Match Reports (Page 17)

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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

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Venue: Meadow Lane
Saturday 19th November, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Cold but dry
Pitch: Slick

Attendance: 16511 (452 away supporters)

Scorers: 

Bookings:

Yeovil Town: Reckord 70, Linton, 80
Notts County: 

Referee: Gary Parsons

Yeovil Town (4-3-3):

Substitutes: Will Buse, Lawson D’Ath, Malachi Linton (for Oluwabori 75), Anthony Georgiou, Louis Britton (for Fisher 90)

Notts County: Slocombe, Camerson, Baldwin, Brindley, Chicksen, Adebayo-Rowling, Palmer, Austin, Rodrigues, Scott, Langstaff.

Substitutes: Rawlinson, Bajrami, Francis, Castro, Mitchell.

Match Report

A record National League crowd witnessed a resilient Yeovil Town keep the League leaders out this afternoon in a 0-0 draw at Meadow Lane.

Mark Cooper’s Green and Whites held firm against Notts County despite being under pressure for the overwhelming majority of the game to take a point home to Somerset.

Here’s how Coatesie saw it…

First half

It took three minutes for Macauley Langstaff to get a sight of goal, a ball in from the right side landed to the Notts top scorer six yards out but his low effort was smothered by Grant Smith. The keeper will have been grateful the effort had power on it.

All the home sides play came down the right side in the opening stages with Jamie Reckord given a stern test, and it was a free-kick from that side which was volleyed over by hosts’ skipper Kyle Cameron after seven minutes.

The pre-match prediction of a compact formation from Yeovil proved correct, and for the first quarter-of-an-hour the home side prodded and proved without offering too much. At the other end, a run down the right side by Andrew Oluwabori after 14 minutes was about the only attacking effort at the other end.

There was certainly no lack of patience for the league leaders who played enjoyed ridiculous levels of possession and chance began to come. Smith was forced in to action to deny first Sam Austin and then Cedwyn Scott before Langstaff headed over.

It took until the 28th minute for Yeovil to have their first effort on goal, a slip in the middle of the part saw Oluwabori break away to the edge of the box bit his effort went over. Going forward the game plan seemed to be that, hope a mistake dropped to the on loan Peterborough man and he could outpace his marker. Is a 5-5-0 formation at thing?

The time it took Smith to take goal kicks seemed to infuriate those in the home end, who responded by throwing balled up pieces of paper at division’s best keeper (B.Barrett, 2022) leading to the referee to temporarily call a halt to proceedings to inform stewards.

Meanwhile, the rearguard action continue with Yeovil so deep they were almost sat in the Meadow Lane Kop at some points. Fortunately for them Langstaff was having an off day (or least an off 35 minutes) and his effort was blocked by Owen Bevan, and from the resulting corner Adam Chicksen’s long-range effort was turned over by Smith.

Smith was at it again three minutes from half-time when he dropped superbly to deny a low drive from Rodrigues before Morgan Williams hacked the ball away.

It wasn’t pretty but, for 45 minutes at least, it had been effective.

Half time: Notts County 0 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

On 47 minutes, Yeovil’s best piece of attacking play forced a save (yes, an actual save) out of Sam Slocombe in the hosts’ goal. Oluwabori put a ball in from the right and Fisher’s attempted flick at the near post was denied. Moments later, Oluwabori seized on a mistake in midfield and broke forward to play Chiori Johnson but he was denied by a fine tackle.

At the other end, Notts picked up where they left off patiently playing it around, hoping to find a gap in the Parma Violet wall. A ball in from Tobi Adebayo-Rowling was headed away as Williams before it found its way to Scott whose shot was weak and Chicksen’s follow up was over.

Rodrigues fizzed one over and substitute Quevin Castro had an effort deflected wide. If I hadn’t watched the same happen for 45 minutes, I would have been more worried. I was a little worried, but not as much as I would have been.

For every probing Rodrigues ball and long range effort from the home side, there was a block from Williams or a header from Max Hunt.

