David Coates

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New interim Yeovil Town manager Richard Dryden praised his players for “playing for the club” as they overcame a tumultous 48 hours in the club’s history to win 4-1 at Aldershot Town on Wednesday night.

The Glovers raced in to a 3-0 lead in Hampshire courtesy of goals from Tahvon Campbell, Junior Morias and Luke McCormick before Campbell added a fourth from the penalty spot in the second half.

It followed the exit of former boss Danny Webb after just 11 days in charge on Monday morning and the departure of assistant manager Chris Todd to take up a job at league rivals Eastleigh yesterday. Dryden was joined on the touchline in Hampshire by his new number two, former Glovers’ player Jerry Gill.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins after the game, the boss said: “It is hard to explain, I know a lot about Aldershot, they have a great team, a fantastic manager and coaching staff so coming here and winning like that is just a massive boost for this club.

“The belief in there with these players, they know they are a good team. We are going to lose games, we are going to lose games and we are not going to play well at times, but that is the league we are in.”

It took just 11 minutes for Yeovil to go in to a surprise lead against the run of play when Campbell bundled the ball home before Morias doubled the advantage ten minutes later and then McCormick added a third after 26 minutes with a cool finish.

Yeovil Town celebrate Tahvon Campbell’s second half penalty. Picture courtesy of Mitch Clarke.

Around the hour mark, James Plant was felled inside the box and Campbell stepped up to fire home the penalty before Aldershot substitute James Henry pulled a goal back in the first half of second half stoppage time.

Dryden said: “Everybody did well as an attacking unit. We had a plan which we maybe did not execute very well for the first ten minutes but after that the shape looked good, the team unity looked good and they are playing for the club. It is good to see. There are different ways to win a game and come Saturday (against Altrincham at home) we may be set up differently tactically, I will look with the analyst. 

“They were a credit to themselves defensively as well as an attacking unit. We talked (in the dressing room after the game) about the last ten minutes when we could have stopped a little bit more space when we could push out a bit more. They have worked hard, they are going to get tired, but Aldershot had nothing to lose and they could have nicked another goal as well. We have to work on that, it is another lesson learned.”

The win came without first-teamers striker Aaron Jarvis, who limped off with a knee injury in the 1-0 defeat at Tamworth in Webb’s only game in charge on Saturday, and midfielder Brett McGavin who is suffering a back injury. Dryden said after the match he expected Jarvis to train on Friday ahead of the weekend’s home match with Altrincham, and added the McGavin had been “really close” to featuring on Wednesday night.

Dryden was handed the top job until the end of the season following the exit of Webb and given the backing of the club’s ownership and was asked whether he could recruit new players before the weekend.

He replied: “I don’t know, I could maybe do with one more member of staff after the mass exodus. The lads have worked so hard, as they have to when there are only 15 or 16 of them, so they need help but they have the shirts at the moment. We will try and bring one or two more in, but we want to make sure we get the right ones. We will see.“

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After three days which have rocked the club, Yeovil Town turned in a scintillating team performance to pick up a huge three points at Aldershot Town.

The Glovers took the lead after 11 minutes when Tahvon Campbell smashed home from close range, ten minutes later the impressive Andrew Oluwabori laid it off to Junior Morias who doubled the advantage and then Luke McCormick fired in a beautiful third. With 26 minutes gone, the Glovers were cruising.

In the 64th minute, Campbell fired home a penalty to make it 4-0 before Aldershot substitute James Henry pulled one back a minute in to second half injury time.

It might not have been a cleano, but after everything which has happened at Huish Park since the news of manager Danny Webb’s shock departure you have to take your hats off to everyone for that performance and this result.

What a reaction. What a club.

First half

The first chance of the game fell to the home side as Archy Taylor hit a half-volley over the bar and it was Aldershot who enjoyed the better of the opening ten minutes with dangerman Josh Barrett an ever-present threat.

Having been on the back foot for the opening 11 minutes, Yeovil did a truly Yeovil thing and took the lead. Junior Morias robbed the Taylor  broke in to the box and hammered in a shot which keeper Marcus Dewhurst blocked with his legs and it fell to Tahvon CAMPBELL whose shot cannoned off Theo Widdrington on the line and into the net.

