Ian, Ben and Dave are back getting minutes in their legs. On this episode we discuss Weston-super-Mare and Mark Cooper’s new contract. But, we start this one with the sad news of the passing of Huish Hugh and what he meant to us, and the wider fanbase. 🍺
Former Gloverscast Quiz Champion Rob Manley made his way to the seaside for Yeovil’s final friendly of preseason. He scribble some notes down for us (and you!)
The Glovers started out in a 4-2-3-1 and as both teams sparred early one, the Glovers were on top in terms of possession.
Aaron Jarvis was the first to have an effort at goal with a shot inside the box. That man, Brett McGavin lined up a free kick not too long after which took a nick on the way through and was saved by keepers legs.
The Glovers remained on top and had a couple of opportunities to get behind the Weston defence, with Sam Pearson latching onto Jarvis’s flick on to test the keeper.
Sam Pearson nearly capitalised from a corner which fell to him at the back post but he could only fire over the bar.
Following a 25th minute water break, the hosts had their first effort at goal but the strike wasn’t great and flew wide.
Jarvis looked isolated as the half wore on, but the Glovers forced a late chance with Matt Worthington drawing a save from the keeper after a good cut back from Michael Smith.
Rob’s half time view: Not much in the game, a lot of possession in our back third and the middle, with half chances in front of their goal.
It didnt take long for the Glovers to fashion a chance in the first half. Jarvis held the ball up well before giving it to Frank Nouble but no one could get on the end of his cross.
Jordan Young had a chance soon after, following a neat one-two with Pearson, Young struck a tame effort at goal.
It wasn’t all friendly by the seaside, Jake Wannell and former Yeovil striker Reuben Reid had a little flare up that saw them both receive yellow cards.
Jarvis showed good strength to hold off a Weston defender before trying to execute a lob that went straight at the keeper.
Reid had decent strike that was parried away by Ollie Wright and then cleared away by the Glovers defence.
In the 60th minute, Harvey Greenslade replaced Sam Pearson and soon after Yeovil found the breakthrough.
Michael Smith’s ball over the top was controlled by Jarvis who get his head up to put a lovely finish into the bottom corner. 1-0
There was a nice passage of play from Yeovil with lots of one-touch passing which finished up with Jordan Young striking wide.
The entrance of Greenslade saw Yeovil go more direct and look more threatening, creating a couple of chances for Jarvis.
Sonny Blu Lo-Everton entered the fray and made an impact grabbing Yeovil’s second. Young’s great ball into box found Lo-Everton who took one touch before picking out the top corner. 2-0
Rob’s Full Time View: Decent run out against a physical, well-drilled Weston side. Our direct play made the difference, balls over the top, crosses into the box and getting the ball forward quickly was the key to the performance and result.
Ollie Marsh joins Dave and Ian on the Gloverscast to chat about the fallout from Farnborough and the match itself.
Jordan Thomas was the match-winner for Yeovil at Farnborough, making his first appearance in green-and-white from the bench after injury.
The full-back, who signed from Hampton & Richmond earlier this summer, said being back on the pitch was good for his ‘mental state’.
He appeared as a 66th-minute substitute in the 2-1 win at Farnborough Town on Saturday, scoring an 87th minute winner with a neat finish.
Speaking to the club’s YouTube channel: “I think just for my mental state, it helped just being back fit now and obviously it’s frustrating for myself, for the staff. But then now I’m back, I’m just gonna look forward. And then, yeah, just try and kick on and get as much fitness as I can into my legs and just be ready for the start of the season.”
The 23-year-old said he had been absent with a ‘mild strain’ in his hip but has still found being on the sidelines beneficial.
“It’s been different being on the sideline but still mixing in around with them. I think all the boys have been really welcoming and sort of had their arms around me and just helped me out, but I tried to make sure that I’m not too much of an energy drainer because we don’t need that in the team.
“It’s been so good to sort of see it from the sidelines just to pick up from a different view what the gaffer wants. Like how he wants us to play really, the style and what he requires of me from my position. So yeah, it’s being beneficial in a weird way, if I try and look at the positive,” he said.
Ian and Ben welcome Tom Bailey from Three Valleys Radio to the podcast to chat through the latest round of pre-season action.
As part of the Gloverscast’s Associate Membership of the Football Supporters Association we’ve been contacted for some views from supporters on a couple of bits that are going to impact National League clubs and football in general in the next few months.
