David Coates

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Yeovil Town boss Mark Cooper admitted the 3-0 home defeat to League One side Bristol Rovers was “a reality check” for his side after two impressive wins at the start of their pre-season campaign.

The Glovers were punished for sloppy defending – and a slice of dodgy refereeing, isn’t there always? – as goals from the visitors’ Scott Sinclair, Kofi Shaw and Luke McCormick sealed a comfortable win in front of a crowd of 1,715 for the opening friendly at Huish Park this summer.

The boss had seen his side cruise to consecutive 5-1 wins at lower league Melksham Town and Frome Town in their two opening friendlies and he admitted they had been beaten by “a good team” in Bristol Rovers.

Asked if he thought there were lessons to be learnt from the match, he told the club’s official YouTube channel: “For sure. I thought we were really good for 25 minutes without actually threatening their goal, we were composed and competent with the ball but did not get our attacking play going.

“We obviously conceded a sloppy goal and then the second one was a joke from the referee (James Durkin of Portland, near W*ymouth). There were two fouls and that (second goal) killed the game for me and it was a bit of a downer for us. We go in at half-time 2-0 down when there’s no been a lot in the game.

“I thought Bristol Rovers were really good, after 20 or 25 minutes they stepped on to us with a full press and made it difficult for us to get out.

“They changed and went really aggressive, stepped on to us and that is when we have to realise the space is behind them, not in front of them and we did not recognise that quick enough which led to us being a goal down and then two goals down.”

Substitutes, lots of substitutes after 61 minutes of the friendly with Bristol Rovers. Picture courtesy of Debs Curtis.

However, the boss said he would not lose too much sleep over his side’s performance recognising that they are only three matches in to their pre-season preparations with League One Exeter City the next visitors to Huish Park on Friday night.

Cooper added: “It is pre-season, this is where we get our sharpness and everything fine tuned, that is what pre-season is about. We are not going to get too downbeat, we know where we are and what we have got to do.

“After the Melksham and Frome games we were going to win the league, so it’s just a reality check for everyone, the players included, that we have work to do.”

There was a 60-minute appearance for new signings striker Aaron Jarvis along with a number of first-team regulars in last season’s National League South title-winning side. Fellow new signings midfielder Brett McGavin played 80 minutes and former Rovers’ striker Harvey Greenslade, defender Jake Wannell and goalkeeper Ollie Wright all got 90-minute run-outs.

But Cooper was quick to point out that he expected to give those who did not get so much game time more minutes against Exeter.

He said: “We are just trying to manage everyone’s minutes. There are some that are a little bit in front of others fitness-wise, so we are trying to make sure that we are not pushing some too hard that have got the odd niggle or and pushing some harder that we think need to do a bit more.

“It will be a bit different (against Exeter City) on Friday, some of the boys that played 30 or 35 minutes tonight will play longer on Friday. There is nothing to be read in to the team selection at the moment.”

Full-back Jacob Roddy, who is on trial at Huish Park. Picture courtesy of Mark Kelly.

Trialist full-back Jacob Roddy, who was released from Charlton Athletic in the summer, was one of those who appeared on the 61-minute mark alongside Jordan Stevens, who released by the club in the summer having been unable to hold down a place in the side due to injury problems.

Cooper said after the match that he was not “in a position to do anything” about adding them to the squad at the moment, but he was happy to be able to take a look at both players whilst they are joining the squad for pre-season.

He said: “Being on trial is really difficult, they have acquitted themselves well in to the group, but we are a couple of players short and I don’t think at the moment we are in a position to do anything. But when we are, we have two players there that we have had a good look at.”

There was no place in the squad for full-back Jordan Thomas, a summer signing from Hampton & Richmond, who was an unused substitute in the win at Frome Town on Saturday. There was also no place for goalkeeper Will Buse or playmaker Jordan Maguire-Drew who are both under contract for the coming season but have uncertain futures having not been assigned a squad number.

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Yeovil Town fell to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of  League One side Bristol Rovers in their first pre-season friendly at Huish Park in front of a crowd of 1,715 on Tuesday evening.

