David Coates

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Yeovil Town will host  Southern League Premier Division Central side Alvechurch in the fourth round of the FA Trophy next month.

The Midlands side put out National League North side Alfreton Town after a penalty shoot-out in last weekend’s third round and will head to Huish Park on Saturday 10th January.

The Worcestershire-based side sit just above the relegation zone in their division, which is two steps below Yeovil in the football pyramid, having played a few less games than some of the teams around them.

Former Premier League winning goalkeeper Tim Flowers resigned as manager at the end of November following a seven-gaming losing run, with ex-Solihull Moors midfielder Kyle Storer taking over in interim charge. They have midfielder Sam Perry, who played for Yeovil 12 times on loan from from Walsall during the Chris Hargreaves era at the start of the 2022-23 campaign, in their squad.

If the game goes to penalties again, be warned that Alvechurch have some pedigree. They have won all their three Trophy ties in shoot-outs this season, dispensing of Real Bedford and Worcester City as well as Alfreton Town.

The Glovers needed spot kicks to progress to the fourth round after seeing off National League South side Maidstone United with a 4-2 penalty shoot-out win at the weekend.

Sam Perry, remember him? Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

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Yeovil Town penalty hero Jed Ward has said he had done his homework on Maidstone United’s spot kick record ahead of today’s FA Trophy win at Huish Park.

The on loan Bristol Rovers’ goalkeeper had information from the club’s analyst Sam Curry about his opponents’ penalty takers which paid dividends as he saved two spot kicks in a 4-2 shoot-out win to book their place in the fourth round.

Speaking to BBC Somerset reporter Mark Stillman after the game, Ward said: “I said to the lads said I will definitely save one. But as much as I saved two penalties, they have scored four, so all in all we are in the next round. I had my water bottle, so I made sure that I had that ready this morning and credit to Sam (Curry, the club’s analyst), he sends me a big .pdf of all the penalties and it is down to me to choose where they are going to go – and I was correct twice today.”

The Glovers looked to have sealed the win in normal time when on loan midfielder Josh Tobin, signed from League Two side Bromley during the week, scored in the 89th minute, but then a defensive lapse allowed the visitors’ substitute Hamzad Kargbo to equalise two minutes in to second half stoppage time and force the shoot-out.

Ward said: “We want to dominate the ball every game, that is what we want to be. I think we could have threatened more in the final third, but a win is a win however we do it. That is what we want to be, we want to be a group of winners. It is one of the few games this season where I did not feel I had much of an effect on the game and that is credit to the lads in front of me, they prevented balls coming in to the box and me having to make saves. Unfortunately the last couple of minutes we conceded the goal, but we never thought the game was done.

“They do not concede many goals so we did well to get the goal we did and we were gutted to concede one late, that is something we are going to have to work on as a group. We have conceded too many late goals this season, but you can see things are turning. The train is ready to go.”

Jed Ward saved two penalties in the shoot-out win over Maidstone United. | Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

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Yeovil Town manager Billy Rowley was relieved to be in the next round of the FA Trophy after a 4-2 penalty shoot-out win over Maidstone United at Huish Park.

The Glovers looked to have snatched the win in normal time when substitute Josh Tobin bundled home an 89th minute goal, only for a defensive lapse to gift visiting substitute Hamzad Kargbo an equaliser two minutes in to injury time at the end of the game to take it to spot kicks.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Mark Stillman after the game, Rowley admitted the 90 minutes had turned out to be exactly as he had expected it to be.

He said: “It was definitely how I expected it to be and credit to George (Elokobi, the Maidstone manager) and his side for making it difficult, they were a really tough, organised side to play against. I felt like some of our build up play was decent and we were getting in to their final third quite often, but the last pass or the last choice was slightly off today. But it is our third game (as manager) and we have three wins, it is not going to be pretty every game but we are going to work hard to make sure it is next week.

