New signing Andrew Oluwabori is named on the substitutes’ bench for Danny Webb’s first game as Yeovil Town manager at Tamworth today (3pm kick-off).
The winger, signed on loan from Exeter City until January, is joined by Junior Morias and Alex Whittle among the substitutes.
Striker Aaron Jarvis in the starting XI alongside Harvey Greenslade, Finn Cousin-Dawson starts in midfield with Byron Pendleton at wing-back.
Captain Jake Wannell has said Yeovil Town’s players have got their “bite” back after the first week under new manager Danny Webb.
The defender said the intensity of training sessions had increased ahead of Saturday’s trip to Tamworth which will be followed by a a visit to Aldershot Town four days later.
Speaking to BBC Somerset reporter Jack Killah on Friday, Wannell said: “It has been a new phase, new view on everything, he wants us to be fitter so early in the week we have had a few tough sessions. We had a session called ‘Murder Ball’ which was hell. I hope we never do that again! Then towards the back end of the week it has been more tactical, so we have seen that side of him as well. If there was a midweek game this week I think that would have slowed us down, so it has probably been good for the Gaffer to have a full week with the team.
“He has not flooded us with too much information, but the intensity has gone up and everyone has gone up a gear which is good with tackles flying in in training, people sulking when they lose, so we have got that bite back. I think he is the kind of manager who will talk to players individually, he has put his arm around a few people already and put his arm around the club which is most important and I think he will bring the best out of the players individually as well. I think we just need to be calm as an attacking unit and a defensive unit, I don’t think we have been miles off it this season, I just think if we tidy up in all departments as we did (against Woking) we will be okay.”
The return of Kyle Ferguson to the defensive unit alongside Wannell and Morgan Williams for the past three games has brought greater solidity to the Yeovil backline. Having conceded seven goals in two matches against Gateshead and FC Halifax Town, the Glovers kept clean sheets in last Saturday’s 1-0 home win over Woking and the 1-0 victory at Solihull Moors, with a 3-1 loss to York City sandwiched in between.
With Alex Whittle’s fitness seemingly ruling him out of a start at Tamworth this weekend, it seems likely the Glovers’ defence will be unchanged and Wannell believes that will help.
He said: “It is important because the more you play alongside the same person, the more consistent you are going to be. We had a blip where we conceded seven goals in two games, but that is behind us now, we have got a new unit and hopefully we can build on that. Kyle had a slow start to pre-season, but he has looked really solid in the last few games so long may that continue.”
Webb’s focus on set pieces, a role he took on with defensive and attacking players during his time as assistant manager at Chesterfield, has been apparent in his first week training with his new players.
He was watching from the Huish Park stands as he saw his side scoring from a corner to grab the win over Woking in second half stoppage time. It was Wannell’s header from Brett McGavin’s corner which gave Luke McCormick the chance to lash home that winner and the Glovers’ captain knows set pieces will be vital if they are to get any success against a physical Tamworth side.
He added: “We had said as a unit that we want to score more goals as a defensive unit which we did in injury time against Woking which was nice. We did set pieces in training on Thursday and Friday, so hopefully we can take that in to the game on Saturday. Everyone knows that on an artificial pitch with the long throws (from midfielder Tom Tonks) and the directness of their game will be a challenge, we drew there last year, so we will go there with a game plan and hopefully get three points. We have four games in two weeks, so hopefully we can get a good understanding of what the manager wants us to do in the away games and then get back to Huish Park.”
New Yeovil Town manager Danny Webb has said the loan signing of winger Andrew Oluwabori shows the calibre of player he is looking to bring to the club.
The 23-year-old, who had a spell on loan in Somerset in the 2022-23 season, has joined until January from League Two Exeter City and will be available for tomorrow’s visit to Tamworth, which will be Webb’s first in charge.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah on Friday, the Glovers’ boss said: “We have got him on loan from Exeter until January initially. I think he is a tremendous signing for the club, he was here before and was a bit of a fans’ favourite. He has pace, power and can play in numerous positions and that is an area we needed, pace. We needed a bit more pace to get people off their seats and hopefully Andrew does that.
“Andrew is the first of my tenure and I think he will be a good addition. You never sign players for the sake of it, you want players who will contribute, who will keep other players on their toes. Signing someone of his calibre will hopefully make the players sit up and take notice. That is the calibre we are looking to bring to the club.”
The manager said that injured duo defender Alex Whittle and midfielder Charlie Cooper have both returned to training this week and, whilst the trip to the Midlands might be too soon for them to start, suggested they could feature on the bench.