The visitors took the lead through an impressive finish from veteran Scott Sinclair before defensive sloppiness and some friendly refereeing from W*ymouth resident James Durkin gifted substitute Kofi Shaw a second right before half-time.

Another defensive mistake – a rare one from Morgan Williams – allowed Luke McCormick in to make it 3-0 just before the hour mark and that signalled the traditional flurry of substitutions we expect from pre-season, including the arrival of trialist Jacob Roddy and another appearance of Jordan Stevens.

One of the changes, last season’s top-scorer Jordan Young, put in a lively performance in his 30-minute run-out but in fairness Rovers looked every inch their status two divisions above Yeovil.

 

First half

The opening 15 minutes was a fairly tame affair with some good spells of possession from Yeovil and Dylan Morgan looking to be creative from his wide position.

The first shooting opportunity fell to Glovers’ captain Matt Worthington who dragged shot wide after 20 minutes. That was probably about it for somewhere near the goal mouth action in the opening exchanges.

But, it was the visitors who took the lead on 28 minutes through a moment of magic from Scott SINCLAIR, whose CV includes Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester City. A good move down the right involving Joel Senior saw him lay a ball back to the 35-year-old who put his shot in to the top corner in front of the Thatcher’s Gold Stand. 

Immediately after taking the lead, Rovers made a change with experienced striker Chris Martin replaced by youngster Kofi Shaw.

On 32 minutes, a loose bit of play by Jake Wannell gifted the ball to Issac Hutchinson and good defending by Morgan Williams who did well to see it out for a corner. The resulting flag-kick from Hutchinson was fizzed in with venom but no-one in a grey shirt (yes, Rovers are in grey) could get a touch.

Ollie Wright is a big lad. Picture courtesy of Nick May.

The goal saw the visitors step up a gear and with ten minutes of the half remaining Bilongo released Luke McCormick whose impressive ball was aimed at Senior but was just too high.

Aaron Jarvis had a header in to the hands of Rovers’ keeper Griffiths on 38 minutes, but a minute before half-time Rovers doubled their advantage. Following sloppy defending from the Yeovil defence, Michael Smith got caught on the ball but appeared to be fouled before substitute Kofi SHAW broke away and fired home from a tight angle.

Ever been to a pre-season friendly where the referee is booed off at half-time? If you were at Huish Park tonight, you have. Referee is James Durkin…….from Portland…….that’s near W*ymouth, by the way. Just putting that out there.

Even the Bristol Live reporter thought it was a bit suspect…..

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Bristol Rovers 2

 

Second half

There were no changes at the break and it was the visitors who had the first opportunity as Senior got his head on to a Bilongo cross, but it was straight at Ollie Wright.

Shaw fired one over on 57 minutes and then Yeovil proved the architects of their own downfall, Morgan Williams gave possession away cheaply to Luke McCORMICK and he fired in a third.

The first meaningful action from Rovers’ keeper Griffiths came on the hour mark. Smith and Jarvis linked up to play the ball through to Worthington whose effort was saved by the boot of the visiting stopper.

That led to a flurry of changes for both sides with the Yeovil changes being the departures of Alex Whittle, Morgan Williams, Matt Worthington, Aaron Jarvis, Dylan Morgan and Charlie Cooper, who were replaced by Finn Cousin-Dawson, Sam Pearson (who was ‘welcomed’ as an ex-Bristol City player by the visiting fans), Frank Nouble, Jordan Young, Jordan Stevens, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and trialist Jacob Roddy.

There were changes for Rovers as well. Lots of them.

There’s the Bristol Rovers changes, if you care.

The changes had an immediate impact with Young and Nouble combining, but the big striker’s ball in to the box was easily cleared after 64 minutes before Wright did well to get down to well to pull off a smart save from one of the visitors’ substitutes Ollie Dewsbury.

Five minutes later good harrying from Young, who has looked lively since coming on, who then picked out Greenslade who was fouled. Set piece specialists Young and Brett McGavin stood over it, but it was Young who took it straight in to the defensive wall.

Jordan Stevens showed some of the blistering pace we know he has shortly after and, whilst his efforts did not lead to anything meaningful, it showed what we all know he is capable of.