“Penalties are a lottery but when you have good technicians in the team and a great goalkeeper, that adds to your chances of success a little bit. It is about the boys trusting their technique, picking their spot and not letting the whistle bring anxiety before they strike the ball and they did that, so full credit to them.”

Josh Tobin opens the score | Pic by Gary Brown

The boss was full of praise the contribution of Tobin, signed on loan from League Two Bromley during the weekend, after he came on in the 63rd minute for fellow loanee Leo Ramirez-Espain. Rowley said: “I thought he had a good debut, he has been out for a while so he is not fully match fit either. He is brave, he will take the ball in tight spots and look to play it forward and often he will pick out the final pass, today it happened to be the goal that he has contributed. It is a shame we could not hang on to the result to highlight his goal even more, but it is a team game and we have come up trumps in the end and credit to Jed (Ward) in goal, he was massive for us.”

Goalkeeper Jed Ward saved Maidstone’s first two penalties in the shoot-out whilst Brett McGavin, Luke McCormick and Tahvon Campbell all converted from the spot before substitute Andrew Oluwabori sealed the win in front of the Thatcher’s End.

Rowley added: “We spoke to the referee before the game and he told us if it was going to go to penalties, the shoot-out would be at (the Thatcher’s) end which we were delighted about. I thought the fans were excellent today, we had two sides of the stadium empty today for security reasons, but I thought the fans were top class. I said it last week and the week before, we are going to work really hard to put on some excellent performances for them to give them something to shout about.

“We knew it was going to be tough today, we knew we would have to win duels, fight for second balls and probably go more direct at times than we wanted to but that was the game today and we were just thankful that we came out on top of it. I think it shows we can win in a couple of different ways.“

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Goalkeeper Jed Ward was Yeovil Town’s hero again as he saved two penalties in a shoot-out against Maidstone United to book a place in the fourth round of the FA Trophy.

The Bristol Rovers loanee saved the first two spot kicks he faced from Antony Papadopoulos and David Sesay and saw his team-mates convert all their efforts to seal the victory after a thoroughly forgettable 90 minutes at Huish Park.

The game did not burst in to life until one minute from the end of normal time when substitute midfielder Josh Tobin, signed on loan during the week, headed home a James Daly cross and looked to have sealed the win, only for a defensive lapse from the Glovers to gift visiting substitute Hamzad Kargbo an equaliser to force the shoot out.

First half

With ten minutes gone, Aaron Jarvis got his first sight on goal. James Daly showed good persistence to keep a lost cause alive, but Jarvis could not get enough power on it to trouble Lenny Holden in the visitors’ goal. Daly has had a lively started and is repeatedly screaming at his team-mates for the ball.

The ‘press’ adopted by Maidstone was evident from the off as they regularly tried to press the Yeovil backline as they continued to play the ball out from the back. There is a noticeable patience for a patient start from the home side in the Huish Park stands which would certainly not have been there with a different manager in the dug-out – but the opening half-an-hour has been…..quiet! Get McCormick on the ball, Yeovil!

Aaron Jarvis doesn’t get the decision | Pic by Gary Brown

On the half-hour mark something happened. Alex Whittle, who appeared to have taken a knock in a collision earlier in the game, was replaced by Michee Efete with Daly swapping from the right to the left. 

The best move of the game (not that that is saying much) came shortly after. Efete knocked the ball inside, Luke McCormick back-heeled it to Brett McGavin who hit it left-footed towards goal, it took a deflection and went out from a corner. From the resulting corner, grappling inside the box led to a free-kick for Maidstone. 

Aaron Jarvis got a booking in the 38th minute and then seemed to want to ‘get involved’ with the Stones’ defence for the remainder of the half. Referee Lewis Sandoe did not exactly cover himself in glory either breaking up an already bitty first half and that gave the home crowd something to shout about – or shout at, really – until the half-time whistle sounded. A very 0-0 0-0.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Maidstone United 0

Second half

Perhaps unsurprisingly the second change of the game came at the start of the second half as Tahvon Campbell replaced Jarvis, who was one tackle, grapple or comment away from getting his second booking.

