David Coates (Page 3)

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Left back George Nurse has joined Yeovil Town on a one-month loan deal League Two strugglers Shrewsbury Town.

The 26-year-old has made five appearances for his parent club this season and arrives as cover following a shoulder injury to loanee James Plant.

His deal is described as being “initially for one month” suggesting his stay may be extended.

Speaking following the arrival, Glovers’ manager Richard Dryden said: “George is a fantastic addition for us. He’s got real quality, great experience, and that bit of athleticism that can make a big difference at both ends of the pitch. This move gives us important cover while James Plant continues his recovery, and we’re delighted to have George with us initially for the month.”

The Bristol City academy product made more than 20 appearances as Shrewsbury were relegated from League One last season and previously had loan spells at Newport County and Walsall during his time at Ashton Gate before leaving in 2021.

He arrives with Yeovil preparing for a trip to National League Premier Division leaders Rochdale this weekend.

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Yeovil Town’s FA Cup dream came to a premature end at the first hurdle for the second successive season yesterday. The Glovers were beaten by a Hemel Hempstead Town side which played for more than an hour with ten men. Dave was among the travelling contingent and here are his conclusions.

 

Out fought. Out thought. Out. We were simply second best in every department and I have to say right off the bat that Hemel deserved their win. From the opening whistle, they simply wanted it more and we never seemed to have a plan to counter them. You can put a misplaced pass or a scuffed shot down to the surface, but time and again we were pulled apart and gave them time and space to run. At the risk of sounding like the old man (I know, I am), but I miss us the Cup giving our players the hunger and desire I saw from Hemel. 

How it was not 2-0 at half-time I will never know!

Are we sure they had ten men? An extension on Conclusion #1, but two occasions in the second half I had to count Hemel’s players to be sure. Aside from a few moments around the time we scored, they never looked like they were a man down. You can see why they are in the form they are in the National League South. Defensively they were outstanding and we simply could not find a way through. 

Where did our desire to attack go? If I had not seen highlights of the games at Aldershot and Sutton, I would have believed they were AI inventions. In the first half, it was only when Andrew Oluwabori got on the ball that we ever had any purpose going forward and in the second only when Byron Pendleton came on did we look to get balls in from wide positions. There is quality going forward in this team, but we simply did not show it.

What are we doing here? Hearing Richard Dryden say we had tried and failed to attract players to strengthen the squad is a major red flag. But should we be surprised? We’ve heard about ‘The 3 Cs’ from our owners -calmness, competitiveness, community, in case you forgot. But it’s not easy to stay calm with no obvious plan about how we’re going to be competitive. A manager who feels stop gap no matter how much we’re told he’s not, players signing on 12-month deals, what are we selling people here? It feels like we’re living hand to mouth waiting for……what? 

Rochdale next. Gulp. Next up, top of the league Rochdale away from home. That one speaks for itself. Another clear week, another chance to take a breath and I hope the pain we all feel – and yes I include the team, they must feel it – gets a reaction.

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Yeovil Town were dumped out of the FA Cup at the hands of a Hemel Hempstead Town side which played more than an hour with ten men in today’s fourth qualifying round tie.

The National League South side were reduced to ten men after forward Isiah Noel-Williams clashed with Glovers’ defender Kyle Ferguson off the ball on 25 minutes, but The Tudors continued to show more desire than their higher division visitors and deservedly took the lead through captain Kyle Ajayi with six minutes of the half remaining.

The game continued in a similar fashion in the second half and it was only after a flurry of Yeovil substitutions that the visitors put up anything approaching a fight with striker Harvey Greenslade pulling them level after 71 minutes.

But, the day belonged to Hemel who got the winner with three minutes of normal time remaining when Finley Wilkinson’s looping header came back off the post, hit Yeovil keeper Jed Ward on the back and went in.

First half

The home side, who started with  former Yeovil trialist Jevani Brown on the right side of attack, looked the brighter without really testing Jed Ward, who was given permission to play in the FA Cup by Bristol Rovers. The desire definitely was with Hemel in the opening exchanges.

For the visitors, there were a few nervy misplaced passes and the occasional bit of overplaying (yes, Jake, I mean you) as we struggled to get to grips with the artificial surface. The impetus came from Andrew Oluwabori and he had the first effort on goal after 15 minutes following good play by Tahvon Campbell, but his effort sailed over the bar.

Jed Ward shepherds Isiah Noel-Williams away after his red card.

The real moment of the first half  came after 25 minutes. Whilst we all looked at Hemel taking a throw in, Isiah Noel-Williams, son of former Yeovil loanee Gifton, clashed with Kyle Ferguson off the ball and was immediately given a red card. I’ll be honest, I did not see it but it happened right in front of the linesman and the referee did not hesitate.