On 75 minutes, Smith was at it again, diving to his left to deny Cameron’s long ranger, before Worthington was in the right place on the back post to head Cameron’s goal bound header off the line.

Malachi Linton, on for the non-stop Oluwabori, was ruffling feathers at the other end. Picking up a booking for a soft foul, but almost finding himself through on goal.

A National League record crowd of 16,511 – including 452 away supporters – was announced and, even with discounted tickets, that is some achievement.

Probably the most inexplicable chance came with the last opportunity when Chicksen got ahead of Adebayo-Rowling but his header went over.

But, the roar from the away end at the final whistle told you everything about what that point meant.

Full time: Notts County 0 Yeovil Town 0

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Malachi Linton. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Venue: Huish Park
Saturday 12th November, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Warm, sunny day
Pitch: Looking good

Attendance: 2,405 (65 away supporters)

Scorers: Will Harris 25 (0-1), Alex Fisher 31 (1-1), Alex Fisher 51 (2-1), Malachi Linton 90+3 (3-1)

Bookings:

Yeovil Town: Matt Worthington 87
Gateshead: 

Referee: Sam Mulhall

Yeovil Town (4-3-3):

Substitues: Louis Britton (for Alex Fisher, 70), Malachi Linton (for Andrew Oluwaborie, 74), Ewan Clark (for Anthony Georgiou, 85), Gime Toure (not used), Ollie Hulbert (not used).

Gateshead: Montgomery, Richardson, Pye, Gallagher (for Daley, 20), Conteh (for Yussuf, 86), Bailey, Ward, Hasani (for Martin, 51), Campbell, Harris. Substitutes: Langley, Magnay.

 

Match Report.

A double from man of the match Alex Fisher and a late finish from substitute Malachi Linton saw Yeovil Town pick up their first win under new manager Mark Cooper and their third of the season.

It was also the first time this season the Glovers had scored more than two goals and pulled themselves a whole two points adrift of the National League relegation zone with a win over bottom of the table Gateshead.

The result was nothing less than Mark Cooper’s men deserved and they could even afford a missed second penalty from Fisher who deserved his hat-trick for an outstanding display – but we’ll take three points, oh yes we will!

 

First half

Manager Mark Cooper made two changes from the midweek stalemate against Maidenhead United with Ben Richards-Everton and Ewan Clark, replaced by Chiori Johnson and Andrew Oluwabori.

There was no starting position for new signing striker Louis Britton, who joined four fellow forwards on the substitutes’ bench alongside Malachi Linton, Gime Toure, Ollie Hulbert and Clark.

For the visitors, ex-Glovers’ striker Adi Yussuf was named among the substitutes’ bench manager Mike Williamson, a former Newcastle United player, made just his second appearance of the season.

The line-up saw Matt Worthington playing forward, almost as a number ten, with captain Josh Staunton and on-loan Jamie Andrews playing in the centre of midfield, and it was the home side who started the brighter but without forcing visiting keeper James Montgomery in to action.

But, it was the visitors who took the lead with the game’s first opportunity on 25 minutes. A looped ball forward saw Staunton miss an interception and Will HARRIS picked it up and a clinical finish left Grant Smith clutching at thin air. More than a hint of offside but the only person who matters (the assistant referee) did not agree.

The lead lasted just six minutes as a wonderful free kick whipped in low and around the wall by Anthony Georgiou and Alex FISHER stooped low to head home. A goal and from a set piece – that’s the stuff!

At that point Cooper shifted the formation with Oluwaborie moving up in to a front two with Fisher with Chiori Johnson pushing further forward. If there was a lack of a tactical Plan B from Chris Hargreaves, his successor was showing he is capable of changing it up.

 

Smith was called in to action on 35 minutes when sloppy defending saw a free-kick find its way to Williamson and his first time effort was denied by the keeper’s feet.

Andrew Oluwaborie. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

As the board went up for first half-time injury time, a great ball from Jamie Reckord was chested down by Johnson to Oluwaborie but the winger could not get enough on it to trouble the goal.

