Match Reports (Page 19)

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Match Reports

Venue: Huish Park
Saturday, 25th March, 3pm kick-off

Pitch: Sticky after some heavy rain overnight
Conditions:  On and off rain and a strong wind
Attendance: 3480

Scorers: Besert Topalloj 5 (0-1),

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Grant Smith 65
Bromley: Ryan Stirk 56, Arthurs 65

Referee: Richie Watkins

Yeovil Town (4-3-3)


Substitutes: Scott Pollock (for Callum Harriott, 46), Zanda Siziba (for Jordan Maguire-Drew, 54), Reo Griffiths (for Andrew Oluwabori, 54), Max Hunt (not used), Malachi Linton (not used).

Bromley: Charles-Cook, Reynolds, Sowunmi, Whitely, Dennis (for Krauhaus, 86), Cheek, Stirk, Arthurs, Topalloj (for Bingham, 46), Elerewe, Fisher (for Vennings, 66). Substitutes (not used): Kendall, Forster.


Match Report

A dreadful display from Yeovil Town saw them fall to a 1-0 home defeat against Bromley which pushed them within a point of the National League relegation places.

A fourth minute goal from Besert Topalloj was the difference on the scoresheet but the visitors spurned numerous other chances and Glovers’ goalkeeper Grant Smith pulled off a number of fine stops to prevent the scoreline being greater.

Perhaps more worrying was the complete lack of effort from many in green and white who were met by boos at the end of either half from second biggest crowd of the season at Huish Park.

 

First half

It was the worst possible start for Yeovil as they fell behind after just five minutes. Kellen Fisher got away down the right for Bromley, Andrew Oluwabori got to him but the wideman still got the ball in and a complete failure to clear by the Yeovil defence saw it break to Besert TOPALLOJ who slammed it past Grant Smith.

Besert Topalloj celebrates his fourth minute strike.

That was the first attack of the game but it set the tone for a start which saw the visitors completely on top. It was on 10 minutes that a terrible pass by Oluwabori saw the ball break to Michael Cheek who burst in to the box and was denied by a point blank save from Smith. From the resulting corner a header by visiting defender Deje Elerewe, on loan from Charlton Athletic, was turned over by Smith.

Every time Bromley are coming forward they look like they can score. The visitors looked every inch a side pushing at the top end of the table and whilst looking threatening on the attack, they also looked confident in snuffing out anything approaching forward play from Yeovil.

It took until the 24th minute for Yeovil to get their first effort on goal when a long ball forward found Oluwabori who did well to bring it down, cut inside and Harriott took the ball off his team-mate who hammered in a shot which took a deflection and was well turned aside by Reice Charles-Cook in the visitors’ goal.

That sparked a bit of possession for the home side but balls in from Chiori Johnson down the right and then Oluwabori from the left were about as near to a threat on goal as Yeovil got as the game ticked past the 30 minute mark.

On 32 minutes, a beautiful ball over the top found Louis Dennis who had time to take a touch on the edge of the area but lifted his effort over the bar. Bromley will be baffled as to how they are only 1-0 up.

The half-time whistle was met with boos from a bumper home crowd boosted by visitors coming as part of Non-League Day and the #PackThePark ticket offer. A very poor first half from Yeovil.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Bromley 1

 

Second half

The interval saw Harriott, who had not played a competitive minute since the start of January, replaced by Pollock. The winger appeared to be playing with a knock at the end of the first half.

Scott Pollock in action for Yeovil Town. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

On 51 minutes, Yeovil got a huge let off as Bromley waltzed through the hosts’ defence and lifted a ball over the top to Cheek (don’t worry, he’s only one of the best strikers in the division, lads) who put his effort over from a tight angle.

By the 54th minute, manager Mark Cooper had clearly seen all he needed to see as Maguire-Drew and Oluwabori, neither of whom had affected the play in a positive fashion, were replaced by Reo Griffiths and Zanda Siziba. But with a spark desperately needed, Yeovil simply could not get the ball off their comfortable visitors.

From the crowd to the players to the dug out, energy was completely missing – literally no-one was up for this one. Except Bromley, of course, who seemed to be quite happy to let their hosts get frustrated. This could not be more different to the feeling in the previous home game, the 1-0 win over Eastleigh.

 

https://twitter.com/matt_uggla/status/1639664968424456193?s=20

 

With 63 minutes gone, Billy Bingham’s challenge broke to Cheek who slid it in to Dennis, from the resulting scramble Smith was able to grasp it and took a kick in the process. The referee booked Arthurs for Bromley for the kick and Smith for his protests.