On the 15 minute mark, James Plant cut in from the left hand side and fired in a shot which Dewhurst parried away and moments later Oluwabori broke forward and fired in a shot which came off an Aldershot defender and wide for a corner. There’s definitely opportunities for Yeovil to get at the home side here.

In the 21st minute, it was 2-0 to Yeovil. A high ball forward was superbly brought down by Oluwabori, who laid it off to his left where Junior MORIAS picked it up, fainted to shoot before smashing a shot past Dewhurst.

Junior Morias celebrates Yeovil Town’s second goal.

Two minutes later it could have been three, a ball in from Plant on the left found Oluwabori on the edge of the box, he turned and fired in a shot which Dewhurst had to get down smartly to keep it out. Oluwabori and Morias are pulling the Aldershot defence all over the place.

On 25 minutes it was 3-0. A long ball forward picked out Luke McCORMICK who was in acres of space down the left side, he tore forward and superbly finished. It has been kamikaze defending from  the Aldershot back three, but ruthlessly exposed by Yeovil. What is going on here?! Every time the ball goal goes forward, Yeovil look like they can score.

Aldershot responded with an immediate change with Ryan Jones replacing Charlie Penmen, but it does not stop the visitors from pushing frorward with Oluwabori breaking forward and fizzing a low shot across the face of goal.

With five minutes remaining until half-time, Aldershot had a shot on goal – it was about time. Barrett picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and fired in a shot which Jed Ward did well to turn away.

Half time: Aldershot Town 0 Yeovil Town 3

Second half

Aldershot came out with a half-time flea in their ear and had some early pressure, but there are green-and-white shirts back fighting to keep the pressure off.

With 56 minutes on the clock, Morias, who looked to have a problem with his knee, was replaced by Byron Pendleton who went in to the right wing-back position with Josh Sims moving further forward in to the berth left by Morias.

There was not a great deal for either side until the 62nd minute when James Plant broke in to the box and was pulled down by the home side’s Ryan Hill, referee Stephen Parkinson pointed to the penalty spot. Tahvon CAMPBELL took the ball and send Dewhurst the wrong way. 

Tahvon Campbell celebrates his penalty in front of the travelling supporters.

Two minutes after adding to their advantage, Yeovil introduced Harvey Greenslade in place of Josh Sims. There hasn’t been much to offer At the other end, Jed Meerholz headed one wide and substitute Jones put one wide, but there was not much on offer from them.

With 12 minutes remaining, Richard Dryden made a couple change with Alex Whittle and Ben Wodskou replacing the excellent Oluwabori and Plant. The closing stages of this game have been wonderfully controlled from Yeovil who have kept Aldershot at arms length with a thoroughly professional performance.

Just as I say that, Aldershot have pulled a goal back. As the fourth official’s board goes up for six minutes of injury time, Jones had space down the left side and the ball landed to the feet of James HENRY who coolly struck it in past Ward from the edge of the box.

That goal has given Aldershot a bit of a lift and with five minutes of injury time played, Archy Taylor fires in a shot which Ward does superbly to tip over the bar.

Honestly, this football club, right? After the three days we have had since the shock departure of Danny Webb on Monday morning it would have been easy for the players to fold, for the supporters to not turn up and for us to tumble further in to despair. Instead, we are 4-0 ahead in front of over 200 people who have made the journey to Hampshire on Wednesday night. We’re some club.

Full time: Aldershot Town 1 Yeovil Town 4

Match Details

Venue: The Recreation Ground
Date: Wednesday 24th September, 7.45pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Tahvon Campbell 13 (1-0), Junior Morias 21 (2-0), Luke McCormick 26 (3-0), Tahvon Campbell pen 64 (4-0), James Henry 90+1 (4-1)

Pitch: Text
Conditions: Text

Attendance: 1,931 (203 away supporters)

Bookings: 
Yeovil Town: Harvey Greenslade 67, Kyle Ferguson 82
Aldershot Town: Dejan Tetek  62

Referee: Stephen Parkinson 

Yeovil Town (3-4-1-2)

Substitutes: Byron Pendleton (for Junior Morias, 56), Harvey Greenslade (for Josh Sims, 65), Alex Whittle (for James Plant, 78),  Ben Wodskou (for Andrew Oluwabori, 78), Ollie Hughes (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Aldershot Town: Marcus Dewhurst, Josh Barrett (for James Henry, 73), James Claridge, Cameron Hargreaves (for Tristan Abrahams, 61), Ryan Hill (for Kiban Rai, 73), Jed Meerholz, Charlie Penman (for Ryan Jones, 26), Archy Taylor, Dejan Tetek (for Hady Ghandour, 73), Kwame Thomas, Theo Widdrington.