But the Peterborough United man did force Montgomery in to action when the winger cut back inside with the keeper off his line and had an effort stopped by his feet.

Then with the final action of the first half, a low ball across the six yard area saw Fisher go agonisingly close to adding his second. There’s no doubt the home side will have been the more disappointed to hear the half-time whistle.

Half time: Yeovil Town 1 Gateshead 1

Second half

It was a fast start from Yeovil with Chiori Johnson, who was definitely given more licence to go forward since the change, pressing forward in, but he effort went wide.

And the former Torquay United man was at the heart of the move which put the hosts ahead on 51 minutes. His sumptuous delivery found FISHER inside the box and the striker slammed his second of the afternoon in to an unguarded net.

It was nothing more than the Glovers deserved for their positive play, in particular Oluwaborie and Johnson’s link up down the right hand side which was causing Gateshead all kinds of problems.

There was a heart in mouth moment on the hour mark when Smith went down heavily after a coming together with a Gateshead player and needed some lengthy treatment. Heart in mouth because there were five strikers on the bench – but on loan keeper Will Buse was watching on from the stands.

Fisher had a golden opportunity to complete his hat-trick on 67 minutes when he won a penalty and, as you’d imagine, grabbed the ball. But the striker went for the perfect penalty and his effort went over rather than ‘top bins’.

Alex Fisher wins a second half penalty. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

That proved the frontman’s last opportunity who was replaced three minutes later by new signing Louis Britton. Fisher even apologised to the Huish Park for only scoring two goals rather than three. It’s okay, Fish, you’ve done your bit!

Smith was furious by a piece of sloppy defending with 15 minutes remaining, another long ball over the top to Harris (if it sounds familiar, check how the Gateshead goal came about!) put the striker one-on-one, but luckily his effort was not as clinical as when he found the next.

The visitors were hard working and playing good football, and the nervousness from Yeovil was there for all to see. On the touchline, Cooper and Chris Todd were making their feelings known.

Whatever they said, it clearly didn’t get through to the defence as on 84 minutes another (yes another!) dinked ball over the top from the visitors found Kenton Richardson who put the ball in the back of the net……but the flag was up.

If you felt nervous before, how did you feel when Adi Yussuf replaced holding midfielder Kamil Conteh. An attacking move from the visitors. Curse of the old boy, anyone? Oh and five minutes of injury time…..how’s your nerves, Huish Park?

But it was left to substitute Malachi LINTON to settle the nerves three minutes in to stoppage time with a third – yes, a third goal. The young striker was sent through on goal, held his nerve and slotted home his third of the season, taking him level with Reckord as this season’s top scorer.

 

If you wondered what response Huish Park would give to a team which was truly “playing on the front foot”, you only had to listen to the crowd. Off the field, there may be dissent, but these fans will back any Yeovil Town side who put that kind of effort in.

Full time: Yeovil Town 3 Gateshead 1

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Venue: Huish Park
Tuesday 8th November, 7.45pm kick-off

Conditions: Wet and windy
Pitch: Slippery

Attendance: 1,906

Scorers: None

Bookings:

Yeovil Town: Bevan 42, Reckord 64, Oluwaborie 90+4
Maidenhead United: Asare 45, Beckwith 67, Adams 90+3

Referee: Robert Massey-Ellis

Yeovil Town (4-3-3):

Substitutes: Andrew Oluwabori (for Ewan Clark, 60), Gime Toure (for Georgiou, 84), Chiori Johnson, Ollie Hulbert, Malachi Linton.

Maidenhead United: Gyollai, Ferdinand, Asare, Massey, Nathaniel-George (for Clifton 90+3), Acquah, Arthur (for Keetch, 54), Smith (for McCoulsky, 87), Beckwith, Adams, Clerima. Substitutes (not used): Odutayo, Andre.

Match Report.

Yeovil Town’s ninth draw of the National League season was enough to move them out of the National League relegation zone in Mark Cooper’s first home game in charge.