The one man disadvantage did not put Hemel off and the effort and desire they showed from the off was still evident. So, it was no surprise when the ten men took the lead after 39 minutes. Our defence failed  to deal with a Williams corner and captain Kyle AJAYI was there to sweep it home.

With a minute of first half stoppage time played, Hemel came within inches of doubling their advantage. George Williams stepped up to curl a free-kick over the defensive wall and it came rattling back off the post, it flew back across the face of goal with two Hemel players in close proximity. Fortunately, neither player could get to it and Ward dropped on it.

1-0 down at half-time massively flatters us. Where has the attacking flair which won three consecutive games gone?

Half time: Hemel Hempstead Town 1 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

The second half started in a similar fashion to the way the first ended with Hemel on top and it was no surprise when Yeovil manager Richard Dryden made changes. The first came within five minutes of the restart, Byron Pendleton replaced Alex Whittle with Josh Sims switching to the left side with the Birmingham City loanee taking up the right side. On 58 minutes Brett McGavin replaced Cousin-Dawson with the visitors desperately looking for some creative spark.

But it was the home side who created the next opening on the hour mark after a Hemel was allowed to run through the Yeovil midfield unchallenged and play in Joe White whose shot was weak and easily stopped by Ward. 

Next it was Harvey Greenslade who replaced Junior Morias on 65 minutes whilst Hemel keeper Michael Johnson needed at least three separate visits from the physio as the home side tried to slow the game down. Referee Richie Watkins fell for it hook, line and sinker.

Whilst it would be an exaggeration to say Yeovil started to make their one man advantage pay, there was more urgency after the changes with Pendleton getting some deliveries in from the left. On 71 minutes, Pendleton slid a ball through the Hemel defence and Harvey GREENSLADE was there to stroke a calm finish past Johnson from inside the area.

Tahvon Campbell shoots over the bar.

Eight minutes later, Campbell had a great opportunity to put Yeovil after he was found by a Josh Sims corner, but the striker was leaning back and his effort went over the bar.

Even after an hour of playing with a numerical disadvantage, Hemel continued to press for the win. White pulled an effort wide before substitute Devante Stanley had a shot from distance and then with three minutes of normal time remaining the breakthrough their efforts deserved came for the home side. Samuel Adenoa got away down the left and his deflected ball was met by the head of Finley WILKINSON, hit Ward on the back and found the net.

As the match officials indicated ten minutes of time added on, Yeovil pressed for an equaliser to take the tie to a replay at Huish Park. The best opening came four minutes in to stoppage time when Campbell’s ball found Oluwabori at the back post but the Exeter City loanee could not get anything on it to turn the ball home.

Vauxhall Road erupted at the final whistle and it was nothing less than Hemel deserved. We were out fought, out thought and just out of the FA Cup to lower league opponents for the second successive season. Simply not good enough.

Full time: Hemel Hempstead Town 2 Yeovil Town 1

Match Details

Venue: Vauxhall Road
Date: Saturday 10th October, 3pm kick-off

Competition: FA Cup fourth qualifying round

Scorers: Kyle Ajayi 39 (0-1), Harvey Greenslade 71 (1-1), Finley Wilkinson 87 (1-2).

Pitch: Plastic
Conditions: Dry and bright

Attendance: 1,751

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Finn Cousin-Dawson 31, Morgan Williams 44
Hemel Hempstead Town:

Sendings Off:

Hemel Hempstead Town: Isiah Noel-Williams 25

Referee: Richie Watkins

Yeovil Town (3-4-1-2)

Substitutes: Byron Pendleton (for Alex Whittle, 51), Brett McGavin (for Finn Cousin-Dawson, 58), Harvey Greenslade (for Junior Morias, 65), Ben Wodskou (for Jake Wannell, 81), Matt Gould (not used).

Hemel Hempstead Town: Michael Johnson, Samuel Adenola, Kyle Ajayi, Jordan Thompson, George Williams, Millar Matthews-Lewis, Joe White, Kyran Wiltshire, Isiah Noel-Williams, Jevani Brown, Devante Stanley.

Substitutes (not used): Darion Dowrich, Jake Gray, Finley Wilkinson, Mathew Achumba, Ade Azeez, Jermaine Anderson, Steve Arnold.

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On loan goalkeeper Jed Ward and winger Andrew Oluwabori are named in Yeovil Town’s starting XI for today’s FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie at Hemel Hempstead Town (kick-off 3pm).