Substitutes (not used): Ben Jackson, Patrick Nash.

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Yeovil Town’s new manager Richard Dryden has called on the club’s supporters to unite behind the team as they prepare to start life after Danny Webb’s short-lived reign as manager.

The experienced coach was handed the job following the departure of Webb on Monday after just 11 days in charge and he takes charge of his first match tonight at Aldershot Town, the club he left in the summer to come to Huish Park.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins ahead of kick-off, he said: “It is a very big challenge, we have all got to come together as a group and that is everyone. I am telling you now, it has to be the fans and the social media, we have all got to get together because it is another start, if we are all going in different directions it is going to be bloody hard.

“The players on the pitch are having a go and I will play players who want to have a go for Yeovil. If they don’t want to, we will move them on or they will go and sit on the bench. We want players who are going to play for the club, score goals and defend with their lives like they did for the four games I was in charge.”

He has made three changes from the 1-0 defeat at Tamworth on Saturday, which will go down in the club’s record books as Webb’s only one as first-team manager, with forward players Junior Morias, Tahvon Campbell and new loan signing Andrew Oluwabori in the starting XI.

He confirmed that frontman Aaron Jarvis, who came off with ten minutes remaining at Tamworth, was unavailable with a knee injury and that midfielder Brett McGavin had not recovered from the back injury which ruled him out at the weekend.

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Andrew Oluwabori and Tahvon Campbell have been brought in to the starting XI for Yeovil Town’s first game after the departure of former boss Danny Webb at Aldershot Town tonight (7.45pm kick-off).

The pair replace Harvey Greenslade and Aaron Jarvis with Jarvis not named in the squad after limping off in Saturday’s defeat at Tamworth.

Junior Morias, who came off the bench at the weekend, also starts with Byron Pendleton on the bench.

Midfielder Brett McGavin, who was also missing at the weekend, is also not named in the squad.

Yeovil Town: Jed Ward, Morgan Williams, Jake Wannell, Kyle Ferguson, Finn Cousin-Dawson, Luke McCormick, James Plant, Josh Sims, Junior Morias, Tahvon Campbell, Andrew Oluwabori.

Substitutes: Matt Gould, Byron Pendleton, Alex Whittle, Ollie Hughes, Harvey Greenslade, Ben Woodskou.

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Yeovil Town’s new ownership has insisted it gave Danny Webb its full backing to strengthen his squad before his shock departure of manager Danny Webb today.

Speaking to the Gloverscast just hours after the announcement, Chief Strategy Advisor Nicholas Brayne said there had “not been a single disagreement” with the now former boss who quit just ten days after taking over at Huish Park.

He described the club as “bitterly disappointed and shocked” by the former Chesterfield assistant manager’s resignation just ten days after taking the job, but insisted that personal and family reasons were the driving force behind the decision to quit.

Brayne said: “Danny was very much supported, he knew there was money to spend, we had put a recruitment strategy in place with Danny and we were working through that. Andrew (Oluwabori) joined on Friday and there were other conversations going on led by Danny with all of us supporting him, I personally had a number of conversations with agents of players we wanted to bring in to the squad and there was money there for Danny to do what he wanted to do to make us more competitive on the pitch. That is exactly the same case for Richard.

“To be clear, when you hear people say ‘has he walked away from the club because there’s been a disagreement?’ There has not been a single disagreement with Danny and he will say that the ownership group backed him every step of the way whatever he thought he needed for this club to succeed and as a human being with what he has gone through over the last 48 hours.”

