James Graham

Women hit Appledore for six

Yeovil Town Women hit their opposition for six for the second week running on Sunday. The Glovers followed up their 6-1 FA Cup victory with a 6-0 drubbing of Appledore at Alvington. It was an affair which only saw two goal scorers as Lily McNally and Zara Hunt stole the show, scoring a hattrick each.

Yeovil started typically quickly, as Lily McNally scored the first goal of the 2025/26 league campaign, finishing nicely after just five minutes.

The following half hour of football proved to be closely fought, until Yeovil flexed their muscles once again via McNally, who made it 2-0 after 35 minutes.

Yeovil went in at the break 2-0 up.

The Glovers replicated their fast start to the first half, as half-time substitute Zara Hunt got in on the action in the 53^rd minute. This saw the hosts go 3-0 up, as Hunt picked up where she left off, following her FA Cup double the week before.  

Five minutes later Chloe Davenport came close to scoring her first league goal of the season, but was impressively denied by the Appledore goalkeeper.

Dave Court’s half time substitution proved to be effective as Hunt scored her second of the game in the 66^th minute, giving Yeovil four on the opening day.

In the 75^th minute Hunt had a chance to complete her hattrick, however shot agonisingly wide of the post.

The final ten minutes of Yeovil’s opening match was defined by the completion of two different hattricks, topping off an excellent first league showing by Dave Court’s side.

With seven minutes left of the ninety, Hunt completed a fantastic 38 minute hattrick, making it 5-0 to the Glovers.

Four minutes later, McNally  also completed her hattrick to give Yeovil six, on an opening day to remember at Alvington.

Dave Court reflected on his first league match at the helm for Yeovil Town Women,

“Credit to both teams for playing an entertaining game in very difficult conditions. A word as well for Appledore — unfortunately, they had some trouble getting here today and arrived late, and I know from speaking to them during the week that they were missing players. Despite that, they gave us a real contest.

It was a very competitive game, especially in the first half, and what really pleased me was that we had to match their work rate. They worked extremely hard and tested us. I’m really pleased with how we responded, but massive credit to Appledore for the way they approached the game — I thought they were superb”.

Court commented on his squad and his appreciation for the players,

“It’s a group of girls who really enjoy being together, and we want to make sure everyone knows they’re valued. We really appreciate the time and effort they give to play for Yeovil Women — coming to training twice a week and playing on Sundays.

It’s important that everyone gets an opportunity, and that those who aren’t on the pitch support those who are. Within the squad, we’re doing that really well at the moment.”

Zara Hunt also spoke following her league debut, which saw her score three,

“I think it was a very good performance. The team worked well together, we pushed for 90 minutes, and we got the result we deserved. Credit to Emily for keeping a clean sheet, the defence for their work, and to Dave and the coaching staff for setting us up well for the season.

Playing this season with the team we have is going to be enjoyable both on and off the pitch. Scoring is just a bonus — I wouldn’t be able to do it without everyone else on the pitch, and I wouldn’t want to celebrate with anyone else either.”

Hunt also praised the management team,

“I think they care very much about us as people, not only as players, and I think they want to set us up right to be able to perform the way we know we can and get the results we deserve this season.”

Yeovil Town Women return to action next Sunday 21^st September, as they travel to face Saltash in the second round qualifying of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup.

Women advance in FA Cup

Yeovil Town Women kicked off their Adobe FA Cup campaign in style as they hammered Wells City 6-1 in their first competitive fixture of the 2025/26 season.

After a productive pre season, Dave Court’s side entered the new term with renewed confidence and belief.

Zara Hunt personified this confidence, as she was heavily involved in the action from the off. After threatening in the opening minutes, she set up Chloe Davenport in the 11th minute, who gave Yeovil the lead and opened her account for the season.

The Glovers’ gallant first half display continued, as they doubled their lead in the 30th minute through Mollie Childs.

After an impressive first 45, and with one eye on the next round, Yeovil went in at the break 2-0 up.

A five-goal second period began with 19 minutes of deadlock, as neither team were able to make a statement early in the second half.

