Match Reports (Page 17)

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Venue: York City
Tuesday 21st February, 7.45pm kick-off

Conditions: Chilly night
Pitch: Green and brown in places

Attendance: 1,015

Scorers: Sam Barratt 40 (0-1), Reece Smith 66 (0-2)

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Ryan Law 55, Lawson D’Ath 66
Maidenhead United: Will de Havilland 38, Kane Ferdinand 90

Referee: Richie Watkins

Yeovil Town (5-3-2)

Substitutes: Andrew Oluwabori (for Jamie Reckord, 46), Jordan Maguire-Drew (for Jordan Young, 64), Malachi Linton (for Lawson D’Ath, 72), Will Dawes (not used), Will Buse (not used).

Maidenhead United: Andrew, Asara, de Havilland, Nataniel-George (for Sparkes, 86), Massey, Odutayo, Barratt, Acquah (for McCoulsky, 83), Adams, Smith (for Leathers, 74). Substitute not used: Panayiotou.

Match Report

Only goal difference separates Yeovil Town from the National League relegation places after they went down to a 2-0 defeat at fellow strugglers Maidenhead United on Tuesday night.

Having bossed possession without doing much to threaten the hosts’ goal, the Glovers fell behind when forward Sam Barratt was gifted the freedom of the six yard box on 41 minutes to bundle home an opener.

Reece Smith added a second after a shambolic piece of defending from the visitors on 65 minutes and Yeovil offered very little to make any difference at the other end.

A win for Gateshead, who occupy the top of the division’s bottom four, pushed them level on points with us separated by just two goals on goal difference.

First half

The opening 15 minutes was an utterly forgettable affair with the only kind of entertainment coming from a penalty appeal from the home side when Emile Acquah went down under well-timed Josh Staunton tackle in the third minute.

There was some early pressure from Maidenhead with Ashley Nathaniel-George causing problems down the right, but as the half drew on it was Yeovil who began to get control of the play.

Jordan Young hammered one over the bar on 23 minutes and ten minutes later Alan Massey saw an effort turned over the bar at the other end, but the best chance of the game came from Young on 38 minutes.

A promising forward run from the forward was ended by a forceful tackle from Will de Havilland and the ex-Chippenham Town man’s effort from the free-kick which follows was turned aside by Alexis Andre Junior in the hosts’ goal.

But, as sure as eggs is eggs, the visitors took the lead just three minutes later. A corner in from the right found Sam BARRATT given the freedom of the six yard box by the Yeovil defence and he bundled the ball home.

Having controlled the possession – admittedly without doing much with it – the Glovers found themselves a goal behind. Utterly soft goal and one which drops us to within a place of the National League’s drop zone, at least temporarily.

If you parted with £9.50 for the stream, you’ve been robbed. If you have traveled and paid for a match ticket, get yourself a Crime Reference Number – where there’s blame, there’s a claim.

No idea how anyone can watch this five at the back formation and think “yeah, that’s doing the job”.

Half time:  Maidenhead United 1 Yeovil Town 0

 

Second half

Following his impact off the bench in the home defeat to league leaders Notts County last weekend, Yeovil boss Mark Cooper introduced Andrew Oluwabori at half-time.

There was a sharp intake of breath two minutes after the restart when Grant Smith went walkabout in the Yeovil penalty area and, luckily for him, there was no-one there in a black-and-white shirt to bang the ball home.

Within six minutes of the restart, Oluwabori was showing why he had been introduced with his cross clipping the top of the crossbar. Surely it took a deflection? Nothing given.

If ever you needed to know that this was a game between two of the division’s lowest scorers, it wouldn’t have taken you 63 minutes to figure out why. But, at that point Jordan Maguire-Drew was introduced in place of Young.

Within seconds, the hosts doubled their advantage. A great run from Idris Odutayo was followed by ropey clearance from on loan defender Ryan Law and the ball fell to Reece SMITH who volleyed in to the bottom corner. Absolutely shambolic defending from Yeovil.

Sensing blood, Maidenhead went in search of a third with the visitors’ rocking at the back. Kane Ferdinand almost found it on 71 minutes, only denied by a save from Smith and then with ten minutes remaining Barratt almost added his second when his effort was tipped wide.

Cooper fired an effort just past the post on 74 minutes to prove the away side had actually figured we changed ends at half-time and with five minutes to go Maguire-Drew’s effort was easily held by Andre Junior in the Magpies’ goal.

Substitute Malachi Linton blazed one over the bar in second half injury time, but the reality is that we could have stayed out there all night and not scored.

With Gateshead picking up a home win over Oldham Athletic we are now separated from the relegation places by just goal difference, albeit we have a game in hand over the team below us. Oh, by the way, it’s away at Wrexham in April – but I can’t imagine they’ll have much to play for by then. *face, palm*

If you didn’t believe we were in a relegation scrap before, believe it now.

Full time: Maidenhead United 2 Yeovil Town 0

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Venue: Huish Park
Saturday 4th February, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Cold and dry
Pitch: Must’ve been hot, scorched grass in front of the Thatcher’s

Attendance: 2,421 (54 away supporters)

Scorers: Sha’mar Lawson 20 (0-1), Alex Fisher 67 (1-1), Alex Fisher 70 (2-1), Jerome Binnom-Williams 90 (2-2)

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Morgan Williams 90
Maidstone United: Hady Ghandour 58, Jereome Binnom-Williams 90+5

Referee: Adrian Quelch

Substitutes: Alex Fisher (for Jack Clarke, 46), Chiori Johnson (for Ben Richards-Everton, 46), Charlie Wakefield (for Chiori Johnson, 75), Jordan Young, Will Buse.

Maidstone United: Barden, Fowler, Corne, Barham, Booty, Binnom-Williams, Deacon, Bone, Jobe, Lawson, Cawley. Substitutes: Ghandour (for Booty, 58), Pattison (for Cawley, 68) Mersin, Alabi, Jeche.

Match Report

An injury time equaliser from Jerome Binnom-Williams saw bottom club Maidstone United inflict a 14th draw of the season on Yeovil Town at Huish Park.