Nicholas Brayne, left, speaks with Richard Dryden, Chris Todd and Sihal Shrinavasan, the son of owner Prabhu, following the win at Solihull Moors earlier this month.

The advisor, who is part of the ownership group led by Dubai-based businessman Prabhu Srinivasan which took over the club in May, insisted the decision to give Dryden the job would bring stability at Huish Park. The coach was brought to the club by former boss Mark Cooper in the summer and will lead the team when they travel to his former club Aldershot Town on Wednesday night.

Brayne said: “In the four games which Richard was in charge was a really good, stabilising factor behind the scenes, he is really good with people, really good with the board, really good with the players and that is what we need now. We need someone who is going to take time and give us time and that is why that Richard is taking the helm until the end of the season.

“This whole process of trying to identify and get the right manager, we have just run that process. From the perspective of energy, focus and making sure we are running in the right direction, to run that process again you would be talking about another four weeks (of uncertainty). I think the fans and the players would get restless, so we are saying ‘let’s calm this situation down’, Richard is in charge, in him we are going to trust. I think it give everyone a sense of direction.”

The announcement at 10am on Monday morning stunned the club’s supporters and has sent shockwaves through Huish Park. It comes just over 24 hours after a 1-0 defeat at Tamworth in Webb’s first game in charge which he followed with a post-match interview where he spoke about understanding “the magnitude of the job.”

Brayne said that he had spoken with Webb on a number of occasions during Sunday, adding: “Everyone has been bitterly disappointed and shocked. Danny was selected after a process which took several weeks and I think everyone got an idea of why he was selected, the way he came across, the way he interacted with the media, fans and the people here. He’s a very personable character and he has got a good track record in football, so it is easy to see why we felt he was a really good fit for Yeovil. He hit the ground running last week and then he has now decided to step away from the dug out for personal reasons.

“I had a number of calls with Danny on Sunday to make sure he was okay to understand the process of how he had come to that decision. We talked about his welfare, his mental health, what he was thinking, so a lot of that was about making sure he was okay on a human level which I am pleased to say he is. Then we were trying to understand the rationale of how we got to this point which is a really difficult process.”

You can read the interview with our Ian in full here or listen to it here. 

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New Yeovil Town manager Danny Webb speaking to the club's social media after taking his first training session.

The shock resignation of manager Danny Webb just ten days after his appointment as Yeovil Town manager, our Ian spoke to the club’s Chief Strategy Advisor Nicholas Brayne about the reasons behind the departure and what happens next at Huish Park. You can listen to his interview on our special podcast or read it in full here.

 

IP: What has the last 24 hours leading up to the resignation of Danny Webb as manager been like?

NB: Everyone has been bitterly disappointed and shocked. Danny was selected after a process which took several weeks and I think everyone got an idea of why he was selected, the way he came across, the way he interacted with the media, fans and the people here. He’s a very personable character and he has got a good track record in football, so it is easy to see why we felt he was a really good fit for Yeovil. He hit the ground running last week and then he has now decided to step away from the dug out for personal reasons.

I had a number of calls with Danny on Sunday to make sure he was okay to understand the process of how he had come to that decision. We talked about his welfare, his mental health, what he was thinking, so a lot of that was about making sure he was okay on a human level which I am pleased to say he is. Then we were trying to understand the rationale of how we got to this point which is a really difficult process.

Danny Webb speaks to BBC Radio Somerset after Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Tamworth, his only game as Yeovil Town manager.

IP: Can you explain the decision behind the appointment of Richard Dryden as manager until the end of the season?

NB: I truly understand how fans react to things, so it is a very fair question. If we step back to Spring and you think about the disruption this club has faced with the takeover, the issues of last season with (the new ownership) coming in to the process very late, Mark Cooper’s departure, the Gateshead game and the process of identifying Danny and the real sense of shock that Danny was only here a week, then I think you can see that there’s a real sense of shock.

I left Norfolk at 2am to be here with the staff, Stuart (Robins, Executive Chairman) went to the training ground to be with the players. A lot of this is just about being with people at the moment and there is a real sense on a human level of shock, frustration, sadness and what we felt we needed was a period of calm and stability. It is a bit like being the captain of a shop which is listing, what is the first thing you do? Sometimes the best thing to do is stop and assess, so that is where we are at at the moment.

