Match Reports

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After three days which have rocked the club, Yeovil Town turned in a scintillating team performance to pick up a huge three points at Aldershot Town.

The Glovers took the lead after 11 minutes when Tahvon Campbell smashed home from close range, ten minutes later the impressive Andrew Oluwabori laid it off to Junior Morias who doubled the advantage and then Luke McCormick fired in a beautiful third. With 26 minutes gone, the Glovers were cruising.

In the 64th minute, Campbell fired home a penalty to make it 4-0 before Aldershot substitute James Henry pulled one back a minute in to second half injury time.

It might not have been a cleano, but after everything which has happened at Huish Park since the news of manager Danny Webb’s shock departure you have to take your hats off to everyone for that performance and this result.

What a reaction. What a club.

First half

The first chance of the game fell to the home side as Archy Taylor hit a half-volley over the bar and it was Aldershot who enjoyed the better of the opening ten minutes with dangerman Josh Barrett an ever-present threat.

Having been on the back foot for the opening 11 minutes, Yeovil did a truly Yeovil thing and took the lead. Junior Morias robbed the Taylor  broke in to the box and hammered in a shot which keeper Marcus Dewhurst blocked with his legs and it fell to Tahvon CAMPBELL whose shot cannoned off Theo Widdrington on the line and into the net.

On the 15 minute mark, James Plant cut in from the left hand side and fired in a shot which Dewhurst parried away and moments later Oluwabori broke forward and fired in a shot which came off an Aldershot defender and wide for a corner. There’s definitely opportunities for Yeovil to get at the home side here.

In the 21st minute, it was 2-0 to Yeovil. A high ball forward was superbly brought down by Oluwabori, who laid it off to his left where Junior MORIAS picked it up, fainted to shoot before smashing a shot past Dewhurst.

Junior Morias celebrates Yeovil Town’s second goal.

Two minutes later it could have been three, a ball in from Plant on the left found Oluwabori on the edge of the box, he turned and fired in a shot which Dewhurst had to get down smartly to keep it out. Oluwabori and Morias are pulling the Aldershot defence all over the place.

On 25 minutes it was 3-0. A long ball forward picked out Luke McCORMICK who was in acres of space down the left side, he tore forward and superbly finished. It has been kamikaze defending from  the Aldershot back three, but ruthlessly exposed by Yeovil. What is going on here?! Every time the ball goal goes forward, Yeovil look like they can score.

Aldershot responded with an immediate change with Ryan Jones replacing Charlie Penmen, but it does not stop the visitors from pushing frorward with Oluwabori breaking forward and fizzing a low shot across the face of goal.

With five minutes remaining until half-time, Aldershot had a shot on goal – it was about time. Barrett picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and fired in a shot which Jed Ward did well to turn away.

Half time: Aldershot Town 0 Yeovil Town 3

Second half

Aldershot came out with a half-time flea in their ear and had some early pressure, but there are green-and-white shirts back fighting to keep the pressure off.

With 56 minutes on the clock, Morias, who looked to have a problem with his knee, was replaced by Byron Pendleton who went in to the right wing-back position with Josh Sims moving further forward in to the berth left by Morias.

There was not a great deal for either side until the 62nd minute when James Plant broke in to the box and was pulled down by the home side’s Ryan Hill, referee Stephen Parkinson pointed to the penalty spot. Tahvon CAMPBELL took the ball and send Dewhurst the wrong way. 

Tahvon Campbell celebrates his penalty in front of the travelling supporters.

Two minutes after adding to their advantage, Yeovil introduced Harvey Greenslade in place of Josh Sims. There hasn’t been much to offer At the other end, Jed Meerholz headed one wide and substitute Jones put one wide, but there was not much on offer from them.

With 12 minutes remaining, Richard Dryden made a couple change with Alex Whittle and Ben Wodskou replacing the excellent Oluwabori and Plant. The closing stages of this game have been wonderfully controlled from Yeovil who have kept Aldershot at arms length with a thoroughly professional performance.

Just as I say that, Aldershot have pulled a goal back. As the fourth official’s board goes up for six minutes of injury time, Jones had space down the left side and the ball landed to the feet of James HENRY who coolly struck it in past Ward from the edge of the box.

That goal has given Aldershot a bit of a lift and with five minutes of injury time played, Archy Taylor fires in a shot which Ward does superbly to tip over the bar.

Honestly, this football club, right? After the three days we have had since the shock departure of Danny Webb on Monday morning it would have been easy for the players to fold, for the supporters to not turn up and for us to tumble further in to despair. Instead, we are 4-0 ahead in front of over 200 people who have made the journey to Hampshire on Wednesday night. We’re some club.

Full time: Aldershot Town 1 Yeovil Town 4

Match Details

Venue: The Recreation Ground
Date: Wednesday 24th September, 7.45pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Tahvon Campbell 13 (1-0), Junior Morias 21 (2-0), Luke McCormick 26 (3-0), Tahvon Campbell pen 64 (4-0), James Henry 90+1 (4-1)

Pitch: Text
Conditions: Text

Attendance: 1,931 (203 away supporters)

Bookings: 
Yeovil Town: Harvey Greenslade 67, Kyle Ferguson 82
Aldershot Town: Dejan Tetek  62

Referee: Stephen Parkinson 

Yeovil Town (3-4-1-2)

Substitutes: Byron Pendleton (for Junior Morias, 56), Harvey Greenslade (for Josh Sims, 65), Alex Whittle (for James Plant, 78),  Ben Wodskou (for Andrew Oluwabori, 78), Ollie Hughes (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Aldershot Town: Marcus Dewhurst, Josh Barrett (for James Henry, 73), James Claridge, Cameron Hargreaves (for Tristan Abrahams, 61), Ryan Hill (for Kiban Rai, 73), Jed Meerholz, Charlie Penman (for Ryan Jones, 26), Archy Taylor, Dejan Tetek (for Hady Ghandour, 73), Kwame Thomas, Theo Widdrington.

Substitutes (not used): Ben Jackson, Patrick Nash.

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Danny Webb’s start as Yeovil Town manager ended with a scrappy defeat at Tamworth on Saturday.

The Glovers struggled to cope against a physical opponent on an unstable artificial surface in the first half and had to ride the storm with a barrage from their hosts who won the physical battle.

The introduction of new loan signing Andrew Oluwabori and striker Junior Morias brought some added impetus, but in the 75th minute Tamworth found a breakthrough when defender Kennedy Digie bundled home the winner.

Oluwabori had a great opportunity to get a leveller in second half injury time after a fantastic run, but his shot was wide.

First half

There was no midfielder Brett McGavin in the Glovers’ squad having jarred his back in training. Finn Cousin-Dawson replaced him in the middle of the park with Aaron Jarvis brought in to provide a physical presence up front alongside Harvey Greenslade.

The first chance of the game fell to the home side after nine minutes when Yeovil switched off from a Tom Tonks’ quick throw-in towards Tyler Roberts before the winger crosses the ball for Kennedy Digie whose effort was denied by a smart save from Jed Ward.

Five minutes later, Beck-Ray Enoru volleyed just wide before firing in a cross after doing superbly to beat Byron Pendleton. All the pressure was coming room the home side, but the Yeovil defence was standing firm against a barrage of attacks and several cannon ball throw-ins from the human rocket launcher in Tonks.

The first meaningful chance of goal for Yeovil did not come until half-an-hour in when Tonks fouled McCormick on the edge of the box. In the absence of Brett McGavin, the former Bristol Rovers man lifted the resulting free-kick just over the bar.

With three minutes of the half remaining, Yeovil were indebted to Ward once again after the dangerous Tyler Roberts caused issues down the right side before feeding Kwaku Donkor who effort was well saved by the feet of the keeper.

