David Coates (Page 2)

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Frank Nouble has said his Yeovil Town team-mates do not want to go back in to the National League Premier to make up the number next season.

The striker missed from the penalty spot as the Glovers’ coronation as National League South champions got underway with a 3-1 home win over Dartford at Huish Park.

Speaking immediately after the final whistle, he told BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah: “There is a real unity now between the club and the supporters and that is the main thing and we are hungry for more. We are going to go for it again next year but we will enjoy it for today. You do not win leagues every year.

“This season has been amazing, I am just so proud of everyone, really proud. We have been such a close-knit squad and we feel every emotion, when we lose a game it really hurts and we know when we get back out there, we have to show it. But it means a lot to everyone else as well, there’s lots of people representing the club as well.“

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Don’t let our choice of picture sway your judgement. Who was your Man of the Match against Dartford today?

Who was your Man of the Match against Dartford?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

 

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Match Reports

The coronation of Yeovil Town as National League South champions was completed with a comfort win over a Dartford side who were relegated out of the division after a 3-1 defeat at Huish Park.

It was the visitors who stunned a packed home crowd by going ahead after just five minutes when Luke Coulson headed home, but Sam Pearson got the Glovers back on level terms soon after turning home after good work from Fisher.

A Dylan Morgan effort took a wicked deflection from Ronny Nelson three minutes from half-time which put Yeovil in front and, despite Frank Nouble having a penalty saved in the second half, the game was wrapped up when Alex Fisher tapped home the third with 70 minutes gone.

But all of the home fans in the 5,701 crowd were only there for one thing – to see their heroes lift the championship trophy at the full-time whistle.

First half

But, if the script was supposed to be a title-winning parade for the Glovers, Dartford had not read it and took the lead after just five minutes. A good move down the right by Olly Box and got the ball in to captain Luke COULSON who got in between Morgan Williams and Jake Wannell to put a superb header past Joe Day.

Luckily, it did not take long to spark a response from the home side as Sam Pearson levelled the scoring three minutes after going behind. Great play by Alex Fisher found Brooklyn Genesini whose cross was flicked on by Fisher, but PEARSON bravely dived in to get on the end of it and felt the force of the post on his shoulder. Let’s start again, then.

As their early goal suggests, Dartford, who could be relegated if they lose and Eastbourne Borough win, set off determined to go for it this afternoon, but their front foot approach is leaving space with Genesini almost unmarked on the right side.

Another good bit of build-up play involving Frank Nouble saw the ball come to Pearson who instinctively hit it first time and found Dartford keeper Rhys Byrne equal to it and parry it away.

Dylan Morgan showed quick feet to get his shot away on 24 minutes but Byrne was level to it again as “stand up if you’ve won the league” rings around Huish Park.

Byrne was back in action after 34 minutes after great play by Morgan down the left got a ball in to Fisher whose header was clawed away by the keeper and almost immediately after Morgan was at it again cutting in to the box again and this time finding Genesini, only for the keeper to push it away with his foot. You feel a goal is coming.

Then, with three minutes remaining until half-time, it arrived. Nouble found Morgan who unleashed a great shot and the ball took a deflection off Ronny Nelson and crept in to the net. It was an OWN GOAL but no doubt that Yeovil had deserved it for their domination.

Having gone behind early, it has been all the champions since Pearson’s equaliser. Manager Mark Cooper told his players on Thursday night that he still wanted to win this game and you can tell that has got through to his players.

Half time: Yeovil Town 2 Dartford 1

 

Second half

The opening ten minutes at Huish Park was without much incident until Sonny Blu Lo-Everton had an effort XX minute tipped over the bar by Byrne. From the resulting corner the ball was worked out to Charlie Cooper whose effort was going towards the keeper, Morgan Williams challenged with Byrne and went down. Referee Harry Wager gave the penalty, which looked very soft. Frank Nouble stepped up and Byrne redeemed himself with a save. Justice done there, I think.

 

Lo-Everton ran in to acres of space and had a dipping shot which looked like it was destined for the top corner, but just crept past the box on 63 minutes. Seven minutes later it was 3-1 to the home side.

Cooper’s shot came off Dartford substitute Maxwell Statham and landed at the feet of Alex FISHER who touched it around Byrne and tapped home. He took a glance looking for the offside flag, but (unlike seven days earlier) it was not there. For it to happen almost in the spot where the striker suffered that horrific leg break just over a year ago feels like the script that was written. That’s five goals in 12 games for him, what a time to find his goal-scoring touch.

Jordan Young had an effort just past the post before Charlie Cooper pulled one wide soon after as the game moved in to the closing stages.

Three minutes from the end of normal time, there was a huge ovation for Fisher as he went off the pitch to be replaced by captain Matt Worthington, making his 227th appearance for the club. What a moment for both players.