In the four games which Richard was in charge was a really good, stabilising factor behind the scenes, he is really good with people, really good with the board, really good with the players and that is what we need now. We need someone who is going to take time and give us time and that is why that Richard is taking the helm until the end of the season.

This whole process of trying to identify and get the right manager, we have just run that process. From the perspective of energy, focus and making sure we are running in the right direction, to run that process again you would be talking about another four weeks (of uncertainty). I think the fans and the players would get restless, so we are saying ‘let’s calm this situation down’, Richard is in charge, in him we are going to trust. I think it give everyone a sense of direction.

IP: You have said that Stuart has spoken to the players today, what has their reaction been to it?

NB: They are professionals and they are a really good bunch of lads. I have been here at Huish Park with the staff and Stuart has been with the players at the training ground and from my conversations with Stuart the players have taken the news as the professionals they are. They listened, they understand, and they know that the badge comes before anything else, so we go and fight for the badge at Aldershot and at Altrincham. There has been some honest soul-searching over the past 24 hours and the one thing that reaffirms the decision we have taken is that the players wanted certainty and this has given them a degree of certainty.

Richard Dryden will now be in charge for the rest of the season

IP: After the game at Tamworth on Saturday, Danny Webb spoke about wanting to recruit new players. Is his decision down to the level of support he got from the ownership to do that?

NB: Danny was very much supported, he knew there was money to spend, we had put a recruitment strategy in place with Danny and we were working through that. Andrew (Oluwabori) joined on Friday and there were other conversations going on led by Danny with all of us supporting him, I personally had a number of conversations with agents of players we wanted to bring in to the squad and there was money there for Danny to do what he wanted to do to make us more competitive on the pitch. That is exactly the same case for Richard.

To be clear, when you hear people say ‘has he walked away from the club because there’s been a disagreement?’ There has not been a single disagreement with Danny and he will say that the ownership group backed him every step of the way whatever he thought he needed for this club to succeed and as a human being with what he has gone through over the last 48 hours.

IP: There is obviously one fewer members of staff on the coaching side now, will you look at adding anyone else – possibly in a Director of Football role?

NB: The ownership group will do whatever it needs to do whatever it needs to do to ensure we have the right personnel and resources on the pitch and in the dug-out which is appropriate to the challenge we are facing now. That means another slug of investment capital coming in to the club, that was what was already agreed under Danny and that is exactly what we are going to do now.

IP: The mantra of the new ownership group has been built on three Cs – calmness, competitiveness and community – where do all of those stand now?

NB: In terms of calmness, I fully accept it does not feel calm from an external perspective in terms of how we have started the season and I get that. Internally apart from some of the frustrations we have felt, we have actually been very rational, calm and consistent in terms of the way we have gone about our business. But I definitely understand this does not feel or look calm.

The community stuff is going great guns behind the scenes in terms of what we want to do and I think in the fullness of time that will be a little clearer. I am not going to sit here and lie to you, what we have seen so far this season is not competitive, so that is an area we need to work on.

Everyone in football wants things to happen overnight, I want things to happen overnight. I had my family down here until the Gateshead game and I remember the feeling I had at the end of it. Just think of the week we have just had with that last minute winner against Woking and I remember driving up the M3 and thinking ‘this is brilliant’ and here I am now sitting here with you and feeling this is not so brilliant. I am feeling the same emotion as fans, I think the three Cs and our ownership will have to be judged over a longer period of time, we are in our infancy and it is going to take time to tinker to get the foundations right and that is what we are doing at the moment. But one of the things that I think is really important is to take stock, think ‘how have we got here’ not just in terms of our own tenure but what has gone before and how do we go about getting this big juggernaut going in the right direction and using that investment we have got to make sure all our energy is going in the right direction. There is a lot happening behind-the-scenes which would evidence we are heading in the right direction, but I can understand that fans think it is looking painfully show.

Yeovil Town owner Prabhu Srinivasan interviewed during a visit to Huish Park.
Yeovil Town owner Prabhu Srinivasan

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Yeovil Town chairman Stuart Robins has said the club will continue to strengthen the squad despite the shock resignation of manager Danny Webb this morning.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah on Monday afternoon, he admitted that the club’s owners and players had been “shocked” by the decision which comes just ten days after the new manager’s appointment.