Dennis smashed a shot over a minute ago and it was the visitors who were asking all the questions and Corey Whiteley had another effort over the bar.

At the other end, there was a scramble in front of the away end after 68 minutes with Ryan Law and Fisher in close proximity but neither were able to prod the ball home.

Ugh. We simply don’t look like a team at the moment. Cooper was full of running, Johnson got forward well in the second half and (as ever) only captain Staunton seemed interested in driving forward whilst Smith did his part at the back. The rest? The body language spoke volumes, lots of arms waved in the air and very little else.

On 82 minutes, Griffiths won a free-kick just outside the penalty area, Cooper did superbly to pick out Fisher in the middle of the box but his header flashed wide. Four minutes later Dennis bent one round the post. How are they not more than a goal ahead?

From minute one to minute 90+5, Yeovil were second best and the final score flattered them thoroughly.

Full time: Yeovil Town 0 Bromley 1

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Match Reports

Venue: The Shay
Saturday, 18th March, 3pm kick-off

Pitch: Fantastic if you are after a beach holiday
Conditions: On and off drizzle 
Attendance: 1623 (103 away supporters)

Scorers: Matt Warburton 60 (0-1), Malachi Linton 88 (1-1)

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Owen Bevan 25, Charlie Cooper 51, Malachi Linton 57, Matt Worthington
FC Halifax Town: Jamie Stott 40

Referee: Jamie O’Connor

Yeovil Town (4-3-3)


Substitutes: Malachi Linton (for Lawson D’Ath, 25), Chiori Johnson (for Edwin Agbaje, 71), Jamie Reckord (for Alex Fisher, 90+4), Will Buse (not used).


Match Report

A Malachi Linton goal two minutes from the end earned Yeovil Town a smash-and-grab point at FC Halifax Town on Saturday.

After a game which was typically lacking in attacking intent from the visitors, the substitute bundled home an effort from Andrew Oluwabori to cancel out an opener from ex-Glovers’ loanee Matt Warburton.

However, there were serious looking injuries to midfielder Lawson D’Ath and on loan Ipswich Town defender Edwin Agbaje, who was stretchered off in the second half, and Matt Worthington picked up a yellow card which will see him get another suspension.

Here was Dave’s view from the away end at The Shay….

 

First half

It took five minutes for ex-Yeovil Town man Matt Warburton to have his first opportunity. It was one gift wrapped for him by Grant Smith whose desire to play it out from the back gifted an opportunity to Milli Alli to play a ball in and Warburton inexplicably put it wide with the goal at his mercy.

The opening ten minutes was a contest of which side lacked quality the most, but one moment for the visitors came on 12 minutes. A good run forward by Andrew Oluwabori fed Jordan Maguire-Drew whose ball went towards Worthington who appeared to be being impeded.

Two minutes later, Maguire-Drew was involved again as his ball in almost found Fisher in the box. Moments later, the ball broke Ryan Law who was pulled down inside the box. Probably not a penalty.

On 21 minutes, a corner was played out to Law who attempted to harness his inner Johan Cruyff (without success) and gifted possession to Halifax. Lawson D’Ath sprinted to the halfway line and pulled up holding his hamstring. He was replaced by Malachi Linton with Worthington dropping deeper.

Lawson D’Ath is lifted to his feet after suffering a hamstring strain.

A mistake by Owen Bevan, now on a booking after a foul on Warburton, allowed Diuserwuve down the right, he fed Alli who in turn found Warburton. Luckily Grant Smith was able to fall on the ball.

The tactic of playing out from the back caused Yeovil all kind of self-inflicted wounds during the first half. For a goalkeeper so adept with his hands, Smith appeared determined to show his quality with his feet – more of a shot-stopper than a footballer.

With five minutes of the half remaining, a ball in from Maguire-Drew went towards Linton who looked to be fouled. More of a shout than the Law’s, but still not more than ‘you’ve seen them given’ territory.

As the game ticked in to injury time, Warburton fizzed one just over the bar just before a forward surge by Oluwabori was flicked towards goal by Fisher. Not enough to force a meaningful stop out of the keeper.

Half time: FC Halifax Town 0 Yeovil Town 0

 

Second half

Five minutes in to the second half Charlie Cooper’s run forward forced a simple save from the keeper.