A second half brace from substitute Alex Fisher looked to have earned the Glovers a win after a Sha’mar Lawson gave the visitors the lead in a first half they utterly controlled with the home team booed off the pitch at the interval.

But, with a minute of injury time played at the end of the match Binnom-Williams rose highest to earn a point.

 

First half

With Owen Bevan missing through suspension, Yeovil went for a three-man back line of Ben Richards-Everton, captain Josh Staunton and Morgan Williams with Edwin Agbaje and Jordan Maguire-Drew playing as “aggressive” wing-backs, according to boss Mark Cooper’s pre-match interview with BBC Somerset.

Richards-Everton was straight in to the action clearing off the line after Jerome Binnom-Williams and Roarie Deacon combined to get the first effort in on the hosts’ goal.

Three minutes later, Deacon combined with Jack Barham who chipped the ball up for Jack Cawley whose header was weak but held by Grant Smith. It was comfortable for Yeovil’s number one, but a nervous start for the Glovers who were struggling to get through midfield in the early exchanges.

The tempo which was seen in the first half against Wealdstone four days earlier was missing for Yeovil, often the case when we play with a back three – and Mark Cooper spotted this and quickly changed to a back four. Richards-Everton moved to left-back, Agbaje to the right and Staunton and Morgan Williams adopted the central defensive positions. That saw Maguire-Drew move further forward.

However, it was the visitors who took the lead after 20 minutes through a move which belied their lowly status. A superb move through midfield involving Deacon and Mamadou Jobe who squared the ball to Sha’mar LAWSON who coolly side-footed in to the bottom corner. It was nothing more than Maidstone deserved.

The first meaningful effort on goal came after 27 minutes when a good run from Matt Worthington fed the ball in to Andrew Oluwabori on the edge of the box, but his effort was over the bar. A meaningful effort, but off target.

The animation of Cooper and his assistant Chris Todd on the touchline spoke volumes for the manager’s opinion on the pedestrian performance. There was no urgency to get the ball out and going forward. Half-time ‘re-programming’ incoming?

As the board came up for injury time, Maidstone midfielder Regan Booty, who scored the late penalty in the 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture, was found on the edge of the box but his low shot went whistling past the post.

The half-time whistle blew to the sound of boos at Huish Park.

Half time:  Yeovil Town 0 Maidstone United 1

 

Second half

Cooper responded with a double change at half-time pulling Jack Clarke and Richards-Everton and introducing Alex Fisher and Chiori Johnson, the latter not seen since being taken off at the interval at Torquay on Boxing Day.

Within five minutes of the restart, the tempo rose (it couldn’t really have sunk any lower) and Worthington got a good ball across, crying out for Fisher to throw some part of his body at it. He didn’t and the chance dissipated.

Maidstone dropped deeper defensively in response to Yeovil getting forward more, but still no shot on goal.

One eventually came on 55 minutes when a great ball in to the box from Oluwabori found Worthington at the back post to test Dan Barden in the visitors’ goal, the ball dropped to Oluwabori who went for a spectacular shot outside the box. You can probably guess the rest.

It was the striker’s instincts of Fisher which led to the equaliser on 67 minutes. It was hopeful ball in to the penalty area by Morgan Williams and FISHER took it on the right foot volley and smashed it home. That’s what a striker can do for you. Parity.

Three minutes later, Yeovil were ahead. Great play by Worthington and a combination of Fisher, Chiori Johnson and a Maidstone defender all had dibs on that one. The stadium announcer gave it to FISHER, so we’ll say Fisher, but probably one for the Dubious Goals’ Panel.

If Johnson had had a goal taken off him by Fisher his game got worse when he pulled up with a hamstring injury on 75 minutes. He was replaced by Charlie Wakefield.

A great free-kick in to the box found a head from BINNOM-WILLIAMS which flew over Grant Smith. Fair play to Maidstone, they deserved their point for their first half performance alone and that stopped a run of nine straight defeats for them. For Yeovil, another draw.

Full time: Yeovil Town 2 Maidstone United 2

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Venue: Huish Park
Tuesday 31st January, 7.45pm kick-off

Conditions: Dry and cold
Pitch: Heavily sanded in front of the Thatcher’s End

Attendance: 1,996 (84 away supporters)

Scorers: 

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Edwin Agbaje 77
Wealdstone: Dom Hutchinson 90+1

Sendings off:

Yeovil Town: Owen Bevan, 54

Referee: Scott Jackson

Substitutes: Alex Fisher (for Jordan Young, 50), Ben Richards-Everton (for Jordan Maguire-Drew, 65), Charlie Wakefield (for Charlie Cooper, 72), Chiori Johnson, Jack Clarke.

Wealdstone: Howes, Cook, Freckleton, Allarakhia, Ferguson, Andrews, Obiero, Dyer, Ilunga, Barker, Habergham. Substitutes (not used): Hutchinson (for Habergham, 39), Kretzschmar (for Obiero, 72), Olomola (for Allarakhia, 82) Charles, Barrett.

Match Report

Yeovil Town recorded their third goalless draw against Wealdstone as on loan defender Owen Bevan was sent off on a cold night at Huish Park.

The on-loan AFC Bournemouth player saw red after 54 minutes having lunged in to try and win an overhit ball which derailed the Glovers’ hopes of going for the win after an impressive first half performance.

Here’s how it happened….

First half

After an end-to-end start, the first real chance fell to the visitors as a fast-flowing move down the right caught Morgan Williams out at left-back as Brooklyn Ilunga found Tarryn Allarkhia breaking in to the box and forced a fine save out of Grant Smith…..thought everyone except for the match officials who did not give Wealdstone the corner they obviously deserved.

Ilunga was involved again on 14 minutes putting a ball in towards striker Corrie Andrews, but Yeovil captain Josh Staunton was just in time to get in ahead of him.

If there was one thing noticeable about the opening attacks for Yeovil it was the state of the Huish Park pitch which was heavily sanded (to put it mildly) in front of the Thatcher’s Stand, and one at least two occasions it led to the home players losing their footing.