Campbell was almost gifted a goal when the Maidstone defence, which had been organised and solid throughout the first half, allowed the ball to box inside the 18-yard box and the striker almost got in. The visitors managed to scramble it away. A brighter start to the second half.

Things have definitely picked up from Yeovil this half – and the Thatcher’s End has responded – and just before the hour mark Kyle Ferguson headed wide from a McGavin free-kick. On 63 minutes, manager Billy Rowley made two changes with loanees Andrew Oluwabori and Josh Tobin, signed on loan from Bromley during the weekend, replacing Harvey Greenslade and Leo Ramirez-Espain.

On 64 minutes, James Daly had a good run and flashed a shot from the edge of the box just past the post. There’s still not been a meaningful chance from either side and, as the game rolls on, the spectre of a penalty shoot-out is looming. No extra time in this one.

Neither Oluwabori or Tobin have really made any kind of impact on this game, it all been not quite there and lacking some positivity against an opponent who appears to 

Then on 85 minutes, chances at either end. Hamblin got a good ball in towards substitute Hamzad Kargbo who could not get his header on target and the ball broke to Jephte Tanga who went down under a tackle from Ferguson. Shouts for a penalty, nothing given. At the other end, McCormick was picked out by an Efete ball but his shot went wide.

Josh Tobin opens the score | Pic by Gary Brown

Then suddenly a breakthrough and a goal with one minute of normal time remaining. A great run down the left from Daly who put a high cross in to the back post and there was Josh TOBIN whose header bundled its way past a couple of Maidstone defenders on the line.

That’s it right? Wrong. Two minutes in to five added on at the end of the game, the Yeovil defence switched off at the back post and a good ball in from Maidstone found Hamzad KARGBO who could not miss from inches out. Ugh.

After 90 minutes of basically nothing, all the action came in the final six minutes of the game. Penalties. Double ugh.

Full time: Yeovil Town 1 Maidstone United 1

Here’s how the penalties went…..

  • Maidstone United – Antony Papadopoulos – SAVED by Jed Ward (0-0)
  • Yeovil Town – Brett McGavin – SCORED (1-0)
  • Maidstone United – David Sesay – SAVED by Jed Ward (1-0)
  • Yeovil Town – Luke McCormick – SCORED (2-0)
  • Maidstone United – Deon Moore – SCORED (2-1)
  • Yeovil Town – Tahvon Campbell – SCORED (3-1)
  • Maidstone United – Hamzad Kargbo –  SCORED (3-2)
  • Yeovil Town – Andrew Oluwabori – SCORED (4-2)

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Date: Saturday 13th December, 3pm kick-off

Competition: FA Trophy, Third Round Proper

Scorers: Josh Tobin 89 (1-0), Kargbo 90+2 (1-1)

Pitch: Holding up well considering the recent bad weather

Conditions: Dry but cool

Attendance: 1,691 (88 away supporters)

Bookings:

Yeovil Town: Aaron Jarvis 38,
Maidstone United: Dajon Golding 38, John Gilbert 57

Referee: Lewis Sandoe

Yeovil Town (3-5-2)

Substitutes: Michee Efete (for Alex Whittle, ), Tahvon Campbell (for Aaron Jarvis, 46), Josh Tobin (for Leo Ramirez-Espain, 63), Andrew Oluwabori (for Harvey Greenslade, 63), Dan Ellison (for James Daly, 90), Josh Sims (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Maidstone United: Lenny Holden, David Sesay, Leo Hamblin, Lexus Beeden, George Fowler, TJ Bramble (for Hamzad Kargbo, 71), Jephte Tanga, John Gilbert (for Sam Corne, 64), Dajon Golding (for Deon Moore, 64), Riley Court, Antony Papadopoulos.

Substitutes (not used):  David Agontohoma, Taylor Foran, Nathan Harness.

