Ben Barrett (Page 88)

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The Glovers left Kent frustrated, but our cohort of loanees (well those who didn’t have pitches under water) had slightly better Saturday afternoons.

Starting up at Twerton Park and Bath City pulled off one of the upsets of the FA Trophy taking out National League Premier side Boreham Wood 1-0.

Will Buse was back between the sticks after missing out against his parent club on Wednesday night and kept a Cup Cleano.

Down at Taunton, they gave Farnborough a bit of a thrashing. It was 4-0 in the end with Malachi Linton used from the bench in the 2nd half.

As an aside, Linton has also been awarded the Peacocks’ November goal of the month for his strike against Street in the SMPC. Nice finish, Mal.

 

Ollie Haste clocked up 90 minutes more for Dorchester, he and his side picked up a big away win, 2-1 at Swindon Supermarine.

Haste nearly scored himself just after the hour and was booked in the 81st minute.

 

Plenty of games fell foul to the weather including Shepton Mallet.

But it’s worth noting that Charlie Bateson did make his comeback during a midweek match for them.

He came off the bench to mark his first game since being involved in a car collision. It’s great to see him back on the pitch.

 

Melksham didn’t play, neither did Sherborne, Gillingham were off and it was just too damp at Welton.

 

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It’s Match Day Morning so we are back with another Foot In The Opposition Camp episode.

Ben chats to Will Bass, Dartford’s media man and match day commentator to get the lowdown on the Darts.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Leave us a review and share the pod with a pal.

We’d love to welcome some local businesses into the Gloverscast family through advertising. If you’re a business that would like to speak to a dedicated audience of more than 1000 monthly listeners, please get in touch. Find out more about advertising with us here.

If you have an idea for the website, want to contribute or just want to send us a message, feel free to email ian@gloverscast.co.uk.

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The award winning Gloverscast is back for episode 302 and in Ian and Dave’s absence, Ben has Sheridan Robins and Ollie Marsh for company.

The team chat Wrexham, Bath, Dartford and of course take those all important GCQs.

——-

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Leave us a review and share the pod with a pal.

We’d love to welcome some local businesses into the Gloverscast family through advertising. If you’re a business that would like to speak to a dedicated audience of more than 1000 monthly listeners, please get in touch. Find out more about advertising with us here.

If you have an idea for the website, want to contribute or just want to send us a message, feel free to email ian@gloverscast.co.uk.

 

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The Gloverscast has won Best Non League Podcast from the team over at the Non League Bible on social media.

‘Up The Ris’ of Risborough Rangers and ‘SameOldCityPod’ of York City were named in second and third – a huge congratulations to both.

The Gloverscast was also named in third for the Non League Editorial Category for the work specifically to Gloverscast.co.uk.

It goes without saying, but we are so grateful for the support of you, the Yeovil supporters for being a huge part of what we do and why we do it.

A massive Thank You to the Non League Bible, to anyone who nominated and voted for us and to anyone who has ever been a part of our journey.

Up the Gloves. 

 

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Yeovil Town extended their lead at the top of the National League South to six points with a huge win over fellow play off contenders Bath City.

A single Morgan Williams goal in the second half was all that separated the sides.

First half

The first half began with the hosts in the early ascendancy, Jake Wannell deflected a Joe Greenslade shot wide in just the second minute, but nothing could come of the corner.

The Glovers’ first forray into the Bath City came with a long ball from Duncan Idehen to the returning Alex Fisher, it was a scrappy first ten minutes or so, neither side really able to get their game going.

The hosts were prominent down both flanks, a cross evaded everyone from the right hand side, as the ball broke down, Charlie Cooper stole the ball back before trying to find Fisher wide on the left, his cross just too high for Frank Nouble to bring down.

As the clock ticked past 10 minutes, more danger for the Glovers came from the visitor’s left hand side. Morgan Williams and Idehen teaming up to clear the danger after an error by Wannell.

When in possession, the GLovers were compact and happy to move the ball around, Cooper, Matt Worthington and Alex Fisher all combining well, and it was the Skipper Worthington who forced the visitors’ first corner of the game.

Jordan Young’s delivery was flapped at by stand in Keeper Slav Huk for Bath, but there was no one there to take advantage of the situation.

With 16 minutes gone, Bath had by far their best chance, Dan Hayfield skipped into the box on the left hand side, but his cross couldn’t be met by a team mate, with former Yeovil trialist Scott Wilson flinging himself to get to the ball.

