David Coates

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Yeovil Town boss Billy Rowley was pleased to see the work his team has been doing on the training ground come to fruition as they picked up a 1-0 pre-season friendly win over Cardiff City Under-21s at Huish Park on Saturday.

Striker Stephen Walker settled the contest with a stunning strike after just two minutes, but the Glovers created a number of other chances and the boss believes this is a sign of their work bearing fruit.

Speaking to the club’s social media after the game, he said: “We did not look like a side which has only been together two-and-a-half weeks or eight training sessions, we were a lot more fluid than we were on Tuesday (in the 2-2 draw at Merthyr Town) but I think the pitch and being at home helps that. Loads of positives, some of our movement, our runs and timing to get in behind was excellent, some of our switches of play, a lot of the stuff we spoke about in training this week which was good.

“It is such a great place to play football, the pitch is looking immaculate, even getting the sprinklers on for us during the water breaks and at half-time, which I am a big fan of. The lads really enjoy playing here and the supporters seemed in really good spirits, but that is natural in pre-season, it is a nice time of year when the sun is shining and everyone is seeing new players. We are going to have ups and downs with this group and it is just about sticking together and improving.”

Yeovil Town celebrate Stephen Walker’s opening goal against Cardiff Under-21s. Picture courtesy of Ollie Marsh.

Walker’s goal was his third in as many pre-season games after strikes in the 4-1 win at Melksham Town last weekend and a penalty in the 2-2 draw at Merthyr on Tuesday night.

Of his new striker, Rowley said: “He is a joy to watch, he is such a talent and that finish is a joke, he just took the sting out of the ball and curled it in the top corner which is top level technique. All the lads enjoy his personality as well and I have to say the same for Slav (Spasov) as well, those two are really good number nines for this league and they are going to strike up a decent partnership and fight for that shirt. I am really pleased with both of them.”

The boss added: “We are playing against a possession-based team which wants to play through the midfield and had some good ideas in build up, so we felt in front of our fans we wanted to get more pressure on the ball, defend higher up the pitch. That will change game to game based on who we play and what they do, but we felt it would be a good chance to get after the ball today. I thought the press from Ste (Walker) and Macca (Luke McCormick) and Jonesey (Ryan Jones) and Mason (Obeng) joining in on that was really good, Brett (McGavin) and Zain (Westbrooke) covered a lot of ground in midfield and the backline stepped up and played together really well. We let in a couple of chances, but that is natural against good players and sometimes you have to accept that will happen.”

The Glovers kept nine of their starting eleven on the pitch for the first hour of the match before making wholesale changes, but goalkeeper Jos Barker was one of only two players who completed the full 90 minutes.

Rowley said: “When the whistle blows you want to score as many as you can and not let in any and we did that today. We created a lot of chances and I thought defensively we were good. We made some good late blocks, defended some decent set pieces and I thought Jos (Barker) was excellent. He made a decent save at the end with his left foot, so a really pleasing day for the defenders and the defence will be happy with the clean sheet.”

Having admitted that he had not learnt much about his squad, which features 12 of his 13 summer signings with midfielder Joe Haigh missing until September following an operation, at Merthyr, the sense was that Rowley was pleased with what he saw from them against Cardiff’s youngsters.

They will now have a full week of training at their base near Bristol before travelling to League One side Wycombe Wanderers for a behind-closed-doors friendly next Saturday.

Rowley said: “We need tests, like Merthyr did on Tuesday on an artificial pitch, today we wanted to defend in a different way which worked. Wycombe, depending on what team they field, there may be spells when we are pinned back and have to defend more set pieces, so every game has its challenges and we will see how we approach that game tonight or tomorrow.“

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An early goal from striker Stephen Walker earned Yeovil Town a win in their first pre-season friendly at Huish Park on a warm Saturday afternoon.

The frontman, who took his tally to three goals in his three friendly appearances, curled home a beautiful strike with just two minutes on the clock in front of a crowd of 772 in the Somerset sunshine.

There were some impressive attacking moves from the Glovers throughout the performance with Ryan Jones looking particularly effective with many of the starting line-up given an hour rather than the wholesale changes we have seen in the opening two friendlies.

In keeping with pre-season tradition, there was an appearance from three trialists including former Arsenal academy defender William Lannin-Sweet, Bristol Rovers academy player Kian Hill and a new face in Brentford B attacker Kyrie Pierre, who played down the left side for the final 30 minutes.