Despite the visitors having the better chances, it was the home side who had the lion’s share of possession and pressure and their best chance fell to Andrew Oluwabori. A fantastic ball through from Edwin Agbaje put the Peterborough United loanee in on goal, but he dallied too long allowed the Wealdstone to nick in and clear.

One thing which was evident was the quality in the middle of the park with Jordan Maguire-Drew, Charlie Cooper, Lawson D’Ath and Jordan Young all looking exceptionally comfortable on the ball. What was missing was the finish….perhaps not surprising from the National League’s lowest scorers.

Two chances fell to Maguire-Drew, scuffing one and then putting another high and not so handsome, then with three minutes of the first half remaining Oluwabori cut inside and smashed a shot……..high over the bar.

In terms of possession and intent, that was Yeovil’s half – such a difference to the last match at home to Torquay United on New Year’s Day. But the missing element was a goal – how many times have we said that this season?

Half time:  Yeovil Town 0 Wealdstone 0

 

Second half

Wealdstone started the second half brighter – as they had done in the opening 45 minutes – and with just five minutes played, Mark Cooper introduced Alex Fisher in to the fray in place of Jordan Young.

Young is definitely not an out-and-out centre forward, preferring to drop deeper and link up with his team-mates, notably Maguire-Drew, but in Fisher Cooper introduced more of a focal point.

But on 54 minutes, the game changed when Owen Bevan went bursting forward and appeared to overhit his touch and lunged in to try and win it back. It took a little while but the inevitable red card soon came from referee Scott Jackson.

 

Owen Bevan flies in…..
…..and sees red from referee Scott Jackson.

On the hour mark, a rare Yeovil break saw Fisher and Maguire-Drew bursting forward and the play-maker spotted Howes off his line but lofted his effort over.

Two minutes later, great vision from Matt Worthington saw him pick out Maguire-Drew coming in from the left-hand side but his blazed his effort over.

Then it was Wealdstone’s chance to have a go, midfielder Alex Dyer broke in to the box and his effort looked like it was heading for the bottom corner before an outstretched hand from Grant Smith turned it away.

On 67 minutes, Oluwabori fired a ball across the face of goal with Fisher closing in…..just throw yourself at it, Alex! He didn’t and the game remained goalless.

Grant Smith was called in to action with ten minutes of the match remaining when defender Charlie Barker forced a fine stop out of Yeovil’s number one and then as the game ticked in to 90 minutes substitute Dom Hutchinson pulled one wide.

Full time: Yeovil Town 0 Wealdstone 0

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Venue: Victoria Road
Saturday 28th January, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Cold but dry
Pitch: Holding up well despite the recent freezing conditions

Attendance: 2,739 (197 away supporters)

Scorers: Maguire-Drew pen 31 (1-0), Matt Worthington 80 (2-0)

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Owen Bevan 37, Morgan Williams 60, Josh Staunton 73, Jamie Reckord 79
Dagenham & Redbridge: Josh Walker 85

Sendings off:

Dagenham & Redbridge: Harry Phipps 30

Referee: Alan Dale

Yeovil Town   (4-2-3-1)

Substitutes: Alex Fisher (for Jordan Young, 66), Lawson D’Ath (for Charlie Cooper, 75), Edwin Agbaje (for Jack Clarke, 75), Ben Richards-Everton (not used), Charlie Wakefield (not used).

Dagenham & Redbridge: Justham, Hare (for Taylor, 64), Rance (for McCallum, 46), Walker, Sagaf, Weston, Robinson, Phipps, Ling (for Johnson, 12), Longe-King, Morias. Substitutes (not used): Onariase, Ibie.

Match Report

Yeovil Town picked up their first away win of the season at Dagenham & Redbridge.

A first half penalty from Jordan Maguire-Drew which saw Daggers’ defender Harry Phipps sent off gave them the advantage before Matt Worthington added a second with a stunning second half goal.

Here’s how Dave saw it from the away end….

First half

With the home side having had the better of the opening exchanges, the first opportunity fell to Jordan Maguire-Drew after nine minutes. A combination of Young and Matt Worthington got the ball to through to the play-maker but his shot could not beat Elliot Justham – or the assistant’s flag.

Moments later, a clash of heads between Morgan Williams and full-back Sam Ling saw the Dagenham defender replaced by Elliot Johnson, who was sent off in the corresponding fixture last season.

Good harrying (is that a word?) by Jordan Young saw a ball get through to Oluwabori whose shot was turned aside by Justham after 20 minutes. The combinations between the front players was clearly coming together, but the opening 25 minutes showed there was enough there to to test a side in the National League play-off places.

The opening goal came from another good press which sent Worthington through and he was clipped by Matt Phipps (just) inside the box and referee Alan Dale pointed to the spot. Phipps saw red and Jordan MAGUIRE-DREW claimed the ball immediately and put it straight down the middle.

With a man advantage, the visitors pressed for a second but a long range efforts from Charlie Cooper and Oluwabori were easily dealt with by Justham.

At the other end, the assistant did not blow up for what looked like a foul on Josh Staunton with five minutes of the first half remaining, and the ball broke to Josh Walker who combined well with Junior Morais. The latter’s effort did nothing to test Grant Smith.

Half time:  Dagenham & Redbridge 0 Yeovil Town 1

 

Second half

Three minutes after the restart, a beautiful ball through from Maguire-Drew found Oluwabori on the left of the box, but he dragged his effort wide. A little more composure from the loanee and that could have given the visitors a valuable second goal.

On 55 minutes, a worryingly length treatment to Grant Smith‘s left hand led to a break in play. The keeper was able to continue albeit in discomfort.

Grant Smith receives lengthy treatment to his left hand after 55 minutes.

Dagenham introduced Paul McCallum in to the forward line at the half-time break, and the imposing striker caused issues in the opening 15 minutes of the second half. On 57 minutes, he got on the end of a Josh Hare cross but his effort was blocked.