On 53 minutes, Warburton’s ball found Alli at the back stick, but his header flew over Smith’s goal. Three minutes later, a ball in from Fisher was

But, on the hour mark, the home side found a breakthrough. A good break forward saw Alli find WARBURTON who put a composed finish past Smith.

To add injury to insult, a collision between Edwin Agbaje and had to be stretchered off after 68 minutes. He was replaced by Chiori Johnson, but it did not look good for the on loan Ipswich Town man.

With their goal advantage and their opponents down to the barest of bare bones, Halifax looked to press their advantage. At the other end, there was a distinct lack of quality/confidence/energy (any of the three would be a correct answer). The cries of “ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK!” from the away support were met with little at the other end.

Five minutes to go, the thing Ben warned about on last week’s podcast happened – a stupid foul from Worthington. Another yellow card and a suspension to help our personnel issues.

Then, from absolute nothing, we were level with two minutes remaining. Yet again it was Oluwabori whose run and hopeful shot was bundled home at the back post by….well, the club’s Twitter account gave it to LINTON but honestly I have no idea.

The assistant raised his flag as if to claim a foul/offside/handball (who honestly knows) and then quickly lowered it and ran to thr halfway line. Halifax keeper Sam Johnstone was shown a yellow card for his protests, but the goal stood.

How’s your heart doing? How about six minutes of stoppage time at the end of the game to really test it? Two minutes in to them,  Josh Staunton personified putting his body on the line with an outstanding block to deny Alli and the visitors hung on for a point.

Manager Mark Cooper leads the applause for the away supporters at the end of the game.

Full time: FC Halifax Town 1 Yeovil Town 1

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Match Reports

Venue: The Hive
Tuesday, 14th March, 7.45pm kick-off

Pitch: 
Conditions: 
Attendance: 1,704 (211 away supporters)

Scorers: Finley Potter 70 (0-1), Nicke Kabamba 73 (0-2), Jamie Reckord (1-2)

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Jordan Maguire-Drew 23, Chiori Johnson 45+2, Jamie Reckord 83
Barnet: Finley Potter 61

Referee: Lloyd Wood

Yeovil Town (4-3-3)

Substitutes:

 

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Match Reports

Venue: Technique Stadium
Saturday, 11th March, 3pm kick-off

Pitch: Considering how it looked at 7am, impressive
Conditions: Dry and cool with a sprinkling of snow in the second half 
Attendance: 6893 (153 away supporters)

Scorers: Paul McCallum pen 34 (0-1), Law 42 (1-1)

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Josh Staunton 73
Chesterfield: Darren Oldaker 55

Referee: Dean Watson

Yeovil Town (4-3-3)

Substitutes: Andrew Oluwabori (for Young, 79), Chiori Johnson (for Stevens, 82), Alex Fisher (for Maguire-Drew, 86), Reo Griffiths (not used).

Chesterfield: Fitzimmons, Sheckleford (for King, 71), Williams, Grimes, Maguire, Oldaker (for Banks, 71), Akinola, Dallas (for Quigley, 84), Mandeville, Colclough, McCallum Substitutes (not used): Horton, Uchegbulam

Match Report

Yeovil Town grabbed an important point at Chesterfield this afternoon with Ryan Law’s equaliser cancelling out Paul McCallum’s penalty.

The result sees Yeovil steer four points clear of the drop zone. Here’s how Dave saw the match…

First half

After a quiet start to the first open 15 minutes, a couple of speculative efforts from the home side were as near as either side got to threatening an effort on goal.

It took until 16 minutes for a notable save from either keeper and unsurprisingly it was the best keeper in the league who was in action. A corner from the Chesterfield right by Liam Mandeville was met by a point blank header from Lawrence Maguire whose effort was parried over by Grant Smith.

The home side appeared happy to boss possession whilst the away side’s tactic appeared to be to play long balls to the diminutive Jordan Young. Without a great deal of success, it has to be said.

At the other end, the 33rd minute saw Smith back in action against his former club parrying an effort from Andy Dallas wide. From the resulting corner, the linesman spotted a handball from Jamie Reckord which the referee did not see, the Chesterfield players did not see (or if they did, they didn’t appeal for it), but the home fans behind the goal saw and appealed for. Referee Dean Watson didn’t give it, his assistant did and from the following spot kick, Paul MCCALLUM put his effort straight down the middle.  The decision was harsh on Reckord whose hands were high but not unnaturally so.