There is no place for James Plant, who went off with a shoulder injury in the 3-0 league defeat to Boreham Wood last weekend, but Josh Sims has recovered from an injury seven days ago to start.

Striker Aaron Jarvis is not in the squad at all with Tahvon Campbell, Junior Morias and Oluwabori expected to lead the attack.

For Hemel, striker Jevani Brown, who spent the summer on trial at Huish Park, starts.

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Former Yeovil Town manager Danny Webb has spoken for the first time after his departure from Huish Park after just 11 days in charge.

He spoke to the Derbyshire Times and honestly he did not really say a great deal more than came out in the announcement which came out with his shock departure which was followed swiftly by a return to his old job as assistant manager at Chesterfield.

Webb said: “I think the statement said it all – personal reasons. Football, non-football, that is not my place to divulge. As the statement has gone out, it would not be fair on either party to say any more on that. But when the opportunity did arise after leaving to return to my previous role it would have been mad to turn it down. I wish them all the best as a football club. There are some really good people in charge down there.

“There will be things that I have learnt from my own development, whether personal or career, and that has got to be a positive what I take away from the experience.”

Danny Webb speaking to BBC Somerset after his only match in charge, a 1-0 defeat at Tamworth.

It took just ten days after the announcement of his departure from Yeovil on September 22nd for Webb to be reinstalled as number two to Paul Cook at Chesterfield, the club he had spent four-and-a-half years with before his brief spell away.

Asked whether he believed he would return to frontline management again, he told the Derbyshire Times: “You never rule it out. It was not something that I thought ‘I have to go and do this now’ before an opportunity came up. At the time it felt like the right thing to do. What I would say now I am back in my previous role is that my focus is solely on assisting Paul Cook and the staff to get us back up the right end of that league.”

That is probably as much as we are ever going to find out about the reasons behind Webb’s departure, so we wish Danny all the best with whatever happens next in his career. Good luck, Danny, and thanks for bringing Andrew Oluwabori!

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Defender Kyle Ferguson said Yeovil Town’s players are fully focused on bouncing back from the 3-0 home defeat to Boreham Wood.

The central defender, who has been an ever present in the starting XI since the departure of Mark Cooper in September, admitted the Glovers were outplayed by an impressive Wood side at Huish Park.

Speaking to BBC Somerset reporter Mark Stillman after the game, he said: “I felt like everybody was just a couple of yards off it today which is rare to see so many of us off it at one time, but we will take our medicine and make sure we come back stronger. They are up there (in the table) for a reason, they are a good team and there is no hiding from that, but we are also a good team. If we have aspirations of getting in the play-offs we have to be beating teams like that.

“The boys have put in a great shift over the past few games. With the manager (presumably Danny Webb) leaving, I think if you had said to any of the fans we would get nine points from the four games they would have snapped your hand off. We are happy with nine points, but we were aiming for 12 because we want to be up there.”

The Glovers fell behind to a goal from the impressive Abdul Abdulkarim after just 20 minutes before Matt Rush added a second on the stroke of half-time. Manager Richard Dryden made a triple substitution at the start of the second half but the visitors added a third just after the hour mark to end Yeovil’s three-match winning run.

Ferguson added: “We made a decision at half-time to just get after them in the second half and you could see in the second half that we just went man for man in the second half and tried to get ourselves back in the game. It is tough when they score on the stroke of half-time and you go in (2-0 down) but I think the reaction in the second half was a bit better.”

Kyle Ferguson. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

He thanked the club’s supporters for their support during a few weeks which have seen two managers, first Cooper and then the short-lived Danny Webb, depart. The 26-year-old said: “The fans have been brilliant with all we have been through, they have stuck with us. I am saying this from all the boys, the fans have been unbelievable. It has been a tough couple of weeks for the club and the boys have been really pushed on by the fans. Even after a not very good first half they are still cheering us on and it means the world to us and gives us a boost as well.”

Ferguson has started the past eight games having only started two matches under Cooper and believes he still has more to give. He added: “I came in wanting to play and the previous manager (Mark Cooper) just did not want to play me, but now I have had my chance to play I want to show everybody what I was like last season and keep performing to the level I know I can. I do not think I am anywhere near my best yet, I still think I have levels to go up. This is the first run of games I have had in a long time and I feel I am better every game.”

The Glovers will now have a seven-day break before they take on Hemel Hempstead Town in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round next weekend. It is a much needed break having played four matches in just ten days in the league.

Ferguson said: “That week really good because the games have been crazy, Wednesday, Saturday, Tuesday, three games in six days is a lot especially when it is the same eleven. But you cannot really change a winning eleven, so I understand why it has been the same eleven. But four games in under two weeks is a lot and we need to bounce back in the Cup and then the weekend after in the league.“

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Yeovil Town manager Richard Dryden gave credit to today’s opponents Boreham Wood after seeing his side outplayed in a 3-0 defeat at Huish Park on Saturday.

