James Graham

Yeovil Town Women capped off their league season in style as they thrashed Wellington by ten goals to nil. This result ensured that the Glovers’ perfect record in the league was complete, as they earned 54 out of 54 points in the league.

Paul Knight made three changes to his final league lineup of the season as Jess Hodge, Niamh Nicholls and Chloe Bateman came in for Chloe Davenport, Jess Gold and Les Spearing.

It took seven minutes for Yeovil to open the scoring on their last league outing, as Hodge scored her 15th goal of the season to give the Glovers an early lead.

As Yeovil began to control the affair they doubled their lead courtesy of Abbie Carslake, as she fired the ball into the net. A trusted scorer from midfield for Yeovil this season. Yeovil went in at the break two goals to the good.

Paul Knight’s side had the match wrapped up in the space of ten minutes after the restart, as they scored three quickfire goals. Substitute Davenport quickly made it three in the 46th
minute, which was followed by Carslake netting her second of the match and Becky Miles scoring from distance moments later.

Three minutes after her effort from distance, a solo goal by Miles gave Yeovil six. After beating her defender on the left wing, Miles, as she has done so often this season, finished impressively for her 14th of the league season.

As Yeovil continued to take charge of the match a Wellington own goal gave them seven. This was quickly followed by Les Spearing scoring her first goal of the season, as she converted from a corner for eight.

Two goals in additional time saw Yeovil reach double figures in the league for the third time this season. Carslake completed her hat-trick as she headed in from a Niamh Nicholls corner and Davenport confirmed a brace from the bench as she scored from distance to give Yeovil ten on the final day.

The match finished 10-0 and brought Yeovil Town Women’s excellent returning season to an end. The Glovers finish the league campaign with 54 points from 18 matches, having scored 98 goals and conceded just 5. Niamh Nicholls finished the season as the club and league top scorer with a total of 22 goals. Paul Knight’s side now switch their focus to the league cup, as they chase the double.

Yeovil Town Women return to action for the final time next Sunday 19th May as they face Paulton Rovers Reserves in the league cup final 14:30 KO at Somerton Recreation Ground.

Yeovil Town Women were defeated by step four outfit Keynsham Town in the final of the Somerset Cup on Thursday evening. It was four goals from set-pieces which undid Yeovil on the day, following a spirited performance against higher level opposition.

Paul Knight once again named an unchanged starting eleven as the same lineup played together for the third consecutive match.

The first chance of the final came to Niamh Nicholls in the early exchanges, as she forced a strong save out of the Keynsham goalkeeper within the first ten minutes.

Following this, Keynsham dealt the first blow as an unlucky own goal punished the Glovers. The ball cannoned off the crossbar and deflected off a Yeovil body into the back of the net after a Keynsham corner to give the Ks an early lead.

Keynsham doubled their lead in the 17^th minute courtesy of another scramble in the box following a corner, placing them in firm control of the tie, just over a quarter of the way through.

As half-time approached Keynsham had their third via a penalty kick in the 38^th minute. After an unlucky tangling of legs on the edge of the box, the referee pointed to the spot to rub salt in Yeovil wounds. The penalty was confidently converted into the bottom left corner to give Keynsham a three goal lead going into the half-time break.

As the second half progressed Yeovil grew into the game and exerted some dominance over Keynsham, however were unable to make the most of the chances they made.

A competitive second half finished with Keynsham scoring their fourth of the match from a free-kick, which turned out to be the last kick of the final and of the Somerset Cup, a performance and campaign which Yeovil can be proud of.

The player of the match was awarded to Abbie Vernon for a fighting performance in Yeovil’s backline.

After the match Yeovil Town Women manager Paul Knight reflected on his side’s performance: “I’m so proud of the players, their mental and physical state was tested and as a coach I needed to see how far they can be pushed. The players’ mileage covered last night was a testament to their ability. We conceded from three very unlucky set-pieces and a penalty, the girls have done exactly what I have asked; if we lose we ensure we come off the pitch having played our best football.”

Yeovil Town Women return to action this Sunday 28^th May as they travel to Portishead Reserves in the league 14:00 KO.

Yeovil Town Women ensured consecutive 5-0 victories as they overcame Ilminster Town Reserves on Sunday. The affair once again saw five different scorers, including a debut goal for new signing Becky Miles, who impressed on her debut for the Glovers.

Paul Knight made two changes from Yeovil’s 5-0 victory over Bishops Lydeard Reserves, as Becky Miles and Holly Coles replaced Jess Hodge and Chloe Davenport.

Another fast start by Yeovil was rewarded with an opening goal in the second minute. Becky Miles immediately got in on the action, as her cross from the right was bundled in by an Ilminster defender for 1-0.

Soon after in the eighth minute Yeovil had two, as full back Abbie Vernon found Holly Coles, who scored her second in as many weeks and her seventh league goal of the season.

Despite having a number of chances, including an impressive lob attempt by Abbie Carslake, Yeovil went in at the break two goals to the good.

Yeovil started the second half in a similar vein to the first, as they made it three in the 46^th minute. Miles saw her shot deflect into the path of Jess Hodge, who made no mistake in firing the ball home for 3-0.

The Glovers’ positive start to the half continued as the heavily involved debutant Becky Miles got in on the goals in the 51^st minute. Following an effective press, Miles regained possession from the Ilminster defence and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner to make it 4-0.