First half

The Glovers, wearing their new pink away shirt despite being at home, started with a full complement of permanent players – with the exception of loanee defender Loick Ayina, who on loan from Salford City until the end of the season – with trialists left on the substitutes’ bench. Read more about the team news – here.

The game did not take too long to warm up on the pitch with Stephen WALKER opening the scoring with the Glovers’ first attack. Brett McGavin won the ball fed Ryan Jones who picked out the striker and he curled home his third goal of pre-season with a beautiful effort after just two minutes.

Yeovil Town celebrate Stephen Walker’s opening goal. Picture courtesy of Ollie Marsh.

Mason Obeng tried to get in on the act two minutes later as the winger made a driving run before trying a low effort which went just wide. A bright start in their first pre-season outing in front of their own supporters from the Glovers.

On 16 minutes, Archie Davies went on a run from inside his own half and made it in to the Cardiff area and found Walker inside the six-yard box, but his effort came off the post but was cleared away. We look strong in wide positions with Obeng and Jones particularly dangerous and that was a sign of what Davies can do going down the right side.

There was another good run from Davies shortly after the first half hydration break which led to Obeng’s effort being tipped wide for a corner which Loick Ayina headed wide with 28 minutes on the clock.

On 34 minutes, Luke McCormick pushed forward and had a deflected effort turned wide by visiting keeper Jake Dennis and Walker had the ball in the net four minutes later, but was denied by an offside flag. McCormick tried a audacious long range effort after spotting Dennis off his line, but he was a couple of feet over the bar and the ball landed on the top of the net.

Cardiff’s first chance fell to Roko Simic with five minutes of the half remaining when some sloppy Yeovil defending from gifted the young Croatian the opportunity who did not enough contact on it, before McGavin’s free-kick was pushed behind by Dennis. Good save.

Half-time: Yeovil Town 1 Cardiff City Under-21s 0

Second half

There were only two changes for Yeovil at half-time rather than the entire change of eleven we have seen in the previous two friendlies. Johl Powell and Slavi Spasov replaced Luke McCormick and goal-scorer Stephen Walker for the second half with Westbrooke taking the captain’s armband from McCormick.

Five minutes after the restart, a beautiful passage of passing from Yeovil saw Jones and Davies link up well for the latter to get a cross which picked out Spasov inside the box, but the summer signing could not get the ball under control. Two minutes later, Jones curled an effort just wide. A bright start for the Glovers.

Goalkeeper Jos Barker, playing his first second half minutes since arriving in pre-season, made a great save with his legs to deny Mannie Barton after a swift break from Cardiff. Powell broke away down the right soon after and found Jones who put it just wide and then (yet) another burst forward from Jones squared it to McGavin on the stretch but his effort was straight at Dennis in the Bluebirds’ goal.

On the hour mark the wholesale changes usually reserved for half-time came from Yeovil boss Billy Rowley with only keeper Jos Barker, defender Joe Gubbins and midfielder Zain Westbrooke remaining from the starting XI, the revised line-up is:

Jos Barker, Hayden Muller, Jack Kingdon, Joe Gubbins, Dan Ellison, Zain Westbrooke, Johl Powell, Slavi Spasov, Kian Hill (Trialist A), William Lannin-Sweet (Trialist B), Kyrie Pierre (Trialist C).

Pierre, described as “an attacker” by his parent club Premier League Brentford, played down the left wing. He joined the Bees from Aston Villa last summer on a free transfer and played for them in the Premier League 2 last season.

There were a raft of changes from Cardiff and one of them, Hayden Allmark, was denied by a good stop from Barker after 67 minutes and a hydration break which followed saw Gubbins replaced by Joy Mukena.

On 74 minutes, Spasov found Powell whose effort went just wide before Barker was called in to action to keep out substitute Gabriel Keita with ten minutes remaining.

Full time: Yeovil Town 1 Cardiff City Under-21s 0

Teams:

First half – Yeovil Town: Jos Barker, Jordan Norville-Williams, Loick Ayina, Archie Davies, Joe Gubbins, Brett McGavin, Zain Westbrooke, Ryan Jones, Mason Obeng, Luke McCormick (for Johl Powell, 46), Stephen Walker (for Slavi Spasov, 46).