But, more tellingly, it was also the eighth time this season that the Glovers have drawn a blank in front of goal and a failure to do much to force the Maidenhead United goalkeeper in to action was plain for all to see.

There was an improvement – if you set the bar at the last time out against Aldershot Town in Chris Hargreaves’ final match – especially when debutant Andrew Oluwaborie came on after an hour, but it still was not enough.

 

First half

On loan Leyton Orient winger Anthony Georgiou was handed a debut and fellow wideman Andrew Oluwaborie, signed just hours before kick-off from Peterborough United, was named on the bench as the Glovers set up with a three-man forward line in a bid to improve their record as the National League’s lowest scorers.

However, there was no place in the squad for Will Buse, Morgan Williams, Sam Perry, Lawson D’Ath, Charlie Wakefield or Jake Scrimshaw. Signs of changes being rung by Mark Cooper?

The first meaningful chance saw Kane Ferdinand take advantage of a Max Hunt error to test Grant Smith with an effort from the edge of the box and moments later another effort skidded off the slippery surface to force the keeper to awkwardly turn it wide.

But chances were at a premium in the opening 45 minutes. Jamie Andrews, starting his second match since joining on loan from West Bromwich Albion, was a bright spark on a damp night, he kept his head up and seemed a creative force in midfield.

As the half came towards an end, Owen Bevan was lucky to escape with just a yellow after a two-footed tackle on Ferdinand – call that one an ‘orange’ card with referee Robert Massey-Ellis perhaps given him credit

The best chance of the game so far fell to Emile Acquah as the game crept in to injury time. The striker’s effort shot took a ricochet off someone and forced Smith in to a fine stop to turn it over the bar.

We look better than we did last time out against Aldershot Town, but that isn’t saying much. Not much to warm you on a miserable evening.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Maidenhead United 0

Second half

To say the second half started in similar fashion to the end of the first would be an understatement. Ferdinand brought a stop out of Smith on 57 minutes but that was probably about as ‘exciting’ as it got….and I use exciting in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Perhaps recognising the risk of hypothermia setting in for those in the Thatcher’s Stand, Yeovil manager Mark Cooper introduced Andrew Oluwabori in place of Ewan Clark, who had a bright first half but again took some heavy knocks.

The change brought the impact it was seeking with Oluwabori added attacking impetus and sparking fellow debutant Georgiou into bombing forward.

A couple of dangerous balls in to the box from Georgiou were turned aside first by Josh Staunton and then from Max Hunt, but neither forced Daniel Gyollai in to a stop.

The keeper was called in to action on 71 minutes when Oluwabori found Alex Fisher who flicked the ball towards goal but was denied by Gyollai. A shot on target, folks!

Max Hunt put a header wide four minutes later, but that was honestly about as near as we came to mustering a meaningful shot on target.

The statistics speak for themselves – two shots on target and two shots off target in 90 minutes of football.

We’re out of the bottom four at the expense of Scunthorpe United who take on Wrexham on Wednesday night, but beyond that positives are hard to come by.

Full time: Yeovil Town 0 Maidenhead United 0

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Venue: Kingfield
Tuesday 1st November, 7.45pm kick-off

Conditions:
Pitch: Soggy after a pre-match downpour

Scorers:  Padraig Amond 84

Bookings:

Yeovil Town: Jamie Andrews 30, Ben Richards-Everton 40, Ewan Clark 45, Jamie Reckord 61
Woking: Ricky Korboa 86, Rohan Ince 87

Referee: Lloyd Wood

Yeovil Town:

Substitutes: Gime Toure (for Chiori Johnson, 62), Will Dawes (for Malachi Linton, 62), Sam Perry (for Ewan Clark, 82). Will Buse (not used), Ollie Hulbert (not used).

Woking: Ross, Moss, Cuthbert, McNerney, Casey, Ince, Anderson, Kellerman, Korboa (for Vokins, 90), Clarke (for Roles, 69), Amond (for Bilongo 90+3). Substitutes (not used): Wady Roberts.

