGUST 31ST – CLICK HERE

FYLDE AWAY – SATURDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER – CLICK HERE

 

 

 

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Morgan Williams bagged the only goal of the game as Yeovil Town picked up their first win of the 24/25 season against Braintree.

Three points, a clean sheet and the Gloverscast Man of the Match title, have now been joined by Team of the Week status.