There was dogged defending from the visitors, but also a lack of creativity going forwards with nothing for hosts’ goalkeeper Jas Singh to deal with.

Half time: Tamworth 0 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

The start of the second half saw Andrew Oluwabori replace James Plant and within seconds of the restart Finn Cousin-Dawson was in referees’ book for an aerial tussle with Manny Duku.

Josh Sims had a shot off target in the 55th minute before Junior Morias came on around the hour mark replacing Greenslade. The arrival of Oluwabori and Morias certainly gave the Glovers’ more cutting edge, but the quality going forwards which was lacking in the first half was still absent after the break.

On 65 minutes, a big chance came when McCormick’s free kick met by Morgan Williams at the back post but he was superbly stopped by Singh. That was the first action the Tamworth keeper was called in to.

The home side had a very loud shout for a penalty on 67 minutes for what looked like a hand ball before substitute Oliver Lynch had a shot which was deflected on to Jed Ward’s crossbar.

You just got the feeling a breakthrough was coming for Tamworth and in the 75th minute it arrived. Having not dealt with a corner, Ben Milnes was able to put a ball in to the box and Kennedy DIGIE bundled it home.

It seemed that it was not until the fourth official put his board up for seven minutes of stoppage time that Yeovil’s attackers snapped in to gear. The best chance came from Oluwabori who picked the ball up inside his own half four minutes in to stoppage time and drove forwards but pulled his shot wide.

Full time: Tamworth 1 Yeovil Town 0

Match Details

Venue: The Lamb Ground
Date: Saturday 20th September, 3pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Kennedy Digie 75 (0-1)

Pitch: An appalling patchwork of plastic 
Conditions: Persistent drizzle 

Attendance: 1,199

Bookings: 
Yeovil Town: Finn Cousin-Dawson 47
Tamworth: Tom Tonks 30, Alfie Bates 90

Referee: Dale Baines

Yeovil Town (3-4-2-1)

Substitutes: Andrew Oluwabori (for James Plant, 46), Junior Morias (for Harvey Greenslade, 61), Tahvon Campbell (for Aaron Jarvis, 79), Alex Whittle (not used), Ben Wodskou (not used), Ollie Hughes (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

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New Yeovil Town manager Danny Webb watched his new players pull off a dramatic late winner at home to Woking this afternoon.

The former Glovers’ player was in the stands at Huish Park to see midfielder Luke McCormick lash the winner in to the roof of the net with three minutes of second half stoppage time on the clock to seal a crucial victory.

First half

New manager Danny Webb was introduced to the Huish Park crowd before the game and he watched from the stands with Richard Dryden, who has been in interim charge since the departure of Mark Cooper, in charge from the dug-out for one more game.

It was Woking who started the game the brighter, but it took until the 12th minute for either side to carve out much more than a half-chance. That fell to Aaron Drewe who was picked out by Tariq Hinds’ ball in to the box, but his effort was deflected over the bar by Jake Wannell. Eight minutes later, Jed Ward had to get down quickly to keep out a long range effort from Jack Turner.

Neither side has done much to test either keeper, but Woking looking far more composed on the ball with a clearer game plan. Just after the half-hour mark, Harry Beautyman’s free-kick from the edge of the box needed turning around the box by Ward. Good save.

Jed Ward turns an effort around the post,

It took until ten minutes before half-time for Yeovil to create anything which came close to being a chance, James Plant won a header which dropped to Junior Morias whose effort was high over the bar. That’s about as good as it has got going forwards for Yeovil.

The most 0-0 45 minutes of football Huish Park has seen in a long time. If you forgot it was an early kick-off and missed it, you didn’t miss much. If Danny Webb did not know the scale of the job he was facing at the start of this half, he did by the end of it.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0  Woking 0

Second half

Two minutes in to the second half, Yeovil’s first opportunity on goal fell to Josh Sims. Brett McGavin’s ball found him on the right, he twisted his defender inside and out and flashed a shot across the face of goal. Better from Yeovil.

On 53 minutes, Greenslade got away down the right and fired a ball in to the box with Morias ready to convert at the back post, but Woking were able to clear. 

There’s been an improvement going forward from the Glovers (it honestly could not have been much worse) and Dryden introduced Aaron Jarvis off the bench on 65 minutes. He replaced Harvey Greenslade.

With 73 minutes played, Morgan Williams spurned a glorious opportunity to open the scoring. Plant’s ball from the right was met by a great header from Jarvis and landed to the defender who was unmarked on the far post, but lifted his shot over

Morgan Williams does not know how he has missed that.

There was a bizarre moment around 12 minutes from time when Jarvis and Woking keeper Tom Norcott tangled off the ball. The on loan Reading keeper went down like he’d been assaulted and there was even a visit from the Woking medical staff. All a bit bizarre and Jarvis got a booking for his role which was presumably Norcott’s intention.

Tahvon Campbell, who had probably the most prolific spell of his career as a Woking player, was introduced for Wodskou on 82 minutes. A minute later Campbell had a great opportunity to break the deadlock after persistent play from Luke McCormick poked a ball through to him, Norcott seemed to get enough on it to deny Campbell an immediate shot, he managed to hook it towards goal but it was cleared off the line. Just hit the bloody thing!

O’Brien put one over the bar with five minutes remaining, but just when it looked like this game was going to finish goalless – Yeovil took the lead. A minute in to five minutes of second half stoppage time, McGavin’s corner was headed down by Jarvis and it landed to Luke McCORMICK on the back post and the midfielder showed great composure to thrash it in to the roof of the net.

Luke McCormick celebrates his goal.

In the fifth minute of stoppage time there was substitute Josh Osude went down under a challenge from Ward, before the ball broke to O’Brien who was felled by a strong challenge from Ferguson. Ward’s challenge was clearly just a goalkeeper and striker challenging for the ball, the Ferguson one had a bit more on it. Seen those given.

There was a  long stoppage as Osude got treatment and that meant we actually ended up playing 100 minutes. If the first half was forgettable, the second was much better but there was plenty of commitment there and even more importantly three points.

Full time: Yeovil Town 1 Woking 0

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Date: Saturday 13th September, 3pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Luke McCormick 90+3 (1-0)

Pitch: Looking good
Conditions: Mostly dry and bright with periods of intense rain in the first half

Attendance:  2,646 (259 away supporters)

Bookings: 
Yeovil Town: Junior Morias 61, Josh Sims 64, Morgan Williams 75
Woking: Jack Turner 45

Referee: Adrian Quelch

Yeovil Town (3-4-2-1)

Substitutes: Aaron Jarvis (for Harvey Greenslade, 65), Tahvon Campbell (for Ben Wodskou, 81), Byron Pendleton (for Josh Sims, 87),, Finn Cousin-Dawson (for used), Ollie Hughes (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Woking: Tom Norcott, Aaron Drewe, Tunji Akinola, Timi Odusina, Caleb Richards, Tariq Hinds, Jack Turner (for Jake Forster-Caskey, 59) Jamie Andrews, Harry Beautyman (for Josh Osude, 70), Aiden O’Brien, Josh Kelly (for Timmy Akinola, 70).

Substitutes (not used):  Chin Okoli, Matt Ward, Craig Ross.

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Managerless Yeovil Town were outclassed by a rampant York City side who ran out comfortable winners at Huish Park.

The big-spending visitors, who were under the charge of new boss Stuart Maynard for the first time, went ahead through a penalty from prolific striker Ollie Pearce before a slick move saw Ollie Banks double the advantage before the break.

Luke McCormick pulled one back for Yeovil after a howler from visiting keeper Harrison Male before Jake Wannell turned in to his own net to restore the visitors’ two-goal advantage.