60 minutes – Yeovil Town: Jos Barker, Hayden Muller, Jack Kingdon, Joe Gubbins (for Joy Mukena, 70), Dan Ellison, Zain Westbrooke, Johl Powell, Slavi Spasov, Kian Hill (Trialist A), William Lannin-Sweet (Trialist B), Kyrie Pierre (Trialist C).

Cardiff City Under-21s: Jake Dennis, Charlie O’Brien (for Caden Voice, 77), Jesper Daland (for Alyas Debono, 46), Thierry Katsukunya (for Gabriel Keita, 77), Luey Giles (for Logan Cartwright, 77), Issac Davies (for Hayden Allmark, 62), Trey George (for Tiger Tobin, 77), Troy Perrett (for Ellis Yorke, 77), Mannie Barton (for Mannie Barton, 77), Herbie James (for Jake Davies, 46), Roko Simic (for Dan Ola, 46).

Scorers: Stephen Walker 2 (1-0)
Attendance: 772

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Yeovil Town name no trialists in the starting XI for the first half of their opening home pre-season friendly against Cardiff City Under-21s at Huish Park (1pm kick-off).

The Glovers are looking to build on their unbeaten start to preparations for the upcoming season having won 4-1 at Melksham Town in their opening friendly last weekend and drawn 2-2 at National League North side Merthyr Town in midweek.

We understand that trialists defender William Lannin-Sweet, midfielder Jonathon Page and Bristol Rovers academy player Kian Hill are in the squad. There is also a place for Brentford B attacker Kyrie Pierre, but no sign of former Cardiff striker Rhys Healey, who has not been seen since limping off at the end at Melksham.

For the visitors, midfielder Troy Perrett, who was on loan at Yeovil last season, starts but there is no place for fellow former Glovers’ loanee Dakari Mafico.

Yeovil Town: Jos Barker, Jordan Norville-Williams, Loick Ayina, Archie Davies, Joe Gubbins, Brett McGavin, Zain Westbrooke, Ryan Jones, Mason Obeng, Luke McCormick, Stephen Walker.

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Yeovil Town boss Billy Rowley admitted his side’s 2-2 draw at Merthyr Town will not teach them much about the National League Premier Division season which is in front of them.

The Glovers came back from going 2-0 behind to a double from former player Sam Pearson inside the first hour in South Wales with a superb strike from winger Mason Obeng and a penalty from striker Stephen Walker earning them a draw.

The game was played on a dry 3G pitch and Rowley admitted that neither the surface nor the style adopted by their opponents is likely to match many of the sides they will face when they kick-off their league campaign.

Talking to the club’s social media after the match, the manager said: “There was some boys who have never played on a 3G pitch before and we took our time to adapt, there are tricks of the trade which you can learn when you play on these pitches. You can spin balls around the corner and it grips, but it is quite difficult to get adjust to. But I did feel we lacked a bit of personality in the first half, we needed to get to the ball a bit better. I overheard some of the boys talking about that at half-time and one thing which contributed was some of our turnovers which is not something you want to be doing as much of. It’s our second friendly and some of the boys played in the first half, it is their second 45 minutes in the last three or four months, so not something I will look too deeply in to but it is something we can learn from.

“Second half we were decent. We had a bit more balance in the team with the positions we can play, we have completely mixed the teams up in both halves and I felt the second half we had a bit more balance. Full credit to Merthyr, they have had some good success here in the last few years and it was a difficult test for us. It was a unique game and not something we will face too often this season, but it was a good work-out.”

Rowley confirmed the withdrawal of midfielder Luke McCormick after 37 minutes was a pre-planned move as the player continues his comeback from surgery on a groin injury which kept him out at the end of last season. He was replaced by trialist Jonathon Page late in the first half.

Mason Obeng celebrated his goal with trialist Kian Hill
Picture courtesy of FMJ Sporting Visuals

He also revealed that Bristol Rovers’ midfielder Kian Young, who featured from the start as Trialist D and then came back on in the second half to win the penalty kick, was on “a youth experience loan” at Huish Park. The 17-year-old featured in the 4-1 win at Melksham Town in the opening pre-season friendly on Saturday.

The manager said: “Macca has been out for a while following his groin operation. He is still fine but he has not done anything for five months, so playing on this surface was going to take too much out of him and we wanted to manage his minutes a little bit. It affected some of the roles and the balance of the team. Young Kian (Hill) helped us out, he is on a youth experience loan from (Bristol) Rovers and I thought he did well, but he also played out of position. We just needed to find a bit more balance in the second half and we did that.”

