Ian Perkins (Page 42)

Another home win for Mark Cooper’s side saw Yeovil Town go thirteen points clear of second placed Worthing. Ian was in the press box at Huish Park to see the 3-1 win over Slough and here are his conclusions…..

I thought it was an entertaining first half. Yeovil dominated the ball and controlled things, but the way Slough pressed in the first half and tried to prevent Yeovil from playing out from the back impressed me. Clearly it was impossible to maintain, but the visitors gave a good account of themselves and made things hard for Yeovil to get the rhythm going. That said, the Glovers had chances that they should have done better with, Pearson in particular had two big chances that you’d want him to make more of.

Matt Worthington stepped up again. When the team news came out with know obvious right back on the graphic, there was a question around formation. Thankfully (you know my feelings on wingbacks by now reader) we retained the shape that has made us so successful this season with Worthington filling in for the injured Michael Smith. It was clear from the outset that we were looking to get Worthy in the same positions that Smith occupies so successfully. While he didn’t get a massive amount of joy in the first half, at the beginning of the second half Charlie Cooper’s perfect pass picked out the skipper who finished superbly. We all want Michael Smith back soon, but it looks like we’ve got someone else who can do the job too.

Charlie Cooper was a force in the middle of the pitch. He gets his criticism, unfairly at times, but I thought Cooper was crucial centrally with Worthington out wide. His assist was as good as they come, and he did the dirty work that he does so well. I thought he and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton worked well together, proving there’s another partnership that works nicely in the middle. Unfortunately, he hobbled off before the final whistle after putting in a tackle (that I winced at to be honest) and getting booked. Fingers crossed on that one…

Frank Nouble’s experience is so important in the run in. Is it too soon to call it a run in? Either way, with the experience of Rhys Murphy, Michael Smith and Jake Hyde all missing right now, and with uncertainty around the timeline of their returns, Frank Nouble is the experience at the front end of the pitch now. Mark Cooper described him as the “Guv’nor” (see also Governor) following the win last night, and you can feel his influence on the young players around him. He took ownership of the penalty, as you’d expect, and dispatched it calmly. What a spell he’s enjoying right now. Also, he’s top of the league.

Alex Whittle is Mr Dependable. It might sound like a bit of a lame superhero, but every team needs an Alex Whittle in my book. He didn’t do anything spectacular last night, in fact, I’m not sure he’s done anything spectacular all season. However, you can absolutely bank on him to put a brilliant shift in, work his socks off (© C.Hargreaves) and get the job done. He doesn’t get the credit he deserves, in fairness there’s a lot to go round, but if you roll back to the summer and look at our signings he’s one of the best we’ve made. Quality left back, no fuss, no nonsense. Mint.

Yeovil Town picked up another victory at Huish Park yesterday against Hemel Hempstead thanks to two goals from Sam Pearson on his return in green and white. Here are Ian’s Conclusions from Fortress Huish…

We’ve got a player in Sam Pearson. We kind of knew this anyway, but with the circumstances in which he left last season, it felt like Pearson had a point to prove. And he sure proved it. He was non-stop and a constant thorn in the side of Hemel’s defenders. The Welshman was always available for his teammates and showed real bravery on the ball. His first goal was an acrobatic effort (which he described as his trademark goal) and the second had a giant chunk of fortune about it, but they all count. The 22-year-old has made a brave decision to leave Bristol City and is motivated to show what he can do. What a piece of business.

Despite our small squad, we’ve got so many attacking options. Last season, our recruitment was infamously terrible. This season, it couldn’t be more juxtapose. When you look at the combinations yesterday, and who’s missing, this team could do damage to most teams on its day. Here’s who we’ve seen play at the top end of the pitch this season so far: Sam Pearson, Frank Nouble, Jordan Young, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, Jake Hyde, Dylan Morgan, Will Dawes, Jay Foulston, Rhys Murphy, Jordan Stevens. (+ Alex Fisher and JMD) There won’t be many teams in the National League with as many fluent, exciting combinations as that.

It should have been more than 2-0. Over the course of the 90 minutes, Yeovil were the dominant team and should have scored more. There were a lot of nearly moments in and around the box, including some well-timed interceptions by the Hemel Hempstead defenders. Jake Hyde’s header looked destined for the back of the net, but for an excellent save from Craig King in the Tudor’s goal. If the Glovers can turn a few more of those nearly moments into goals, things could get even more comfortable.

It got a bit spicy! Clearly, the Glovers have not forgotten about the defeat on the opening day. After the game Mark Cooper revealed how Hemel were banging on the changing room walls and doors following the 1-0 defeat in August, so revenge was on the cards yesterday. In the second half, some of that animosity started to come through and there were some rough tackles. Charlie Cooper was victim to a tackle which you’ve definitely seen red cards for, but Craig Scriven only though it was worthy of a yellow. Jake Wannell took a whack in the face in the first half. Mark Cooper said “we can give it out as well and we have to have that nasty streak. I don’t know any team that wins things that has not got that streak in them that they will look after each other.”

It was another professional performance. This team turn up, get the job done and move on to the next one. They have had a laser focus on getting out of National League South at the first time of asking and we’re on course to do that – by the end of February according to Frank Nouble. We’re unbeaten at home and playing some great football at times and everyone in that squad steps up when required to. It’s eight without loss since the Welling game. We’ve won five in a row now and with the upcoming fixtures, belief and professionalism, what’s to say we can’t go another run like we did earlier in the season?