Yeovil Town’s 1-0 win over Eastbourne, took the Glovers to 50 points, eight clear of anyone else in the National League South.
The 9th ‘Cleano’ of the season so far has landed Jake Wannell a spot in the official team of the week.
The more Eagle-eyed fans out there will spot the strike force is an all Ex-YTFC line up too!
Congratulations, Jake.
We head into a busy Christmas and New Year period with lots of Green and White loanees out and about.
I think it’s fairly safe to say that we don’t expect Jordan Maguire-Drew to play in Yeovil colours again, but he in contracted into next season and so we’ll keep him in the loop here.
He had a great start to life as a Bee of Barnet too. a 6-0 win and a goal off the bench!
In the National League South, the Glovers’ next opponents, Taunton drew 2-2 with Tonbridge Angels. Malachi Linton was brought on as a 95th minute substitute, he’s probably earned two games off as he wont be available against his parent club.
Over at Bath, Will Buse picked up a Cleano as part of the Romans’ 4-0 win against lowly Welling.
49′ Save!! Will Buse stands tall to deny Abrahams from close range.
— Bath City FC (@BathCity_FC) December 23, 2023
Right, time to drop down to Dorchester, where they lost a seventh straight game and ended up with an outfield player in goal after a serious injury to on loan goalkeeper Adam Foster.
We wish him well for his recovery, our man Ollie Haste played the full game – and did pick up a booking.
66 | ? | Haste cautioned for a challenge (0-0)
— Dorchester Town FC (@DorchTownFC) December 23, 2023
Far better news for Melksham who won 5-0 against Paulton. Benjani Jr was in from the start, but despite the goal fest, couldn’t add his name to the score sheet – he went close on more than a couple occasions though,
Aidan Skiverton was on the bench for Sherborne who beat Brett Pitman’s Shaftesbury 2-0… Neither side reported who did or didn’t come off the bench, so we have no more info that that.
Gillingham were on the wrong end of 4-0 loss to Wells City on Friday night. Gillingham’s starting line up included both Jack Bareham and Josh Haskett whilst Harrison Foster and Harry Lock were among the subs.
Shepton Mallet didn’t play, Welton Rovers did, but at time of writing, there’s limited information on their game or if the likes of Jacob Shore or Mason Alden were involved.
Barnet winger Courtney Senior has joined Yeovil Town on one-month, the National League South leaders have confirmed.
Having just seen Jordan Maguire-Drew head in the other direction, Senior joins the club as a replacement in the midfield positions.
The 26-year-old joined the Bees from League Two side AFC Wimbledon in February of this year, and has made the majority of his appearances from the bench – eight in total this season.
Senior has a career which began in the youth system Brentford and has seen him play for a number of EFL clubs including a five-year spell at Colchester United with more than 120 appearances for them.
Welcome to the Glovers, Courtney!
Jordan Maguire Drew has joined National League Side Barnet on loan for the rest of the season.
The deal comes with – what Barnet are describing as – an option of a “free permanent transfer” at the end of the season.
The former Grimsby Town man has joined the Bees after finding chances of first team football hard to come by at Huish Park.
JM-D has had just 472 minutes of league football so far this season and hasn’t started a league game since the loss to Havant & Waterlooville, and his last start was in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round win over Didcot Town at the end of September.
In his pre-match press conference ahead of this weekend’s trip to Eastbourne Borough, Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper said he was hoping to bring in new faces ahead of the fixture.
He said: “Obviously (Sonny Cox) was recalled. He was playing on the Saturday (in the 2-2 draw at Dartford) which was a blow for us because he had been really productive statistically, we got Jay (Foulston) in and Bristol City then wanted to take Duncan (Idehen) back to have some game time for them in their Under-23s.
“So of course we are looking and I am sure we will have movement hopefully before the next game.”
As ever, JM-D will be added to our Loan Watch articles and we’ll keep you up to date with his progress, but it’s probably a fair shout to suggest we’ve seen the last of him in green and white.
Thanks for the goal at Torquay, JM-D!
Glovers’ loan defender Duncan Idehen has been recalled by Bristol City.
Originally signed in November, Idehen played two league games for the Glovers against Chippenham and Bath as well as the FA Cup tie at Wrexham, but had been an unused substitute for recent games, including the weekend’s 0-0 draw with Hampton and Richmond.
It leaves Yeovil a touch light in defense after the release of Josh Staunton and the continued recovery of Jamie Sendles-White.
Alex Whittle continues to edge closer to a return too.
Idehen is the second Robins’ defender to return from a loan spell at Huish Park, Zac Bell also saw his stint in Somerset cut short.
It’s time for another Loan Watch as we wrap up how the Glovers out at other clubs are getting on.