The weaknesses in the Glovers’ paper thin squad, missing the injured Alex Whittle and with youth midfielder Ollie Hughes named as one of just six substitutes, was cruelly exposed by a expensively assembled York squad, who thoroughly deserved the three points.

First half

The opening chances fell to Yeovil with a neat connection between Josh Sims and Junior Morias with the latter having a shot blocked after five minutes and then two minutes later Brett McGavin deceived everyone with a free kick from 30 yards out. The midfielder looked like he would put a ball in to the box, but instead he tried to catch York keeper Harrison Male out but the stopper was able to scramble across the keep it out.

On 13 minutes, the visitors had a great opportunity when Jake Wannell gifted the ball to Ollie Banks who fed Ollie Pearce just inside the box, Jed Ward got enough on it to keep it out. Moments later there was another break involving Joe Felix, who was causing James Plant all kinds of problems down the right, which caused chaos inside the box and a loud penalty appeal for a foul on Alex Newby and soon after Ollie Pearce tried to spin with the ball at his feet inside the box, but was denied by good defending from Kyle Ferguson.
 
York took the lead in the 23rd minute and it came from a familiar source. Newby set Felix away and he got the wrong side of Plant who pulled him down just inside the box. No surprises who it was to take it as Ollie PEARCE stepped up and slammed it straight down the middle. That is his eighth goal in five matches against us now.
 
Ollie Pearce celebrates his opener with the travelling supporters.
 
Ten minutes later it was 2-0 to the visitors. A move saw a ball played down the left side which Byron Pendleton missed and Tyrese Sinclair got away, his ball in was slammed home by Ollie BANKS. Yeovil were absolutely put to the sword by some slick football there and the lead was nothing more than they deserved.
 
For the remainder of the first half, it was all York as they pulled Yeovil about all over the pitch. Since the Pearce penalty, we have struggled to get near them and they have grown in confidence with every pass, whilst we are chasing shadows.
 

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 York City 1

Second half

In the 69th minute, Newby seized on to a loose ball from Pendleton and fed Pearce who darted away down the left and lifted a shot just over the bar and on to the top of the net. That would have been quite a tap in.

It seemed like it was going to take something special to get Yeovil back in to it. It came from a mistake by Male as York tried to play it around at the back and the keeper’s loose pass was seized upon by Luke McCORMICK who will never get a better opportunity to get his first goal for the club.

That lifted Yeovil who looked to press forward, but they almost got caught out when they put everyone forward for  free-kick and the speedy Felix found himself clear on goal from the clearance. The wing-back had almost the entire length of the pitch to cover and possibly too much time to think about it and he lifted his effort over the bar.

But, on 83 minutes, the visitors did get a third. Hiram Boateng glided away from the Yeovil defence and fired it towards substitute Josh Stones before Jake Wannell slid in and the ball flew in to the net for an OWN GOAL.

McCormick had an effort turned wide by Male soon after, but York stayed strong whilst Yeovil’s paper thin squad started to feel the effects of three games in seven days. 

The contrast was stark between these two sides and it is clear to see why York will be among the sides pushing at the top of the National League Premier Division table and just how far Yeovil need to come to get anywhere close.

Full time: Yeovil Town 1 York City 3

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Date: Saturday 6th September, 3pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Ollie Pearce pen 25 (0-1), Ollie Banks 34 (0-2), Luke McCormick 77 (1-2), Hiram Boateng 83 (1-3)

Pitch: Still looking impressive
Conditions: Warm and sunny

Attendance:  2,954 (244 away supporters)

Bookings: 
Yeovil Town: James Plant 24, Aaron Jarvis 70
York City: Hiram Boateng 76

Referee: Lewis Sandoe

Yeovil Town (3-4-2-1)

Substitutes: Tahvon Campbell (for James Plant, 54), Aaron Jarvis (for Harvey Greenslade, 67), Ben Wodskou (for Junior Morias, 68), Finn Cousin-Dawson (for Byron Pendleton, 72), Ollie Hughes (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

York City: Harrison Male, Mark Kitching, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Callum Howe, Tyrese Sinclair (for Ben Brookes, 70), Alex Hunt, Ollie Pearce (for Josh Stones, 82), Hiram Boateng, Joe Felix, Ollie Banks (for Joe Grey, 70), Alex Newby (for Daniel Batty, 78).

Substitutes (not used):  George Sykes-Kenworthy, Ryan Fallowfield, Ash Palmer.

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Striker Junior Morias bagged his third goal in as many games to grab Yeovil Town their first away of the season at bottom club Solihull Moors.

The experienced striker was in the right place at the back post when James Plant’s deflected shot looped up and landed at the feet of Morias who turned it home.

It had been a bruising encounter against a physical Solihull side who threw themselves forward in the second half, but could not a breakthrough.

First half

With two minutes played, Yeovil had the game’s first opportunity as Junior Morias was set free towards goal and he laid it off to Josh Sims whose effort needed helping over the bar by Solihull keeper Laurie Walker.

Jacob Wakeling had a strong shot in for the home side’s first chance after eight minutes, but it was never troubling Jed Ward in the visitors’ goal and the keeper had to be at full stretch after 17 minutes to deny former Glover Emmanuel Sonupe. A minute later, Dan Creaney lashed one wide of the post. It is end to end here.
 
Yeovil’s defence were busy against a physical Solihull side. PIcture courtesy of Alex Russell.
 
It has become a real physical battle when Solihull attack with the long throws of Brad Nicholson and the giant Creaney causing problems. If the home side watched Yeovil struggle with crosses in to the box, they have replaced them with Nicholson’s throws which are absolute bombs.
 
Luke McCormick flashes a chance wide but that’s the only break in what has otherwise it has been all Solihull. That was until five minutes before half time when Yeovil did manage to string together a few passes but there was no real quality inside the box.
 
You can hear interim manager Richard Dryden screaming “second ball” to his players. He knows what his players need to do to try and counter Solihull.
 

But, just as the game looked to be petering out to a goalless half scoreline, Yeovil scored. Plant worked himself some space on the edge of the box and tried a shot which looped up off a Solihull defender and landed perfectly to Junior MORIAS who steered it past Walker. 

That is three goals in as many games for Morias and he sends Yeovil in to the break ahead.
 
Junior Morias opens the scoring.

Half time: Solihull Moors 0 Yeovil Town 1

Second half

The opening chance of the second half did not arrive until the 53rd minute when Jacob Wakeling lashed one in to the side netting before Aaron Jarvis replaced Greenslade two minutes later. If you need a back to goal battering ram, Jarvis is probably your man.

But on 59 minutes, Wakeling, who signed from Peterborough United before kick-off, ran through on a long ball over the top with the Yeovil defence scrambling to try and get back. The 23-year-old had only Jed Ward to beat but blazed his effort over the bar. That should be 1-1, but it’s not.

There were further changes for the visitors on 65 minutes with on loan Birmingham City striker Ben Wodskou and former Solihull man Tahvon Campbell, who replace Junior Morias and Josh Sims.

On 70 minutes, Kyle Ferguson went down in a heap after a full-blooded 50-50 tackle in the middle of the pitch. The summer signing looks in a lot of pain, but he has got to his feet and walked (/limped) off the pitch. Unbelievably, he’s returned to the pitch.

There’s been a lot of possession for the home side and Wakeling found himself in a lot of room after 74 minutes and lashed a long range effort wide, but we have to learn the lessons of throwing leads away in our past two matches. 

Ferguson cannot continue here and he is replaced by Finn Cousin-Dawson after 77 minutes with Pendleton replaced by Alex Whittle at the same time.