With ten minutes later, Under-18s full-back Corey Koerner replaced Brett McGavin.

With a minute of normal time remaining, Rovers had a good opportunity to make it four. Finn Cousin-Dawson gave away possession to Dewsbury  and Lo-Everton busted a lung to get back and help out Wright to get it away for a corner. Sloppy again from Yeovil at the back and they have been punished by a side two divisions higher than them.

Next up it is more League One opposition in the form of Exeter City who visit Huish Park on Friday night.

Picture courtesy of Debs Curtis.

Full time: Yeovil Town 0 Bristol Rovers 3

Yeovil Town (4-2-3-1): Ollie Wright, Michael Smith (for Jordan Stevens, 61), Alex Whittle (for Jacob Roddy, 61), Jake Wannell, Morgan Williams (for Finn Cousin-Dawson, 61), Charlie Cooper (for Jordan Young, 61), Brett McGavin (for Corey Koerner, 80),  Dylan Morgan (for Sam Pearson, 61), Matt Worthington (for Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, 61), Harvey Greenslade, Aaron Jarvis (for Frank Nouble, 61). 

Substitutes (not used): Matt Gould..

Bristol Rovers (3-4-3): Josh Griffiths, Taylor Moore, Mola, Michael Forbes, Joel Senior, Isaac Hutchinson, Kamil Conteh, Bryant Bilongo, Scott Sinclair, Chris Martin, Luke McCormick.

Substitutes: Jed Ward, Jack Hunt, James Wilson, Dan Ellison, Brooklyn Leipus, Kofi Shaw, Jerry Lawrence, Luke Thomas, Jevan Brown, Ollie Dewsbury, Trialist.

Goals: Scott Sinclair 28 (0-1), Kofi Shaw 44 (0-2), Luke McCormick 57 (0-3)

Attendance: 1,715 (222 away supporters)
Referee: James Durkin (Portland, Dorset)

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Yeovil Town have named a strong starting XI for the visit of League One side Bristol Rovers for the first pre-season friendly at Huish Park this summer (7pm kick-off).

Former Rovers’ academy product Harvey Greenslade, who arrived in Somerset following his release from the Memorial Stadium, starts alongside Dylan Morgan who impressed in the 5-1 win at Frome Town on Saturday with former Rovers’ youngster.

There is a familiar look to the Glovers’ defence with a back four of Michael Smith, Alex Whittle, Jake Wannell and Morgan Williams, who played the majority of last season’s title-winning National League South campaign, in front of on-loan Southampton goalkeeper Ollie Wright.

On the bench, there is a place for a trialist former Charlton Athletic youngster Jacob Roddy and Jordan Stevens, who has appeared in the 5-1 wins over Melksham Town and Frome as he continues to build his fitness and looks to impress manager Mark Cooper.

There’s no place for summer signing, full-back Jordan Thomas, who was the only unused substitute at Frome Town at the weekend.

Yeovil Town (4-2-3-1): Ollie Wright, Michael Smith, Alex Whittle, Jake Wannell, Morgan Williams, Charlie Cooper, Matt Worthington, Dylan Morgan, Brett McGavin, Harvey Greenslade, Aaron Jarvis.  Substitutes: Matt Gould, Finn Cousin-Dawson, Sam Pearson, Frank Nouble, Jordan Young, Jordan Stevens, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, Jacob Roddy, Corey Koerner.

Bristol Rovers (3-4-3): Josh Griffiths, Taylor Moore, Mola, Michael Forbes, Joel Senior, Isaac Hutchinson, Kamil Conteh, Bryant Bilongo, Scott Sinclair, Chris Martin, Luke McCormick. Substitutes: Jed Ward, Jack Hunt, James Wilson, Dan Ellison, Brooklyn Leipus, Kofi Shaw, Jerry Lawrence, Luke Thomas, Jevan Brown, Ollie Dewsbury, Trialist.

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Yeovil Town picked up another comfortable victory as an impressive first half display saw them sweep aside Frome Town in their second pre-season friendly at Badgers’ Hill on Saturday.

Winger Dylan Morgan was the star of the show for the Glovers in the opening 45 minutes and he opened the scoring direct from a corner on 15 minutes before Sam Pearson, Harvey Greenslade and then Morgan again capped a convincing display with a 4-0 scoreline at half-time.