The long ball tactic – to a front three of Jordan Young, Jordan Maguire-Drew and Ryan Law – persisted as the first half progressed, but did not seem to offer any cutting edge.

But, for all their possession, the home side carved out a couple of meaningful opportunities. Then, on 42 minutes, a superb piece of skill and chipped ball in from the right by Jordan Young was met by a glancing header from Ryan LAW to nod the equaliser. If I am honest, I was waiting for the linesman’s flag to go up, but we need all the luck we can give.

UPDATE: On rewatching the move on the Chesterfield highlights package (see below), it is clear that Law’s run was timed to perfection with at least two, possibly three Spireites’ defenders playing him onside.

Ryan Law, circled, clearly in an onside position as Jordan Young chips the ball in to the box.

It would be hard to say Yeovil deserved to go in to the break level, but the home side only tested Smith on a couple of occasions, it was by no means a one-sided first 45 minutes.

Half time: Chesterfield 1 Yeovil Town 1

 

Second half

Not much to write home about from the first 15 minutes of the second half, with Maguire-Drew’s cross which just missed Reckord after 55 minutes being the only real meaningful effort from either side.

As is typical with a second half, there was definitely more of the ball seen by the visiting side, albeit with a lack of cutting edge.

It took until the final 20 minutes for a meaningful effort to come to either side. First Smith got down well to deny a free-kick from Jeff King, just on as a substitute, and from the resulting corner Maguire headed in to the arms of Smith.

With just over ten minutes remaining, Andrew Oluwabori was introduced in place of Young, who had started to run out of steam. Not long after Chiori Johnson was on in place of Jordan Stevens, who appeared to be suffering an injury as he went off.

With three minutes to go, McCallum wasted a glorious opportunity to get the winner. A ball in from Mandeville saw the striker rising highest, but his header went straight in to Smith’s hands.

That was the final meaningful chance as the visitors held on for a valuable point in the battle for survival.

Full time: Chesterfield 1 Yeovil Town 1

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Match Reports

Venue: Huish Park
Tuesday 7th March, 7.45pm kick-off

Pitch: Mostly green
Conditions: Cold – very cold
Attendance: 2,961 (165 away supporters)

Scorers: Matt Worthington 64

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Jordan Stevens 33, Edwin Agbaje 53,
Eastleigh: Ousseynou Cisse 59, Alfie Lloyd 90+4

Referee: Gary Parsons

Yeovil Town (5-3-2)

Substitutes: Edwin Agbaje (for Morgan Williams, 3), Alex Fisher (for Jordan Maguire-Drew, 73), Lawson D’Ath (for Stevens, 88), Andrew Oluwabori (not used), Reo Griffiths (not used).

Eastleigh: McDonnell, Kelly, Martin, Langston, Cisse, Whitehall, McKiernan (for Maghoma, 75), Rutherford, Lloyd, Scrimshaw (for Atanga, 86). Substitutes (not used): 

Match Report

A second half goal from Matt Worthington earned Yeovil Town a huge win over play-off side Eastleigh in front of a bumper crowd at Huish Park on Tuesday night.

It was a performance to warm a bitterly cold night in Somerset with a unusually pulsating first half shooting towards the away end, but the winning goal came after 64 minutes when Worthington rose at the back post to head home a Jordan Stevens cross.

Eastleigh, who constantly looked a threat at the opposite end, were reduced to ten men when midfielder Ousseynou Cisse got a second booking for bringing down a non-stop Jordan Young and the Glovers held out for a deserved three points.

 

First half

 

It was a nightmare start for Yeovil as Morgan Williams stretched for a ball and looked to pull his hamstring. The result was he had to be replaced by Edwin Agbaje after just three minutes.

On the pitch, Michael Kelly (one of the ex-Glovers in the visitors’ line-up along with strikers Alfie Lloyd and Jake Scrimshaw) found Danny Whitehall whose speculative effort from long range lifted over the bar.

Morgan Williams receives treatment after going down early. Nice to see a couple of physios!

There was some good pressure from the home side in the opening ten minutes with some confident play in the middle of the park, but not a great deal going in to the box.

For Eastleigh, great forward run from Lloyd – who has certainly ‘filled out’ since he was in the youth set-up at Huish Park – made a powerful run down the right and his ball found its way to Ousseynou Cisse, who dragged his shot wide. Warning sign, that.

On 15 minutes, Yeovil gave the visitors their own warning sign as a great cross from Matt Worthington almost found Jordan Young in the middle. He couldn’t get a decent connection on the ball, echoes of his opportunity against Woking last weekend.