Plant had a great opportunity after twisting and turning inside the box three minutes later, but his shot was blocked and landed to Jarvis who was facing the wrong way and could not get it back to Wodskou. Moments later, Williams’ ball in finds Jarvis but he cannot get a shot on target. Six minutes remaining and McCormick is given time and space to move towards goal and unleashes an effort past the post from distance.

Eight minutes of injury time goes up as the game ticks over to 90 minutes and you sense there is a kitchen sink about to be thrown by Solihull and with seven of them played keeper Walker came forward for a free-kick which mercifully crept wide.

The final whistle on the first away win of the season sounded sweet, but in the home end Solihull fans were calling for the sacking of manager Matt Taylor. We needed that.

Full time: Solihull Moors 0 Yeovil Town 1

Match Details

Venue: Damson Park
Date: Tuesday 2nd September, 7.45pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Junior Morias 45+1 (1-0)

Pitch: Green
Conditions: Soggy

Attendance:  917 (162 away supporters)

Bookings: 
Yeovil Town: Byron Pendleton 60, Tahvon Campbell 89
Solihull Moors: 

Referee: Harrison Blair

Yeovil Town (4-2-3-1)

Substitutes: Aaron Jarvis (for Harvey Greenslade, 55), Ben Wodskou (for Junior Morias, 65), Tahvon Campbell (for Josh Sims, 65), Finn Cousin-Dawson (for Kyle Ferguson, 77), Alex Whittle (for Byron Pendleton, 77), Matt Gould (not used).

Solihull Moors: Laurie Walker, James Clarke, Cameron Green, Alex Whitmore, Brad Nicholson, Dan Creaney, Ben Worman (for Sam Bowen, 81), Louis Jackson, Jacob Wakeling (for Callum McFarlane, 89), Emmanuel Sonupe, Oscar Rutherford (for Shen Whyte-Hall, 67).

Substitutes (not used):  Rory Brown, Oliver Tipton, Finn Howell, Brad Stevenson.

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Yeovil Town let a lead slip for the second consecutive game as they started life after Mark Cooper with a defeat at FC Halifax Town on Saturday.

The Glovers spurned opportunities to go ahead in the first half before conceding a goal to Owen Bray late in injury time, but a penalty from Junior Morias and a great header from Harvey Greenslade saw them lead with an hour gone.

But, having taken the lead, the visitors sat back at Halifax came roaring back and Bray pulled them level before substitute Will Harris struck the winner with ten minutes remaining.

Interim manager Richard Dryden was left to look back on the all too familiar story of missed opportunities and soft goals conceded as he prepares to pick the Glovers up ahead of Tuesday night’s visit to Solihull Moors.

First half

After ten minutes, a dangerous ball in to the box caused confusion inside the Yeovil area which led to a scramble before a clearance, it has been a shaky start for the visitors who seem to be still trying to figure things out.

On 13 minutes, the visitors’ first sight on goal fell to Harvey Greenslade who could not get any contact on an Alex Whittle cross from the left wing. 

Greenslade had the ball in the back of the net in the 17th  minute after he got slipped through on goal by Josh Sims and found the net, but could not beat the offside flag having made his run just too early.

Brett McGavin fires a free-kick in on goal.

A mistake from Halifax keeper Sam Johnston after 26 minutes saw him fail to claim Brett McGavin’s ball in to the box, Morgan Williams picked up the loose ball and laid it off to Junior Morias who twisted and turned on the edge of the box but his effort sailed harmlessly over the bar.

This game seems to go in five-minute spells of either side dominating possession; when we get going we look a real threat but we look really threatened when Halifax get their game going as well.

Keeper Jed Ward had to get behind a long range effort from Bray after Sean Tarima’s ball in to the box had evaded David Kawa inside the area and shortly after Ward was forced in to an acrobatic save to deny Jay Turner-Cooke who was the latest Halifax player to try his luck from distance.

Greenslade had a glorious chance to open the scoring with seven minutes of the first half remaining when he ran on to a long ball over the top from Williams, but the striker’s first touch betrayed him and Johnston was able to come and gather. 

As the game crept in to injury time there was the feeling that not taking our chances was going to cost us and a minute in that is what happened. Jamie Cooke whipped a ball in from the right, Williams’ attempt to intercept it cannoned off Ward and Kawa was there to pick up the pieces and find Owen BRAY who stroked it home. The Yeovil players were incensed feeling there was a push on McGavin in the build up.

Overall, an even first half with both sides having opportunities to get the opening, but it is the same old story of not taking our chances and then getting punished for doing so.

Half time: FC Halifax Town 1 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

The second half started with Yeovil on the attack with McGavin putting a free-kick just over the bar two minutes after the restart before Greenslade had an effort blocked shortly after. 

In the 52nd minute, Yeovil played the ball around well and found Luke McCormick breaking in to the box from the right side, he was felled by a thunderous tackle from Cody Johnson and the referee  awarded a penalty. With our record from the spot, it is fair to say there was some nerves in the away end but one man who showed no nerves was not was Junior MORIAS who smashed it low and hard past the reach of Johnston who guessed the right way.

The bright start continued with Yeovil playing some attractive passing football to retain possession and and led to a second goal after 58 minutes. I lost count of the number of passes which led to Josh Sims’ beautiful ball from the right side which was met by a superb near post header from Harvey GREENSLADE.

Yeovil Town celebrate Harvey Greenslade’s goal.

Remember how I said that for every spell we had, Halifax had one as well? The response to us going ahead was a couple of substitutions for the home side with striker Will Harris and winger Angelo Capello, the scorer of the only goal last time we visited The Shay, introduced on the hour mark.

Their arrival caused all kinds of problems for the Yeovil defence and a spell of sustained pressure we could not deal with and, you guessed it, a goal. With 65 minutes gone, Kawa was allowed to run in to the box and fired a ball across to Owen BRAY who was gifted the freedom of the penalty area to add his second goal of the game. The arrival of the substitutes has seen Kawa shifted over to the left side and he was causing problems.

We had sat back after going ahead and invited the home side to attack which they have been more than happy to do especially after the substitutions. Defensively we just do not look slow and completely unable to deal with balls going in to our box.

It was therefore no surprise that what turned out to be the winning goal came from a ball in to our own box. Josh Hmami played a ball to the back post this time from the right and our defence failed to deal with, Williams missed his header and the ball bounced inside the box where Will HARRIS was given time to smash a volley in to the roof of Jed Ward’s net. It had been coming since we went ahead.

Yeovil made substiutions of their own with former Halifax striker Tahvon Campbell and fellow frontman Aaron Jarvis replacing Sims and Greenslade whilst Finn Cousin-Dawson came on for Byron Pendleton, who was forced off with an injury after a heavy challenge.

As the board went up for nine additional minutes, James Plant got away down the right side and delivered a ball in to the back post but Jarvis’ header came back off the post.

Full time: FC Halifax Town 3 Yeovil Town 2

Match Details

Venue: The Shay
Date: Saturday 30th August, 3pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Owen Bray 45+1 (0-1), Junior Morias pen 52 (1-1), Harvey Greenslade 58 (2-1), Owen Bray 65 (2-2), Will Harris 79 (2-3)

Pitch: Surreal-ly green if you have ever visited The Shay before
Conditions: Overcast

Attendance: 1,280 (143 away supporters)

Bookings: 
Yeovil Town: Harvey Greenslade 62, Tahvon Campbell 73
FC Halifax Town: Cody Johnson 51, Jamie Cooke 53, Angelo Capello 90+8, James Turner-Cooke 90+8

Referee: Richard Aspinall

Yeovil Town (4-2-3-1)

Substitutes: Tahvon Campbell (for Josh Sims, 71), Finn Cousin-Dawson (for Byron Pendleton, 76), Aaron Jarvis (for Harvey Greenslade, 76), Kyle Ferguson (not used), Ben Wodskou (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

FC Halifax Town: Sam Johnson, Adam Adetoro, Will Hugill (for Jack Jenkins, 88), Josh Hmami, Jamie Cooke (for Will Harris, 60), Owen Bray (for Jake Griffin 90), David Kawa (for Tom Pugh 88), Jay Turner-Cooke, Sen Tarima, Cody Johnson, Thierry Latty-Fairweather (for Angelo Cappello 60).