The start second half saw eight changes made by manager Mark Cooper, who introduced youngsters Corey Koerner and Josh Ansell later in the half, and was a more even affair.

Ross Staley reduced the arrears from the penalty spot after a foul from Finn Cousin-Dawson on 77 minutes before a late header from Aaron Jarvis completed the second 5-1 win over Yeovil after winning by the same scoreline at Melksham Town on Tuesday night.

Cooper replaced his entire starting XI over the course of the game with trialist Jacob Roddy substituted at half-time before returning to the fray on 70 minutes. Only new signing full-back Jordan Thomas, who did not feature in midweek, was not used off the bench.

First half

The early chances fell to the visitors with Dylan Morgan at the heart of everything shooting over the bar after six minutes and then seeing his corner headed over by Morgan Williams soon after.

Frome’s first chance fell to midfielder Sam Teale who headed over from a corner on ten minutes, but it was Yeovil who took the lead on 15 minutes when a corner from MORGAN went straight in perhaps with a bit of help from Robins’ keeper Kyle Phillips.

Dylan Morgan was at the heart of Yeovil’s impressive first half display.
📸 Gary Brown

Morgan was in the thick of it again soon after when his free-kick was punched by Phillips as far as Matt Worthington whose shot was easily dealt with by the keeper, and he continued a virtuous start to the game by setting up the Glovers’ second. A superb pass picked out Sam PEARSON after 20 minutes and the young Welshman burst forward to fire home the second.

On 38 minutes, Jayden Nielsen beats Roddy down the right and drilled a low effort towards the near post that was turned aside for a corner, and five minutes later Harvey GREENSLADE made it 3-0. The summer signing pounced on a mistake from Frome, moved forward and rolled it in to the net.

Then, with a minute of the first half remaining, Morgan tried his luck from a corner again, but this time Phillips was able to push it out as far as Worthington whose shot was blocked. But, a minute later, a beautifully worked move involving Greenslade and MORGAN saw the latter collect a pass and roll the curl in a sumptuous effort.

Half time: Frome Town 0 Yeovil Town 4

 

Second half

Manager Mark Cooper made eight changes at half-time with goalkeeper coach Matt Gould replacing Ollie Wright between the posts. The other arrivals were Alex Whittle, Finn Cousin-Dawson, Aaron Jarvis, Jordan Young, Brett McGavin, Jordan Stevens and Charlie Cooper, replacing Jake Wannell, Worthington, Frank Nouble, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, trialist Jacob Roddy, Michael Smith and Harvey Greenslade.

Within four minutes of his arrival, Young had an effort saved by Phillips before Pearson came close to adding in a fifth only to see it blocked on the line. The Frome keeper was in action again on 59 minutes as Pearson found Jarvis who made contact with the ball but Phillips did well to deny him, taking a knock in the process.

On 70 minutes, Pearson and Morgan were replaced by Roddy, who manager Cooper presumably wanted to see more from, and Under-18s full-back Corey Koerner.

Phillips denied Jarvis on 72 minutes and then denied Young moments later. The keeper is definitely playing his part in keeping the scoreline respectable and when Cousin-Dawson swept the legs out from under a Frome attacker, the home side were awarded a penalty. Former Bristol Rovers’ youngster Ross STALEY converted it nicely past Gould, who guessed the right way but could not quite get it.

That was unfortunate for Cousin-Dawson who otherwise turned in a solid performance, in particular looking comfortable on the ball.

Jarvis and Whittle were the next to have a go at the Frome goal without any joy for Yeovil, who were kept quieter by their hosts who improved considerably in the second half.

With 79 minutes gone, Under-18s central defender Josh Ansell replaced Morgan Williams in the heart of defence before Charlie Cooper tried an audacious effort from the halfway line which went well wide of goal.

It was left to Aaron JARVIS to complete the scoring with just two minutes of the match remaining when great play from Alex Whittle gave the striker the chance to  challenge Phillips and he headed home his second of pre-season

It was a job was done in the first half with a great performance, before a more even second half capped by the late fifth goal.