He said that the budget which had been available to Webb would now be available to Richard Dryden, who has been handed the job until the end of the season, and added that Dryden is looking to play “a much more attacking style of football.”

Robins said: “We need some numbers and we need to bring some new players in, but they have to be the right players. That process has already started, additional budget was available to Danny and now it is available to Richard to make sure that we add to the squad so we can climb up the table.

“We are right behind Richard and we hope the fans will be behind him and we will see some new faces in Huish Park, they have to be the right faces in the right positions. Richard wants to play a much more attacking style of football than we have seen at Huish Park for some time, our responsibility is to make sure we can bring in the players that he and the coaching team want to make sure we can play that attacking style of football we would like to see.”

Executive Chairman Stuart Robins also issued a separate statement through the club’s own social media apologising to supporters for the club being in “a state of flux again.”

Robins said he and the club’s ownership spoke with Webb on Sunday and reiterated that personal and family reasons were behind his decision to step down. He visited the club’s players at the SGS Wise training facility near Bristol on Monday to break the news to them before the club issued its statement.

He said: “We had the phone call from Danny about 24 hours ago and our first concern was for him and his family, because in these situations that is what you have to think about first. We have spoken to him again today and he seems to be in a reasonable place and we want him to be well and whatever he does going forward, we hope it works out for him.

“We are shocked, but now our focus is on making sure we do what is best for the football club. I was very concerned about the players and the supporters who are the big stakeholders here. I spoke to the players this morning and they are fully behind us and what they have got to do is focus on getting three points on Wednesday, that is their focus, they will train well and they are looking forward to the game.

“We had to think about the ramifications for the football club, the supporters and the players. The very first thought was ‘is Danny okay?’ and that is what we wanted to make sure.”

He insisted the decision to appoint Dryden, who was brought to the club by former manager Mark Cooper in the summer, until the end of the National League Premier Division season was an attempt to bring stability to the club.

He said: “We wanted to make sure the players had some stability and unfortunately we have not had that for one reason or another and I was very concerned the players were protected. They knew what was going on as quickly as possible. The period where we were scouring the market for a new manager was unsettling for the players and I think they did a very good job in very difficult circumstances and won two games. I had a duty of care to the players to make sure they were stable and new what was going to happen as quickly as they possibly could.”

As some of you will have seen on our social media, Ian has been to Huish Park to speak to Chief Strategy Advisor Nicholas Brayne and we have been asked by the Executive Chairman to delay releasing this interview until after the BBC and ITV have broadcast their own interviews this evening.

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Yeovil Town has confirmed manager Danny Webb has resigned as manager just one game in to the job.

The Glovers released a shock statement on Monday morning confirming the decision had been taken “due to personal and family reasons” following the 1-0 defeat at Tamworth on Saturday.

In the statement, the club said that first-team coach Richard Dryden, who took temporary charge following the sacking of former boss Mark Cooper, would now take charge for the rest of the season.

The statement said: “He has expressed his personal sadness in having to leave the club but feels this is the right decision for him and his family. The time and the nature of this decision is met with disappointment from all of us and we have accepted his resignation with regret, but with understanding.

“We understand this news is disappointing, especially after the thorough recruitment process which brought Danny to the club. While we respect his need to put his family first, our priority now has to be the team’s stability and success.”

The news comes as a huge surprise after the boss spoke about his desire to bring new players to the club following his first game in charge at the weekend.

Speaking to BBC Radio Somerset after the match, Webb said: “I knew the magnitude of the job when I came in and having seen it with my own eyes. Sadly, we were missing actually, first half that little bit of quality when we won the ball back, and a real lack of pace and physicality in our team. I think we’re down to work straight away to recruit, get some players in.”

The Gloverscast has approached the club’s owners to ask for further comment in to today’s news. As soon as we have something, we will let you know.

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Danny Webb’s start as Yeovil Town manager ended with a scrappy defeat at Tamworth on Saturday.

The Glovers struggled to cope against a physical opponent on an unstable artificial surface in the first half and had to ride the storm with a barrage from their hosts who won the physical battle.