Five minutes later it was a bursting run forward by Jordan Stevens who unlocked the visiting defence and prodded the ball to Jordan who just could not get his shot away surrounded by a host of Eastleigh defenders. The ball broke to Worthington who went down looking for a penalty. Not for me, Matty.

But if you wanted to see what a stonewall penalty is, you only had to wait two minutes. Young rounded keeper Joe McDonnell and was unceremoniously pulled to the ground. Referee Gary Parsons neither gave the penalty or book Young for diving. Rule 1 of the Gloverscast prevents us from saying  what an absolute joke of a decision that was anything on this decision.

Yeovil did not allow this blatant piece of terrible refereeing piece of bad luck put them off and Jordan Maguire-Drew was next in the action with a bending effort from the edge of the box which McDonnell had to touch over the box.

The next chance fell to Eastleigh after 35 minutes. A low free-kick inside the box landed to the feet of Charlie Carter charging in to the box with Josh Staunton and Jamie Reckord charging back at him, and the midfielder fired wide of Grant Smith’s right-hand post.

This is some game! On 39 minutes, McDonnell was in action again as Maguire-Drew was found from a corner, did superbly to take the ball down and bent it towards the bottom corner, but the keeper did superbly to turn it wide. Don’t you just hate it when keepers have worldies against us?

Wow. If that was the first half, I can’t wait for the second.

 

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Eastleigh 0

 

Second half

The first chance fell to Yeovil as they broke in from the right with first Law having a go, it broke to Reckord who looked certain to bundle it home before Worthington’s header was cleared off the line by George Langston. God, what do we have to do to score?

At the other end another rapid break from Eastleigh saw Danny Whitehall find half-a-yard of space and got a shot in which Smith dropped on quickly.

On the hour mark, Eastleigh broke on the counter attack and it was Whitehall again whose header was cleared off the line by Matt Worthington. For all our pressure, there’s still that threat at the other end.

From one end to the other and two minutes later, a great ball in from the right by Maguire-Drew and it was Jordan Young putting himself in where it hurt (see Mark Cooper’s comments after the game against Woking) but he could not quite turn it in to a real effort to test McDonnell.

The breakthrough that Yeovil’s performance had deserved came on 66 minutes. A superb ball in from the left by Stevens found WORTHINGTON rising like a salmon (not Pollock, he’s injured) at the back post to head the ball home. Thank goodness the useless referee did not see the push for Worthy.

A great leap (definitely not a push, ref!) by Matt Worthington for the opener.

But, this game was far from over and three minutes after taking the lead, Lloyd threatened to be the party pooper for his old employers, but his effort was deflected wide on 68 minutes.

On 73 minutes, Maguire-Drew (he might have been off the boil in recent games, but he was on it tonight) was replaced by Fisher.

Nine minutes later the visitors were reduced to ten after great play by Staunton set the tireless Young, who collided with Cisse. It was the midfielder’s second booking – his first had come for dissent earlier in the half – and he was given his marching orders by this useless referee.

Christian Maghoma gets his marching orders from referee Gary Parsons.

There were plenty of heart in mouth moments as Eastleigh were given free-kicks in dangerous positions as the game ticked in to injury time. How is your blood pressure? When Carter put an effort wide three minutes in to five minutes of injury time mine was……not great.

But Yeovil hung on for the win and put three points between themselves and Gateshead, who occupy the National League’s final relegation place.

Full time:  Yeovil Town 1 Eastleigh 0

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Match Reports

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

Pitch: Good – and now with a new groundsman.
Conditions: Overcast
Attendance: 3,237 (323 away supporters)

Scorers: Kyran Lofthouse (0-1)

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Jamie Reckord 17, Charlie Cooper 26, Josh Staunton 68, Morgan Williams 79.
Woking: Rohan Ince 49.

Referee: Elliot Swallow

Yeovil Town (5-3-2)

Substitutes: Andrew Oluwabori (for Edwinn Agbaje, 65), Seb Palmer-Houlden (for Alex Fisher, 83), Chiori Johnson, Jordan Maguire-Drew, Josh Owers.

Woking: Jaaskelainen, Lofthouse (for Simper, 80), Casey, Cuthbert, McNerney, Amond (for Sass-Davies, 90+1), Moss, Nwabuokei, Kellermann, Dackers, Ince  Substitutes (not used): Ross, Korboa, Simper, Nelson, Sass-Davies.