The final whistle saw the Huish Park flooded by home supporters because, let’s face it, it means everything to them.

“Please do not enter the pi….” Picture courtesy of Debs Curtis.

Full time: Yeovil Town 3 Dartford 1

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Date: Saturday 13th April, 3pm

Competition: National League South

Pitch: Good
Conditions: Good

Attendance: 5,701 (115 away supporters)

Scorers: Luke Coulson 5 (0-1), Sam Pearson 8 (1-1), Ronny Nelson o.g. 42 (2-1), Alex Fisher 70 (3-1).

Bookings:
Yeovil Town: None
Dartford: Olly Wall, Luke Byrne, Taylor Maloney, 

Referee: Harry Wager

 

Yeovil Town (4-4-2)

Substitutes: Jordan Young (for Sam Pearson, 71), Josh Owers (for Dylan Morgan, 79), Matt Worthington (for Alex Fisher, 87) Michael Smith (not used), Jake Hyde (not used).

Dartford: Rhys Byrne, Luke Allen (for Fumnaya Shomotun, 71) , Alex Wall, Joash Nembhard, Paul Rooney, Jack Smith, Jordan Wynter (for Maxwell Statham, 46), Olly Box, Ronny Nelson, Harrison Sodje (for Taylor Maloney, 71), Luke Coulson.
Substitutes (not used): Jordan Greenidge, Tom Wray.

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Manager Mark Cooper has said his Yeovil Town players will not allow their standards to slip as they take on relegation-haunted Dartford in front of another bumper crowd at Huish Park.

They face a visiting side desperate for points to survive as they sit 21st in the National League South table, two points behind Eastbourne Borough who are just the right side of the dotted line, knowing 22nd-placed Taunton Town and Eastbourne have games in hand over them.

The Glovers will lift the league title at the end of the match having sealed automatic promotion at the first time of asking with a 2-0 victory against Truro City on Thursday night, but Cooper said he still wants to win today’s fixture.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins ahead of kick-off, he said: “The occasion will take care of itself. They should be able to play in a relaxed manner. The majority of footballers whether they are playing table tennis, darts, or croquet they want to win.

“I don’t think it is in them to go and play like it doesn’t matter and with a big crowd they will not let that happen anyway.
The away support on Thursday night was incredible, they have travelled everywhere, and at home 99.9% of the fans have been incredible and let’s hope we can go out with a bang today.”

On Dartford, he added: “It is a horrible situation for them and we have to be respectful of that which we will be. They have to win the game and we have to make sure we maintain the integrity of the game and do our best to win it.”

Michael Smith played the full 90 minutes against Truro City on Thursday night, Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

Captain Matt Worthington and full-back Michael Smith, who both took heavy knocks in the win over Truro in the week, are both dropped to the substitutes’ bench and there is no place for striker Rhys Murphy or winger Jordan Stevens, who both limped off with injury on Thursday night. 

They are replaced by Brooklyn Genesini, Dylan Morgan, Sam Pearson and Alex Fisher.

Cooper added: “We have got a few who are not ready to start. Michael Smith is one of them, goodness knows how he got through the game on Thursday.

“That is still a really strong team. You have Frank (Nouble) and (Alex) Fisher up top, Sam Pearson who was at a Championship club last year and Dylan Morgan who we are desperate for him to catch fire. There are two really good players in midfield and a solid back four.”

The boss admitted he had reflected with “a lot of pride” since securing promotion and told his players they would go down in history as the division’s best team this season.

He added: “When it is such a long season with so much work going in to it from so many people to achieve promotion, it is such a relief. To get it done was such a relief for so many people and a great celebration with the most important people – the fans.

“When you get a promotion, it does not matter what level you work at, to win a title means you are the best team in the league and these players will always have that. That will never been taken away from them.

“I have been saying to them all season, it is so difficult to get a championship on your CV, and they have now achieved that. Great credit to them.”

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Yeovil Town have made four changes as they prepared to lift the National League South title against Dartford at Huish Park this afternoon (3pm kick-off).

Captain Matt Worthington, who will get his hands on the silverware at the end of the game, drops to the bench alongside full-back Michael Smith after both players picked up knocks in Thursday night’s win against Truro City which secured promotion.

There is also no place for midfielder Jordan Stevens or striker Rhys Murphy, who both limped off injured early two days ago. Replacing the quartet are Brooklyn Genesini, Dylan Morgan, Sam Pearson and Alex Fisher.

Striker Jake Hyde, who has been missing since the turn of the year with an injury, is named among the substitutes.

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper paid tribute to his players, the club’s supporters and chairman Martin Hellier as he tasted promotion at the first attempt with a 2-0 victory against Truro City.