The visitors, who moved up to third place in the National League Premier Division table with the win, dominated from start to finish and Dryden was quick to praise their performance.

Speaking to BBC Somerset reporter Mark Stillman after the match, he said: “We were up against it from the first minute and I have to give credit to Boreham Wood, they outpressed us, outpassed us and I thought they were a really good working unit. We never really got in to the game. We were on the back foot after the first goal, it was a horrible time to concede a second in the last minute of first half injury time, we tried to change the shape in the second half which I am not a big fan of, to try and get a foothold in to the game.

“We were thinking about it ten minutes before (the second goal) to change it up a bit and give some people a rest, but the second goal so late in the first half is a tough one to take. They had a lot more chances to make it threes and fours, and we have got to get over it quickly and start again. We did not pass it like we did, we still have to be brave on the ball even when we are being pressed, but we ended up going long and did not create a lot on set pieces. All in all we have to say we were well beaten.”

Richard Dryden.

The defeat brings a three-match winning run to an end for Yeovil, but Dryden was keen to bring a sense to perspective despite the disappointing performance. He said: “It is one game and I said before the game that (Boreham Wood) are up there for a reason. From what we have seen on the analysis there is every chance they can stay there.”

The Glovers suffered a double blow with the loss of Josh Sims after just 21 minutes before on loan Port Vale player James Plant was forced off with a shoulder injury just ten minutes to the second half.

Dryden made a triple substitution at half-time with captain Jake Wannell, who has been struggling with injury, striker Junior Morias and defender-turned-midfielder Finn Cousin-Dawson all replaced at the break.

The boss said: “Hopefully Simsy is not too bad, he took a hell of a crack. He was getting treatment at half-time, but he is a warrior and hopefully it was just a big impact and nothing more than that. Planty’s shoulder popped out a little bit when he came off, but hopefully that is not as bad as it sounds. Wans has been struggling with one of his glutes, so we decided to go four at the back and take him off and rest him.”

Goalkeeper Jed Ward was awarded the sponsors’ Man of the Match – you can cast your vote in our poll here – and Dryden admitted that summed up his side’s performance. He said: “He has been brilliant and a big asset. It probably sums it all up when you get beaten 3-0 and your goalkeeper gets Man of the Match. That was how far behind Boreham Wood we were.”

Jed Ward. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

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Yeovil Town’s recent good form came to a juddering halt at the hands of an impressive Boreham Wood side who ran out comfortable winners at a blustery Huish Park on Saturday.

The visitors started the match in fifth place in the National League Premier Division and quickly showed why as they took the lead through the impressive Abdul Abdulmalik and striker Matt Rush added a second deep in to first half stoppage time.

With the wind at their backs after the break, Yeovil failed to take advantage of the conditions and Boreham Wood continued to toy with their hosts and full-back Femi Ilesanmi was there to turn it home. Game, set, match.

First half

Manager Richard Dryden named an unchanged starting XI for the fourth consecutive match as they went in search of their fourth consecutive win. The visitors attacked the Thatcher’s End with Storm Amy giving them a major advantage with the wind literally in their sales from the start.

It was visiting midfielder Zak Brunt who was the first to try his luck with a wind-assisted shot from distance in the eighth minute with an effort which whistled over the bar.

There was an early blow for Yeovil after Josh Sims suffered an injury after an awkward landing having jumped for a header and the former Southampton man was off the pitch when Boreham Wood took the lead after 20 minutes. Abdul ABDULMALIK cut inside and stroked the ball in to the far corner leaving goalkeeper Jed Ward with no chance. Byron Pendleton replaced Sims before the game restarted. A double blow for the Glovers.

Jed Ward can’t keep out Abdulkarim’s strike. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

For the second week in a row, Yeovil faced a side which played the ball around nicely with the ball spending plenty of time on the deck, similar to the second half against Altrincham seven days earlier. Yeovil changed their formation with Pendleton going across to the left and trying to match their visitors’ 4-2-3-1 formation.

After 34 minutes, experienced full-back Jeff King fired in a free-kick which was tipped around the post by Jed Ward who was at full stretch to deny the visitors a second. The windy conditions definitely helped that one on its way.

Abdulmalik had another effort four minutes before half-time which deflected off team-mate Charles Clayden and went behind for a Yeovil goal kick, and Brunt put an effort in to the side netting in the second minute of seven minutes of first half injury time.