Having found themselves 2-0 down after an hour courtesy of two Pearson strikes, both set up by former Glovers’ midfielder Jacob Maddox, Yeovil began to find their feet and pulled a goal back through Obeng. Rowley believes the winger, who he managed at Walton & Hersham before his arrival in Somerset, will be a fans’ favourite.

He said: “He is a bit of a Brazilian really. He has that flair and he is an exciting player to watch, he had a lot of skill, he can use both feet and I thought his goal was excellent. I was right behind that goal, it started about three or four yards outside the post and he whipped it back in, great technique and that is something I have seen him do many times.”

Stephen Walker in action at Merthyr Town on Tuesday night 
Picture courtesy of FMJ Sporting Visuals

There was also praise for Walker who scored his second goal in as many friendly appearances. Rowley added: “Ste is another I really enjoy watching play. He still looks like he needs another few weeks to get fully match fit and he is fully aware of that, but he took his penalty well.”

Yeovil’s pre-season campaign sees them face Cardiff City Under-21s in their first friendly fixture at Huish Park on Saturday with a 1pm kick-off. Rowley said he will learn the lessons of Tuesday night’s work-out against Merthyr, but reiterated he was not expecting to learn too much from the game.

He said: “I look forward to watching this game back, we put a drone up in the air to film it and the view looks incredible. This game is stylistically not what we are going to face much, a lot of National League teams are more direct and target players in the team. Merthyr are coached really well and switched the ball a lot, it will be nice to watch it back but it is probably not going to be as relevant as we need it to be.“

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Second half goals from summer signings Mason Obeng and a Stephen Walker penalty cancelled out a brace from old boy Sam Pearson to earn Yeovil Town a draw against National League North side Merthyr Town on Tuesday night.

The Glovers were undone by nearly identical goals with two former players, midfielder Jacob Maddox and Pearson, combining to put the hosts ahead on the stroke of half-time before doubling the advantage on the hour mark.

But, with the visitors’ XI change completely at half-time, fresh legs began to tell in the second half with the impressive Obeng reducing the advantage with a fine finish before trialist Kian Hill, the Bristol Rovers academy player, was brought down inside the box with ten minutes remaining and Walker stepped up to convert from the spot.

The trialists on display in South Wales were three of the four which we saw in the victory at Melksham, namely:

Trialist D – Kian Hill, a product of the Bristol Rovers academy who featured in the second half at the weekend, started at Merthyr and then came on again late in the second half to win the late penalty.

Trialist A – Jonathon Page, the midfielder who had an injury-plagued spell at Huish Park last season, appeared in the second half.

Trialist B – former Arsenal academy defender William Lannin-Sweet who was among the changes at half-time.

There was no place for Trialist C, experienced striker Rhys Healey, who went off with what looked like a knee injury at Melksham and was not risked on an artificial pitch at Penydarren Park. We will see if he re-appears when Cardiff City Under-23s come to Huish Park for the next friendly on Saturday.

First half

On a glorious night in South Wales, Yeovil shuffled the pack from the starting XI which began the 4-1 win at Melksham Town in the opening friendly on Saturday. Defenders Jack Kingdon and Loick Ayina, midfielders Johl Powell and Hayden Muller and striker Slavi Spasov all started alongside Bristol Rovers’ youngster Kian Hill, going under the codename ‘Trialist D’.

There were also plenty of familiar faces in the Merthyr line up with former Glovers Jay Foulston, Sam Pearson and Jacob Maddox all starting for the home side.

The first meaningful opportunity for either side fell to Luke McCormick who tried to catch out the Martyrs’ keeper Jaimie Cogman with a quick direct effort on 20 minutes and Pearson forced Jos Barker in to a save just before the half-hour mark and the winger flashed another effort wide a couple of minutes later.

Sam Pearson takes on Johl Powell Picture courtesy of FMJ Sporting Visuals

Hill/Trialist D came off with 32 minutes on the clock, replaced by Ryan Jones and then five minutes later it was McCormick who was replaced by Jonathon Page, aka Trialist A. Zain Westbrooke took the armband and it appears nothing more than protecting the star midfielder who missed a chunk of the end of last season with a groin injury on a very dry artificial surface.

With five minutes of the first half remaining, Kane Simpson hit an effort just wide and moments later Johl Powell burst through and forced a good stop from Cogman. No shortage of chances for both sides here.