Match Report

Yeovil Town remain in the National League relegation zone after a late winner from Padraig Amond saw El Sarllico go the way of the former Glovers’ boss.

It was a case of third time lucky for the Irishman who was denied by the impressive Grant Smith in a one-on-one opportunity and moments later the keeper kept out a tame penalty, but with six minutes remaining the big money summer signing was on hand to tap home the winner.

Another blank in front goal means Mark Cooper’s men remain the lowest scorers in the National League with just 13 goals in 17 games and that was what cost us – again.

 

First half

The first 15 minutes did not offer much from either side finding out a pitch which was drenched by a downpour just ahead of kick-off, despite it being relatively dry in Surrey come 7.45pm.

Ricky Korboa forced the first save – albeit a fairly routine one – out of Grant Smith in the visitor’s goal after 14 minutes but, against a side on a good run of form, they managed to hold their own and rarely looked like they were being too threatened.

As the game approached the half-hour mark, there was a little sustained pressure from Yeovil, but did not do a great deal to threaten Craig Ross in the hosts’ goal.

Winger Ewan Clark did suffer some rough treatment winning a number of fouls which referee Lloyd Wood not picking up on any…..until debutant Jamie Andrews picked up a yellow for a 30th minute foul on the dangerous Korboa, who we struggled to contain.

Yeovil began to find their way in to the game as it progressed towards the interval, however, there was little in the way of quality from either side. Scrappy to put it politely.

It took a moment of superb defending from Max Hunt to clear from the middle of a sea of Woking players in first half injury time and then again rose highest to had another ball in. For a player who was completely out of favour under previous manager, Chris Hargreaves, he will have got plenty of confidence from that impressive piece of defensive play.

Half time: Woking 0 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

The scrappiness continued as the second half got underway along with the lightweight feel to the Yeovil frontline alongside

But, with ten minutes of the second half gone, the game sprang in to life. Woking striker Padraig Amond found himself one-on-one with visiting keeper Smith, who got a leg out to deny the Cardinals’ big money summer signing. Once again, Smith showing the quality he has displayed all season.

The defensive slip was the first blip in an otherwise controlled display from the visitors, but on 59 minutes a clumsy tackle by Owen Bevan on Jermaine Anderson saw a second penalty in three days awarded against the Glovers. It looked as if Anderson was going to take it only for Amond to grab the ball off him and his poor spot kick was saved by Smith.

With FC Halifax Town, the second lowest scorers in the National League, postponed due to the poor weather, Mark Cooper chucked on Gime Toure and Will Dawes in place of Chiori Johnson and Malachi Linton in an attempt to improve his side’s woeful attacking performance this season.

The response saw the game turn in to a real end-to-end affair but without much to trouble either Smith or Ross in the opposing goals.

But, with six minutes remaining, the defensive solidity which had been a hallmark of the visitors’ performance deserted them and gifted Woking the lead. They hesitated as Jack Roles’ ball fizzed in to the box and AMOND was at the back post to turn the ball home. When your luck’s not in, it’s not in.

Smith, a player who didn’t deserve to be on the losing side if ever there was one, pulled off a smart stop to deny Jim Kellerman in second half injury time.

Don’t score goals, you don’t win football matches.

Full time: Woking 1 Yeovil Town 0

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Venue: Gallagher Stadium, Maidstone
Saturday 29th October, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Unseasonably hot for late October
Pitch: Fluffed plastic

Attendance: 2,147 (133 away supporters)

Scorers:  Alex Fisher 13 (0-1), Regan Booty 90+6 pen (1-1)

Bookings:

Yeovil Town: Clarke 45, Richards-Everton 60, Worthington 71
Maidstone: Odusanya 23, Barkers 37, Booty 41, Galvin 45, Greenidge 52,

Referee: Jacob Miles

Yeovil Town:

Grant Smith

Morgan Williams   Owen Bevan   Max Hunt   Ben Richards-Everton

Josh Staunton

Matt Worthington (Ollie Hulbert 72)    Sam Perry (Charlie Wakefield 63)

Ewan Clarke (Chiori Johnson 63)                                                           Malachi Linton

Alex Fisher

Substitutes (not used): Gime Toure, Will Dawes

Maidstone United: Sandford, Hoyte, Galvin, Barham, Mensah, Odusanya, Booty, Pattisson, Greenidge, Deacon, Barkers. Subs: Mersin, Ellul, Alabi, Fawole, Gurung

Match Report

A stoppage time penalty from Regan Booty prevented Yeovil Town from recording their first away win of the season at fellow relegation zone residents Maidstone United.