The chances Yeovil were creating in the first half seemed to dry up, and on 67 minutes Alex Fisher replaced the hard-working Young. Lawson D’Ath and new signing Edwin Agbaje replaced Cooper and Clarke on 76 minutes, presumably to add a little more solidity at the back and composure in the middle of the park.

That saw the visitors go with five at the back with Williams pushed in while Agbaje slotted in at right back.

Ironically the switch a more defensive line-up came just moments before Yeovil got there second goal in style. Oluwabori’s ball from the left found Matt WORTHINGTON whose effort from 25 yards rocketed in to the net. It was against the run of play, but exactly what was needed.

Smith had to be on guard with two minutes remaining to turn a stinging effort from Morias.

Alex Fisher had a great opportunity to make it three deep in to second half stoppage time, but two goals and a clean sheet with suffice.

Full time: Dagenham & Redbridge 0 Yeovil Town 2

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Venue: Hayes Lane
Saturday 14th January, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Strong wind across the pitch
Pitch: Plastic

Attendance: 2,245 (149 away supporters)

Scorers: LouisDennis 9 (0-1), Besart Topalloj 32 (0-2), Louis Dennis 63 (0-3), Andrew Oluwabori 65 (1-3), Corey Whitely 87 (1-4).

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Max Hunt 11, Alex Fisher 51.

Referee: Wayne Cartmel

Yeovil Town   (4-3-3)

Substitutes: Jordan Young (for Lawson D’Ath, 59), Malachi Linton (for Max Hunt, 70), Chiori Johnson (not used), Charlie Cooper (not used), Will Buse (not used).

Bromley: Charles-Cook, Reynolds, Coleman, Whitely, Dennis (for Alexander, 89), Cheek, Webster, Forster (for Krauhaus, 88), Vennings (for Bingham, 73), Topalloj, Fisher. Substitutes (not used): Bingham, Sowunmi, Arthurs.

Match Report

The wheels came off Yeovil Town’s unbeaten run of seven National League games in spectacular style as their defensive solidity abandoned them at Bromley.

Having fallen behind to a bizarre opener from the home side when striker Louis Dennis’ shot cannoned off a visiting defender to complete wrong-foot Grant Smith in the Yeovil goal, they preceded to gift a second to Besart Topalloj. But, there were also gilt-edged opportunities missed first by Jordan Maguire-Drew and then Andrew Oluwabori, the latter being clean through on goal.

A further defensive calamity gifted Dennis his second just after the hour and although Oluwabori pulled one with his first since arriving on loan soon after, Corey Whitely wrapped up a well-deserved win for Bromley – their first over the Glovers at Hayes Lane since September 1987.

Here’s Coatesie’s report from the wind-battered away end in that corner of Kent…..

First half

Within two minutes the start a sickening clash of heads with Yeovil skipper Josh Staunton saw Bromley’s Jamie Vennings go down for a lengthy period of treatment. The midfielder returned to action.

But seven minutes later a bizarre deflection gave Bromley a lead. A shot from the edge of the box from striker Louis DENNIS took a wicked deflection off Max Hunt and completely wrong-footed Grant Smith.

On 13 minutes, on-loan Millwall full-back Besart Topalloj’s header went just over from a corner for the home side who had totally dominated the opening exchanges with Yeovil struggling to cope with a strong wind behind them.

149 travelling supporters were in attendance at Hayes Lane.

Andrew Oluwabori put a shot over the bar from distance, but the best chance of the half came on 27 minutes when Jordan Maguire-Drew’s free-kick in from the left found its way to Ben Richards-Everton. The centre half’s cross forced Bromley keeper Reice Charles-Cook in to action but no-one in Parma Violet could get an effort in on goal.

Oluwabori’s broke forward again on 23 minutes but unfortunately his touch evaded him and the attack broke down, and soon after Maguire-Drew jinked his way in from the right but his effort could not get past Charles-Cook.

Bromley had no such issues from a well-worked corner – ably assisted by some uncharacteristic sloppy defending – saw them a second on 32 minutes. TOPALLOJ slammed home from just inside the box to double the advantage.

If anyone needed any explanation why Yeovil are the lowest scorers in the division, the answer arrived when Oluwabori was clean through on 36 minutes. The Peterborough United loanee put his effort high and wide with only the keeper to beat.

The opportunities to score for the visitors were there. It was the ability to take them that was the problem.

Half time:  Bromley 2 Yeovil Town 0

 

Second half

Yeovil thought they had pulled one back ten minutes after the restart when Matt Worthington headed home a cross from Oluwabori – only for it to be ruled out by an offside flag.

Smith had to be a his best soon after, making a superb finger tip save to turn an effort from Kellen Fisher.

A strong run forward by Harry Forster left the visitors’ defence at sixes and sevens and the ball broke to DENNIS who turned home from close range to make it 3-0. Hint of offside? Perhaps I am clutching at straws here, but given how far behind play the assistant referee was, I suspect my guess is as good as his.

The response was almost immediate. Alex Fisher got away down the right flank and laid across the face of goal to OLUWABORI who side-footed it home. Too little, too late?

Even with Malachi Linton and new signing Jordan Young on to add to the three forwards they started with, there was no shape to the Yeovil attack. The tactic seemed to be lump it forward and hope for the best – but the best never came.

Jordan Young came on as a 59th minute substitute.

Then three minutes from the end another defensive horror show served up Bromley’s fourth. Forster’s effort from right was turned on to the post by Smith, the keeper then made a great reaction save to deny Dennis before Corey WHITELY tucked home.

Full time: Bromley 4 Yeovil Town 1

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Venue: Huish Park
Sunday 1st January, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Driving rain on and off…..mostly on
Pitch: Sodden and slippy

Attendance: 3,907

Scorers: Matt Worthington 81, Jordan Maguire-Drew 90+4

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Jamie Andrews 24, Malachi Linton 61, Matt Worthington 66,

Referee: Greg Rollason

Yeovil Town  


Substitutes: Andrew Oluwabori (for Max Hunt, 46), Lawson D’Ath (for Jamie Andrews, 46), Alex Fisher (for Malachi Linton, 71, Will Buse, Chiori Johnson.