In the 64th minute an own goal gave Yeovil one foot in the next round, as they saw themselves go 3-0 up.

The Glovers’ hopes of an FA Cup clean sheet to start the season went out of the window four minutes later, as the hosts pulled one back.

Moments later Yeovil responded in perfect fashion and put the tie to bed, courtesy of debutant Lily McNally. She converted impressively to give the visitors daylight.

Zara Hunt’s fast start to the tie was replicated in the latter stages, as she scored twice, turning a convincing win into a battering. Her goals in the 85th and 92nd minute topped off a fantastic afternoon in the FA Cup for Yeovil Town Women.

New manager Dave Court spoke following his first competitive win at the helm for Yeovil:

“ I think it was a really good advert for women’s football. Wells are a decent side, they like to play and they caused us problems. I think especially in the first half they had some really good movement. So really pleased with the togetherness of the girls.”

Court praised not just the four different goal-scorers on the day but also his team’s creativity,

“It’s obviously massively important to score goals and I think if we’ve got different threats that bodes well for the future.

It’s not just about the goal scorers. I think it’s about the passes and then the organisation that leads to the goals as much as the actual goal scorer.

I’m sure you know the girls who scored the goals, the first people that they would turn around and thank and congratulate are the ones who’ve made the assists or contributed to the goal.”

An impressive day going forward was matched by a solid defensive performance from the Glovers,

“I think we actually defended really well from the front. I thought our front players defended really well and in the shape that we’d asked them to do.

I think it’s really important that the defenders and Emily in goal, recognise that actually the work that the front players and the midfield put in really contributed towards the solidity that we had. A real good team effort.”

Looking ahead, Yeovil Town Women begin their league campaign next week, as they take on Appledore FC,

“I think the most important thing is there’s a bunch of girls that are just really enjoying being together at the moment. Obviously there’ll be different problems, we’ll have to find different solutions next week.

We’ll work hard in training, but we’re not going to get carried away by winning, the same way we won’t get too low if we lose. So enjoy today, but then back into training next week and look forward to what I know is going to be another really tough test next Sunday.”

Yeovil Town Women begin their campaign in the Shield Services Group South West Division One South next Sunday 14th September, as they host Appledore FC 14:00 KO.

Glovers thump W*ymouth in Huish Park sunshine

Yeovil Town Women won their penultimate league match of the season in emphatic style, beating rivals W*ymouth by seven goals to one at Huish Park. After no football for over a month, Paul Knight’s side hit seven past a tame Terras outfit, to leapfrog Weston-super-Mare into third in the Regen Arable Division One South.

The Glovers did not begin the derby as they meant to go on, as after a mere five minutes W*ymouth took the lead courtesy of Ellie Porter.

Despite the early setback Yeovil responded almost immediately, as Zoe Ball equalised in the seventh minute. Zara Hunt saw her effort blocked before unselfishly playing the ball across for Ball who finished with ease.

After a period of prolonged early pressure, the Glovers were rewarded via Terri Will, who headed in from a corner to give the hosts the lead.

An eventful opening half an hour was topped off with Yeovil extending their lead to 3-1, as Jodie Cornwall’s classy finish to the left of the W*ymouth GK provided daylight.

Following a dominant first half display, Yeovil went in at the break 3-1 up.
The opening stages of the second period mirrored the action-packed nature of the first, as Yeovil went 6-1 up within thirteen minutes.
In the 52nd minute, Mollie Childs’ audacious chip gave Yeovil four, after clever play from Hunt once again.

Four minutes later, Yeovil’s penalty specialist and goalkeeper Emily Hall made no mistake from the spot following a rash W*ymouth challenge in the penalty area.

56 | GOAL! EMILY HALLLLLL!

Emily Hall steps up for the penalty and makes no mistake 😮‍💨

🧤5-1🔴#YTFC 💚 pic.twitter.com/zlJxPaKmOb

— Yeovil Town Women FC (@YTWomenFC) April 27, 2025

Moments later Cornwall earned her second of the afternoon, as she finished following a Yeovil free-kick.
The Glovers’ dominant display on the Huish Park turf continued throughout the half, as youngster Ceyda Fordrey struck the woodwork on the hour mark.