David Coates⁩ (almost inexplicably) travelled from Lancashire to Kent for the match, here’s how he saw the Glovers’ eighth draw of the season.

First half

New Yeovil Town boss Mark Cooper watched his first game in charge from the stands in Kent, shielding his eyes as he looked out on the pitch – much like every travelling supporter risking a late October sunburn from behind the goal defended by hosts’ keeper Ryan Sandford.

An effort from Josh Staunton skied high, wide and not so handsome over the bar after just seven minutes was as close as the visitors got in the opening exchanges.

Maidstone were the first to carve out an opening when on nine minutes when a defence-splitting pass from Regan Booty picked out Christie Pattison whose cross evaded everyone.

Five minutes later, Yeovil were ahead. A beautifully struck ball forward from Owen Bevan was met by the head of Alex FISHER who beat his defender Jacob Mensah from the edge of the box to loop a ball over the out-of-position Sandford and give the Glovers the lead.

On 22 minutes, the ball was in the net from the visitors when Ewan Clark’s free-kick was flicked in to the net by Ben Richards-Everton following a scramble, but was adjudged to be offside. From behind the goal with the sun burning my corneas, it did not look offside but I’ll give the official the benefit of the doubt.

In the 40th minute, Yeovil should have doubled their advantage. A deft touch forward by Fisher played Matt Worthington on who didn’t either try to touch it round the susceptible Sandford or leather it and it ran harmlessly through to the keeper.

If there’s one thing the Mark Cooper era brought in that first half, it was more fight. Ethan Clark, quite possible the slightest player in the Yeovil line-up, gave a shove in the back of his marker and sent him flying over a chair on the sideline.  The foul he drew from his marker immediately afterwards told you that this may be exactly what he needed to do a against a Maidstone team low on confidence. [Okay, having seeing this on the highlights, the Maidstone player made more of it than it was, but I will wager the push in the back would not have happened four days earlier].

The first half finished 1-0 but should have been more.

Half time: Maidstone 0 Yeovil Town 1

Second half

A early Richards-Everton header saw Yeovil come close after, but it was Maidstone who came closer on 53 minutes. They were given time and space on the edge of the visitors’ box to work Booty in to a shooting position which was nothing more than routine for Grant Smith, but cue some alarm bells.

Two minutes later, Smith was called in to his first meaningful action of the day to turn Jack Barham’s header from a left-wing cross over the bar.

The home side certainly came out with more of a spring in their step, but they were met by a more resilient response from Yeovil. But, whilst managing to keep their opponents out, the tendency to sit deep which has cost us so many times this season still appears to be there. And, if Cooper’s wild gesticulating was anything to go by, the new manager saw it too.

As the home side grew in confidence, the scars of the season so far on Yeovil’s confidence began to show. Substitute Josh Fawole poked an effort wide and with ten minutes to go Ryan Galvin’s speculative header hit the bar.

With two minutes to go Gavin Hoyte was given a free header from a corner which he should have done better before Fawole was denied by a well-timed tackle from Owen Bevan.

To say the second half was attritional would have been an understatement, but just when you thought Cooper’s reign may begin with a win, the fourth official held up six minutes of injury time. My heart wavered at that, I admit.

And in the fifth minute of time added on, Yeovil paid the price for their defensive second half display when Roarie Deacon tumbled under a tackle from Ollie Hulbert. From the angle I was at it did look like some of Hulbert’s boot connected with Alabi’s but the attacker was on his way down long before the contact was made.