The boss was soaked in champagne by his players as he gave a raft of interviews at the side of the pitch having watched the game from the stands at Gloucester City’s Tigerturf Stadium, part of a touchline ban for his recent FA charge for picking fault with a Hemel Hempstead player trying to break his son’s leg.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the match, he said: “It’s a fantastic achievement for the club, the owner came in and gave us a chance to put this remarkable team together and get a bit of soul and heart back in the club and we have done that. We have done that, the players have done that and it is a brilliant night for the football club and one we should enjoy.

“It feels so sweet. We proved everybody wrong and we went and we enjoyed the plastic and we look forward to next season now.”

Cooper has spoken on many occasions about the desire to remove the stain of last season’s relegation to regional football during a turbulent period at the club, and admitted he always wanted to stay on to try and guide them back at the first attempt.

Asked how he felt about his decision to stay, he said: “I am delighted, but I did not have too many options, to be honest! I just felt there was the nucleus of a good team and I wanted to get rid of that relegation or make it look better on my CV.”

Next up, Yeovil return to Huish Park with relegation-threatened Dartford coming to town on Saturday when the National League South trophy will be presented and the manager said he was looking forward to celebrating with the club’s supporters.

He said: “We hope to have the chairman there. He was not here tonight, he has gone away for a much deserved break, but I am buzzing for Saturday when we can have a party together with loads and loads of Yeovil fans and get that feel good factor back. We have to enjoy these moments before we start thinking about next year.

“It is amazing support, for the level we are at. It should be a great football club and we want to try and build that and make it great again.”

On the pitch on Thursday night, goals from strikers Rhys Murphy and Alex Fisher sealed the three points which clinched the title. But, the game was not without adversity with winger Jordan Stevens coming off after just nine minutes with a reoccurrence of a hamstring injury, before Murphy limped off seven minutes later.

Cooper added: “If you had asked me which one of the player would not have broken down, it would have been Murph (Rhys Murphy) because he has trained for two weeks, he’s played decent minutes and looked really strong and then he’s just pulled it. Then Jordan Stevens again, so we had to keep a substitution back just in case. It was not great for those boys but we got it done.“

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Title-winning captain Matt Worthington spoke of his delight for Yeovil Town supporters after a 2-0 win over Truro City secured the National League South title and promotion at the first time of asking.

The skipper was part of the Glovers’ sides relegated from the Football League in 2019 and then during the turbulent season off-the-field last season and admitted he was thrilled to put smiles back on to fans’ faces.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the win in Gloucester, he said: “I never thought I would be in this situation when I first joined. To be captain of this amazing football club. It is just so emotional because I have had some bad times here, stuck with it and I am just really happy we got it done.

“Last summer was very difficult and I had a decision to make whether to stay or whether it was my time to stay on and I am just so happy that I stayed. I love this club, I love the town and I am just happy I can be part of a promotion side.

“It was just amazing to see everybody so happy. A lot of people have come up to me and said ‘thankyou’ because they have been through a lot at this club and they deserve some happiness and I am glad that I can be part of that happiness. It is just an amazing feeling.”

Echoing the words of his manager Mark Cooper he said he was now looking forward to being presented with the championship trophy at Huish Park on Saturday when relegation-threatened Dartford come to town in the final home fixture of the season.

Worthington, who has played more than 100 games for the club, admitted it would have been nice to have sealed it on home soil against Worthing last weekend, but was just happy to be a champion.

He said: “I have been here four or five years now and the fans have always been with us through good and bad. This season they have been unbelievable home and away. So it is just so nice to give them back something to enjoy and I hope we can all celebrate on Saturday with the trophy as well. I have dreamt about lifting the trophy for weeks! It has gone on longer than I wanted it too, we have made hard work of it but I am thankful we got the job done.

“It would have been nice to have done it last Saturday with everyone there, but at the end of the day we have done it. It does not matter how we do it, we have done it and now everyone is looking forward to another game at Huish Park and we can all celebrate.”

The 26-year-old also paid tribute to Cooper, adding: “He is an amazing guy, someone I am really happy to have work with. If he and Martin (Hellier, the chairman) had taken charge last season we would not have been here, there is no way that would have happened. I am just really thankful they showed faith in us this year, made me captain. I cannot talk more highly of him, he is an amazing man first and foremost but he is also an amazing coach and I am looking forward to working with him for the next few years.“

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

It was the point(s) we needed to be crowned National League South champions. But who in green-and-white impressed you the most on a historic night in Gloucestershire?

Who was your Man of the Match against Truro City?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Yeovil Town striker Rhys Murphy has no doubts about his quality from the penalty spot despite missing from 12 yards in the 3-1 home defeat to Worthing at the weekend.