The hosts were dominating possession, Yeovil were looking to release the pressure with longer balls to Fisher and Nouble.

Yeovil were forced into an early change after Alex Whittle went down off camera clutching his right shin, Will Dawes came on as his replacement, like for like into left wing back.

The change nearly caught the Glovers out with a driven free kick from the left hand side needing a couple of attempts to clear.

Jordan Thomas was causing more problems down the Bath City right hand side, twisting and turning before putting a cross in – one that Joe Day could deal with promptly.

His clearance put Michael Smith into a brilliant position, he turned onto his left foot, but his volley was blocked out for a corner.

Young’s delivery only came back to him, the number 11 couldn’t force a delivery after combining with Nouble and Worthington. Young’s slip ended a short stint of pressure for the Glovers.

Bath City’s Thomas was again causing trouble, he forced a corner which was headed towards goal by the home side captain Kieran Parselle. Joe Day was well placed to take the catch with ease, but the signs were clear, Bath are coming for the left hand side of our defence.

Greenslade at left back found Hayfield in acres of space on the edge of the box, his first time effort was sliced wide, but again, far too easy.

Yeovil regained possession through Matt Worthington, he launched the ball in behind the Bath defence for Fisher to chase, he and Michael Smith combined to get a ball into the box, Frank Nouble’s header high and wide.

This move also saw a change of formation, the Glovers switching to a 4-4-2, Idehen at left back with Will Dawes in front of him.

The change in Glovers formation, brought about a change in attack for the hosts, some neat interchange between Thomas and Hayfield saw the latter enter the box, but Nouble was back doing his defensive duties to mop up.

Yeovil were struggling to keep hold of possession, Slav Huk’s skewed clearance, was brought down by Nouble, but again, the game was broken up, this time by a cynical foul.

Charlie Cooper’s set piece couldn’t beat the first man.

The longer balls, particularly from Smith down the Glovers’ right hand side were working, with Nouble and Fisher comfortable with their backs to goal, but when Nouble teamed up with Worthington, the final ball wasn’t there.

Bath quickly broke, three on three, the ball bobbled to Elliot Frear, his shot was smothered by a Joe Day/Morgan Williams combo for a corner.

With time winding down, Yeovil were happy with possession, without being particularly cutting in attack, the game almost sleep walking to half time.

Will Dawes tried to wake it up, his attack down the left side snuffed out, the ball quickly recycled back to the Glovers defence.

Two minutes of added time… it wasn’t a classic 45 minutes of football.

Half time: Bath City 0 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

The Second Half saw no changes from either side, the Glovers in their adjusted 4-4-2 formation from the outset, a series of Goalkeeper to Goalkeeper clearances kicked us off, neither side’s midfielders touching the ball for the first couple of minutes of the second period.

It was no great surprise to see Jordan Thomas in the thick of the first real passage of play of note, he sent Idehen for a hot dog on the right hand side, but his cross was snuffed out.

QUickly down the other end and Will Dawes sent his own defensive counterpart for a refreshment, his cross headed behind.

It was from the resulting corner which saw the Glovers get their first real chance at goal, Morgan Williams rising highest and heading just wide of the right hand post.

This warmed the game up slightly, Thomas was a man on the mission down the Bath right, he slid Scott Wilson behind the defensive line, but the ball was ushered out for a corner. 

Minutes later there was an almighty defensive calamity from the Bath keeper, Will Dawes chased down a lost cause and deflected a Huk clearance into the air, Huk and Dawes fought for the header, the ball just dropping out of range of Alex Fisher with the goal gaping.

Dawes was soon back in the game shortly after, he forced another corner after snapping at the heels of the Bath defender, Huk this time able to fly swat the set piece out. This had been the Glovers best five minutes of the game without question. 

After Joe Day dealt with a horror of a back pass from Morgan WIlliams, he cleared to Will Dawes, who again found space, he bombed down the left, cut inside but his shot was weak on his right (standing) foot.

Now the game was in motion, Bath on the attack down the right, the ball dropping to the full back, his cross-come-shot was easily dealt with.

Scott Wilson was trying to get into the game, he turned Morgan Williams, but the defender was more than capable of getting the distance back and dealing with the danger.

Joe Day dealt with the rest and launched a ball high into the North Somerset night. Slav Huk’s audition for Dancing on Ice nearly offered Frank Nouble a chance at goal, but the Slovakian was able to regain his footing… and control of the ball in time.