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On loan midfielder Leo Ramirez-Espain has been handed his Yeovil Town debut in today’s FA Trophy third round tie with Maidstone United at Huish Park (3pm kick-off).

The Watford youngster, who has not featured since joining on loan until the end of January a month ago, is one of two changes from last weekend’s 2-0 win at Hartlepool United  with Alex Whittle also coming in.

Michee Efete drops to the substitutes’ bench whilst Morgan Williams is missing having been sent off after the final whistle seven days ago.

Defender Dan Ellison, signed from Bristol Rovers at the end of October, is on the bench as his wait for a Glovers’ debut goes on.

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Yeovil Town boss Billy Rowley has set his sights on a run in the FA Trophy as the Glovers prepare to kick off their campaign at home to Maidstone United this weekend.

The manager is looking to build on two wins in his first two National League Premier Division matches when the National League South play-off chasers visit Somerset this weekend.

We have gone out of the competition at the first time of asking in the last three seasons – at the hands of W*ymouth, Torquay United and Dorking Wanderers – and you have to go back to December 2021 to find our last win, a 3-1 home victory over Woking which came before an exit to Needham Market in the following round.

Asked about the significance of the competition by BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah on Thursday, Rowley said: “Six games to Wembley, so that is something we can already dream about! If we can get through this weekend, you never know. I think it is a competition will be throwing a lot in to and this weekend I am definitely going to be trying to win that game.”

They face a Maidstone side which knocked Torquay out in the previous round and have won their last two league fixtures, but will travel without former Yeovil trialist Teo Kurtaran who departed the club this week. He appeared for Tamworth in a Birmingham Senior Cup tie on the same day his exit from Maidstone was announced albeit the National League Premier Division side has not announced his signing, so it is possibly a trial.

Kurtaran, who impressed suppoters but clearly not then-manager Mark Cooper during his pre-season in Somerset, is known to Rowley who signed him at his former club Walton & Hersham after the Glovers turned down the opportunity to sign him up.

Asked about this weekend’s opponents, Rowley said: “I know a fair bit about Maidstone, two lads I know very well have been playing for them, one of them actually just left this week (that’s Kurtaran by the way), so I know how they play, their style. They are a very physical team, they are great on transitions and press hard, so we worked on a few ideas today. They play real rock and roll football, so it will be a good spectacle. I want us to put on a spectacle and I want our fans to see us have a lot of the ball.”

Trialist midfielder Teo Kurtaran runs down the wing in the pre-season friendly against Bristol Rovers.
Teo Kurtaran in action for Yeovil Town in pre-season. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

The Glovers will go in to Saturday’s third round tie without defender Morgan Williams whose appeal against a sending off after the final whistle in last weekend’s 2-0 win at Hartlepool United has been rejected. On loan midfielder Max Jolliffe will also be missing having played in the Trophy for Billericay Town earlier this season, but Rowley is expecting to have midfielder Josh Sims available after suffering tendonitis on his Achilles as well as new signing Josh Tobin, who joined on loan from League Two Bromley on Thursday.

The boss said: “The video (of the post-match melee at Hartlepool) does not show what the referee thinks he saw and we did our best to try and appeal that one, but we were not successful. Morgs is a great character and a great player, so it is a blow, but we have some boys who can step in to that role. Finn (Cousin-Dawson) is one who I thought was excellent on Saturday in a midfield role, but he will be available for that position.

“Max (Joliffe) will be missing, cup-tied due to a game he play for Billericay earlier in the competition, but we are expecting a few boys back. Simsy (Josh Sims) has had some good treatment on his Achilles so he will be available, Planty will still be out because we do not want to risk his hamstring, but we will have good options going in to this game.”

Rowley added: “I reminded one of the lads who has not been playing much who has been training really well that every game brings different challenges, so we might play slightly differently for each game and I want to boys to think that there is a clean slate with me. There are boys who have great experience at this level and above, so that will naturally be swaying my opinion to a certain extent, but everyone has an opportunity here and they are definitely showing it in training.”