The frontman saw his 50th minute effort saved by visiting keeper Ollie Wright in front of a packed Huish Park, but said he would be confident in his own ability if the opportunity arose against Truro City on Thursday night.

The Glovers need just one point in the match played at Gloucester City to secure the National League South title and an instant return to the National League Premier.

Speaking on Monday, Murphy said: “My hand will be up. If we decide to go with someone else, no problem at all, but I will not shy away from it. I have missed penalties before. I banked on going left, I was going left anyway even though I have not all season, and I was banking on the keeper doing his due diligence. I spoke to him after the game and he said he had not been given any details of previous penalties!

“So, it was not to be, but I will be there for the next one if called upon. If it goes to somebody else, no problem at all because as long as we get the result that is the main thing. It is the team that comes first.

“There is no point quitting now, is there?! If you miss a penalty, you get on with it. If you lose a game, you get on with it and go again. Thankfully we have an opportunity to go again in a few days. I am not going to hide now. Like the manager has been saying all along, it is another game and we treat it as such, look at their strengths and weaknesses and focus on what we bring and go about winning the game. We will continue as we have been all season.”

Goooooooo-oooh no! 📸 Gary Brown

Having pulled a goal back through strike partner Alex Fisher with seven minutes remaining, Murphy looked to have got the equaliser which had sealed the title seconds after news filtered through that Slough Town had levelled against second-placed Chelmsford City – only for the linesman’s flag to rule it out.

But, Murphy revealed that none of the players were aware of results elsewhere when the ball hit the back of the next. He said: “In the moment I remember it going in and thinking we needed another one because going in to the game we needed a win, so in that moment I was just think ‘let’s get the ball back and get going again.’ Normally you have an inkling that it is a tight one but I was not expecting the flag at all and watching it back it is tough to see. I might be biased, but to me it looks like I am onside by the centre half and the full back. It is disappointing but it is what it is and we will go again.”

Despite the disappointment, Murphy said that his team-mate’s sole focus is on getting the result they need to secure the title against a Truro City which face three games in one week due to their inability to play a home fixture this season.

He said: “You just have to keep going, nothing is given to you in life, you have to take it. Coming on was pleasing to make a positive impact and if that penalty had gone in it is a different moment and could have swung the momentum. But we still managed to get the two ‘goals’ over the line and, with other results, that would have been enough. Unfortunately the moment for the fans was taken from them which is gutting but thankfully we have an opportunity to win the league on Thursday.

We have proven all season that we are a strong side and we can come back from adversity and that is the plan on Thursday night.

“We are still in a fantastic position. Obviously it was gutting how things ended up at the weekend, but we have to dust ourselves down and to have that resilience is crucial, so we go again. We have proven all season that we are a strong side and we can come back from adversity and that is the plan on Thursday night.”

“If you ask me now, I don’t care who scores on Thursday. It could be a 0-0 and that would get the job done! Everyone’s sole aim is to get the result we need, no-one is thinking it must be them for personal glory, everyone wants to do their job and do it well. If you score that is great, but we will be celebrating as a team come the final whistle.” If we get the result, of course, Rhys!

Murphy returned to the club in the summer following his release by League Two Southend United, the club he joined following the end of his of his two-season spell at Huish Park in 2021. During that time he was part of the side which missed out in the National League Premier play-offs, losing in the eliminator to Barnet in front of an empty stadium during the COVID-curtailed 2019-2020 campaign.

Rhys Murphy scored 34 goals in his first spell with the club. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

He admits securing promotion this season would right that wrong, the striker said: “You will go down as part of the history of the club. Someone told me it is 19 years since we won the league, so that would be a great achievement and everyone is dying to do that. It has been a tricky few years and I like to think this could be the start of something, getting this club back to the Football League. In my first spell we came close and fell short and you almost felt something was happening then, so to come back and be part of something like this would be something I would be incredibly proud of.

“It has been a really good year so far. There’s been positive feelings ever since I walked back through the door and that comes from the top of the club. The fans have been brilliant, as have the fans and the management. It filters down and the energy and the positivity around the club has been really good. It’s been a good place to come to work and we are in a great position to go and win the league on Thursday night. I am gutted the fans were robbed of that on the weekend, but we still have a great opportunity.”

The length of his contract was not announced when the 33-year-old returned to Somerset in June, but he says he would love to still be at Huish Park next season.

He said: “I would love to be here next year if wanted. We will have to sit down and discuss it but I have loved my time here and I definitely want to be here again next season. But, let’s get the season done first and get those medals around our next and then we can all sit down and talk about personal matters. I am thoroughly enjoying my time here, it has been a really frustrating couple of months not being able to play, but the guys have done brilliantly every year. I am hearing there are a huge amount of fans travelling on Thursday again, so let’s hope we can put on a performance for them.“