Match Report

A masterclass in the true spirit of Darren Sarll’s sh*thousery was enough to see his Woking side complete the double over Yeovil Town in front of a big crowd at Huish Park.

More than 3,000 turned out buoyed by the start of a new era of ownership of the club following the takeover by SU Glovers in the weekend and they witnessed a typically lacklustre first half from their side which saw Kyran Lofthouse open the scoring on 14 minutes.

To add insult to insult, Jordan Young had a glorious opportunity with a header moments before the opening goal and it was the striker who had the game’s final chance in injury time at the end of a disjointed second half, but his dinked effort over the keeper trickled wide.

A late Chesterfield goal condemned Gateshead to defeat and meant they remain a point inside the National League relegation zone with the Glovers hovering just above the dotted line.

 

First half

New owners Matt Uggla and Paul Sackey were introduced to the crowd before the match and Huish Park was in the kind of voice not seen for at least two seasons – maybe more!

 

Matt Uggla, left, and Paul Sackey, right, meet with some guy who we assume is part of their group! Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

But it was a familiar theme early on as a good header from Marcus Dackers was superbly saved by Grant Smith, but the keeper could only push it as far as the striker who scuffed his effort in to the grateful hands of the best keeper in the National League – don’t @ me!

On 15 minutes, great play by Edwin Agbaje on the counter attack, who looked to have a great opportunity to have a shot as he went in to the penalty area, but he held it up and crossed it for Jordan Young whose header was straight at Will Jaaskelinan.

But, at the risk of saying ‘the more things change, the more they stay the same’, the visitors broke straight down the other end and took the lead.
Owen Bevan was at fault (not often we have said that) for not clearing a ball convincingly and it broke to Kyran LOFTHOUSE who thundered home on the half-volley.

It was a sloppy goal and so disappointing after a decent opening 15 minutes from Yeovil. Well, we’ve seen them play a lot worse this season.

But the visitors took confidence from that opener and on 22 minutes a great attacking move found Dackers almost on the penalty spot, but he shanked his effort wide with Smith beaten. Big let off.

On 27 minutes, Cooper went down under a challenge, jumped up and squared up to his aggressor, Jim Kellermann, and ‘got in his face’ – literally. It was a yellow card from referee Elliot Swallow, but let’s call that a dark orange card! Darren Sarll, now obviously in the away dug-out, made his feelings known to the official and ended up with a yellow card of his own.

Three minutes later, Smith was in action again after a nicely worked move by Woking saw Dackers nod the ball down to Ince whose thunderous effort was superbly turned aside by the keeper at full stretch.

With ten minutes of the half remaining, a chance (half chance?) fell Yeovil’s way when a good cross by Matt Worthington almost found Alex Fisher. The striker went down claiming a push in the back……yeah, probably not, Alex.

There was little else to write home about in the rest of the first half and it is probably fair to say Mark Cooper was glad to get his side back in the dressing room. Changes afoot in the second half, perhaps.

 

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Woking 1

 

Second half

Well, no changes in personnel, but a change in intent. From the kick-off, a good ball over the top from Bevan and Fisher got away from his marker Scott Cuthbert and hit a shot which didn’t really test Jaaskelinan. Bit better though.

On 51 minutes, a powerful free-kick from Young clipped the crossbar with the keeper expecting the cross. It could have gone anywhere but unfortunately it did not quite dip under the bar.

Jordan Stevens had an effort blocked four minutes later but there was not much more in terms of attacking threat and on 65 minutes Andrew Oluwabori came on in place of Edwin Agbaje.

Jordan Stevens. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Now remember how when Darren Sarll was our manager we used to laugh about other fans raging as our players sh*thoused to disrupt and frustrate our opposition? Well, now we are the “other fans”. Referee Elliot Swallow did not offer any kind of response.

Oluwabori could not really make an impact with his team-mates unable to find him in exactly the type of disjointed second half the away dug-out would have loved to have seen.

With seven minutes remaining Seb Palmer-Houlden, the young striker on loan from Bristol City, replaced Fisher and within two minutes of his arrival he released Oluwabori, but the Peterborough United loanee could not get a shot off. Two minutes later he was unable to get a header on target after a ball in from Cooper.

As the game crept in to two-and-a-half minutes as Jordan Young beat Cuthbert for pace and dinked it over the keeper……but it just crept agonisingly past the post. That would have taken the roof off the Thatcher’s End.