 

The FA Trophy definitely has a special place in our hearts, Billy. Picture courtesy of the Ciderspace Archive.

 

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Defensive midfielder Josh Tobin has become new Yeovil Town manager Billy Rowley’s first signing having joined on loan from League Two Bromley until the end of the season.

The 21-year-old is known to the Glovers’ boss after the pair worked together during the player’s time in the academy at Premier League giants Chelsea and later during a loan spell at Walton & Hersham during the 2023-24 season.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s FA Trophy third round tie with Maidstone United, Rowley said: “I have worked with Josh for 18 months or so, he is a lad with a lot of skill and talent and found himself playing for (Walton & Hersham) after he was released by Chelsea and then he got a move to Bromley. Since then he has had a few injuries and not been able to get in there first team, so I thought this was a great opportunity to get him in.

“He is someone who is able to cover three or four different positions, he has a lot of skills in his toolbox, so I think he adds a lot of depth and will be really beneficial to us. He grew up playing as a centre back, so he can play anywhere across the back, he has most recently been playing as a holding midfield player and last year he played higher up the pitch as a number eight or number ten, so we will see. I see him mostly as a midfielder though.”

Tobin made his Bromley debut last month as a second half substitute in an EFL Trophy defeat to AFC Wimbledon, having returned from a lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury.

Having left the youth ranks at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2022, Tobin has spells at Cray Wanderers and Margate before linking up with Rowley and his assistant Darren Simpson at Walton in January 2024. His form there earned him a move in to the Football League at Bromley and he was awarded a professional contract in May this year.

We assume the new recruit will be available for Saturday’s FA Trophy third round tie with Maidstone United at Huish Park.

Welcome to Huish Park, Josh!

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Yeovil Town have confirmed the departure of former manager and assistant manager Richard Dryden and Jerry Gill from Huish Park.

In a short statement posted on social media on Thursday the club said: “We can confirm that agreements have been reached to terminate the contracts of Richard Dryden and Jerry Gill.

“The club would like to formally thank both Richard and Jerry for their service and wish them well in the future.”

The pair’s future have been in limbo since the club appointed new boss Billy Rowley and his assistant Darren Simpson on 25th November and brings to an end an almost six-month association with the club for Dryden.

He joined the coaching staff under then-Glovers’ boss Mark Cooper in June, took over in interim charge following Cooper’s sacking at the end of August, and then did the hokey-cokey during the 11-day reign of Danny Webb as Yeovil manager, stepping in “until the end of the season” which lasted 11 matches. Having won his first three in permanent charge, he was replaced by Rowley following a run of six defeats and two draws including an early exit from the FA Cup at the hands of lower league Hemel Hempstead Town.

Gill joined as number two to Dryden on 24th September rekindling an association with the club he played for in the 1996-97 season, winning promotion back to the then Football Conference.

In a post on his X/Twitter, Gill said: “My time as Interim Assistant Manager @YTFC. A pleasure to have been back at the club so close to my heart. The stadium staff, football staff, superb group of players and wonderful supporters thanks for making work so enjoyable. I wish Billy and you ALL nothing but success.”

From us here at the Gloverscast, we wish both Richard and Jerry well for the future and thank them for stepping in during difficult times at our football club.

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The Football Association has confirmed Yeovil Town’s Morgan Williams was sent off for violent conduct at the end of last weekend’s 2-0 win at Hartlepool United.

The dismissal means the defender will now serve a three-match ban starting with Saturday’s FA Trophy tie at home to Maidstone United. He will also be missing for the National League home match with Forest Green Rovers on 20th December and the Boxing Day trip to Truro City.

Williams was red carded for his part in a melee which erupted at the end of the game at Hartlepool and involved every player and member of staff from both sides following the final whistle. The home side’s Jermaine Francis was also red carded for his role.