But it took until the stroke of half-time for the deadlock to be broken and, no surprise, it was one of the former Glovers. In fact it was two who combined, midfielder Jacob Maddox caught Yeovil in possession on the halfway line and fed a well-timed pass through to Sam PEARSON who finished well for his first Merthyr goal.

Half-time: Merthyr Town 1 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

There was another shake-up of the starting XI with only trialist Jonathon Page remaining from the side which ended the first half for the Glovers. One of the new arrivals Mason Obeng showed his intent within five minutes of the restart as he got past the Merthyr defence and curled an effort which Cogman pushed behind for a corner.

Johl Powell went close soon after before Will Spiers caught trialist William Lannin-Sweet napping and his half-volley was tipped over the bar by goalkeeping coach Matt Gould, who was on Jos Barker at the interval.

But, on the hour mark the visitors created an repeat of the goal at the end of the first half to double the advantage. It was from a Yeovil attack and there was a lot of space down the left side for Maddox to feed Sam PEARSON and the Welshman coolly finished past Gould. The goal was against the run of play with Yeovil having started the half the stronger, but perhaps a sign of a defensive unit getting to know each other for the visitors.

Merthyr made a flurry of substitutions just after doubling their advantage making five changes before both Pearson and Maddox departed in separate changes.

Mason Obeng celebrated his goal with trialist Kian Hill
Picture courtesy of FMJ Sporting Visuals

With 71 minutes played, Yeovil pulled a goal back. A  great move down the right with Ryan Jones making a beautiful driving run and picking out Mason OBENG who shot first time to put a beautiful curling effort in. Great move, great finish, that was what the visitors have been trying to do all night.

Eight minutes later, the Glovers were awarded a penalty after Kian Hill, who appeared to have snuck back on to the pitch without even the club’s social media noticing (got to love pre-season!), found himself inside the Merthyr area and was brought down inside the box. Stephen WALKER stepped up and fired it straight down the middle with Cogman diving.

The home team had the better of the first half, but the changes in both teams just after the hour mark saw Yeovil make the most of their fresh legs.

Full time: Merthyr Town 2 Yeovil Town 2

Teams:

First half – Yeovil Town:Jos Barker, Jack Kingdon, Loick Ayina, Hayden Muller, Jordan Norville-Williams, Zain Westbrooke, Johl Powell, James Daly, Kian Hill (for Ryan Jones, 32), Luke McCormick (for Jonathon Page, 37), Slavi Spasov.

Second half – Yeovil Town: Matt Gould, Dan Ellison, William Lannin-Sweet, Joe Gubbins, Archie Davies, Brett McGavin, Jonathon Page, Ryan Jones, Johl Powell (for Kian Hill, ??), Mason Obeng, Stephen Walker.

Merthyr Town: Jaimie Cogman, Callum Ryan-Phillips (for Matthew Harris, 62), Jay Foulston, Aneurin Livermore (for Trialist 2, 62), Ben Margetson (for Jay Williams, 62), Jacob Maddox (for Charlie Caswell, 73), Kane Simpson, Sam Pearson (for Trialist 1, 68), Jack Evans, Kian Evans (for Morgan Wigley, 62), Jamie Spiers (for Lee Lucas, 62), .

Scorers: Sam Pearson 45 (0-1), Sam Pearson 60 (0-2), Mason Obeng 71 (1-2), Stephen Walker pen 79 (2-2)

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Yeovil Town manager Billy Rowley has mixed up his starting XI for tonight’s pre-season friendly visit to National League South side Merthyr Town (7.30pm kick-off).

The Glovers boss hands starts to defender Jack Kingdon and Loick Ayina, midfielders Johl Powell and Hayden Muller and striker Slavi Spasov, who all featured in the second half of Saturday’s 4-1 win at Melksham Town in the opening friendly.

There is also a place for Trialist D which, if the unnamed men are taking the same letters as they did three days ago, would be Bristol Rovers youngster Kian Hill.

Yeovil Town: Jos Barker, Jack Kingdon, Loick Ayina, Hayden Muller, Jordan Norville-Williams, Zain Westbrooke, Johl Powell, James Daly, Trialist D (Kian Hill?), Luke McCormick, Slavi Spasov.

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Yeovil Town boss Billy Rowley believes that midfielder Luke McCormick is on a mission to prove he is “one of the best players” in the National League in the coming season.