Another second half where we were in the ascendency in the second half late rally was too little, too late.

Full time:  Yeovil Town 0 Woking 1

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Match Reports

Venue: Huish Park
Tuesday 28th February, 7.45pm kick-off

Attendance: 2,106 (39 away supporters)

Scorers: James Jones 22 (0-1), Jordan Maguire-Drew pen 78 (1-1)

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Lawson D’Ath 32, Edwin Agbaje 90
Altrincham:Max Oyedele 50,

Sendings off:

Altrincham: James Jones 77

Referee: Matthew Russell

Yeovil Town (5-3-2)

 

Substitutes: Jordan Maguire-Drew (for Josh Owers, 63), Jordan Young (for Seb Palmer-Houlden, 79), Chiori Johnson (for Charlie Cooper, 79), Matt Worthington (not used), Malachi Linton (not used).

Altrincham: Byrne, Jones, Marriott, Osborne, Lundstram, Baines, Hulme, Jones, Oyedele, Linney (for Cashman, 84), Sinclair (for Pringle, 80). Substitutes (not used): Roxburgh, Gould, Bennett.

Match Report

A second half penalty from substitute Jordan Maguire-Drew was enough to halt Yeovil Town’s run of three National League defeats and pull them out of the division’s relegation zone at home to in-form Altrincham.

The visitors, who had won their past three matches, took the lead when centre backi James Jones was gifted an unmarked header inside the box after 22 minutes to give the visitors the lead, but he turned villain on 77 minutes when he handled on the line to give the Glovers a penalty.

Here’s how the game of two halves played out….

First half

Five minutes before team news was announced, the club announced that SU Glovers, a business owned by Matt and Julie-Anne Uggla, had “taken on the stewardship” of Yeovil Football & Athletic Club, which runs the football operations of the club – you can read more about that – here.

The team news saw the Glovers without captain Josh Staunton, who had been playing through the pain barrier for weeks, whilst Matt Worthington and the two Jordans (Maguire-Drew and Young, who both started last weekend against York City) were on the substitutes bench. Edwin Agbaje, Lawson D’Ath and Alex Fisher were all brought in.

It quickly became apparent why the visitors had won four of their previous five league games as they looked the more calm and composed. For the visitors Linney looked dangerous weaving his way past defenders before Sinclair put one over the bar, and at the other end there were half-chances for first Alex Fisher and then Morgan Williams.

The first meaningful effort came on 12 minutes when Linney turned smartly and his effort from the edge of the box was superbly turned around the post by Grant Smith, but on 21 minutes Yeovil fell behind. A corner from James Jones was met by ROBINS who was completely unmarked inside the box to put a free header past Smith. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Linney had an effort cleared off the line by Owen Bevan around the half-hour mark and then put an effort over with six minutes of the half remaining, whereas less clear cut chances from Seb Palmer-Houlden and Charlie Cooper at the other end were the best the home side could muster.

More ‘Ugggh’ than ‘Uggla’ that first half.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Altrincham 1

Second half

W

On 53 minutes, Edwin Agbaje was found by a ball from Ryan Law but the defender could not trouble Ollie Byrne, but the keeper was in action three minutes later when Bevan won a header from Law’s corner to force a fine stop from the visiting keeper.

As Yeovil began to grew in to the game (why does it always take us a half to do that?!), Agbaje and Fisher combined but the striker could not get his effort on target. On 63 minutes, Fisher met a cross from Jamie Reckord to force another stop out of the keeper.

This was better from Yeovil who were looking as composed in the second half as they had looked all at sea in the first.

On 64 minutes, Jordan Maguire-Drew replaced Josh Owers and within three minutes of his arrival the play-maker almost got on the end of an Agbaje cross.

But, on 78 minutes Yeovil drew level. Two minutes earlier, James Jones handled a goal-bound effort on the goal line and, despite his protest, he was quite correctly shown the red card. It took a good while before MAGUIRE-DREW stepped up to coolly put the ball past Byrne to draw his side level.

Sensing the visitors were there for the taking, Glovers’ boss Mark Cooper brought on Jordan Young and Chiori Johnson in place of Palmer-Houlden and Cooper.

Young put one over the bar with six minutes remaining before D’Ath followed suit on 88 minutes and the game rather petered out into a draw.

Given the poor first half and the form the visitors arrived in, a point and pulling out of the bottom four will be considered success.