Just as it looked like we would go in at the break just one goal down, Boreham Wood grabbed a second with just seconds remaining. Abdulmalik skipped away from Morgan Williams with ease down the left side, fed Clayden and he played a cross in to Matt RUSH was there to double the visitors’ advantage.

Boreham Wood thoroughly deserve their half-time advantage, they have taken full advantage of the windy conditions and Yeovil will have to do the same in the second half if they are to get anything out of this one.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Boreham Wood 2

Second half

Richard Dryden made three changes at half-time with Brett McGavin, Aaron Jarvis and Alex Whittle replacing and Finn Cousin-Dawson, Junior Morias and captain Jake Wannell. McGavin in particular was needed to bring some control in the middle and hopefully get Yeovil’s attacking players who have proved some potent in the previous three matches involved in the second half.

It looks like we are starting with a 4-4-2 (cue Mike Bassett quote) formation with Jarvis and Tahvon Campbell paired together up from. Within eight seconds of the restart, Aaron Jarvis was penalised by referee Niall Smith. What does that man have to do to get a decision from a match official?!

Andrew Oluwbori. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

It was Boreham Wood who had the first chance of the second half after seven minutes of the restart, Clayden exploited the space left by Yeovil’s change in formation and curled a wonderful shot in. Luckily, Jed Ward was able to pull off an equally impressive save to deny him. The on loan Bristol Rovers’ man could have a busy half if we are going to push to get back in to his game.

James Plant became the second enforced change of the match of the match on 55 minutes. The on loan Port Vale player appeared to injure his shoulder and was replaced by Harvey Greenslade. That is all our substitutes made with only ten minutes of the second half played.

Campbell had an opportunity to set Andrew Oluwabori away but the striker could not get the ball under control and Wood defender Chris Bush stole the ball off him to start an attack which led to Zak Brunt dragging a chance wide. That could easily have been 3-0.

On 64 minutes, it was 3-0 to Boreham Wood after 63 minutes. It all started with Abdulmalik again, he skipped past a couple of players and the Yeovil defence were statuesque as Femi ILESANMI turned it home. You cannot say the visitors do not deserve this scoreline.

It took until the 72nd minute for Yeovil to have a meaningful effort on goal. McGavin’s ball forward was cleverly stepped over by Campbell and Greenslade coming in from the left side tried to caress it in to the corner but Finn Herrick in the visitors’ goal did well to turn it around the post. 

Ward had to pull off another great save to deny Jeff King after 75 minutes. We have struggled to cope with the pace of this Boreham Wood side all afternoon and that was the case again there. The visitors had the ball in the net three minutes later when substitute Lewis Richardson had a shot saved by Ward and Rush was there to put the ball in the net, but the offside flag was up.

McCormick had a shot well saved by Herrick with ten minutes remaining. The wind which was gusting towards the Thatcher’s in the first half appears to have dropped, but we have simply not been allowed to play in anything like the attacking style we have seen in the last three matches. Credit has to go to Boreham Wood for standing up to us better than we have had a go at them.

Richard Dryden. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

There was still time for the visitors to cut through Yeovil like a hot knife through butter and Brunt fired in another dipping shot which Ward tipped over the bar. The keeper picked up another sponsors’ Man of the Match award and it’s hard to argue with it.

It was one way traffic all afternoon and it looks as if it was a game too far for our small squad.

Full time: Yeovil Town 0 Boreham Wood 3

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Date: Saturday 4th October, 3pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Abdul Abdulmalik 20 (0-1), Matt Rush 45+7 (0-2), Femi Ilesanmi 64 (0-3),

Pitch: Still looking good
Conditions: Blowing a gale towards the Thatcher’s End in the first half, dropped a little after the break

Attendance: 2,660 (48 away supporters)

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Luke McCormick 90+2
Boreham Wood: Tom White 90

Referee: Niall Smith

Yeovil Town (3-4-1-2)

Substitutes: Byron Pendleton (for Josh Sims, 21), Alex Whittle (for Jake Wannell, 46), Brett McGavin (for Finn Cousin-Dawson, 46), Aaron Jarvis (for Junior Morias, 46), Harvey Greenslade (for James Plant, 55), Ben Wodskou (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Boreham Wood: Finlay Herrick, Femi Ilesanmi, Chris Bush, Charlie O’Connell, Zak Brunt, Abdul Abdulmalik (for Jon Benton, 87), Jeff King (for Cameron Coxe, 79), Callum Reynolds, Charles Clayden (for Lewis Richardson, 64), Tom White, Matt Rush.

Substitutes (not used): Erico Sousa, Junior Dixon, Joe Newton, Aaron Henry.