Substitutes (not used):  Nathaniel Ford, Harvey Sutcliffe.

 

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Josh Sims celebrates his goal at Huish Park.

An incredible game at Huish Park saw a second half horror show pile pressure on Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper as his side capitulated to defeat against Gateshead.

The Glovers turned in a scintillating first half performance and goals from Josh Sims, Junior Morias and Harvey Greenslade put them 3-0 ahead and seemingly cruising towards three points at half-time.

But when the visitors’ Kyle Hurst pulled one back just a minute after the restart, Yeovil started to crumble. The inevitable goal from former Glovers’ favourite Frank Nouble followed before substitute Kain Adom pulled the visitors’ level as chants of “We want Cooper out” rang around the stadium.

Then in the eighth minute of stoppage time, Adom struck the winner as Cooper disappeared down the tunnel with many supporters following him out of the stadium. 

An first half which was unbelievable and showed what Yeovil can be, a second half which was unacceptable and showed what we all too often have been.

First half

The highlight of the team news was a Glovers’ side with a genuine back four in defence for the first time in living memory – if you were born in the past couple of years at least! Alex Whittle returned at left back with loanee Byron Pendleton on the right and Jake Wannell and Morgan Williams in the centre of defence ahead of Jed Ward.

For the visitors, a very familiar face lined up in the forward line as Frank Nouble made his first return to Huish Park – in a playing capacity at least – leading the line for Gateshead.

In the fourth minute, Yeovil broke forward with James Plant bursting in to the box and went down under pressure from a Gateshead defender. No real appeals from the Yeovil players and nothing given by the referee Harry Wager.

There was a worrying moment shortly after when Josh Sims went down in the middle of the pitch with no-one around him, but the midfielder who collected his ceremonial sack of potatoes for being the club’s first scorer of the season ahead of the match was quickly back on his feet.

The attacking intent which was present for periods of the defeat at Braintree was consistently there with Yeovil suffocating the visitors at every opportunity.

A back pass to visiting keeper Harvey Shelvey saw him attempt to pass it out and Junior Morias intercepted and powered in to the box before laying it across to Josh SIMS who smashed home from close range. At Braintree on Saturday, gilt edged chances were not taken by Yeovil, at Huish Park they took the first one which came their way.

Josh Sims celebrates his goal at Huish Park.
Josh Sims celebrates putting Yeovil Town in front against Gateshead. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

The pressure continued with Greenslade getting away down the right side after 27 minutes. He flashed one over the bar with Sims and Morias arriving inside the area.

Gateshead did not seem to know what to do about Yeovil and amazingly given how this season had gone, it was the home side who looked more likely to score and just before the half-hour mark they did.

Great play by Brett McGavin in the middle of the park saw him release Greenslade who laid it off to Junior MORIAS on the left side of the box. The stocky frontman beat his defender and leathered it in to the net. Ruthless.

Two goals to the good and seemingly cruising, there was no sign of Yeovil sitting back and on 42 minutes they added a third. A move which started with a great interception by Luke McCormick allowed McGavin to set Sims away down the right, he beat his defender and fired in a shot which Shelvey stopped but could not hold and it broke to Harvey GREENSLADE who smashed it home.

Wow, just wow. Where has this Yeovil Town been this season?! Who cares, more of the same, please. A genuine joy to watch going forward and that back four has not looked troubled at all.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Gateshead 0

Second half

 

Gateshead made two changes at half-time with goalkeeper Harvey Shelvey replaced by Tiernan Brooks and Kain Adom replacing Josh Home.

The visitors got the best start they could as they pulled a goal back within three minutes of the restart. Kyle HURST was picked out in acres of space on the edge of the box and he curled a superb shot in to the far corner past a stranded Jed Ward. 

Ten minutes after the restart, loan striker Ben Wodskou, who got the winner last time out at Huish Park, replaced James Plant.

On 58 minutes, the most inevitable part of the afternoon happened as Frank NOUBLE got a goal against his old side. A corner whipped in to the near post was met by a Gateshead head, and the attempted clearance landed at the feet of Nouble who rifled it home. There were words exchanged with Yeovil manager Mark Cooper and his former frontman as he ran back for the restart.

There were further changes for the home side with Finn Cousin-Dawson replacing McGavin and Tahvon Campbell replacing Morias.

A great opportunity for Yeovil to grow their advantage fell to McCormick on the hour mark. Morias and Sims both tried to bring a bouncing ball under control inside the box, the Gateshead clearance went as far as McCormick whose shot was stopped by Brooks. Great chance to ease the nerves.

Yeovil were indebted to goalkeeper Jed Ward who denied the visitors an opportunity to get an equaliser with a close range finish after 63 minutes. In the 70th minute, Adom flicked one just wide after another goal mouth scramble and there are a lot of nervous voices inside Huish Park.

Then in the 73rd minute, the equaliser came. A ball hooked in to the box was not dealt with by the Yeovil defence, Ward came to the edge of his box to try and meet it and Kain ADOM lifted it deftly over the keeper and Morgan Williams could not get it off the line.

Frank Nouble ‘has a word’ with the Yeovil bench on his way back after the equaliser.

The first chants of “We want Cooper out” come out of the Thatcher’s Stand. The mood has gone as sour as the performance from Yeovil.

With five minutes remaining, Wodskou had a golden opportunity to put Yeovil ahead again after Campbell threaded him in to the box but the Birmingham City youngster did not get a clean connection on it. A great opportunity spurned and two minutes later, visiting substitute Max Sheaf had an equally glorious one but he headed Adom’s cross straight at Ward who was able to parry it.

Moments later it was Greenslade who Yeovil were indebted to as Sheaf’s effort on goal deflected off Williams, looped over Ward and was headed in to the far corner before the forward got back to head it away.

The difference for Yeovil in these two halves have been night and day. The early goal from Gateshead left us completely shell-shocked and we have disappeared inside ourselves in exactly the same way that the visitors were in the first half. As good as the opening 45 minutes were, the second 45 minutes were worst.

But, just when you thought it could not get worse, it did. Eight minutes in to second half stoppage time another ball in the box broke to Nouble and then the substitute Kain ADOM who lashed home the winner. Mark Cooper has gone straight down the tunnel and a huge percentage of the Huish Park crowd and joining him in departing. I wonder if we’ll see either of them back anytime soon.

Honestly, I am lost for words. Unforgivable. Unacceptable. Something has got to change – and I think even the most ardent ‘Cooper in’ supporter will struggle to defend that.

Full time: Yeovil Town 3 Gateshead 4

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Date: Monday 24th August, 3pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Josh Sims 17 (1-0), Junior Morias 29 (2-0), Harvey Greenslade 42 (3-0), Kyle Hurst 46 (3-1), Frank Nouble 58 (3-2), Kain Adom 73 (3-3), Kain Adom 90+8 (3-4)

Pitch: Looking magnificent
Conditions: Hot and sunny

Attendance: 2,799 (45 away supporters)

Bookings: 
Yeovil Town: Unnamed 62, Unnamed 71, Kyle Ferguson 83
Gateshead: Frank Nouble 66, Callum Johnson 83,  Kenton Richardson 90+5

Referee: Harry Wager

Yeovil Town (4-2-3-1)

Substitutes: Ben Wodskou (for James Plant, 55), Finn Cousin-Dawson (for Brett McGavin, 65), Tahvon Campbell (for Junior Morias, 65), Kyle Ferguson (for Josh Sims, 79), Charlie Cooper (not used), Aaron Jarvis (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Gateshead: George Shelvey (for Tiernan Brooks, 46), Connor Pani, Kenton Richardson, David Ferguson, Kyle Hurst, Max Melbourne (for Callum Johnson, 25), Josh Home (for Kain Adom, 46), Will Flint, Harry Chapman, Fenton John, Frank Nouble.