Torquay United: Mark Halstead, Tom Lapslie (for Ryan Hanson, 84), Ali Omar, Asa Hall, Aaron Jarvis, Kieran Evans, Stephen Wearne, Shaun Donnellan, Will Goodwin (for Corie Andrews, 84), Dean Moxey, Dillon De Silva (for Ben Wyatt, 73). Substitutes: Ross Marshall, Rhys Lovett.

Match Report

Yeovil Town got 2023 off to a winning start as second half goals from Matt Worthington and Jordan Maguire-Drew was enough to see off Torquay United at Huish Park on New Year’s Day.

The game followed a similar pattern to the same fixture in Devon on Boxing Day with the visitors dominating the first half and it took two half-time substitutions from Glovers’ boss Mark Cooper to change it. He introduced winger Andrew Oluwabori and playmaker Lawson D’Ath at the interval.

It was Oluwabori who was at the heart of everything which was good going forwards for Yeovil and he made the opener for Worthington before Maguire-Drew wrapped it up in injury time.

First half

In his pre-match interview, Yeovil boss Mark Cooper hinted there would be a surprise in his formation and it was a role as centre forward for natural defender Ben Richards-Everton.

In horrendous conditions from the start, the game was unsurprisingly scrappy in the opening exchanges and it took until the 17th minutes for either keeper to be called in to action. A long pass forward by ex-Glover Shaun Donnellan found midfielder Kieron Evans who forced Smith in to a smart stop.

Asa Hall had another effort from outside the box easily held by Smith, but it was the visitors who looked the brighter in the opening half-an-hour.

The moment for Yeovil came on 28 minutes when Jordan Maguire-Drew’s ball found Richards-Everton thundering forward towards goal – only to slip at the crucial moment to allow Torquay to regain posession. A penny for the thoughts of top scorer, Alex Fisher, sat on the substitutes’ bench.

Four minutes later, a good ball through saw the Yeovil defence opened up again but Will Goodwin’s effort went wide.

In a similar fashion to the Boxing Day game in Devon, the Glovers’ players seemed unsure about what they were supposed to be doing in this unorthodox formation, whilst the visitors seemed a lot more confident and it showed.

Another sumptuous pass on 40 minutes almost found Jamie Reckord bombing in to the visitors’ penalty area, but the wing-back could not get to the ball ahead of Mark Halstead in the Torquay goal.

Half time:  Yeovil Town 0 Torquay United 0

 

Second half

As it did on Boxing Day, the start of the second half saw Mark Cooper make two substitutions with the arrival of Andrew Oluwabori and Lawson D’Ath in place of Max Hunt and Jamie Andrews, with Richards-Everton going to a more familiar defensive role.

Oluwabori made an instant impact with his ball finding its way through to Maguire-Drew who fired in an effort from the edge of the box, but saw it turned away for a corner by Halstead.

Oluwabori, who had not started a match since the goalless draw at Notts County in mid-November, appeared keen to show his manager what he had been missing. On 47 minutes, his effort was turned wide and the resulting corner from Maguire-Drew was almost bundled home on the back post by Morgan Williams.

Andrew Oluwabori and Lawson D’Ath come on at half-time.

Oluwabori was at the heart of everything good going forwards for Yeovil and on the hour mark he released Linton whose effort went in to the side netting.

On 63 minutes, Donnellan’s long-range effort was parried away by Grant Smith. We’ve seen those before, haven’t we?

On 71 minutes, Oluwabori popped up on the left, cut inside and curled an effort just around the corner. Cardiff City loanee Evans, who impressed on Boxing Day, caused problems for the Yeovil defence, firing an effort wide on 72 minutes and then forcing Smith in to a smart top two minutes later.

But, with the visitors in the ascendancy, it was the home side who took the lead. Not surprisingly it was Oluwabori who was at the heart of it, breaking in from the left and finding WORTHINGTON at the back post to turn home the opener after 81 minutes.

That goal was against the run of play and led to Gary Johnson’s men pressing forward again and it led to a few openings for Yeovil. A minute from time, Oluwabori’s effort was denied by Halstead and broke to Maguire-Drew who juggled the ball but could not magic up an effort to test the keeper.

Soon after Oluwabori broke away again and hit an effort wide and wide and just when we were beginning to mutter about our inability to put a game to bed, a second goal came. Fisher, on as substitute for Linton, broke away down the right and threaded a superb ball through to MAGUIRE-DREW who dinked it delicately over Halstead to get his first for the club.

The visitors did have the ball in the net through Evans soon after, only for it to be ruled out for offside. A great start to 2023 as manager Mark Cooper continued his unbeaten run at Huish Park.

Full time: Yeovil Town 2 Torquay United 0

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Venue: Plainmoor
Saturday 26th December, 3pm kick-off 

Conditions: Cold but dry
Pitch: was green, looked fine to be honest (David Coates 2022)

Attendance: 3805 (486) 

Scorers: Mark Ellis 20, Malachi Linton 64

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Josh Staunton 28, Morgan Williams 58

Torquay United: De Silva 51, Evans 60, Crowe 67, Wyatt 74

Sending offs: Crowe 90+6

Referee: James Durkin 

Yeovil Town  

Substitutes: Fisher (for Wakefield 46), Linton (for Johnson 46) Not Used: Buse, D’Ath, Oluwabori

Torquay United: Halstead, Crowe, Jarvis, Evans, Wearne, McGavin, Wyatt (Omar 83), Donnellan, Goodwin (Andrews 84), Da Silva (Lapslie 75), Ellis
Substitutes not used: Hanson, Lovett

Match Report

Yeovil Town finished off 2022 with a draw at Plainmoor against Torquay United. A first half goal from Mark Ellis was cancelled out by  substitute Malachi Linton’s second half strike.

Here’s how Coatesie saw it from the away end in the English Riviera…

First half

Without a recognised striker in the starting XI, it is perhaps no surprise that efforts going forwards were limited for Yeovil whilst Torquay attacks seemed to run out of steam for the opening quarter of an hour.