Next up will be a sterner test for the Glovers in the former of League One Bristol Rovers who travel to Huish Park on Tuesday night.

Full time: Frome Town 1 Yeovil Town 5

Yeovil Town (4-3-2-1): Ollie Wright (for Matt Gould, 46), Michael Smith (for Alex Whittle, 46), Morgan Williams (for Josh Ansell, 79), Jake Wannell (for Finn Cousin-Dawson, 46), Jacob Roddy (for Jordan Stevens, 46), Matt Worthington (for Brett McGavin, 46), Sonny Blu Lo-Everton (for Charlie Cooper, 46), Sam Pearson (for Jacob Roddy, 70), Frank Nouble, Dylan Morgan (for Corey Koerner, 70), Frank Nouble (for Jordan Young, 46), Dylan Morgan, Harvey Greenslade (for Aaron Jarvis, 46).

Substitutes (not used): Jordan Thomas.

Goals: Dylan Morgan 15 (1-0), Sam Pearson 20 (2-0), Harvey Greenslade 43 (3-0), Dylan Morgan 45 (4-0), Ross Staley pen 75 (4-1), Aaron Jarvis 88 (5-1).

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New signing Jordan Thomas is named among the substitutes as Yeovil Town continue their pre-season campaign with a trip to Frome Town this afternoon (3pm kick-off).

The full-back, who sat out Tuesday’s night’s 5-1 win at Melksham Town in the opening friendly, is named among the substitute for the match at Badgers’ Hill.

There is another start for trialist Jacob Roddy, released by Charlton Athletic’s academy in the summer, but no sign of youngster Sam Tisdale, the son of ex-Glovers’ midfielder and former Exeter City manager, Paul, after his appearance in midweek.

Under-18s defender Jacob Shore is missing after suffering a thigh strain which forced him off early in the last game, but Josh Ansell gets a place on the bench alongside Corey Koerner, who impressed in the second half at Melksham.

Striker Harvey Greenslade, who bagged a brace against Melksham, starts up front ahead of Sam Pearson, Frank Nouble and Dylan Morgan.

Yeovil Town (4-3-2-1): Ollie Wright, Michael Smith, Morgan Williams, Jake Wannell, Jacob Roddy, Matt Worthington, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, Sam Pearson, Frank Nouble, Dylan Morgan, Sam Pearson, Frank Nouble, Dylan Morgan, Harvey Greenslade.

Substitutes: Matt Gould, Jordan Thomas, Alex Whittle, Finn Cousin-Dawson, Aaron Jarvis, Jordan Young, Brett McGavin, Charlie Cooper, Corey Koerner, Josh Ansell, Jordan Stevens.

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Two goals from new signing striker Harvey Greenslade and another from fellow frontman Aaron Jarvis saw Yeovil Town get their pre-season campaign underway with a comfortable victory at Southern League Division One South side Melksham Town on Tuesday night.

Manager Mark Cooper fielded two different XIs in each half which included trialist left-back Jacob Roddy and the son of former Exeter City manager and Glovers’ midfielder, Paul Tisdale, Sam. Pre-season is all about a bit of guess work on who some of these players are, isn’t it?

It was last season’s top-scorer Jordan Young who gave the visitors the lead after six minutes before Jarvis added a second just before the half-hour mark. Melksham pulled one back after new signing goalkeeper/goalkeeper coach Matt Gould parried an effort to their striker, before a double from Greenslade sandwiched a great effort from Dylan Morgan.
 

First half

The starting XI included first outings in green-and-white for on-loan Southampton goalkeeper Ollie Wright, defender Finn Cousin-Dawson and striker Aaron Jarvis, who were all additions to the summer. There was also an appearance for trialist defender Jacob Roddy, who was released by Charlton Athletic’s academy in the summer after a spell on loan at Oxford City in the National League Premier last season, starts at left wing-back.

Under-18s’ defender Jacob Shore was also in the starting line-up as part of a three-man defence alongside Cousin-Dawson and Alex Whittle, playing as a left-sided central defender. Michael Smith was the wing-back on the right side with Roddy on the left. Defender Jordan Thomas, signed from Hampton & Richmond in the summer, was a notable absentee in the squad, but he was at the game.