When home supporters outside the ground tell you that it was never a penalty you know your luck is out. BOOTY fire the spot kick expertly in to the corner and the spoils were settled.

Alex Fisher, Chiori Johnson and Max Hunt applaud the fans at Maidstone
? David Coates

Full time: Maidstone United 1 Yeovil Town 1

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Venue: Huish Park
Tuesday 25th October, 7:45pm kick-off

Conditions: Cool, clear night
Pitch: Looking good

Attendance: 2396 (219 away)

Scorers: Phillips (0-1 ’85), Willard (0-2 ’90+)

Bookings:

Yeovil Town: Reckord ’75, Dawes ‘ 79, Johnson ’89
Aldershot Town: Harfield ’79, Davies ’90

Referee: James Durkin

 

Yeovil Town : (4-3-3…maybe)

Grant Smith

   Owen Bevan – Josh Staunton – Ben Richards-Everton – Jamie Reckord

Callum Rowe (Will Dawes ’66) – Matt Worthington – Sam Perry

Ollie Hulbert – Alex Fisher(Gime Toure ’60) – Ewan Clark (Chiori Johnson ’73)

Substitutes (not used): Max Hunt, Malachi Linton

 

Match Report

Yeovil Town dropped into the National League relegation zone following a 2-0 home defeat to fellow strugglers Aldershot Town, in a game where the Glovers passed 430 minutes without scoring a goal, two late goals from the visitors confined the green and whites to a second consecutive 2-0 defeat.

Ian Perkins was there, here’s how he saw it.

First half

With changes across the team, including a debut for Ewan Clarke, the Glovers lined up in a 4-3-3 – praise the Lord.

The opening ten was pretty cagey, with both sides exchanging spells of possession with no chances at goal.

In the 13th minute Grant Smith was called into action, diving to his left to put Tommy Willard’s goal-bound effort wide for a corner.

The Glovers had a half chance moments later with Clarke meeting Jamie Reckord’s deep looping cross with a tame header towards goal.

As the lone striker, Alex Fisher was doing a lot of running and in the 22nd minute he glanced a header wide of the post after a good cross from Reckord on the left.

Some neat play moment later opened some spaces for efforts that were closed down but it fell to Clarke who’s left footed effort was easy for Taylor Ashby-Hammond.

Former W*ymouth man Tyler Cordner’s eyes lit up as he galloped forward and with space to line up a strike he smashed the ball wide of Smith’s goal.

As half time approached discontent grew amongst supporters with boos for misplaced crosses and even when the players had audacity to retain possession – odd.

Aldershot’s movement was causing Chris Hargreaves’ side a few issues as they adjusted to the new shape, but a fairly dull affair saw the scores level at the break.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Aldershot 0

Second half

The first effort of the second half fell to Aldershot, as Amaluzor had his left footed shot deflected wide for a corner.

Attacking the Thatchers, which seemed to have gained a few idiots from the surrounding villages, Alex Fisher dragged an effort wide shortly after.

Aldershot had their best chance of the game in the 58th minute. After a mix up in defence, Frank Vincent snuck in to strike at goal but his shot went wide.

Chris Hargreaves changes personnel Midway through the half, replacing Fisher and Rowe with Gime Toure and Will Dawes.

Shortly after the former Stratford man’s arrival, a defensive clearance rebounded horribly off of Amaluzor just over the bar as Smith scrambled back towards goal.

Buoyed by his effort in the first half, Cordner had another go in the 70th minute that flew just wide of Smith’s left hand post.

Toure mazed his way through the box and went down appealing for a penalty, although the referee saw no contact and waved the appeals away.

Aldershot opened the scoring five minutes from time with Giles PHILLIPS heading home a corner. 0-1.

The Glovers couldn’t lift themselves after conceding and Tommy WILLARD piled on the misery in stoppage time. 0-2.

Chants of “We Want Hargreaves out” and “f*ck off back to BT” and boos at full time really piled the pressure on Chris Hargreaves as the GloverS fell into the bottom four.