On 15 minutes, an overhit free-kick by Jordan Maguire-Drew seemed to be going nowhere before it broke to Matt Worthington inside the box, but his effort went harmlessly wide.

Moments later, good link up play between Charlie Wakefield and Worthington saw the ball drop to Josh Staunton on the edge of the box. Torquay keeper Mark Halstead needed two chances to stop it going over the line. Any goal line technology on that stream?

But, on 20 minutes, the first meaningful opportunity for the home side led to their opening goal. A free kick in from the right was not cleared and then all dropped in the box to the head of Mark ELLIS – who played under Yeovil boss Mark Cooper at Barrow – and despite Grant Smith getting a fingertip to the ball it crept in at the far post. 1-0

That gave Torquay some impetus and as they continued to press a Yeovil defence looking far from its usual impregnable self. Just after 30 minutes, on loan Cardiff City midfielder Kieron Evans dragged a shot just wide of Smith’s goal.

At the other end, a series of long balls forward seemed to be the only thing Yeovil had to offer going the other way. Despite a forward line filled with wide players, getting the ball wide was the one thing that did not occur.

Five minutes from the interval, the home side and a great chance to make it two when Max Hunt tumbled under a weak challenge, Evans broke through and it took a fantastic last ditch interception from Ben Richards-Everton to deny him.

On 42 minutes, Aaron Jarvis dragged a shot wide and it two minutes in to first half injury time, Yeovil forced Halstead in to action. A scramble inside the box ended with Maguire-Drew trying an acrobatic overhead kick which the keeper clawed around the post. 

Half time: Torquay United 1 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

Unsurprisingly, half-time saw recognised strikers enter the fray with Alex Fisher and Malachi Linton replacing Wakefield and Johnson.

Within a minute of the restart, the change paid dividends as Jamie Andrews got in on the near post and laid it back to Linton whose effort deflected wide. From the resulting corner, Maguire-Drew corner clipped the crossbar but no-one was on hand to turn it home.

Shortly after, Jarvis got clear of his man at the other end and Smith did well to smother the effort.

On 64 minutes, Maguire-Drew broke forward and perfect pass through to LINTON, who had been everywhere since coming on, and the striker coolly slotted home the equaliser. 1-1

The pair almost found almost found another as they combined but Linton was denied by Halstead.

The difference from the first half was night and day with a Maguire-Drew’s guile backing up Linton and Fisher to put pressure on Torquay’s defence which looked as shaky as their goals against tally suggests.

With 15 minutes gone, Maguire-Drew had a free-kick deflected wide and Josh Staunton’s header from the corner that followed came off the top of the crossbar.

On 77 minutes, Linton had an effort and well saved by Halstead as the pressure continued from the visitors, but it was Fisher who has a golden chance to get the winner in the 89th minute.

The striker found himself clean through on goal but seemed to think too much on the chance and his effort was turned away by a fine stop from Halstead.

In injury time, a quick clearance from Smith out to Maguire Drew saw the play-maker pulled to the floor by Dylan Crowe who saw red, but there was not enough time for the advantage to be put to full effect.

Full time: Torquay United 1 Yeovil Town 1

Several readers are saying Gary Johnson was sent off after the final whistle.

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Venue: Huish Park
Saturday 17th December, 3pm kick-off

Isuzu FA Trophy, 3rd Round

Conditions: Cold but clear
Pitch: Held up well after surviving a late inspection

Attendance: 962 (82 away supporters)

Scorers: None

Bookings:

Yeovil Town: None
Dorking Wanderers: James McShane 45

Referee: Gary Parsons

Yeovil Town (5-3-2)

Substitutes: Andrew Oluwabori (for Owen Bevan, 41), Charlie Wakefield (for Matt Worthington, 78), Malachi Linton (for Alex Fisher, 70) Lawson D’Ath, Louis Britton.

Dorking Wanderers: Lincoln, Philipot, El-Abd, Gallagher, Steggall, Mekki, McShane, Jebb, McManus, Taylor, Seager. Substitutes: Kennedy, Cheadle, Procter, Aubrey, Gale.

Match Report

Yeovil Town went out of the FA Trophy after a penalty shoot out for the second successive season as they went out at the expensive of National League rivals Dorking Wanderers.

After a toothless first half, the Glovers picked up the pace with a late flurry and thought they had won it when captain Josh Staunton turned the ball home, only to be denied by the assistant referee’s flag sending the game to penalties.

New signing Jordan Maguire-Drew scored the first spot kick, but Max Hunt and then Jamie Andrews saw their efforts saved by Dorking keeper Dan Lincoln – whilst the visitors scored all their four and go through to the fourth round.

Here’s how Ian saw it from his position at Huish Park…..

 

First half

Chiori Johnson started the game down the left, backed up by the returning Jamie Reckord, who missed the goalless draw with Scunthorpe United seven days earlier, with new signing Jordan Maguire-Drew starting down the right.

Alex Fisher played up front on his own supported by Matt Worthington, back after a one-match suspension, with Maguire-Drew and Johnson also pressing forward.

There was very little on show on the pitch to warm a chilly Huish Park

The opening stages lacked any real quality and but for a glancing effort from Max Hunt that wasn’t troubling the Dorking goalkeeper.

Hunt had another half chance from a corner which looped harmlessly over the bar.

Mark Cooper was forced until a change after Owen Bevan and Morgan Williams collided challenging eachother for a header. Bevan couldn’t continue and Andrew Oluwabori came on with Chiori Johnson moving to left wing.

 

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Dorking Wanderers 0

Second half

At the start of the second half Yeovil had a good chance to grab an opener through Oluwabori. He opted to head the ball back across goal rather than towards it when it felt like he had time to pick his spot.

Matt Worthington should have opened the scoring in the 55th minute. An inviting cross from Jamie Reckord landed at Worthington’s feet in the box but he couldn’t adjust himself to direct the ball towards goal.

Alex Fisher made way for Malachi Linton in the 70th minute and he nearly made an immediate when he tried to get on the end of Oluwabori’s cross. Dorking cleared for a corner and from that Josh Staunton had Yeovil’s first effort on goal.