The 27-year-old missed the final two months of last season with a groin injury and returned with two goals in the first half of the Glovers’ 4-1 win at Melksham Town in their opening pre-season friendly on Saturday.

McCormick was handed the captain’s armband from the start and netted either side of new striker Stephen Walker’s opening goal for Yeovil before Brett McGavin added a fourth with a superb free-kick with 15 minutes remaining.

Speaking about McCormick to the club’s social media after the game, Rowley said: “It is so good to have Macca back. I feel there is a new lease of life in him, it was really devastating to lose him in the position we were in fighting for our lives last season. He is a top pro, he looks after himself and he has a hunger for football and scoring goals and we saw that in the first half.

“Daz (assistant manager Darren Simpson) and I were speaking at half-time and we felt like we had signed a new player that is better than (National League) level so I think there is a fire lit in him, he wants to be one of the best players in the league and I think he has that ability.”

Luke McCormick
Pic c/o Gary Brown

The boss also had praise for Walker, signed from National League North side Scarborough Athletic last month, for his finishing ability. He said: “The first thing I noticed when we were scouting Ste was he has the best chop in football. I spoke to an old friend of mine who played with him at MK Dons and that is the first thing he said about him, so we will get used to seeing that. I thought he was going to shoot with the second one and he’s chopped again, so he has even done me there. He is a real talent, his upbringing and pedigree speaks for itself and you can see the talent that he has.”

The Glovers lost defender Joy Mukena after just 26 minutes with the manager saying the defender has a hamstring issue. He said: “We were aware that Joy had been struggling, he has got a bit of a neural hamstring injury. He saw a specialist yesterday and we think we have got to the root of it and we are going to try and patch him up for the next few weeks. It is not massively serious, it is just something we are going to have to manage with him and figure out how we can get the best out of him without doing more harm.”

His replacement was William Lannin-Sweet, a 19-year-old defender released from Premier League champions Arsenal’s academy in the summer, who was one of four trialists who appeared at Melksham. Here’s the who’s who of Trialists A-D:

  • Trialist A – Jonathon Page: The midfielder is a familiar face to Glovers fans having spent the second half of last season at Huish Park, but his spell was dogged by injury and he managed just six appearances. He was spotted in pre-season training videos ahead of the opening friendly and Rowley explained his return. The boss said: “Jon came in to help us out last season and got injured in his first game which he was devastated about and he probably rushed back because he was desperate to play, probably a couple of weeks earlier than we should have. Then against Sutton, a game we won 3-2 late on, he had to come off in injury time with the same injury, he got a whack on an ankle ligament, he tried to get back again and played the last couple of games. He wanted to come back and prove himself and try and earn something. He is a top lad, all the boys love him, he looks top draw in training, so it was nice to see him out there.“
  • Trialist B – William Lannin-Sweet: Despite them being codenamed for the purposes of pre-season, Rowley was happy to discuss Lannin-Sweet’s performance. The teenager replaced Mukena and then re-appeared in the second half meaning he played more than an hour, more than any other player. The manager said: “Will Sweet. Brilliant, he has been at Arsenal all of his youth career so he has a top upbringing, he has a lovely left foot, he is very composed and despite being fairly slight he is very strong and uses his body well. I thought he was excellent.“
Trialist C Rhys Healey in action at Melksham Town.
  • Trialist C – Rhys Healey: Trialist C’s name was kept under wraps but is known to be the former Cardiff City striker who suffered a knock in the second half at Melksham and played on before coming off with a minute of normal time remaining. The 31-year-old has also been training with the Glovers after his contract at Huddersfield Town was cancelled by mutual consent in June after struggling with injuries. Healey’s pedigree is undoubted, he was top scorer in the French second division, Ligue 2, in the 2020/21 season and has a string of League clubs on his CV. But a knee injury has troubled him much of his career.
  • Trialist D – Kian Hill: A young Bristol Rovers midfielder who replaced Healey in the 89th minute of the match. The teenager made his debut for the Gas’ first-team last season and had impressed during a spell on loan at Step 4 side Bristol Manor Farm last season.

In summary, Rowley was pleased with his side’s start to pre-season, praising a number of players who appeared in a completely changed second half XI – with the exception of Lannin-Sweet who remained.

The boss said: “We have trained maybe eight times and, considering that we have only trained that many times, I thought we looked quite familiar with each other, some of our movement, timing and understanding of what we wanted was good and, apart from the 35 degree heat, the fitness levels were top. All in all it was a really good day for us.