Full time:  Yeovil Town 1 Altrincham 1

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Match Reports

Venue: LNER Community Stadium
Saturday 25th February, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Cold but dry and bright
Pitch: It wasn’t just the markings which highlighted this as a surface which regularly hosts rugby.

Attendance: 3,978 (167 away supporters)

Scorers: Dyson 15, Staunton 60, John-Lewis 83

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Cooper
York City: Dyson, Fallowfield, Whittle

Referee: Ed Duckworth

Yeovil Town (4-3-3)

York City: Ross (Whitley) Crookes, Duku (Kouhyar) Dyson, Ellis, Fallowfield, John Lewis, Kougon (Forde), McLaughlin, Pybus, Whittle

 Substitute not used: Hancock, Duckworth

Match Report

Yeovil Town slid into the bottom four following a 2-1 defeat against York City this afternoon. A late winner from Lenell John-Lewis consigned the Glovers to defeat on the road, leaving Mark Cooper’s side five without victory.

An goal from Olly Dyson set the hosts on their way after quarter of an hour but Josh Staunton was credited for Yeovil’s equaliser on the hour (although the consensus seems to have down as an own goal), before York’s second.

Here’s how Coatesie saw it…

First half

Mark Cooper handed debuts to new loan signings striker Seb Palmer-Houlden and midfielder Josh Owers, who were both announced as having joined from Bristol City on the morning of the match.

They replaced Lawson D’Ath and Alex Fisher as two of four changes from the midweek defeat at Maidenhead United. Jordan Maguire-Drew and Owen Bevan also return to the starting line-up in place of Edwin Agbaje and Jamie Reckord.

After a scrappy start to the first half, the first real action saw Grant Smith require treatment for what passes as a physiotherapist at Yeovil after a late tackle from Lennell John-Lewis.

But, it was York who were getting hold of the game before the goal and moments after the game restarted John-Lewis’ venomous strike was parried away by Smith for a throw.

From that resulting throw, it was another defensive horror show to gift the home side an opener. Mark Ellis’ throw was flicked towards the back post and Olly DYSON is on hand to smash home the opener with 14 minutes gone.

Six minutes later, Yeovil’s first opportunity came when Ryan Law was clipped and from Charlie Cooper’s resulting free-kick, Morgan Williams put a header over at the back post.

John-Lewis came close to doubling the advantage soon after before Jordan Maguire-Drew headed over on 30 minutes.

With six minutes of the half remaining, hosts’ keeper Ethan Ross who had clashed with Law a few minutes earlier had to be replaced by Ryan Whiteley.

If anything that seemed to spur York and it was Smith who was (again) the difference as he did superbly to turn a header from Duku over the bar. The striker took a knock in the process and had to be replaced. The tactic of trying to get the opposition’s team injured seemed like the most likely route to success at this rate.

The result of the stoppages was ten minutes of injury time. During that time, the dangerous John-Lewis warmed the palms of Smith and at the other end Palmer-Houlden could not get a shot away after a good run by Young.

The apathetic sigh which ‘greeted’ the half time whistle from the away supporters (most of whom had long since departed for the bar) summed up another 45 minutes which lacked everything required to survive in this division.

Half time:  York City 1 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

With no changes made by Cooper at the interval, it was relying on a suitable rocket being placed in the necessary orifice to get a result.

There was no immediate sign of that with John-Lewis putting an effort over within two minutes of the restart, but soon after the visitors found a rhythm which had been sadly lacking in the first half. Young and Maguire-Drew both had shots well blocked before Law had another effort blocked.

On 57 minutes, Cooper made his first change with Alex Fisher introduced in place of Palmer-Holden, swiftly followed by Andrew Oluwabori who replaced Maguire-Drew.

The result was almost instant as Cooper’s free-kick after an hour was bundled home. The official Twitter account gave it to Josh Staunton but it looked like an OWN GOAL.

But, despite being level, the defensive frailties which had led to us going behind were still there for all to see. On loan Watford man Shaq Forde was denied by Smith, and on 73 minutes the striker gave the visitors a huge let off as he seized on a mistake, rounded the stranded Smith but lifted his shot over the bar.

The luck evaded us in the 83rd minute when a moment of quality saw Ryan Fallowfield’s cross headed home by JOHN-LEWIS at the back post. It was harsh on Yeovil, who had improved after the break, but summarised a season where we had made our own (bad) luck.

Full time: York City 2 Yeovil Town 1

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Match Reports

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

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Match Reports

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