Substitutes (not used): Max Sheaf, Ethan Fitzhugh, Ben Williams, Callum Bone.

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A second half sucker punch from Sahid Kamara gave the hosts all three points, against a Glovers side who had plenty of huff and puff, but could not find a telling touch to claim anything out of an important fixture.

The Glovers lacked the killer instinct despite more shots on target, more possession, more corners. The away fans went home empty handed. 

First half

The Glovers had the better of the earliest exchanges, James Plant getting involved nice and early on his return on loan. With four minutes on the clock, it was Plant who drove forward and delivered, his eventual cross found it right through to the right hand side, where Josh Sims forced an early corner.

Brett McGavin’s corner came to little, but the Glovers certainly in the early ascendancy. 

Tahvon Campbell was next to drive forward, and with no more than five minutes on the clock, his attack fell to the path of Josh Sims who’s effort hit the bar. 

Campbell was certainly involved on plenty of occasions, in the opening exchanges, not one, but two further corners came as a result of his driving runs, combining well with Plant once more. 

Plant had chances to strike at goal, but the Braintree defence were there to force the block. 

It took the best part of 10 minutes for the Iron to really get their first chance, a long throw on the right aimed at the head of John Akinde who had taken up a spot on the toes of Jed Ward.

Fletcher Hubbard forced a free kick in a dangerous area, he stood over the ball, but put his set piece into outer space.

The Glovers were fairly happy in possession, without breaking through the Braintree back line and were susceptible to a break away, Hubbard played a delightful ball into the box, Lewis Walker missing his cue – the best chance of the game by far.

At the other end, Josh Sims saw not one but two shots charged down, before the hosts could clear their lines.

A 20th minute corner gave McGavin the chance to put the ball back into the box as Yeovil continued their early dominance, but not for the first time, a good opportunity came to nothing.

With quarter of the game gone, Yeovil will be more than happy with the way they’ve controlled possession, but Braintree arguably had the better chances, John Akinde skipping past Kyle Ferguson, a blocked shot from Elliott Thorpe was followed by another sent high and wide.

The visitors were happy to keep the ball, and as the half developed there was a sense of going through the motions, the sides exchanged free kicks, but neither side could produce that little moment of quality.

On 35 minutes, a McGavin out swinger went harmlessly wide with Jake Wannell unable to get any real purchase on the ball.

Braintree were able to get their game going shortly after, Hubbert and Walker combining well, the latter unable to make the most of another fizzing ball into the danger area from the former. 

With five minutes until the break, Finn Cousin-Dawson found himself in the referee’s notebook after a mistimed control led him towards a rough challenge on Manny Miranda.

The resulting free kick saw Walker put the ball into a dangerous area, but Jed Ward was there to claim.

Ward got the game going quickly and within the blink of an eye, Josh Sims and Bryon Pendleton bringing good saves out of the home ‘keeper Mason Terry.

The final few minutes saw Cousin-Dawson go in hard on Akinde in a dangerous area – already on a booking, he may have been lucky to not get anything more than a word.

The hosts were most certainly finishing the half better; Hubbard causing trouble down the left, James Vennings regularly involved with everything revolving around Akinde in attack.

Yeovil ending the half up in terms of possession stats, but both sides might feel they had the chances to be in front at the break.

Half time: Braintree Town 0 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

The second half got underway with no changes for either side, Yeovil picking up where they left off, on the ball looking to dictate the play.

Aaron Jarvis started the half well, with chances to bring the ball down and play others in around him, the final ball not quite clicking to turn a decent opportunity into a clear chance at goal.

Could Yeovil force that chance? Byron Pendleton put a glorious ball through the corridor of uncertainty in the box, no-one able to connect and provide the telling touch. 

Marley Miranda provided the hosts with their first shot on target of the game, a nice Cruyff turn created him some space, with Ward there to turn the ball round the post.

But, the Glovers were back on the break not long after; Sims and Pendleton teaming up well, but the final ball to Jarvis ended up falling to no-one.

The Spaniard, Miranda was going through the gears in the opening 10 minutes, a 20-yard effort sailing just over the bar.

Quite how this game was still 0-0 is anyone’s guess. No sooner had the dust settled on that Braintree chance, the Glovers were up the other end creating a moment.

Aaron Jarvis forcing a corner, but, the pressure eased when a referee whistle spotted a foul from the resulting set piece.

FC-D was taken off for Luke McCormick with Junior Morias coming in for Tahvon Campbell just before the hour mark.

Lewis Walker would force a save out of Ward as the hosts continued to get a foot hold in the game.

The addition of Morias was proving to be a positive one, on a number of occasions, he showed for the ball and started an attack, he forced a corner with an effort on goal.

That corner was, much like the previous one, brought to a halt by the referee. 

More changes for the Glovers, Greenslade and Wodskou coming on for Jarvis and Sims as the Glovers rolled their final attacking dice.

20 minutes for those changes to make an impact, Kyle Smith and Junior Morias both found themselves in the ref’s notebook, which seemed to put a spark in the Yeovil man.

He travelled with the ball deep into the Braintree half before unleashing a shot, narrowly off target.

This was quickly becoming a one-chance game, both side knowing that one moment of quality, or one error by enough.

Junior Morias was close to providing that moment, his ball to Wodskou was perfect, but the Birmingham loanee couldn’t hit the target from just outside the box.

Greenslade had a shot, but much like those that had gone before, just not able to nestle in the far corner.

Then, if you’ve read the script, you can probably understand what happens next.

Braintree take the lead through substitute Sahid KAMARA, he found room in the box, brought the ball down well, and made no mistake. The Glovers hadn’t taken any of their chances, the hosts found a way to find one of theirs. 

The hosts now had the bit between their teeth, an Akinde shot was well saved by Ward.

Braintree were, unerstandably, slowing the game down, but were still trying to make things happen, Hubbard had a shot blocked and Vennings and Walker were still able to move the ball around quickly.

Miranda had a pair of shots saved by Ward, the midfielder given way too much space in dangerous areas. 

A breakaway from Plant gave the Glovers the chance to ease the pressure, scythed down by Miranda, who went into the book, gave the chance to put the ball into the box.

McGavin’s free kick fell to Ferguson who’s header was calmly claimed by the home stopper.

With the clock ticking towards the 90, Braintree were able to play the game at their pace, getting the free kicks, earning the corners and not being afraid to keep the ball in the corner. 

Six minutes added, as Braintree made more changed including bringing on the vastly experienced Alan Judge.

Yeovil had more huff and puff in their side, but there lacked forward options to play the ball towards. 

Byron Pendleton continued to try and force something down the right hand side, with Braintree trying to sit a little deeper.

Pendleton and Greenslade teamed up well into the final third and only Greenslade will know how his chance could only be poked towards the goalkeeper rather than either side. 

McGavin saw a free kick tipped round the post by Terry, back to back corners followed, another save from Wannell, another block prevent the Glovers from finding an equaliser.

But, that cutting edge would be lacking from the visitors, left to rue an away day where the Glovers did everything but score.