On the second half XI, he added: “I thought Slavi (Spasov) dropping down and connecting the game was excellent, Mason (Obeng) was great off the left, Johl Powell was top draw in the pocket. We asked Jack Kingdon to play high and right in the second half which is not natural to him, but he is probably the fastest player in the squad, so we felt we could utilise his speed with that. Brett and Hayden (Muller) were maestros in midfield, the pitch is quite sticky and hard but they managed to play out really well. I have not got a bad word to say about anyone, attitude was excellent, supporters were brilliant, nice to see so many of them, it was a really good day for us.”

Yeovil continue their pre-season campaign with a trip to National League North side Merthyr Town on Tuesday night before facing Cardiff City Under-23s at Huish Park next Saturday.

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A first half double from midfielder Luke McCormick and a first goal for striker Stephen Walker saw Yeovil Town start their pre-season campaign with a win at Melksham Town on Saturday.

McCormick, who wore the captain’s armband, gave the Glovers the lead after just nine minutes before the home side pulled level just two minutes later before Walker made it 3-1 before the break.

There was the traditional full change to the starting XI for the second half and midfielder Brett McGavin fired in a trademark free-kick with 75 minutes gone to complete the scoring.

Another pre-season tradition saw a game of ‘Guess the Trialist’ with those turning out for Yeovil understood to be:

  • Jonathon Page (Trialist A) – the midfielder who has been pre-season training with the Glovers having been released at the end of last season.
  • William Lannin-Sweet (Trialist B) – an Arsenal academy defender who came on when Joy Mukena went off injured in the first half.
  • Rhys Healey (Trialist C) – an experienced striker who has suffered with injury in a career which has seen him play for the likes of Cardiff City, MK Dons and Huddersfield Town.
  • Kian Hill (Trialist D) – a youngster from Bristol Rovers who appeared late in the game after Healey took a knock.

First half

The starting XI saw six of the new summer signings given their first outings in green-and-white with goalkeeper Jos Barker, defenders Jordan Norville-Williams, Archie Davies and Salford City loanee Loick Ayina, midfielder Zain Westbrooke and striker Stephen Walker all in the line-up. Midfielder Jonathon Page, who was released at the end of last season having been signed in the middle of the campaign, returned under the name Trialist A.

First half action from Melksham Town. Picture courtesy of Rob Manley.

The Glovers began with a back three of Norville-Williams, Joy Mukena, and Ayina with James Daly at left wing-back and Archie Davies at right wing-back, a midfield of Zain Westbrooke and Trialist A/Page with Luke McCormick, who took the captain’s armband, and Ryan Jones in behind Walker.

Norville-Williams was in the heart of the action as Yeovil took the lead after just nine minutes. The wing-back burst down the left side and cut it back to Luke McCORMICK who fired home the opener, but that lead lasted just two minutes as the home side levelled when Dan McBEAM scored the equaliser.

In the 22nd minute, Ryan Jones showed he is aiming to start the new campaign in the same way he finished the last with some great touches to break in to the box and force a good save from Melksham keeper Adam Forster. A minute later the referee called a World Cup-style hydration break with temperatures topping 30 degrees in Wiltshire.

When play restarted Joy Mukena came off with a knock and was replaced by Trialist B, believed to be Arsenal academy defender William Lannin-Sweet, and moments later Yeovil were back in front. Stephen WALKER found his way through the Melksham and fired home an instinctive striker’s finish to bag his first goal for his new club with 29 minutes on the clock.

Norville-Williams was in the heart of the action again on 34 minutes setting up McCormick to pull an effort just past the post before Westbrooke became the first Glover to pick up a booking in pre-season with five minutes of the first half remaining. Do refs even do bookings in pre-season? It appears so.

McCormick had the ball in the back of the net with 42 minutes played when he latched on to a ball over the top and lifted the ball in to the net, but could not beat the offside trap. Luke McCORMICK did get his second just before half time when he headed home a Ryan Jones free-kick to make it a 3-1 lead at half-time.

Half-time: Melksham Town 1 Yeovil Town 3

Second half

There was an entire change of personnel for the start of the second half with only Trialist B/Lannin-Sweet remaining from the team which finished the first half. with defenders Jack Kingdon and Joe Gubbins, the versatile Hayden Muller in midfielder and forwards Johl Powell, Mason Obeng and Slavi Spasov all getting their first outings.