He added: “We are getting bodies back. It is important for lads to see a full bench, even if the lads are not quite fully fit, I think it is important for people to see we have a full set of players, good players, with a few more to add.”
Webb has been impressed with what he has seen from his players during his first week working with them on the training ground. He said: “There is a lot of positives here. There’s some good lads, characters, staff, good people and very good supporters. We have to stick together and do things as one, but that takes time. It’s a positive week, I’m not one who says how good training has been, what the supporters want to hear is whether the lads are up for it and dedicated and they certainly are that.
“I don’t think it’s about players adapting to a system, at this level it is about whether players are good enough and do they have good enough character to take players to where it wants to be and where it deserves to be? I have seen a lot of positives in their character, in their performance levels and their ability levels. It is early days, but I am not coming in to a car crash of a team. This is a good set of players for whatever reason have underperformed for a while and it is about turning that around, like a big ship it takes a bit of time, but the changes and progression has already started.”
The manager was pleased to see his side score from a set piece in last weekend’s 1-0 home win over Woking, a game he watched from the stands at Huish Park. A Brett McGavin corner headed down by defender Jake Wannell was smashed home by midfielder Luke McCormick in second half stoppage time.
Webb said: “We have got to score a lot more goals from set pieces because we have got some big lads in our team, that is something we need to focus on. Chris Todd has been working tirelessly with them (on set pieces) and it was a big relief to get that one against Woking and what a good set piece it was. We have got some big lads here, but so have Tamworth and so have most National League teams, it is like Land of Giants at times and we have to utilise that in our box and the opposition’s box as well.”
Tamworth will prove a tough opponent for Webb’s side having won three of their last four matches and the boss is aware they have another trip to Aldershot Town four days later.
He said: “Tamworth is a tough place to go, they have worked tirelessly to get to where they are and if they win tomorrow they are in the play-offs. We can’t think about that, we have got to think about our progression, it started on Saturday (against Woking) and it has got to continue. I am obviously ultimately looking for the result, but there’s more than that I am looking for. I want our supporters to leave tomorrow seeing a team that they are proud of.
“I have seen these Yeovil fans before, they travel and they get behind the side. Aldershot is one of our nearer games, as is Tamworth, so hopefully we can take a good few hundred and make some noise.“
Exeter City winger Andrew Oluwabori has joined Yeovil Town on loan until January 2026.
It is a return to Huish Park for the 23-year-old, who joined the Grecians last season having impressed at FC Halifax Town, having had a loan spell with the club during the 2022-23 season where he made 24 appearances whilst on loan from Peterborough United.
His appearances at St James’ Park have been limited since arriving in Devon in February but prior to that he had been in impressive form with Halifax, scoring six times to earn his move to the EFL. He has featured just twice for Exeter this season.
Confirming the signing on Friday, new Glovers’ boss Danny Webb said: “Andrew is a player the fans know well and someone who can change games with his pace and ability to beat a man. He’s developed really well over the last couple of years, and we’re delighted to have him back at Yeovil.”
Speaking at the start of the week, Webb revealed that he was hoping to strengthen his squad as he prepares to take charge of his first match at Tamworth this weekend.
He told the club’s social media: “I have talked to a few people today and tomorrow in terms of managers and representatives of other clubs to see what we can do and sometimes it is just to help the lads (that are at the club), freshen up the dressing room and give everyone a lift.
“If you keep all 13 or 14 players fit for the whole season, you are alright but we all know football does not work like that and it bites you on the bum when you least expect it and while everyone is playing and training well sometimes the injuries come when you least expect them.
“So we have to make sure we do bolster the squad at some point whilst keeping the core of the squad happy and motivated because there are some good players there.”
New Yeovil Town manager Danny Webb has confirmed he is looking to strengthen his squad as he gears up for his first match at Tamworth this weekend.
The Glovers’ boss took charge of his first training session at the SGS WISE Campus near Bristol on Monday having seen his players pick up a 1-0 win against Woking at the weekend.
Speaking to the club’s social media, Webb said: “I have talked to a few people today and tomorrow in terms of managers and representatives of other clubs to see what we can do and sometimes it is just to help the lads (that are at the club), freshen up the dressing room and give everyone a lift.
“If you keep all 13 or 14 players fit for the whole season, you are alright but we all know football does not work like that and it bites you on the bum when you least expect it and while everyone is playing and training well sometimes the injuries come when you least expect them.