It was a bright start from the Glovers with Charlie Cooper fizzing an effort wide after just four minutes before Jordan YOUNG put them ahead on six minutes. He beat his defender with a burst of pace and fired an effort which went under the Melksham keeper and in to the bottom corner.

Shore was forced off after just 13 minutes following a collision and was replaced by a trialist Tisdale.

Yeovil Town in action against Melksham Town. Picture courtesy of Rob Manley.

There was no team-sheet available from the home side, so best we can say is one of the Melksham players dragged an effort wide on 19 minutes before Young had an effort turned around the post by the keeper following good work from Alex Whittle, player as a left-sided central defender alongside Cousin-Dawson and then Shore/Tisdale.

On 27 minutes, Jarvis worked the keeper with an effort before JARVIS got his first goal in green-and-white when he was on the end of a stinging shot from Michael Smith which snuck past two Melksham defenders.

There was an effort for the home side which Wright comfortably dealt with before Charlie Cooper whipped in a corner which became more like a shot.

Half time: Melksham Town Yeovil Town 2

 

Second half

The only survivor of the XI which started the first half was Tisdale, with goalkeeper/goalkeeper coach Matt Gould taking over in goal, Koerner coming in as left-back, Brett McGavin made his first outing in midfield and Harvey Greenslade came in up front. There was also a place for Jordan Stevens.

Greenslade, the Glovers’ first summer signing following his release by League One Bristol Rovers, made an immediate impression after cutting in from the right side and forcing a smart stop out of the Melksham keeper after 50 minutes.

Dylan Morgan was the next to test the keeper two minutes later and the home side pulled a goal back on 57 minutes. Gould parried an effort straight back to the Melksham NUMBER NINE (still no name) and he turned home the rebound.

But, just after the hour mark, Greenslade restored the two-goal advantage for the visitors. Sam Pearson broke away rapidly following a Melksham corner before picking out GREENSLADE who made a great finish.

Trialist Jacob Roddy, who appeared in both halves. Picture courtesy of Mark Kelly.

Stevens showed his pace on 63 minutes charging down the right before picking out Frank Nouble whose effort went just wide. On 71 minutes, Jacob Roddy replaced Tisdale Junior going to left centre-back, before Dylan MORGAN made it 4-1 with a great bit of skill to beat his defender and then fired home.

On 80 minutes, it was 5-1 when McGavin’s free-kick cannoned back off the bar (we knew he can hit them!) and GREENSLADE was on the spot to fire home the rebound.

A good run-out for the majority of the first-team squad along with a couple of trialists and a couple of Under-18s players. Mark Cooper takes his side to Frome Town for their second pre-season friendly on Saturday.

Full time: Melksham Town 1 Yeovil Town 5

First half – Yeovil Town (3-5-2): Ollie Wright, Jacob Roddy, Alex Whittle, Michael Smith, Jacob Shore (for Sam Tisdale, 13), Finn Cousin-Dawson, Matt Worthington, Charlie Cooper, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, Jordan Young, Aaron Jarvis.

Second half – Yeovil Town (3-5-2): Matt Gould, Sam Tisdale (for Jacob Roddy, 71), Morgan Williams, Jake Wannell, Corey Koerner, Brett McGavin, Dylan Morgan, Jordan Stevens, Sam Pearson, Frank Nouble, Harvey Greenslade.

Goals: Jordan Young 6 (1-0), Aaron Jarvis 27 (2-0), Number Nine 57  (2-1),  Harvey Greenslade 61 (3-1), Dylan Morgan 74 (4-1), Harvey Greenslade 80 (5-1).

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Jordan Stevens is the surprise addition to the Yeovil Town substitutes’ bench as they kick-off their pre-season campaign with a trip to Southern League Division One South side Melksham Town tonight (7.45pm kick-off).

The winger was released by the Glovers at the end of last season but has been spotted with the squad in pre-season training, therefore it is uncertain whether he is simply regaining fitness with Mark Cooper’s side or something more significant.