Later in the 69^th minute a ball from Miles found Zoe Ball, who clinically beat the keeper for her fourth of the season, continuing her goalscoring form from last week.

The match finished 5-0 and increased Yeovil’s league tally to twenty-seven points from nine games in the Somerset County Division 1.

The player of the match was again awarded to Becca McManus, who retains the award from last week after yet another determined and impressive midfield performance.

Yeovil Town Women manager Paul Knight said after the match: “Really good performance, it was quite difficult conditions today in terms of the pitch that we’ve played on. We laid out our stall and we played exactly how we asked in the changing room. The opposition dropped four first team players down for today from the league above, so we knew after we saw the team sheet that the game was going to be quite different. We changed our shape to cancel that out and I think the girls did that quite comfortably. Good result, it’s 9 or 10 on stats if we convert the opportunities which we must score.”

On new signing Becky Miles, Paul said: “She fitted in exceptionally well, she’s an exceptional player. Obviously it’s happened really quickly, we’ve had no time with her, it was a gamble, but it paid off really well.”

Sunday’s player of the match Becca McManus said: “A second player of the match in a row obviously gives me massive amounts of confidence, an early Christmas present for me, really really nice.”

Yeovil Town Women return to action on Sunday 7^th January as they host Portishead Ladies Reserves in the Somerset County Division 1 14:00 KO.

Yeovil Town Women won their seventh consecutive league match as they overcame Wells City with a 3-1 victory. Niamh Nicholls’ brace, as well as a goal from Jess Hodge ensured that Yeovil took the three points against a strong Wells City outfit.

Paul Knight made one change to the team which thumped Ilminster in Yeovil’s last league outing, as new signing Abbie Vernon came in for Laura Cheesman for what would be her debut for the Glovers.

Yeovil started the game on the front foot, with Wells being pinned back in their own half during the early exchanges. The first chance of the match came in the 15^th minute, as the league’s top scorer Niamh Nicholls saw her shot go wide of the post after being played in behind.

In a relatively uneventful first half and just as Wells were beginning to gain a foothold in the game, the deadlock was broken by Jess Hodge, as she netted her 9^th goal of the season to give Yeovil the lead in the 42^nd minute.

Yeovil went in at the break one goal to the good.

The Glovers came out in the second half in search of a second goal but struggled to break down a stubborn Wells defence.

Yeovil eventually found their second of the afternoon in the 70^th minute, following impressive build up play. Chloe Davenport found Abbie Carslake who slid the ball across for Nicholls who inevitably finished to make it 2-0.

Yeovil’s two goal cushion did not last long, as Wells halved the deficit swiftly after the Glovers’ second goal, a well taken goal made it 2-1 just minutes after.

However Wells’ late rally was met with a decisive response by Yeovil, as Nicholls put the result to bed in the 75^th minute. Abbie Carslake and Niamh Nicholls combined again, which resulted in Nicholls scoring her 15^th goal of the season and continuing her prolific form in front of goal.

Moments later, Yeovil nearly made it four, as Zoe Ball saw her attempted lob impressively saved by Wells City’s goalkeeper.

The match finished 3-1 and saw Yeovil increase their points tally to 21 from seven matches, with the Glovers being six points off the top spot with three games in hand.

The player of the match was awarded to winger Chloe Davenport, who has impressed in recent weeks and continued her good form on Sunday.

Yeovil Town Women manager Paul Knight said after the match: “Solid performance, couldn’t wish for anything else, quite tactical today from our point of view, we know how they lay out the stall we knew it would be a physical game. We’ve let in our second goal of the season, however, what’s massive today is we’ve turned over quite a high pressing game and turned it into a win. Fair play to Wells, I have said to their manager today I felt that they were our threat for this season, so really pleased with the girls.”

On in-form winger Chloe Davenport he said: “Chloe and her opposite wingmate stepped up in the second half, her positioning was great, Wells weren’t coming through. Chloe stopped at least two or three dead cert goals with her ability to recover and make the tackles she did. Over the moon, player of the match 100%.”

On YTWFC’s title ambitions: “Obviously the league title is always in view, that’s my job, today was a critical game in putting us on the right track to achieving that. The girls know that and I think that does add a little bit of pressure.”

On debutant Abbie Vernon: “She’s finding her feet, she made selection after only training once, she’s not a natural left footer but she’s clearly defensive minded and quite a driving player, she worked well with Chloe and the wingers. She’s also quite a threat going forward, as well as defensively, she grew into the game.”

Finally, Paul Knight discussed team selection: “Of course it’s difficult, obviously those players are seen as attacking players but I see them slightly differently because of the way we coach them, for me the key word for this team this year is versatility. They’ve got to learn to play football all over the pitch, even the most senior of players. Those that started off in forward positions 12 weeks ago aren’t necessarily playing there at the moment, I think this is where we’re hurting teams, the fact we are versatile and we can rotate players quite vigorously.”

Sunday’s player of the match Chloe Davenport said: “It was great build up play from the girls, on the counter attack we were quite dangerous. Credit to all the girls for the entire game, great build up throughout.”

Yeovil Town Women return to action on Sunday 3^rd December as they travel to Wellington in the Somerset County Division 1 14:00 KO.