“So we have to make sure we do bolster the squad at some point whilst keeping the core of the squad happy and motivated because there are some good players there.”
He revealed that he expected injured full-back Alex Whittle and midfielder Charlie Cooper to train on Thursday, but Yeovil are still expected to be without summer signing James Daly and Jacob Maddox for a further few weeks. Whittle has sat out the past two matches whilst Cooper has not featured since the 2-1 home win over Brackley Town almost a month ago.
The boss spoke positively about what he had seen from the team at the weekend when he was watching from the stands whilst interim boss Richard Dryden was in charge on the dug-out.
Webb said: “The standards have been set and the professionalism has been set by myself and the other staff and now it is for the boys to carry on. The fort has been held really well (since the departure of Mark Cooper) by Richard (Dryden) and Chris (Todd) and now it is a case of us as a group of players and staff to take this club to the next level.
“As I have already said many times, that takes time, but what I have seen (in training) today is that we have the core of a team that wants to push this club in the right direction. It was important that the players who played (against Woking) on Saturday had a lighter session because they put in a shift and when you put in a shift, you usually get the right result.
“The three or four left over did some harder, intense work with Richard and Chris to keep them topped up and a few lads after that had some box-to-box running. It is important we get everyone fitter, I want a team of machines that can play all different types of football to win games and there is a base to work with.”
The trip to Tamworth at the weekend will see Yeovil facing an opponent on an artificial surface and the manager said the players would be using the artificial surfaces at the training ground later in the week to prepare them for that.
He added: “It is not great for your joints and back. We know Tamworth have some threats and they work very well on a part-time model and we will go there probably as favourites. We have to make sure as a club, a big National League club, that we start turning up at these places. You are not always going to get the win, but we have to perform.”
New Yeovil Town manager Danny Webb watched his new players pull off a dramatic late winner at home to Woking this afternoon.
The former Glovers’ player was in the stands at Huish Park to see midfielder Luke McCormick lash the winner in to the roof of the net with three minutes of second half stoppage time on the clock to seal a crucial victory.
New manager Danny Webb was introduced to the Huish Park crowd before the game and he watched from the stands with Richard Dryden, who has been in interim charge since the departure of Mark Cooper, in charge from the dug-out for one more game.
It was Woking who started the game the brighter, but it took until the 12th minute for either side to carve out much more than a half-chance. That fell to Aaron Drewe who was picked out by Tariq Hinds’ ball in to the box, but his effort was deflected over the bar by Jake Wannell. Eight minutes later, Jed Ward had to get down quickly to keep out a long range effort from Jack Turner.
Neither side has done much to test either keeper, but Woking looking far more composed on the ball with a clearer game plan. Just after the half-hour mark, Harry Beautyman’s free-kick from the edge of the box needed turning around the box by Ward. Good save.
It took until ten minutes before half-time for Yeovil to create anything which came close to being a chance, James Plant won a header which dropped to Junior Morias whose effort was high over the bar. That’s about as good as it has got going forwards for Yeovil.
The most 0-0 45 minutes of football Huish Park has seen in a long time. If you forgot it was an early kick-off and missed it, you didn’t miss much. If Danny Webb did not know the scale of the job he was facing at the start of this half, he did by the end of it.
Two minutes in to the second half, Yeovil’s first opportunity on goal fell to Josh Sims. Brett McGavin’s ball found him on the right, he twisted his defender inside and out and flashed a shot across the face of goal. Better from Yeovil.
On 53 minutes, Greenslade got away down the right and fired a ball in to the box with Morias ready to convert at the back post, but Woking were able to clear.
There’s been an improvement going forward from the Glovers (it honestly could not have been much worse) and Dryden introduced Aaron Jarvis off the bench on 65 minutes. He replaced Harvey Greenslade.
With 73 minutes played, Morgan Williams spurned a glorious opportunity to open the scoring. Plant’s ball from the right was met by a great header from Jarvis and landed to the defender who was unmarked on the far post, but lifted his shot over
There was a bizarre moment around 12 minutes from time when Jarvis and Woking keeper Tom Norcott tangled off the ball. The on loan Reading keeper went down like he’d been assaulted and there was even a visit from the Woking medical staff. All a bit bizarre and Jarvis got a booking for his role which was presumably Norcott’s intention.
Tahvon Campbell, who had probably the most prolific spell of his career as a Woking player, was introduced for Wodskou on 82 minutes. A minute later Campbell had a great opportunity to break the deadlock after persistent play from Luke McCormick poked a ball through to him, Norcott seemed to get enough on it to deny Campbell an immediate shot, he managed to hook it towards goal but it was cleared off the line. Just hit the bloody thing!