Trialist C, former Cardiff City, MK Dons and Huddersfield Town striker Rhys Healey, who has been spotted training with the Glovers, was also in the starter line up and had a great chance to add to the advantage within four minutes of the restart. He met Brett McGavin’s free-kick with a header which was cleared off the line before Joe Gubbins tried to connect with the rebound before it was cleared by Melksham.

On 63 minutes, a great ball from McGavin found Mason Obeng who charged down the left and side and picked out Johl Powell barrelling in to the box, but it was blocked and landed in the hands of Forster in the Melksham goal.

The hydration break midway through the second half saw Healey receive some treatment to an injury he sustained in an earlier altercation. The 31-year-old has a history of injury

With 15 minutes remaining, Brett McGAVIN curled home a trademark free-kick to make it 4-1. Despite the number of goals this half compared with the first, Yeovil have undoubtedly been in charge of this half with both Powell and Obeng impressing in particular.

Healey was replaced with the game with a minute of normal time remaining, replaced by Trialist D, understood to be Bristol Rovers youngster Kian Hill.

Full time: Melksham Town 1 Yeovil Town 4

Teams:

First half – Yeovil Town: Jos Barker, Jordan Norville-Williams, Joy Mukena (for William Lannin-Sweet, 26), Loick Ayina, Archie Davies, Zain Westbrooke, Jonathon Page (Trialist A), Luke McCormick, James Daly, Ryan Jones, Stephen Walker.

Second half – Yeovil Town: Matt Gould, Jack Kingdon, Joe Gubbins, William Lannin-Sweet (Trialist B), Dan Ellison, Hayden Muller, Brett McGavin, Johl Powell, Mason Obeng, Slavi Spasov, Rhys Healey (Trialist C) (for Kian Hill/Trialist D, 89).

Melksham Town: Adam Forster, Jack Carter, Wayne Nderemani, Archie Milne, Alex Hallett, Dave Thompson, Kyle Witt, Max Williams, James Ollis, Dan McBeam, Kitan Jaiyeoba.

Scorers: Luke McCormick 9 (1-0), Dan McBeam 11 (1-1), Stephen Walker 29 (2-1), Luke McCormick 45 (3-1), Brett McGavin 75 (4-1)

Attendance: 683

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Six new signings start for Yeovil Town as they get their pre-season friendly fixtures underway at Southern League Division One South side Melksham Town today (3pm kick-off).

Goalkeeper Jos Barker, defenders Jordan Norville-Williams, Archie Davies and Salford City loanee Loick Ayina, midfielder Zain Westbrooke and striker Stephen Walker all make the line-up.

There is also a Trialist A listed in the number 32 shirt. From those in Wiltshire, it appears to be midfielder Jonathon Page who has been spotted in pre-season training with Yeovil having been released at the end of last season. We’ll let you know more when we know it. Other possibilities are former Huddersfield Town striker Rhys Healey and Arsenal academy defender William Lannin-Sweet.

There are no substitutes listed on the team sheet published on the club’s social media, but expect the usual merry-go-round of players that pre-season always delivers.

Yeovil Town: Jos Barker, Jordan Norville-Williams, Joy Mukena, Loick Ayina, Archie Davies, Zain Westbrooke, Trialist A/Jonathon Page, Luke McCormick, James Daly, Ryan Jones, Stephen Walker.

Melksham Town: Adam Forster, Jack Carter, Wayne Nderemani, Archie Milne, Alex Hallett, Dave Thompson, Kyle Witt, Max Williams, James Ollis, Dan McBeam, Kitan Jaiyeoba.

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The Green & White Supporters’ Club is planning to run coach travel to Yeovil Town’s remaining pre-season away friendlies at Merthyr Town on Tuesday night and Farnham Town a couple of weeks later.

  • Merthyr Town – Tuesday 14 July (7.30pm kick-off)
  • Farnham Town – Tuesday 28 July (7.45pm kick-off)

Travel will cost £15 per supporter for both games.

As always, all services are subject to sufficient demand, so if you’re thinking of travelling it’s worth booking sooner rather than later.

Supporters can reserve their place by contacting the Paul Hadlow on 07736 044570.

50 supporters travelling with the Green & White Supporters’ Club to the opening friendly at Melksham Town. Picture by Paul Hadlow.