As the dreaded shootout loomed, a flurry of half chances fell to Hunt, Staunton and Linton but none could capitalise.

Linton had another good effort moments later, beating a Dorking defender and pulling a low shot wide of the post.

As time ticked away the action got a bit fiery with Yeovil looking more likely to get something and they thought they had it through Josh Staunton in the 90th minute but it was ruled as offside.

Yeovil huffed and puffed but couldn’t find a way through and the game went to a shootout.

Here’s how the spot kicks went…..

Dorking: Ryan Seager – scored (0-1)
Yeovil: Jordan Maguire-Drew – scored (1-1)
Dorking: James McShane – scored (1-2)
Yeovil: Max Hunt – saved (1-2)
Dorking: Jack Jebb – scored (1-3)
Yeovil: Jamie Andrews – saved (1-3)
Dorking: Bobby Joe Taylor – scored (1-4)

 

Full time: Yeovil Town 0 Dorking Wanderers 0 (Dorking win 4-1 on penalties)

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Venue: Huish Park
Saturday 10th December, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Sunny but cold
Pitch: Icy – in particular in the shade of the Thatcher’s Stand – and got slippier as the game progressed

Attendance: 2,744 (78 away supporters)

Scorers: None

Bookings:

Yeovil Town: None
Scunthorpe United: Colin Daniel 55, Marcus Carver 55

Referee: Elliott Swallow

Yeovil Town (5-3-2)

Substitutes: Andrew Oluwabori (for Ewan Clark, 68), Malachi Linton (for Charlie Wakefield, 72), Will Buse.

Scunthorpe United: Foster, Ogle, Boyce, Beestin, Carver, Lavery, Taft, Shrimpton, Daniel, Apter, Pugh. Substitues: Dewhurst, O’Malley, Rowe, Butterfield, Wilson.

Match Report

Yeovil Town’s struggle in front of goal continued as they failed to break down a battling Scunthorpe United side who took a point from a freezing Huish Park.

The Glovers failed to muster a meaningful effort on goal with a first half header over the bench from Alex Fisher and late clearance off the line from Josh Staunton as near as they got to finding a breakthrough.

Indeed, it was the visitors, who arrived on the back of six straight defeats, who created the clearer chances and will feel harder done by to finish the game with just one point.

 

First half

Manager Mark Cooper named just three substitutes, with only two of them were outfield players in Malachi Linton and Andrew Oluwabori, having lost defenders Jamie Reckord and Morgan Williams through injury and illness ahead of the match.

They were already without the suspended Matt Worthington, centre half Ben Richards-Everton still missing through injury, and Anthony Georgiou missing…..for some reason as well. Jamie Scrimshaw, who played on loan at Scunthorpe last season, who knows?!

Louis Britton put an early chance over and on seven minutes his strike partner, top-scorer Alex Fisher, headed Jamie Andrews’ right wing cross just over the bar.

Despite the better chances going Yeovil’s way, Scunthorpe looked bright going forward with defender Reagen Ogle causing problems going forward down the right, but the visitors failed to force Grant Smith in to action defending in the shadow of the Thatcher’s Stand end which was very icy.

There was a nervous moment on 20 minutes when a lapse in the home defence gave Scunthorpe an opportunity to get a strike in, but the chance was well blocked by Max Hunt.

Two minutes later, a great turn by Ewan Clark saw him burst in to a pocket of space inside the box but his effort was well blocked by teenage goalkeeper Owen Foster. Then, on 25 minutes, a good break forward from Scunthorpe saw striker Marcus Carver inside the box but he turned his effort wide.

The game was the first to be screened on National League TV – and this was the view streamers got.

As the game progressed towards half-time, it began to got scrappy with both sides struggling to break the other down. The visitors, who had lost their previous six matches, were trying to hit their hosts on the break, whilst Yeovil tried to get Wakefield and Clark on the ball.

Charlie Wakefield showed a good touch having been found in acres of space down the right by Fisher’s ball, but his effort was well held by Foster.

Not much to warm your spirits in that first half, but enough to think that a little bit more attacking intent from Yeovil could unlock the Scunthorpe defence.

 

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Scunthorpe United 0

Second half

Cooper made a tactical switch to a 4-4-2 formation after the interval with Wakefield pushed forward in to the right wing with Clark on the left side with Chiori Johnson dropping back to left back and Bevan slotting in on the right.

On 52 minutes, great play by Clark found Wakefield on the right, but the winger wasted his opportunity putting an effort high, wide and not so handsome.

With ten minutes of the half game, Colin Daniel went in for a forceful tackle which earned him a booking – which seemed a little harsh – but in the ‘afters’ which followed Marcus Carver appeared to strike Clark in the face. The Bristol City youngster went down clutching his face but referee Elliott Swallow was unmoved – if he’d seen the replay those watching on the stream saw, he may have had a different view.

 

Despite not creating a great deal, Scunthorpe created the best chance of the match on 64 minutes when a high ball from the right was met by the head of Carver whose effort came off the post and away to safety.

Four minutes later, an even more gilt-edged chance fell to Tom Pugh who appeared to slip and fluffed his lines and then Carver sent his effort over the bar. The visitors had their tails up and were looking the more likely to score, if anyone thought the bottom club would be a push over, they were mistaken.

On 73 minutes, another chance fell to the visitors with Boyce’s effort being blocked triggering a scramble where Daniel’s effort was landed on by the grateful Smith.

Andrew Oluwabori, who replaced Clark after 68 minutes, made some blistering runs down the right side but without creating much in the way of attacking opportunities. He cut

Two minutes from time, a free-kick in to the box was cleared as far as Staunton whose effort was headed off the line by Scunthorpe, although Foster in goal probably had it covered. Aside from Fisher’s effort in the first half, that was about as near to a scoring opportunity as it got for Yeovil.

To look it glass half full, it was another game unbeaten and another clean sheet – but half empty, it was the visitors’ first clean sheet of the season and they broke a run of six straight defeats.