Bath were soon in on goal once again and it was that man Thomas causing all the havoc down the right, his cross found his opposite number flying in from the left, but Michael Smith was positioned well on the line – could, maybe should, have been 1-0.

Frustrations were starting to kick in, Jordan Young made his way into the book after a foul and a word, Bath had a wonderful position for a free kick on the left of the Yeovil 18 yard box.

The delivery was met by the home side skipper, Parcelle, but nothing overly dangerous.

Jordan Young was replaced by Sonny Cox soon after, the winger’s frustrating evening coming to an end.

Cox was soon in the thick of it, pulled down by Parcelle after latching onto to a Michael Smith through ball. 

The resulting free kick was nearly forced into the goal at the near post by Alex Fisher, another near miss and another bit of shaky Bath defending.

Matt Worthington was the second Glover into the ref’s note book, something akin to an NFL sideline tackle making absolutely sure Thomas didn’t progress further up the field.

A lengthy stoppage followed, a clash between Joe Raynes and Will Dawes left them both flat out on the ground, Raynes having some fairly heavy strapping wrapped around his hand.

Following the stoppage, the Glovers were out the blocks quicker, Dawes forcing another cross from the left, but the ball trickled into the only space in the 18 yard box not occupied by a body in green.

Mark Cooper rolled his final dice shortly after with Jake ‘don’t call me a Super Sub’ Hyde brought on for Nouble. Alex Fisher set for 90 minutes, despite Cooper saying pre-match he was probably only good for an hour.

All three Glovers changes done, Bath City still with their starting line up.

The match was becoming a 1 v 1 of Dawes v Thomas, the former sprinting down the left but losing the ball, the latter trying to take advantage but went down too easily when trying to claim a free kick on the edge of the Glovers’ penalty area.

Scott Wilson went into the book… as did Jerry Gill… after a free kick was awarded right in front of the home dug out.

The free kick, pin point from Cooper was met by Morgan WILLIAMS, celebrating his new contract with a vital goal! 

After the goal, plenty happened. A couple of Glovers’ idiots threw flares onto the pitch and pretended to cause some trouble, it’s nearly bed time… school in the morning.

Bath City’s Frear was also cautioned in the shenanigans after.

How would Bath respond? Well, by heading down the right hand side through Jordan Thomas. 

The Glovers did what they had been doing best, going through Will Dawes, he was man handled to the ground by the Joe Raynes, who didn’t get a booking for his belly to belly suplex.

The free kick, once again almost inch perfect, Morgan Williams again the intended target, over his head by a matter of inches.

With five minutes of the regular 90 left, Bath forced a free kick of their own down the right hand side, Thomas stood over the ball but his delivery behind everyone.

The Glovers could be forgiven for going into ‘game management’ mode, Bath – and in particular Jordan Thomas – were still causing trouble.

The hosts were always going to force a chance and it did come as the clock hit 90 minutes, Thomas with a drop of the shoulder and a fierce shot that was always rising.

The board goes up with 7 (Seven) minutes added on, both sides still nullifying the others attacks, the offside flag coming to the rescue of Bath as Hyde strayed too far forward.

Thomas again (I’m sick of typing his name) forced a cross into the box, Wilson catching the header on the way down from his jump, not able to control the attempt on goal.

Joe Day’s goal kicks were taking longer and longer, the Glovers defence getting deeper and deeper. 

94 minutes on the clock and Bath were not giving in, a long ball was only half defended by Idehen, but Williams mopped up.

Dawes tried to kick start a counter, but his ball couldn’t find Hyde, a few seconds later, Alex Fisher, who was running like a man who hadn’t played 90 minutes in a LONG time, had the ball in the corner, but the play was brought back for a rogue offside flag.

The clock was ticking, the fingernails were all but gone, Joe Day knew this and collapsed on a claimed cross and took the sting out the final stages.

The 97th minute ticked on by, another long free kick hit the Glovers box, but it was dealt with.

98 minutes. Any time you like, ref… Scott Wilson hooked a ball towards goal, corner kick. Up comes Slav Huk.

But to no avail! 

