Ian Perkins (Page 3)

Yeovil picked up a 1-0 win over Braintree this afternoon thanks to a Frank Nouble set piece goal. The hosts were on an 14-match unbeaten run before the Glovers visit and Mark Cooper said the travelling fans got his team over the line.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins, the boss said: “That bond is strong – between fans and supporters – and it’s been a long time at the club since it’s been like that. It’s important that we keep showing them our appreciation for their travel and at home as well. And they got us over the line in the end.”

The Iron have had a good run, and Cooper was complimentary of the opponents, but acknowledged that Joe Day had a quiet afternoon in between the sticks.

“They’re a really good team. Really well organised. But, we were really sound and structured today. I think if you look at Joe Day. [He] didn’t have lots to do, did he? I can’t recall him making any saves. [He] caught some crosses.”

Frank Nouble’s 14th minute header was the difference between 1st and 3rd place on the afternoon and it was yet another set piece that the Glovers capitalised on. Cooper said: “We’ve scored lots of set pieces this year and that’s another one and they’re vital, if you’re going to try and win things it’s vital that you score lots of set pieces.”

The boss also praised Jordan Young, who’s form has dropped off in recent weeks. “He lost his way a little bit and probably didn’t work as hard. I don’t care who you are and what level you are at. You have to work socks off and you watch the best teams, they sprint and run and if you do that then you start getting your breaks again and Youngy did that today and he was outstanding.”

With Chelmsford scoring two late goals to win 3-2 at Taunton, Yeovil (if results go their way) could win the title at home to Worthing, but before that Easter brings fixtures with Torquay and Weymouth and although the manager admitted he’s looking at the table now, he stuck to the party line: “Game by game. Boring.”

Yeovil Town earned a draw at Slough Town after two defeats in a row, in a result that Glovers boss Mark Cooper said was fair.

The manager told BBC Somerset’s Ian Randall that he needed to solidify his team for the trip, where the hosts have not lost in 15 home matches.

“I’m pleased we’ve had a real solid performance, which is what we needed and we kind of set up for after the last couple of games. We tried to take away that lack of confidence by being really solid and hoping that we nick a goal. We had a couple chances there towards the end, where we’re hoping we could land on something. But, its a solid performance [at a] difficult place, they win a lot of games here, [on a] difficult pitch, so we’ll take a point.”

“When you try and play open football, like we have done, and the confidence wavers a little bit, it can be dangerous as it was the other night. So as a coach, you want to try and put a stop to that. Make sure everyone’s in good position, not risking too much with the ball and hoping to land on something.”

Prior to the match Cooper talked about his two loan signings, Brooklyn Genesini and Jahmari Clark, revealing that Michael Smith will be out for a few weeks, and what we can expect from Reading-loanee Clark: “So late deadline yesterday, we managed to get a centre forward in that’s a real physical specimen in Jahmari Clark. He was at Forest Green last year, so Ian Weston who works with us here, knows him really well, and he’s very, very complementary. He’s got very, very good pace, physicality and I think it just complements the top of the pitch and gives us a lift. We needed a bit of spark and that’s what those two boys will give us.”

Brooklyn Genesini made his Yeovil Town debut in the 0-0 draw with Slough this afternoon and the Swindon loanee said signing for his hometown club felt right.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Ian Randall about his move to Yeovil, the fullback said: “I didn’t take the route of Yeovil when I was younger. I went elsewhere, obviously went to Bournemouth, and obviously ended up in Swindon and then on loan here. I think everyone’s got their own journeys and obviously mine was different to maybe some lads, but  I’m back at my home club, which just feels comfortable, feels right. So, it’s so nice to be back and being able to perform for the crowd out there, which have travelled all this way, and hearing them for the whole 90 minutes. It really does feel like I’m back home, so I’m really enjoying it.

“It’s obviously a mad week, but being a footballer, that’s what we have to be ready for. I’ve been a football since I was God knows how young, probably 5-6, and through my whole career I’ve have to be have to be ready for late calls and anything like that. And when I got the call from Yeovil to come in train and then find out I was in the squad today. I wasn’t really a shock, I’m ready for it. I’ve come straight and gelled with all the lads and felt very comfortable to come straight into the team. It could have been hard out there, I could have come in yesterday and not really got to know anyone and it might have been such a welcoming team. But, honestly it feels like a family out there. When I was on the pitch I felt like I’ve been playing for months here.”

Genesini came straight into the side as the right wingback in a back five, and was given a busy afternoon. He said: “I don’t think I’ve defended that much in my life. A lot of 1v1s out there, but that’s what I’m there to do. I’ve got put into the team straight away. The gaffer is backing me and I need to perform for him and the fans and also my own team. What I’ve got to do is to graft and I’m a footballer, that is what I’m here to do.”

With Chelmsford picking up a 3-1 win against Bath City this afternoon, the gap at the top of National League South was slimmed to seven points (with a game in hand) and Genesini is looking forward to chipping in and helping the Glovers achieve promotion.

He said: “I knew what it was like when I got told that I was coming in. Being my hometown, I knew that anyway, so when I got the call, I was fully ready to come in and help the club get that promotion. And no matter what we do, even though we only got the one point today, but we were away from home, it was a hard battle out there, and I can’t fault the lads that are out there at all because they put 110% in throughout that whole entire game. Maybe the quality wasn’t there, but it was a hard surface to play on but let the lads really put 110%.”