In the starting XI, there are first outings in green-and-white for on-loan Southampton goalkeeper Ollie Wright, defender Finn Cousin-Dawson and striker Aaron Jarvis, who were all additions to the summer. The trialist in the starting XI is Jacob Roddy, who was released by Charlton Athletic’s academy in the summer after a spell on loan at Oxford City in the National League Premier last season, starts at left wing-back.

Under-18s’ defender Jacob Shore in also in the starting line-up with team-mate Corey Koerner on the bench,

On the bench are new signings goalkeeper/goalkeeper coach Matt Gould, midfielder Brett McGavin and striker Harvey Greenslade, along with another trialist Sam Tisdale, the teenage son of former Exeter City manager and ex-Glovers’ midfielder, Paul. <insert ‘big night for the Trialist Family here>

Yeovil Town: Ollie Wright, Alex Whittle, Michael Smith, Jacob Shore, Finn Cousin-Dawson, Matt Worthington, Charlie Cooper, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, Jordan Young, Aaron Jarvis, Jacob Roddy (Trialist).
Substitutes: Matt Gould, Morgan Williams, Jake Wannell, Sam Pearson, Frank Nouble, Brett McGavin, Dylan Morgan, Harvey Greenslade, Corey Koerner, Jordan Stevens, Sam Tisdale (Trialist).

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Yeovil Town’s pre-season friendly schedule gets underway with a trip to Melksham Town on Tuesday night, 7.45pm kick-off.

The trip to Wiltshire will be the first opportunity for Glovers’ fans to get eyes on new signings strikers Aaron Jarvis and Harvey Greenslade, midfielder Brett McGavin and on-loan keeper Ollie Wright (among others!) in green-and-white.

We have played Melksham before, most recently in pre-season 2019, straight after the relegation from the Football League, when an XI made up mostly of trialists were thrashed 6-0 – so presumably not very good trialists.

If you are making the trip to the Oakfield Stadium, here’s a few details you might need to know…..

Who are they?
Melksham Town play in the Southern League Division One South and in the 2023/24 season finished it fourth from bottom of the league, that’s three divisions below the National League Premier.

This will be their second game of pre-season having hosted League One Bristol Rovers on Friday night, going down to a 4-2 defeat. The Gas fielded an XI featuring a number of youngsters and went 2-0 up early in the second half before pegged back to 2-2 by Melksham around the hour mark. Rovers’ new signing, defender Dan Ellison who joined from Chippenham Town in the summer, enjoyed his return to Wiltshire scoring twice in that game. 

Melksham are managed by Mark Collier who joined in November 2022 having had experience in Wiltshire football with Chippenham and Swindon Supermarine. 

Ticket information
Tickets are available on Eventbrite – click here to buy – and there is a booking fee attached which explains the weird prices. Adult: £11.55, OAPs: £9.38, 14-16 years: £5.04, 6-13 years: £2.88.

How to get there
The Oakfield Stadium has been Melksham’s home since 2017 when they moved to a purpose-built stadium which they share with the local rugby club which plays on a pitch adjacent to the football pitch. As such stadiums often are, Melksham is a cashless stadium and operates CARD ONLY – only make sure you take your cards with you.

Address: The Oakfield Stadium, Eastern Way, Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 7GU.
Parking: There is free parking at the stadium.

Not the main stand at Oakfield Stadium, home of Melksham Town.
Picture courtesy of Tim Lancaster.


Directions: 

Road: If the traffic is kind to you, the journey from Yeovil to Melksham should be around 1 hour and 15 minutes by road.
The quickest route is to take the A303 west and then on to the A350 just before you get to Chicklade. From there you stay on the A350 past Warminster and through Westbury, until you reach the edge of Melksham when you take the exit and join Western Way.
Follow Western Way until the Spa roundabout on to Spa Road, at the next roundabout it is the second exit on to Snowberry Lane, and then on to Eastern Way at the roundabout after that. You will skirt around some out-of-town housing estates and then take a right-hand turn towards the Oakfield Stadium – hopefully it’s signposted!