O’Brien put one over the bar with five minutes remaining, but just when it looked like this game was going to finish goalless – Yeovil took the lead. A minute in to five minutes of second half stoppage time, McGavin’s corner was headed down by Jarvis and it landed to Luke McCORMICK on the back post and the midfielder showed great composure to thrash it in to the roof of the net.
In the fifth minute of stoppage time there was substitute Josh Osude went down under a challenge from Ward, before the ball broke to O’Brien who was felled by a strong challenge from Ferguson. Ward’s challenge was clearly just a goalkeeper and striker challenging for the ball, the Ferguson one had a bit more on it. Seen those given.
There was a long stoppage as Osude got treatment and that meant we actually ended up playing 100 minutes. If the first half was forgettable, the second was much better but there was plenty of commitment there and even more importantly three points.
Venue: Huish Park
Date: Saturday 13th September, 3pm kick-off
Competition: National League Premier Division
Scorers: Luke McCormick 90+3 (1-0)
Pitch: Looking good
Conditions: Mostly dry and bright with periods of intense rain in the first half
Attendance: 2,646 (259 away supporters)
Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Junior Morias 61, Josh Sims 64, Morgan Williams 75
Woking: Jack Turner 45
Referee: Adrian Quelch
Yeovil Town (3-4-2-1)
Substitutes: Aaron Jarvis (for Harvey Greenslade, 65), Tahvon Campbell (for Ben Wodskou, 81), Byron Pendleton (for Josh Sims, 87),, Finn Cousin-Dawson (for used), Ollie Hughes (not used), Matt Gould (not used).
Woking: Tom Norcott, Aaron Drewe, Tunji Akinola, Timi Odusina, Caleb Richards, Tariq Hinds, Jack Turner (for Jake Forster-Caskey, 59) Jamie Andrews, Harry Beautyman (for Josh Osude, 70), Aiden O’Brien, Josh Kelly (for Timmy Akinola, 70).
Substitutes (not used): Chin Okoli, Matt Ward, Craig Ross.
On loan striker Ben Wodskou has been handed his first start for Yeovil Town as we take it Woking in today’s early game at Huish Park (12.30pm kick-off).
The teenager replaces fellow Birmingham City youngster Byron Pendleton who drops to the substitutes’ bench for the match.
Interim manager Richard Dryden will be in charge for today’s match with new Glovers’ boss Danny Webb expected to be introduced to the crowd ahead of the game and watch from the stands.
Somerset Council has confirmed a two-year extension to the exclusivity period which Yeovil Town’s owners have to buy-back land at Huish Park.
The option which is held by Yeovil Town Holdings Limited, the business bought by owner Prabhu Srinivasan from former owner Martin Hellier in a deal last May, had been due to expire next May and will now run until 17 May 2028.
In a statement issued on Monday, the council confirmed that the club is now paying £229,130 per year after an “indexed rent review” in May saw it leap from the original £195,000 per year rate.
Responding to the decision, Mr Srinivasan said: “From the outset we have been clear with supporters that our aim is to buy back Huish Park Stadium and reunite it with the football club. The process is complex and takes time, and we are grateful to Somerset County Council for affording us the opportunity to develop our plans with stakeholders, partners, and the local authority so that this becomes a truly meaningful endeavour for both the club and the wider community.
“Together, we are committed to creating a brighter future for both Yeovil Town Football Club and Somerset, built around sustainability and our ambitious plans for the club and the community. There is so much more to come, and having Somerset County Council as a key partner is hugely important to us. The extension of this buyback is a clear testament to the united and positive way in which our partnership has begun and how we wish to move forward.”
Councillor Mike Rigby, the council’s Lead Member for Economic Development Planning and Assets, said: “This is a positive outcome from recent discussions with the new owners. YTFC is the only professional football club in Somerset and it makes a significant contribution to both the local economy and more widely in terms of community, education and local civic pride.
“A successful future for Yeovil Town Football Club supports Somerset Council’s priorities through the promotion of sport and healthier lifestyles within the community at all ages through the football club’s strong community and education links. It also adds to opportunities in the area for our residents through the economic benefits a successful professional club provides, while a future capital receipt will reduce our capital financing requirement.”
The statement also revealed the buy-back price for Huish Park and surrounding land stands at £2.789m.