Full time: Yeovil Town 0 Aldershot 2

 

At the full time whistle, there were some ugly scenes as the Glovers fans made their voices heard.

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Venue: Boundary Park
Saturday October 22nd, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Dry and bright
Pitch: Held up well

Attendance: 6,483 (144 away supporters)

Scorers: Oscar Threlkeld 6 (0-1), Mike Fondop 71 (0-2)

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Lawson D’Ath 74
Oldham Athletic: Nathan Sheron 49

Referee: Greg Rollason

 

Yeovil Town : (3-5-2)

Grant Smith

Morgan Williams   Owen Bevan  Ben Richards-Everton

Sam Pearson      Chiori Johnson (for Jake Scrimshaw, 82) Josh Staunton Lawson D’Ath   Jamie Reckord

Malachi Linton (for Alex Fisher, 58) Gime Toure (for Ollie Hulbert, 46)

Substitutes (not used): Max Hunt, Sam Perry.

 

Match Report

Yeovil Town slid to within a point of the National League relegation zone after going down with a whimper at Oldham Athletic.

Having gone behind to Oscar Threlkeld’s sixth minute deflected effort, the Glovers put in a performance lacking in effort, direction and ability for the opening 45 minutes.

Despite a second half which offered a little more in terms of attacking intent, there simply was not enough to see off an Oldham side who sealed the win with Mike Fondop’s goal after 71 minutes.

Here’s how a rather angry Dave saw it from the away end at Boundary Park…..

 

First half

After some tepid opening exchanges, it was a piece of defensive suicide which gifted Oldham a lead after just six minutes. A ball in from the left by Zaine Francis-Angol  you was ignored  by the entire defence, including an uncharacteristic mis-kick from Josh Staunton, and broke to Oscar THRELKELD whose effort was deflected past Grant Smith.

With the exception of an eighth minute foray forward where Malachi Linton had a shot which went well wide, the performance from the visitors in the 15 minutes which followed the goal was characterised by aimless balls, disinterested recipients and a team looking to someone else to make something happen.

The most frustrating thing was that this was against an Oldham side who offered very little themselves. An effort wide from John Rooney on 13 minutes, and a couple of crosses in to the box were all they offered in response.

It was not until the 40th minute that Smith was called in to action when Rooney found Ben Tollitt whose effort was turned aside by a smart stop by the keeper.

In 30 years of watching Yeovil Town – the Darren Way era of whimpering out of the Football League, even the two seasons we spent in a tier below this one in the 1990s – that was as bad a performance as I have seen from a side. Utterly devoid of effort and direction.

Half time: Oldham Athletic 1 Yeovil Town 0

 

Second half

Within two minutes of the restart, Yeovil achieved more than the first 45 minutes had offered. Ollie Hulbert, on as a substitute for Gime Toure, put a ball in from the left found Chiori Johnson on the far post but the ball was behind him and he was unable to get his header away.

There was more effort, an attempt at passing the ball, and guess what? It worked. A lukewarm spoon press against a block of butter, but more effort at least.

Alex Fisher replaced Linton after 57 minutes with Yeovil preparing  for a corner that met the head of Ben Richards-Everton who forced a save from Magnus Norman in the Oldham goal.

Moments later, Staunton’s interception set Johnson away down the right, but his effort avoided everyone in the box. For all the better forward play, there was little to threaten Norman’s goal.

On 65 minutes, a good ball forward by Lawson D’Ath found three Yeovil players queuing up despite Fisher and Pearson being in the vicinity, no-one could get a touch.

Two minutes later, Owen Bevan glanced a header just over from D’Ath’s corner.

But on 71 minutes, an Oldham side which had offered nothing all half doubled their advantage. From their own corner, Yeovil found themselves with just Morgan Williams against three attackers and it was Mike FONDOP who was there to turn it in from close range.

Six minutes from time, a ball from Pearson was met by a header from Fisher which force Norman in to a stop to turn it on to the post. That was the nearest to a goal we had got and it wasn’t near  enough.

Full time: Oldham Athletic 2 Yeovil Town 0