The introduction of new loan signing Andrew Oluwabori and striker Junior Morias brought some added impetus, but in the 75th minute Tamworth found a breakthrough when defender Kennedy Digie bundled home the winner.

Oluwabori had a great opportunity to get a leveller in second half injury time after a fantastic run, but his shot was wide.

First half

There was no midfielder Brett McGavin in the Glovers’ squad having jarred his back in training. Finn Cousin-Dawson replaced him in the middle of the park with Aaron Jarvis brought in to provide a physical presence up front alongside Harvey Greenslade.

The first chance of the game fell to the home side after nine minutes when Yeovil switched off from a Tom Tonks’ quick throw-in towards Tyler Roberts before the winger crosses the ball for Kennedy Digie whose effort was denied by a smart save from Jed Ward.

Five minutes later, Beck-Ray Enoru volleyed just wide before firing in a cross after doing superbly to beat Byron Pendleton. All the pressure was coming room the home side, but the Yeovil defence was standing firm against a barrage of attacks and several cannon ball throw-ins from the human rocket launcher in Tonks.

The first meaningful chance of goal for Yeovil did not come until half-an-hour in when Tonks fouled McCormick on the edge of the box. In the absence of Brett McGavin, the former Bristol Rovers man lifted the resulting free-kick just over the bar.

With three minutes of the half remaining, Yeovil were indebted to Ward once again after the dangerous Tyler Roberts caused issues down the right side before feeding Kwaku Donkor who effort was well saved by the feet of the keeper.

There was dogged defending from the visitors, but also a lack of creativity going forwards with nothing for hosts’ goalkeeper Jas Singh to deal with.

Half time: Tamworth 0 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

The start of the second half saw Andrew Oluwabori replace James Plant and within seconds of the restart Finn Cousin-Dawson was in referees’ book for an aerial tussle with Manny Duku.

Josh Sims had a shot off target in the 55th minute before Junior Morias came on around the hour mark replacing Greenslade. The arrival of Oluwabori and Morias certainly gave the Glovers’ more cutting edge, but the quality going forwards which was lacking in the first half was still absent after the break.

On 65 minutes, a big chance came when McCormick’s free kick met by Morgan Williams at the back post but he was superbly stopped by Singh. That was the first action the Tamworth keeper was called in to.

The home side had a very loud shout for a penalty on 67 minutes for what looked like a hand ball before substitute Oliver Lynch had a shot which was deflected on to Jed Ward’s crossbar.

You just got the feeling a breakthrough was coming for Tamworth and in the 75th minute it arrived. Having not dealt with a corner, Ben Milnes was able to put a ball in to the box and Kennedy DIGIE bundled it home.

It seemed that it was not until the fourth official put his board up for seven minutes of stoppage time that Yeovil’s attackers snapped in to gear. The best chance came from Oluwabori who picked the ball up inside his own half four minutes in to stoppage time and drove forwards but pulled his shot wide.

Full time: Tamworth 1 Yeovil Town 0

Match Details

Venue: The Lamb Ground
Date: Saturday 20th September, 3pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Kennedy Digie 75 (0-1)

Pitch: An appalling patchwork of plastic 
Conditions: Persistent drizzle 

Attendance: 1,199

Bookings: 
Yeovil Town: Finn Cousin-Dawson 47
Tamworth: Tom Tonks 30, Alfie Bates 90

Referee: Dale Baines

Yeovil Town (3-4-2-1)

Substitutes: Andrew Oluwabori (for James Plant, 46), Junior Morias (for Harvey Greenslade, 61), Tahvon Campbell (for Aaron Jarvis, 79), Alex Whittle (not used), Ben Wodskou (not used), Ollie Hughes (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

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New signing Andrew Oluwabori is named on the substitutes’ bench for Danny Webb’s first game as Yeovil Town manager at Tamworth today (3pm kick-off).

The winger, signed on loan from Exeter City until January, is joined by Junior Morias and Alex Whittle among the substitutes.

Striker Aaron Jarvis in the starting XI alongside Harvey Greenslade, Finn Cousin-Dawson starts in midfield with Byron Pendleton at wing-back.