In April the Athletic revealed discussions had taken place for the top 16 teams in the National League Premier to play 16 under-21 teams from the Premier League. Last weekend the Non League Paper reported that the National League Clubs have been told that competition will kick-off this season and is likely to being in November.
So, what are your thoughts about the competition? Are you supportive? Who will benefit? There’s a quick snap poll below, but share any comments below.
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.The second is around the introduction of the Football Governance Bill which looks set to be introduced by Labour after work done by Tracey Crouch in the previous Government.
A very top line summary of the bill indicates that the regulator would:
With all that, let us know on this poll and if you have any other thoughts comment below.
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.
Yeovil’s final pre-season action at Huish Park saw them fall to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of League One Exeter City last night. An early gift for Sonny Cox allowed the former Glover loanee to put the Grecians 1-0 up after four minutes, giving Mark Cooper’s side an uphill struggle for the remainder of the evening.
Speaking to the club’s official YouTube channel, Cooper said: “[It was a] good workout for us. First 10-15 minutes we were really good with the ball [but we] gave a horrendous goal away which turned the game around.
“Exeter gave us a real test with the ball and the rotations were really good, so it was a tough evening for us, but that’s what we wanted. It’s no real benefit for us winning 5, 6 ,7-1 in the friendlies it’s about when we come up against real quality teams and League One players, that we have to make sure we’re organised. So, still lot still lots to ponder for us.”
Last season Sonny Cox scored a couple of important goals for the Glovers while on loan, before returning to make an impact for Exeter and it took him a few minutes to show what he’s capable of. Cooper said: “It was just a rubbish goal to give away. We’re in control of the of the ball, a loose turnover and you know, Sonny Cox goes through and scores, does what he does really well and a great finish.
“That panicked us a little bit and we started turning the ball over far too much. That was the crux tonight, we turned the ball over far too much, and if you do that against teams that are two leagues higher than you, it’s going to be a long a long evening and it was. But for us, fitness is key at the moment, we’ve still got over three weeks so we’ve got a real good week next week to get stuck into the boys and get more stuff nailed down.”
The Glovers showed an improvement in the second half, with Frank Nouble grabbing a goal after a loose pass from an Exeter defender, and Dylan Morgan missing a penalty. The boss felt this was more down to Exeter making wholesale changes, though: “Yeah, but we have to be honest. Exeter put all their kids on the pitch, which gave us chance to get closer to them and you know, even then you saw their young boys were really good and scored a couple of goals. You know, I think they change and put nearly all kids on with half an hour to go, which gave us a chance to get closer to them which we did, obviously missed a penalty to make it even more interesting, but that’s just a good workout for us.”
There were spots on the bench for youth players Cody Koerner and Krystian Woods as well as a new left-sided defensive trialist that we believe is Brandon Haunstrup. There was no sign of Jacob Roddy who’s been involved in the first three pre-season matches. The boss admitted that he still feels the squad is a bit light: “We’re a couple of players short. We know that and we’re looking and seeing who’s available, who can we attract when we get to a position where we can move to bring somebody in.”
On the academy he added: “It’s important that we keep trying to push the young boys. We’re trying to get that sort of connection with the with the Academy that if they are good enough, there’s a realistic pathway for them and we put another couple on tonight.”
Yeovil travel to Farnborough next Saturday before visiting Buckland Athletic and Weston-super-Mare with the National League South opponents “the more useful test” of where the players are ahead of the National League kick off on the 10th August.
Rob Manley joins Ian, Ben and Dave to talk about the first pre-season friendly at Melksham and the latest news from Huish Park. Plus we take your GCQs with some controversial egg opinions.
Yeovil Town have unveiled the new home and away shirt for the 2024/25 season today with Bradfords returning as the front of shirt sponsor for the first time since the 2008/09 season.
The new kits are manufactured by Errea and feature the glove design, which has been a feature on the new artwork used on the club’s social media channels, in subtle stripes.
The home is green – of course – and the away shirt is white and is modelled by the toughest centre back pairing in National League, Jake Wannell and Morgan Williams.
Speaking the club’s official site regarding the new sponsorship with Bradfords, club CEO Keith Weston, said:“We are thrilled to welcome Bradfords as our main sponsor for the 2024/25 season. Their long-standing support is invaluable to our club’s success, and we look forward to this renewed collaboration, creating memorable experiences for our fans and achieving great things together. We hope to create similar memories to those from our successful rise in the 2000s.”
What do you think? Give it a score from 1 – 7 and let us know in the comments!
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.