On the face of it, the Iron will feel harder done by to not win the match.

Full time: Yeovil Town 0 Scunthorpe United 0

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Venue: Huish Park
Saturday 26th November, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Wet and blustery and got even wetter and windier as the game went on
Pitch: Slippy and slidey

Attendance: 2,123 (53 away supporters)

Scorers: Matt Worthington pen 43 (1-0)

Bookings:

Yeovil Town: Jamie Reckord 29, Matt Worthington 46, Grant Smith 89
FC Halifax Town: 

Sending off:

Yeovil Town: Matt Worthington 75 (two bookable offences)

Referee: Aaron Jackson

Yeovil Town (5-3-2):


Substitutes: Will Buse, Lawson D’Ath, Anthony Georgiou, Louis Britton, Malachi Linton (for Oluwabori 68).

FC Halifax Town: Johnson, Arthur, Stott, Senior, Golden, Cappello (for Dieseruvwe, 66), Summerfield, Gilmour, Cooke (for Warburton, 54), Spence, Harker.

Substitues: Minihan, Scott, Keane.

Match Report

A first half penalty from Matt Worthington secured a vital 1-0 win for Yeovil Town in horrendous conditions at Huish Park.

But the midfielder was at the centre of the action when he was red carded for a second bookable offence having been adjudged to have dived in the second half.

To say referee Aaron Jackson was not popular with the Huish Park crowd would be an understatement and, judging from the booking he received in injury time, Yeovil manager Mark Cooper was not too keen on him either.

The Glovers held on for the win with ten men for the final 15 minutes to pull five points clear of the National League drop zone.

 

First half

Mark Cooper named an unchanged line-up from the previous weekend’s 0-0 draw at Notts County albeit with on loan Peterborough United man Andrew Oluwabori and Matt Worthington playing further forward in support of striker Alex Fisher.

Neither side managed to get control of the ball in miserable conditions, and the game had a similar feel to the previous home game against Gateshead with Yeovil allowing the visitors to dominate possession.

The first chance fell to the visitors when towering striker Rob Harker on six minutes was found from a ball from the right-hand side, but he could not connect with the chance. If he had, Grant Smith in the Yeovil goal would have had his work cut out to keep him out.

On 13 minutes, there was a carbon copy with another move down the right seeing the ball break to striker Jamie Cooke who, like his team-mate Harker, should have done better with the chance. Having kept an impressive Notts County team quiet a week earlier, there was some uncharacteristically loose defending from Yeovil.

Quality was at a premium in the opening 20 minutes but where it existed for the home side unsurprisingly Oluwabori was involved, linking up well with Chiori Johnson down the right side. But, there was some early disgruntlement (is that a word?) from the home crowd with Yeovil struggling to get forward, who were regularly forced backwards by a Halifax side quick to apply pressure.

Perhaps unsurprisingly for a game between the division’s two lowest scoring sides – 17 goals for the visitors and one fewer for their hosts – there was little in the way of chances as the game progressed towards half-time.

If there was going to be a goal, the chances were it was going to come from a mistake – and that’s exactly what happened two minutes before half-time. Owen Bevan was wrestled to the ground by Jamie Scott from a corner in a moment described as “absolutely idiocy” by our own Ian Perkins on BBC Somerset and referee Aaron Jackson pointed to the penalty spot.

With Alex Fisher having put a spot kick over the bar in the last match at Huish Park, midfielder Matt WORTHINGTON took the responsibility and hammered a well-struck penalty past Halifax keeper Sam Johnstone, who got a hand to it but could only push it in to the roof of the net.

Against the run of play, but difficult to feel too much sympathy when the visitors’ defenders had been warned for grappling inside the box seconds before……grappling inside the box.

Half time: Yeovil Town 1 FC Halifax Town 0

Second half

There were no immediate changes for either side as the second half got underway, but Mark Cooper will undoubtedly be looking for his side to show more going forward.

Playing with the wind in their favour after the break, the first chance of the second half fell to Halifax as midfielder Kian Spence was given space to unleash a well-struck shot which Grant Smith had to be called in to action to deny.

The visitors introduced former Glovers’ loanee Matt Warburton with nine minutes of the second half played, and it was his mistake which gave Oluwabori a chance to show his pace and get forward. Unfortunately, his ball in almost found Fisher who was put off by Chiori Johnson who ran across him when the top-scorer looked the more likely target.

Uncharacteristically sloppy play from Yeovil skipper Josh Staunton gifted the visitors possession on 65 minutes and Tyler Golden got away down the right to fire a decent effort in which Smith was equal to, and moments later Harker broke away to force another stop out of the Glovers’ number one.

Malachi Linton was introduced in to the fray on 68 minutes at the expense of Oluwabori, who had played in a deeper role than he had in the previous home game. The striker, who came off the bench with good effect in the previous two matches,

With 15 minutes to go, referee Jackson inexplicably showed a second yellow card (and a subsequent red) to Worthington who he adjudged to have dived in a tackle with Luke Summerfield. The response of the home crowd chanting “you don’t know what you’re doing” at the official goes entirely against Rule 1 of the Gloverscast. Appeal incoming?

The conditions which were not that pleasant to start with got steadily worse as the game progressed and you would not want to have been one of the 21 players on the pitch as Bevan underwent some lengthy treatment.

If you wanted something else to break Rule 1, Harvey Gilmour went down in the box with three minutes of the game remaining but referee Jackson gave nothing. If that’s not a foul and a penalty, it’s a booking, isn’t it? The Yeovil bench certainly asked that same question of the fourth official.

The questions of the officials from Cooper led to him going in to the book with two of six minutes of injury time played. Jackson waited until Fisher was fouled to blow up for a head injury from a Halifax player – which the official hadn’t bothered about until then.

Smith, who had got a booking for time-wasting, was the hero in the dying seconds making a great save to deny Gilmour with just seconds of the game remaining, but pushed it as far as Festus Arthurs who blazed his chance over.

But, Yeovil Town held on to secure another valuable three points.

Full time:  Yeovil Town 1 FC Halifax Town 0