One goal, three HUGE points. Up the Gloves

Full time: Bath City 0 Yeovil Town 1

Match Details

Venue: Twerton Park
Date: Wednesday 6th December – 19:45
Competition: National League South

Pitch: Cut up but held out
Conditions:  Blummin’ freezing

Attendance: 3639 (1100 Yeovil – minus the idiots that got thrown out)

Scorers: Morgan Williams (0-1)

Bookings: 
Bath City: Wilson, Frear (Gill)
Yeovil Town:  Young, Worthington
 

Referee:

Yeovil Town (5-3-2)

 

Substitutes: Will Dawes (for Whittle 20), Sonny Cox, Sonny Blu Lo Everton, Jake Hyde, Jordan Maguire-Drew

Bath: Slav Huk, Joe Raynes, Dan Greenslade, Jordan Dyer, Kieran Parselle, Dan Hayfield, Cody Cooke, Elliot Frear, Jordan Thomas, Scott Wilson, Luke Rusee
Subs: Batten, Lines, Clark, Thorn, Smith

 

 

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Yeovil Town make a number of changes for the League game against Bath, the most notable is a first start of the season for Alex Fisher.

The front man hasn’t started a game since last season after recovering from a double leg break suffered against Southend United.

The full team is as below.

 

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Yeoviil Town defender Morgan Williams has signed a contract extension until the end of the 2025/26 season.

Williams saw his contract extended at the end of the 2022/23 season with a one-year addition, but the deal has now been extended for two further years.

The former Coventry City man has had two loan spells with the Glovers before making the deal permanent in at the start of the 2021/22 season.

Williams recently clocked up his 100th game in Green and White and with two more years ahead of him, here’s to many more!

Morgan Williams celebrates with the travelling fans at the end of the match.

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Gloverscast Ben saw his FIRST live and in person game of the season on Sunday as the Glovers travelled to Wrexham in the FA Cup.

A 3-0 defeat, a Percy Pig v Cuthbert bar fight and here’s how Gloverscast Ben saw it from the Press Box.

Firstly, I thought 3-0 really flattered Wrexham, but it’s probably fair to say we took too long to get going.

In the the first half, we were clearly just trying to stay in the game for as long as possible and that meant inviting Wrexham’s plethora of attacking talent on to the back line.

Whilst, we were quick to put pressure on when the hosts came within sniffing distance of the penalty area, I was left thinking… why can’t we put that pressure on 20 or 30 yards further up the pitch?

The break downs in play were easy for Wrexham to recycle and easy to keep the pressure on, when you have the quality they do, that means chances will fall their way – they did, and they took them. You can’t begrudge them that. 

In the second half, I felt we did have the bravery to press a little higher, force mistakes in the middle of the pitch and that gave us a foot hold in the game, and chances to give our defence a rest, from the constant barrage that came at us in the first 45.

Football is a game of fine margins.

If Charlie Cooper’s long range effort dips in, if Jordan Young’s free kick is 6 inches to the left, the game is TOTALLY different going into the second half.

To go from being the width of the post away from getting the game back to 1-1, to being 2-0 down in a matter of seconds just shows how cruel football can be.

On another day, Joe Day parries the first chance away from sniffing strikers, on a another day, the finger tip he gets to Andy Cannon’s second goal is more substantial and it goes wide.

On another day, we get something out of that game and maybe take it back to Huish Park. Nobody in the crowd could have complained if that game had ended 2-2.

Jordan Young. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Jordan Young was on a one man mission

Jordan Young’s free kick was inches away from perfection, his desire to cut inside from the right and play balls across the edge of the area, shape to shoot, get in to dangerous areas and generally be brilliant showed that he has multiple facets to his game.

Now, technically it was a game of ‘nearly’ moments for Young, but it’s probably fair to say he caught plenty of eyes with his performance.

The eyes of Managers we will be coming up against soon (Hi Jerry!), the eyes of Managers at other clubs who might need a tricky winger in the near future, the eyes of plenty of fans and supporters – more than a couple of Wrexham voices spoke highly of him.

The truth is, all he did was add an Extra 0, on the end of his potential transfer fee. Let’s not pretend he’s not going to be the subject of offers and interest, because he’s shown this season he’s an EFL player in waiting.

I hope the club has the bottle to demand the very best deal for him when the time comes and has a plan in place to fill the eventual Jordan Young shaped hole that will be left.

Don’t fall in love with footballers, it only ends in tears.

I was worried about the back three.

All together now… You hate wing backs, I hate wing backs, we all hate wing backs. We got wing backs and I don’t mind saying it wasn’t half as bad as it could have been – far from it in fact.

Morgan Williams – Mr reliable, versatile, you can hang your hat on him to put in a shift just about anywhere. Duncan Idehen grew into the game brilliantly after a couple of early wobbles, he made some vital interceptions, a couple of big blocks and a couple of crunching tackles, particularly on Paul Mullen… ouch.