Jodie Cornwall’s perfect afternoon in front of goal was complete in the 83 rd minute, as her impressive finish saw her net a dream hat-trick in the derby.

The match finished 7-1, as Yeovil Town Women put on an almighty show for the 298 supporters at Huish Park.
Yeovil Town Women return to action for the final time this season as they host Helston on Sunday 4 th May 14:00 KO at Alvington.

Yeovil Town: Hall, Childs, Brazell, Vernon, Miles, Hunt, Cornwall, Wensley, Perham, Will,
Ball.
Subs: Chant, Bishop, Spearing, Fordrey, Hughes.

Weymouth: Clark, Fowler, Masters, McCann, Paul, Porter, Potter, Redding, Roberts,
Thornicroft, Screen.
Subs: Ciftlik, Goodhew, Osborne, Smith, March.

GLOVERS HIT HONITON FOR SIX

Yeovil Town Women’s winning run continued on Sunday as they beat Honiton 6-0. A performance defined by Yeovil’s young talent ensured that Paul Knight’s side made it three wins out of three, scoring seventeen goals in this period.

Wholesale changes were made, as Mollie Childs, Laura Wensley, Jamie Bland, Ceyda Fordrey and Chloe Perham came into the starting eleven for the Glovers.

Yeovil began the affair in quick fashion and found themselves in front within eight minutes courtesy of Fordrey. Following a defensive error, Hannah Hughes played in the youngster who made no mistake in front of goal.

Ten minutes later the Glovers’ lead was doubled, as in-form forward Chloe Davenport scored her third goal in as many games.

Despite Abbie Carslake coming close to giving Yeovil three earlier in the half, in the 40^th minute Hughes, as she did against Bideford, scored once more to gift the hosts a three goal lead.

Following this, on the stroke of half time Davenport went from scorer to creator, as she crossed for Fordrey who made it four for Yeovil and two for her on the day.

The Glovers went in at the break with a four goal lead.

Yeovil’s taste for goals did not let up in the second half, as just four minutes after the restart Hughes converted her second of the match for 5-0.

The hosts’ domination continued throughout the second half and Childs got on the scoresheet on her debut in the 68^th minute. Her sensational effort sailed over the Honiton goalkeeper to top off an impressive display in which the Glovers scored six.

FULL TIME SCORE: YEOVIL TOWN WOMEN 6-0 HONITON

This result put Yeovil third in the Regen Arable Division One South, as they leapfrogged Saltash United.

The player of the match was awarded to Chloe Perham.

Yeovil Town Women manager Paul Knight spoke after the match.

“It was good, I thought the girls gave a good account of themselves. Paul began. “We stepped up some youngsters today, who also gave a good account of themselves.

“We had a plan to go out, the weather conditions were good and the team settled into the formation system that we wanted to play and they did everything that was asked of them. They were quite calm today, we played decent football and it was really nice to see some good football again.

Paul expressed his satisfaction with the younger players amid increasing injuries within the first team.

“It’s huge, five of our regular starters are out today and that’s massive in any football team, it’s no secret that we have been playing with injuries since August. We’ve got a youth setup that we can turn to and in all honesty if some of the girls weren’t ready to step up we would have struggled. It’s huge, it’s great for the pathway, they’ve earned it, they’ve been working with us for the past few weeks, and it really was a massive impact.  

Looking ahead to the new year.

“You don’t want to be going into Christmas losing your last game, we’ve had a very disruptive season so far. The only negative side is the break, coming back in the new year when you’ve had a break and you’ve had your Christmas food you come out a little bit more lethargic. So that’s the only downside, I think it’s good for resting, we have a few mediocre injuries which need resting, so hopefully we’ll have the numbers to pick from when we return in the new year.”

Yeovil Town Women return to action on the 5^th January as they host league leaders Plympton 14:00 KO.