Full time: Braintree Town 1 Yeovil Town 0

Match Details

Venue: The Rare Breed Meat Co. Stadium
Date: Saturday 23rd August, 15:00pm

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Sahid Kamara (1-0 ’77)

Pitch: Rock Hard
Conditions: Overcast

Attendance: 2

Bookings: 
Yeovil Town: Finn Cousin-Dawson ’40. Junior Morias ’70
Braintree Town: Kyle Smith ’70

Sendings off:
Yeovil Town: None
Braintree Town: None

Referee: Peter Wright

Yeovil Town 

Substitutes:  Matt Gould, Ben Wodskou (for Jarvis ’64), Luke McCormick (for Cousin-Dawson ’60) Harvey Greenslade (for Sims ’64), Alex Whittle, Junior Morias (for Campbell ’60)

Braintree Town: Mason Terry, Aidan Francis-Clarke, George Langston (c), Tommy Smith, Kyle Smith, Marley Miranda, James Vennings, Lewis Walker, Fletcher Hubbard, Elliot Thorpe, John Akinde

Substitutes (not used): Manny Omrore, Alan Judge (for Miranda ’91), Chay Cooper, (for Akinde ’82) Goran Babic, Jacob Pinnington, Sahid Kamara (for Thorpe ’71), Freddie Hockey (for Hubbard ’91)

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Goals from Josh Sims and Ben Wodskou goals gave Yeovil Town all three points against Brackley Town at Huish Park to kick start their 2025/26 season. 

Sims claimed a sack of potatoes for becoming the first scorer of the season in the first half striking from close range before Wodskou finished off a fine team move in the second to secure the points that would take the Glovers into the top 10, just a point off the play-offs (too early?)

Here’s Gloverscast Ben’s on the whistle report: 

First half

The first couple of moments belonged to the visitors, with some good combinations, particularly down the left hand side causing the Glovers some issues, but never really caused Jed Ward any real trouble.

The hosts were into stride on five minutes though, Brett McGavin split the midfield with a pass to find Tahvon Campbell, who combined well with Junior Morias to send a couple of defenders flying. The resulting cross came to nothing.

Ward was forced into the first real save of the match on seven minutes, the Brackley midfield cut through the Glovers and Connor Hall spun in the area to stab a shot goalward. The Bristol Rovers loan keeper did well to put the ball behind, he would also clear the resulting corner with a commanding punch.

Morgan Roberts and Ryan Haynes were certainly having the best of the attacking moves down the left hand side, they combined to force a good header from Michael Nottingham.

Moments before Josh Sims claimed the Spuds. Photo courtesy of Andy Craig

Zak Brown wanted to get involved too, on 13 minutes, he drove at the Glovers’ back line and his deflected effort from just outside the box dropped agonisingly over the goal with Ward stranded. 

Yeovil got their movement going again to force a corner on 16 minutes, Josh Sims and Campbell working well to force a cross on the left hand side, nothing came of it, but it did at least get the home faithful off their feet.

With 20 minutes gone, McGavin decided it was time to get his shooting boots on, Morias and Sims worked the ball back to the midfielder, who took a touch and let fly from 20 yards, but the ball fizzed, just over the bar.

The Thatchers’ Stand was becoming audibly frustrated with the action in front of them as Brackley maintained the impetus, Haynes and Brown in particular finding the passing and moving easy in the final third. 

Anything positive from Yeovil in the opening half an hour was coming through Sims, more trickery from him down the left, but he still managed to squeeze a cross out. The ball dribbled towards the edge of the box where Charlie Cooper stepped onto the ball in fine fashion, but a combination of three flying defenders deflected the ball wide.

The resulting corner came to nothing after some head tennis in the area ended with a Kyle Ferguson high boot and a free kick to the visitors.

DID SOMEONE SAYS POTATOES!?

On 35 minutes, Harvey Greenslade did some great work to the right of the penalty area, he found Pendleton on the right, who forced the ball to Campbell. His cross-come-shot found its way to the left hand side where former Southampton man, Josh SIMS reacted first to fire home from six yard out. SPUD-TACULAR!

This lifted things, the Thatchers Stand found it’s voice and the players had an extra yard in their step. 

With five minutes to go, Campbell found himself in space on the edge of the area, but an unfortunate stumble meant a shot was not forthcoming, 

Brackley weren’t going to lie down though, Jed Ward was called upon once more diving to his right to stop a Brown strike. 

The fourth official signaled for three additional minutes as the Glovers looked to see the half out, but the threats from corners kept coming, eight in total from the visitors. 

The half-time whistle met with sighs of relief, most of the stats favoured the visitors, but the important one favoured the hosts. 

Half time: Yeovil Town 1 Brackley Town 0

 

Second half

No changes for either side at the break, but the half did start in much the same way with Brackley in the ascendency. Connor Hall in particular being a menace, he and Kyle Ferguson in quite a battle at times.

Sims was once again in the action, ten or so minutes had passed before the Glovers could get going, but the winger teamed up with first McGavin and then Campbell to force a shooting chance, but Campbell’s effort was straight at Cam Gregory in the visitors’ net.

Shortly before the hour mark, Charlie Cooper decided he fancied his chances from distance, his 30-something yarder stung the hands of Gregory, but didn’t ask him to move an awful lot.

It did signal a more positive spell for the Glovers though, some tough challenges in attacking areas from Campbell, Morias and Greenslade certainly left their mark.

The latter of that trio going into the referee’s notebook as the clock struck 60.

Morias’ race was run at this point, taken off in place of Aaron Jarvis.

It was nearly a perfect first touch for the forward too, who came within a whisker of a Sims cross, the Glovers were getting into their stride again. 

The Huish Park faithful welcomed Scott Pollock to the pitch with a lovely reception (… kind of) as the visitors looked to add something extra to their front line.

Greenslade had a glorious chance to make it 2-0 on 67 minutes, some excellent work down the right hand side, saw Campbell muscle his name off the ball and lay the ball back to Greenslade, but the front man was leaning back and the ball skied over.

Ben Wodskou replaced Campbell shortly after.

Brackley reacted better to the break in play, Jed Ward at full stretch to claw away a shot from Bailey Hobson which looked destined to nestle into the far corner, minutes after the midfielder’s introduction.

Unsurprisingly, Pollock was looking lively, he and Morgan Roberts combining well time and time again with Hobson supporting regularly too, the visitors were certainly doing everything to get back into this game.

Charlie Cooper cleaned out Pollock, the midfielder going into the book, thankfully, just a yellow card.

Greenslade came off just after, Finn Cousin-Dawson coming on, with ten minutes to go, were the Glovers shutting up shop?

The pressure was certainly mounting, Roberts again finding space on the edge of the area, another good save down to his right from Ward.

As Brackley left people forward, there was always chance for a breakaway, FC-D did excellently to break a Brackley challenge down, Cooper sprayed a lovely ball forward, Jarvis knocked it into the path of Ben WODSKOU who fired home with vigour.

Wodskou scores! Picture courtesy of Chris Fox.

To their credit, Brackley were still pushing, Ward, Pendleton and Williams all having impressive one-on-one contributions at the back as the attacks kept flowing.

As the fourth official signaled for six minutes added time, Brackley’s Morgan Roberts found his name taken.

There was time for more though, Brackley kept the pressure high and the Glovers sat too deep, the ball bounced around the box with Roberts going close before the ball trickled home off the boot of Tyler LYTTLE.

Suddenly, nerves. 

Bryon Pendleton was booked for time wasting with 90 seconds to go.

Jed Ward booted the ball out of play and the referee blew for full time. Phew!