Rail: There is a train station in Melksham, but it’s a fair way from the Oakfield Stadium, so you are probably better off driving or getting a lift. It is about a one-hour walk from the train station, there is a bus (272 towards Devizes) which gets you some of the way there but you will still be doing plenty of walking. If you are ‘committed’ enough to try it for a friendly, you can get South West Trains from Yeovil Pen Mill to Westbury and then the Great Western Railway to Melksham, it’s the train that goes to Swindon that you need. But, if you want to catch a train back, there’s every chance you’ll have a seven-and-a-half hour wait Westbury……..so, yeah, probably don’t take the train!

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Matt Gould has bolstered the Yeovil Town goalkeeping team joining as a player/goalkeeper coach having departed National League Premier side Altrincham.

The 30-year-old played ten games for Alty last season and takes on coaching responsibilities for the Glovers’ glovemen following the departure of Phil Osborn a couple of weeks ago.

In his interview with the club’s YouTube channel, Gould said the move was partly down to geography with his family being based in Portishead, near Bristol.

He said: “I am local to Bristol, my family live in Portishead, my Mum and Dad live about 20 minutes away, so that is one reason but Yeovil is a massive club and I am really excited to be here.

“The Gaffer (manager Mark Cooper) has had a lot of promotions and I am really excited to work with the staff here and a group of players which have just won promotion, so it is a new opportunity for me.

“I love doing both roles (coaching and playing) because I still love to play but I also really enjoy coaching. Over the last four years I have had some really good relationships with my goalkeepers and playing in some massive games, so I am excited to be here and hopefully get out on that pitch one day.”

The new arrival joins youngster Ollie Wright, who joined on a season-long loan from Premier League side Southampton last week, and Will Buse in the Huish Park goalkeeping group.

Speaking about Wright, Gould added: “When I spoke to the Gaffer, he had already brought Ollie to the club. He had a really good season last year (on loan at both Worthing and Bath City), he is a tall boy, good with his feet. I watched a fair few of his clips over the summer and I am really looking forward to working with him.

“He has obviously got a great background with Southampton, so I am looking forward to working with their coaches and hopefully between us we can have a really good goalkeeping department and keep clean sheets for the club.”

He comes from a good sporting family with his father, Jonathan, having played between the posts for Celtic, his grandfather, Bobby, being the former FA Cup-winning Wimbledon manager who was also in charge of Wales at the end of the 1990s, and his uncle, Richard, being a former chief executive of Somerset County Cricket Club.

Speaking of his family, he added: “I want to make them all proud. My first goal was to be a professional footballer and I managed to do that ten years ago when I started out at Cheltenham Town and to make my way in the game has been a dream come true and hopefully I have another ten or 12 years of at least being a player-coach.”

Gould is also an international having represented New Zealand as a result of the time he spent in the country when his father was player-manager of Hawke’s Bay United. He played two friendly games in January 2022.

He joined Altrincham at the start of the 2020-21 season and spent a three-month stint on loan at Nantwich Town. In 2022 his role was extended to include a goalkeeper coaching role whilst he completed his qualifications.

Quite where Buse, who started last season between the posts in National League South with the Glovers and then joined Bath City on loan, fits in the future plans of Cooper remains in question – but with pre-season training underway this week, we may well find out soon.

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Rhys Rosser has left his role as a Director of Yeovil Town after just over a year in the boardroom, the club has confirmed.

The lifelong Glovers’ fan and barrister leaves was a familiar face in the Directors’ Box at Huish Park last season when as the club won National League South.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the club said: “Yeovil Town Football Club can confirm that Rhys Rosser has today stepped down as a Director.

“As the fans will be aware, Rhys has a number of other professional commitments and him stepping down allows him to focus on these.

“Rhys has been of great support to the club over the period of transition and all at the club are very grateful to him.”

A post from Rhys Rosser’s social media following his appointment as a club director.

 

The move leaves chairman Martin Hellier, his son, Jack, and shareholder Stuart Robins as the remaining directors of Yeovil Football & Athletic Club Ltd, the parent company of the football club.

Rosser was appointed to the board in May 2023 with the owner saying that the 32-year-old had played a role in the takeover from S**** P*********. Speaking at the time, he said: “For all my ambitions, thank Rhys, he got it over the line. He made it happen.”

Best of luck for the future, Rhys.