The council, seemingly keen to make tax-payers know they are not using public funds to invest in football clubs, concluded the statement saying: “This decision, as before, does not mean Somerset Council either owns or is a shareholder in the football club, nor is it involved in any decision-making at the club. It means Yeovil Football and Athletic Club Limited and Yeovil Town Holdings Limited is a tenant of Somerset Council.“
Managerless Yeovil Town were outclassed by a rampant York City side who ran out comfortable winners at Huish Park.
The big-spending visitors, who were under the charge of new boss Stuart Maynard for the first time, went ahead through a penalty from prolific striker Ollie Pearce before a slick move saw Ollie Banks double the advantage before the break.
Luke McCormick pulled one back for Yeovil after a howler from visiting keeper Harrison Male before Jake Wannell turned in to his own net to restore the visitors’ two-goal advantage.
The weaknesses in the Glovers’ paper thin squad, missing the injured Alex Whittle and with youth midfielder Ollie Hughes named as one of just six substitutes, was cruelly exposed by a expensively assembled York squad, who thoroughly deserved the three points.
The opening chances fell to Yeovil with a neat connection between Josh Sims and Junior Morias with the latter having a shot blocked after five minutes and then two minutes later Brett McGavin deceived everyone with a free kick from 30 yards out. The midfielder looked like he would put a ball in to the box, but instead he tried to catch York keeper Harrison Male out but the stopper was able to scramble across the keep it out.
In the 69th minute, Newby seized on to a loose ball from Pendleton and fed Pearce who darted away down the left and lifted a shot just over the bar and on to the top of the net. That would have been quite a tap in.
It seemed like it was going to take something special to get Yeovil back in to it. It came from a mistake by Male as York tried to play it around at the back and the keeper’s loose pass was seized upon by Luke McCORMICK who will never get a better opportunity to get his first goal for the club.
That lifted Yeovil who looked to press forward, but they almost got caught out when they put everyone forward for free-kick and the speedy Felix found himself clear on goal from the clearance. The wing-back had almost the entire length of the pitch to cover and possibly too much time to think about it and he lifted his effort over the bar.
But, on 83 minutes, the visitors did get a third. Hiram Boateng glided away from the Yeovil defence and fired it towards substitute Josh Stones before Jake Wannell slid in and the ball flew in to the net for an OWN GOAL.
McCormick had an effort turned wide by Male soon after, but York stayed strong whilst Yeovil’s paper thin squad started to feel the effects of three games in seven days.
The contrast was stark between these two sides and it is clear to see why York will be among the sides pushing at the top of the National League Premier Division table and just how far Yeovil need to come to get anywhere close.
Venue: Huish Park
Date: Saturday 6th September, 3pm kick-off
Competition: National League Premier Division
Scorers: Ollie Pearce pen 25 (0-1), Ollie Banks 34 (0-2), Luke McCormick 77 (1-2), Hiram Boateng 83 (1-3)
Pitch: Still looking impressive
Conditions: Warm and sunny
Attendance: 2,954 (244 away supporters)
Bookings:
Yeovil Town: James Plant 24, Aaron Jarvis 70
York City: Hiram Boateng 76
Referee: Lewis Sandoe
Yeovil Town (3-4-2-1)
Substitutes: Tahvon Campbell (for James Plant, 54), Aaron Jarvis (for Harvey Greenslade, 67), Ben Wodskou (for Junior Morias, 68), Finn Cousin-Dawson (for Byron Pendleton, 72), Ollie Hughes (not used), Matt Gould (not used).
York City: Harrison Male, Mark Kitching, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Callum Howe, Tyrese Sinclair (for Ben Brookes, 70), Alex Hunt, Ollie Pearce (for Josh Stones, 82), Hiram Boateng, Joe Felix, Ollie Banks (for Joe Grey, 70), Alex Newby (for Daniel Batty, 78).
Substitutes (not used): George Sykes-Kenworthy, Ryan Fallowfield, Ash Palmer.
Yeovil Town are unchanged from the midweek victory at Solihull Moors as they prepare to take on big-spending York City at Huish Park this afternoon (3pm kick-off).
Centre half Kyle Ferguson, who limped off with what appeared a nasty looking injury on Tuesday night, is fit to line up alongside Jake Wannell and Morgan Williams in the Glovers’ defence.
The only change comes on the substitutes’ bench where defender Alex Whittle, who is suffering with an injury, is replaced by Under-18s midfielder Ollie Hughes, underlining just how thin the squad is. If Hughes were to make an appearance today, he would become the second-youngest player to represent the club at 17 years, 3 months and 8 days.