Full time: Yeovil Town 2 Brackley Town 1

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Date: Wednesday 20th August, 19:45pm

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Josh Sims (36, 1-0), Ben Wodskou (85, 2-0), Tyler Lyttle (90+2, 2-1)

Pitch: Lovely
Conditions: Lovely

Attendance: 2,716 (53 Brackley Town fans)

Bookings: 
Yeovil Town: Alex Whittle ’39, Harvey Greenslade ’60, Charlie Cooper, ’78, Aaron Jarvis, ’83, Bryon Pendleton ’92.
Brackley Town: Kyle Morrison ’75, Morgan Roberts ’89.

Sendings off:
Yeovil Town: None
Brackley Town: None

Referee: Aji Ajibola (late change for Matthew Russell)

Yeovil Town 

Substitutes:  Matt Gould, Aaron Jarvis (for Morias ’60), James Daly, Ben Wodskou (for Campbell ’67), Luke McCormick, Finn Cousin-Dawson

Brackley Town: Cameron Gregory, Kyle Morrison, Gareth Dean, Zak Brown, Morgan Roberts, Matt Lowe, Michael Nottingham, Zak Lilly, Shane Byrne, Connor Hall, Ryan Haynes. 

Substitutes (not used): John Maxted (GK), Riccardo Calder, Tyler Little(for Nottingham ’33), Scott Pollock (for Hall ’64), Jack Price, Danny Waldron (for Lowe ’77)

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One of the many Forest Green attacks on the Yeovil Town defence gets underway.

It tells you everything you need to know about this game when I say that Yeovil Town were very lucky to be walking away from Forest Green Rovers with a 2-0 defeat.

Here’s some full time statistics:

Shots on target: Forest Green Rovers 6 Yeovil Town 0
Shots off target: Forest Green Rovers 10 Yeovil Town 1

It took until the 75th minute for substitute Jili Buyabu to put the home side ahead before striker Kairo Mitchell doubled the advantage in the second minute of injury time, but in reality Forest Green could have won by a much, much higher number. To add insult to further insult, captain Jake Wannell was sent off with four minutes remaining.

First half

Within a minute of the kick-off, Forest Green had won two corners one of which led the hosts’ striker Yahaya Bamber curling one past the post. The pre-match predictions of Robbie Savage’s side going all out attack seem to be coming true.

Having weathered the early storm, Yeovil managed to take a bit of a sting out of their hosts’ attack and, in even more surprising news, it appeared that Tahvon Campbell, handed his first competitive start following an injury to James Daly, was partnering Aaron Jarvis.

On 17 minutes, the first warning sign came as Isaac Moore fizzed a shot past the post and then three minutes later Glovers’ keeper Jed Ward, who started last season on loan at The New Lawn, was called in to action to deny Kyle McAllister. Both McAllister and Laurent Mendy have got a lot of space in the last five minutes and it is no surprise that Forest Green are looking threatening.

Tahvon Campbell grapples with a Hartlepool United player.
Tahvon Campbell was handed his first competitive start at The New Lawn. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Jordan Taylor-Moore was the next to go close after a flurry of corners fell first to Kairo Mitchell who could not get an effort on target before Taylor-Moore’s effort was deflected wide for another corner. It has been a bit like the Alamo – and Yeovil Town are Davy Crockett and his mates fighting off an onslaught. Mendy fired over just after the half-hour mark and the signing who joined Savage from Macclesfield in the summer is running the show.

At half time, the only meaningful statistic which Yeovil Town lead on is yellow cards with Jake Wannell and Charlie Cooper both picking up one to Forest Green’s zero.

Possession: Forest Green Rovers 61% Yeovil Town 39%
Shots on target: Forest Green Rovers 2 Yeovil Town 0
Shots off target: Forest Green Rovers 3 Yeovil Town 0
Corners: Forest Green Rovers 6 Yeovil Town 1

The statistical definition of one-way traffic, but still goalless.

Half time: Forest Green Rovers 0 Yeovil Town 0

 

Second half

The start of the second half saw Yeovil undo the only change to their starting XI with James Daly, who started the opening day draw with Hartlepool United, replacing Campbell with Daly filling in alongside Sims behind Jarvis. Quite different to the wing back position 

It took Forest Green 30 seconds to get their first shot in on goal with Jayden Clarke fizzing one past the post, whilst at the other end Sims looked to have got away for Yeovil a few moments later – but he was denied by the offside flag.

On 53 minutes, great play from McAllister fed one through to Mitchell whose effort was well blocked by Morgan Williams. A minute later Brett McGavin replaced Luke McCormick, but more worryingly for the home side some heavy hitters came off the bench for Forest Green with striker Christian Doidge, playmaker Nick Haughton and wing-back Jili Buyabu. Doidge almost made an instant impact a minute after arriving as he was gifted a free header at the near post from a Forest Green corner, luckily for Yeovil he did not get it on target.

Just after the hour mark Trey Pemberton’s low cross from the right side just missed Mitchell before Haughton had two glorious opportunities to open the scoring with the second rattling Jed Ward’s woodwork after 65 minutes and then five minutes later Doidge put a header wide. How Forest Green are not ahead in this game is a complete mystery.

Buyabu is having a field day down the wing and, to add even more creativity, Savage introduced former Yeovil favourite Tom Knowles (#DFILWF) after 71 minutes. Another corner for the home side, their tenth of the game, came to Taylor-Moore whose effort was pushed away by Ward.

Eventually the pressure paid, you knew it was going to happen. Jili BUYABU got the better of Byron Pendleton and whipped a ball in to the near post, it might have come off a Yeovil player, but it doesn’t matter the dam has been breached. A minute later it could have been a second after another fantastic moving involving Pemberton who cut the ball back to McAllister, who lifted his shot over the bar.

Substitute Junior Morias collects the ball inside the Forest Green half. Picture courtesy of Andy Craig.

Junior Morias and Harvey Greenslade replaced Charlie Cooper and Josh Sims and then on 83 minutes Knowles spotted Ward off his line and tried a chip from the halfway line – only the post denied him. Incredible.

As if it was not bad enough, Yeovil Town were reduced to ten men after 86 minutes. Wannell handled the ball and picked up his second yellow card. The inevitable second goal – it could have been far more – came as the game crept in to second half injury time after a short corner routine dropped to Kairo MITCHELL who fired home.

Third minute of second half injury time, Morias and McGavin combined and the latter shot wide. 93 minutes of football and that is our first shot and it is off target.

Full time: Forest Green Rovers 2 Yeovil Town 0

Match Details

Venue: The New Lawn
Date: Saturday 16th August, 3pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Jili Buyabu 75 (0-1), Kairo Mitchell 90+2 (0-2)

Pitch: Stunning.
Conditions: Sweltering.

Attendance: 2,118 (486 away supporters)

Bookings: 
Yeovil Town: Jake Wannell 22, Charlie Cooper 35, Byron Pendleton 81, Finn Cousin-Dawson 90+5
Forest Green Rovers: Jili Buyabu 75

Sendings off:
Yeovil Town: Jake Wannell 86
Forest Green Rovers: None

Referee: Andrew Humphries

Yeovil Town (5-2-2-1)

Substitutes:  James Daly (for Tahvon Campbell, 46), Brett McGavin (for Luke McCormick, 54), Junior Morias (for Charlie Cooper, 81), Harvey Greenslade (for Josh Sims, 81), Kyle Ferguson (not used),  Ben Wodskou (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Forest Green Rovers: Luke McNicholas, Neil Kengni (for Jili Buyabu, 55), Laurent Mendy, Kyle McAllister (for Ryan Inniss, 87), Jayden Clarke (for Tom Knowles, 71), Jordan Moore-Taylor, Isaac Moore (for Nick Haughton, 55), Yahaya Bamba (for Christian Doidge, 55), Tre Pemberton, Kairo Mitchell, Abraham Kanu.

Substitutes (not used): Fiachra Pagel, Harry Whitwell.