Finally, Jake Wannell, in the middle of the three was an absolute colossus. It’s probably fair to say that he might not have played many games of that magnitude before – with the exception of the Taunton FA Cup run of last season (grumble, grumble).

But from Taunton to the Racecourse and not look a second out of place just shows how far he’s come and potentially how far he could go in time.

I don’t think that’s the last of the defensive trio we’ll see this season, but it’s great to know we’ve got players who can do it if we need.

Finally… and I know I’ll get plenty of love for this.

Charlie Cooper, appeared as a 75th minute substitute at Welling.
Picture courtesy of Iain Morland.

We are so much better with Charlie Cooper in the side.

There’s no one that can convince me otherwise. He was tasked with trying to keep tabs on Elliot Lee, who might just be the best player outside the top two divisions, he can probably say that he did alright there. 

They were embroiled in a little sub plot throughout, both got booked, both had to be at their influential best without giving the referee an excuse to wave another card.

At one point in the second half, they quite literally exchanged snarls, just growling at each other… it was quite animalistic, I quite liked it.

He dared to go forward and had two of the Glovers more meaningful shots on goal, he dictated play when the ball broke down on the edge of our own box and stood head and shoulders above the rest in the game from where I was stood.

Cooper is, for my mind, quickly becoming the first name on the team sheet – who drops out, I don’t know, but I don’t want to go into big games without Charlie Cooper – and they don’t come much bigger than Wednesday.

 

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Returning Yeovil Town midfielder Charlie Cooper has said how he is proud of the way the Glovers handled themselves in defeat to Wrexham in the FA Cup.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the game, he reiterated his pride at the way the side fought against a side two divisions above the visitors. – You can listen to the entire interview below.

“It wasn’t an easy one, I think the lads were great today, obviously it’s a tough place to come, a team that are at the top end of League Two and are probably going to get promoted this season – and it wouldn’t surprise me if they go again next season – a tough place to come, but I think we’ve done ourselves proud, we’re just a bit frustrated, fine moments in the game, we haven’t concentrated and that’s let us down, but the overall play and the chances we had, I think we were decent.”

“That’s what they’re all about, they just created loads of pressure and long throws, corners, switching the play, they play with two focal points up front, we just switched off at key moments in the game and went in at 2-0 down, which is a killer really, but I think we came out in the second half really held our own, we played some good stuff and committed a lot of bodies forward, had a few chances but unfortunately they caught us at the end for 3-0. It’s unlucky, but it’s a good performance.

“We definitely had chances, a couple in the first half and then a few in the second half as well, I think if we keep in 0-0 at half time, it’s always going to be interesting, but we didn’t do that and they’ve punished us, like I said, we’re proud of our performance but a little bit frustrated at the same time. 

Speaking to Gloverscast Ben after his chat with Sheridan, Cooper thought his first half chance, which drew a save out of Mark Howard in the Wrexham net was destined for the top corner – as was Jordan Young’s free kick.

“I thought it was in you know, I thought he was going to palm in into his net, but obviously it didn’t go in, it was frustrating, Youngy’s had one off the bar as well, moment’s like that – something goes our way there and it makes it really interesting, but it just didn’t go our way today.

“It’s ridiculous, he (Jordan Young) is a talent to be fair, I don’t even bother trying to get on the free kicks now because it’s either a goal or it’s going close, I see it a lot in training and he’s proved it in games as well, he’s got unbelievable technique and a great left foot, so I leave him to it”

“I thought it was in you know, I thought he was going to palm in into his net… Youngy’s had one off the bar as well”

Cooper was booked early in the first half, with a – ahem – feisty, Elliot Lee snapping at his heels all game, the midfielder had to keep his wits about him, so he did what anyone would do, make friends with the referee.

“I was trying to talk to the ref, we ended up good mates in the end, that’s the way to go now, it’s my first tackle and I got a yellow card so I was a bit frustrated with it, but I just tried to keep disciplined – I need to improve on that”

“Listen, we were never going to win the FA Cup, we’re disappointed that we didn’t get anything today, but the bread and butter is the league and that’s what we have got to do now, we had a little dip, came off that big run that we were on, but I think everyone in there believes we can go on another run like that and create more of a gap at the top of the table”

“The fans were unbelievable, I don’t think they stopped singing all game, they out sung the Wrexham fans, they’re going to back us again on Wednesday, I think they knew today was going to be a tough one, but Wednesday, we owe it to them to put it right and go and get three points”

The full interview with Charlie Cooper can be listened to below