Joe Day wasn’t the only Glovers’ goalkeeper who picked up a Cleano in the National League South. Will Buse and his Bath City side played out a 0-0 draw of their own against Dover Athletic.
Taunton did not have a good day at the office, they were soundly beaten by Havant and Waterlooville, Malachi Linton was initially named on the bench, but was introduced on the hour mark.
Let’s go to Melksham were Benjani Jr was also a substitute, but he did come on – as we can see from this gallery of images HERE – but we don’t quite know when. We do know his side drew 2-2 with Bristol Manor Farm.
Down at Dorchester, the Magpies threw a 1-0 lead away to lose 2-1 against Walton and Hersham. Ollie Haste started and was creative throughout the game.
46 | Early chance! Haste’s cross is headed wide by Gwengwe (1-1)
— Dorchester Town FC (@DorchTownFC) December 16, 2023
Shepton Mallet were on the wrong end of a last minute goal from Clevedon to leave their home game with nothing.
Charlie Bateson was introduced on the hour mark and nearly snatched a late goal of his own.
80| Costanza with some slippery work in the box and his cross is just headed over by Bateson. 0-0.#towncalledmallet | #utm
— Shepton Mallet AFC (@Mallet_AFC) December 16, 2023
Aidan Skiverton was named amongst the subs for Sherborne who lost against Andover, (although information is light on if he played or not).
Welton Rovers got beat fairly heavily against Helston, 9-1, the youthful side included Mason Alden and Jacob Shore.
Far better news from Gillingham, where plenty of goals were scored by young Glovers over their two games this week.
In midweek, they lost to Hamworthy in the Dorset cup 3-2, with goals from both Josh Haskett and Harry Lock, Jack Bareham and Harrison Foster were both involved too.
On Saturday they produced a brilliant display to beat Keynsham 5-2. Josh Haskett again on the score sheet (he set up three others too) whilst Jack Bareham picked up a goal himself and more minutes for Lock and Foster too.
Today result away against @KeynshamTownFC
5-2 win
Goal scorers were the following
Laney x3
Haskett
BearhamGreat performance from the lads today.
— Gillingham Town FC ??⚽️ (@GillTownFC) December 16, 2023
Exeter City have recalled Sonny Cox from his loan at Huish Park.
The 19-year-old forward was initially meant to spend until January in Somerset but leaves a few weeks ahead of schedule.
The Grecians are the second-lowest scorers in League One with just 12 goals in their opening 19 matches and it appears Sonny will be coming straight in to their squad for the trip to high-flying Stevenage on Saturday.
Speaking about recall, Exeter boss Gary Caldwell said: “We have recalled Sonny to add some quality and competition in the attacking area. Hopefully after a really successful loan he is going to come back with a real energy and enthusiasm and confidence that can help us.
“It’s a big step up for Sonny and we won’t put too much pressure on him but we do believe in him and believe he can score goals at this level and hopefully even higher.
“It’s great to have him back as he is someone that you can see has quality on the training pitch and he can finish.”
He scored twice in a 2-0 home win over Dover in mid-November and has played nine times for Yeovil in the league with two further appearances in the FA Cup.
Thanks for your efforts, Sonny.
Yeovil Town club captain, Josh Staunton has left the club.
The defender/midfielder/one time caretaker Manager departs the club having found game time hard to come by.
Staunton, who has more than 100 appearances to his name, leaves his contract early following rumours surrounding his future over the past week or two.
In a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Josh said: “I owe a massive thank you to the people of Yeovil, for making me feel so at home at your club.
“It has been an honour to wear the green & white and be your captain. We got through the hard times together and I wish the club and players all the best in promotion and beyond ?”
Josh Staunton joined Yeovil from Halifax and told the Gloverscast in an exclusive chat that Huish Park was the ‘only other team he’d join’ if his future lay away from the Shay stadium.
He captained the side for the last couple of seasons and, alongside Mark Cooper, showed real leadership in times of uncertainty and hardship as the club dropped out of the National League.
He also leaves the club as the Glovers’ most successful manager in terms of win ratio, with a sole victory from the final game at Altrincham at the end of the 2021/22 season.
On behalf of us all at the Gloverscast, we’d like to say Thank You to Josh for his captaincy during his time at Huish Park.
Glovers’ winger Jordan Young has been named in the Official Vanarama Team of the Week (Combined North and South).
His equaliser against Dartford put Yeovil seven points clear at the top of the NLS table.
Dartford’s keeper also makes the side after having what can only be described as a ‘Worldy’.
Quick note for a trio of Taunton players and former Glover Shaun Jeffers who also make the cut.
Good work, Jordan.
