Match Reports (Page 25)

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

Venue: Recreation Ground
Monday August 30 2021, 3pm kick-off.

Conditions: Dry and bright
Ground: Fine

Scorers: Quigley 14 (1-0), Andrews 75 (1-1), Quigley pen 83 (2-1)

Attendance: 2,073 (334 away)

Referee: Scott Tallis

Bookings:
Yeovil: Knowles 42, Staunton 42, Wilkinson 64, Wakefield 80, Smith 90
Aldershot Town: Phillips 30, Oxlade-Chamberlain 42, Akanbi 42, Edser 42, Lyons-Foster 82

Yeovil Town : (4-4-1-1)
Grant Smith
Dan Moss, Max Hunt, Luke Wilkinson, Jordan Barnett
Charlie Wakefield, Dale Gorman, Josh Staunton, Tom Knowles
Sonny Blu Lo-Everton
Joe Quigley

Subs: Adi Yussuf (for Lo-Everton, 56), Morgan Williams (for Wakefield, 89), Max Evans (not used), Toby Stephens (not used).

Aldershot Town: Walker, Kinsella, Lokko, Lyons-Foster, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Phillips, Edser, Harris (for Whittingham, 67), Berkley-Agyeong, Andrews, Akanbi.
Substitutes (not used): Hall, Saunders, Watts, Willard.

SUMMARY

A full nine games earlier than last season, Yeovil Town picked up their first three points of the National League campaign thanks to a brace from striker Joe Quigley at Aldershot Town on Bank Holiday Monday.

The striker, who had scored the only goal in a 2-1 defeat at home to King’s Lynn Town two days earlier, opened the scoring after 14 minutes of some positive opening exchanges for the visitors who led at the break.

But, having weathered the storm of some intense pressure from their hosts, the Glovers conceded with 15 minutes remaining when Corie Andrews’ flicked header went beyond Grant Smith in the Yeovil goal.

Then a direct piece of play (a.k.a ‘a long free-kick’ forward) found centre half Luke Wilkinson inside the box where he was felled and Quigley stepped up to slot home his second after 83 minutes.

Here’s how our Hampshire-born reporter David Coates saw it…..

FIRST HALF

With Matt Worthington unavailable after his sending off against King’s Lynn in the season’s opener, Glovers’ boss Darren Sarll gave a start to loaneee Sonny Blu Lo-Everton who lined up in what appeared a 4-4-1-1 formation just behind Joe Quigley.
The other change saw fellow loan signing Dan Moss come in at right-back in place of Morgan Williams, who dropped to the bench. The Millwall under-23s captain had appeared off the bench two days earlier.
If stung by the criticism of their manager who described the weekend’s performance as “weak”, the visitors set off in positive fashion with Quigley at the heart of a number of  a couple of good moves.
After just two minutes, he linked up well with Dale Gorman to tee up Charlie Wakefield whose effort was well saved by Mitch Walker in the hosts’ goal and five minutes later he combined with Tom Knowles for the latter to flash a ball across the face of goal.
On 14 minutes, Quigley broke the deadlock after a driving run down the left side he broke in to the box and bent the ball past Walker.
As we have been promised through pre-season, Yeovil reverted to what we are informed will be our style of play this season, soaking up some pressure before Luke Wilkinson‘s headed a free-kick on to the cross bar after 30 minutes.
From that, Jayden Harris broke down the other end and was denied by a fine stop from Smith.
On the balance of chances, the visitors deservedly went in ahead at the break and while their attacking play was an improvement on two days ago, there was perhaps a touch of fortune that their hosts were wasteful in front of goal.
Half time: Aldershot Town 0 Yeovil Town 1 (Quigley)

SECOND HALF

Unsurprisingly, Aldershot returned after the break presumably with the words of their manager ringing in their ears and started the second half the brighter.
Defender Kevin Lokko had an effort just over the bar before Ibrahim Akanbi fired wide after good link-up play with strike partner Andrews. Neither had Smith in the visitors goal in major danger but against a sharper attack, the keeper could have found himself under greater pressure.
On 53 minutes, Adi Yussuf replaced Lo-Everton and the visitors reverted to a 4-4-2 with Yussuf partnering Quigley in attack and on 63 minutes the summer signing was in the action.
Again, good play by Quigley down the left found Yussuf who got an instinctive shot in which was blocked and landed at the feet of Gorman who shot wide.
When he arrived from Northern Ireland, the supporters of his old club Glentoran told us that Gorman loved a shot from range and there was certainly evidence of that with another flying wide six minutes later,
There also some evidence of the instinctive finisher that Yussuf’s CV suggests he could be……just maybe slightly out of practice.
But, the visitors continued to probe and on 75 minutes a cross from the left by Toby Edser was met by the head of Andrews to flick the ball over Smith and draw the Shots level – and they did deserve to be level at that point.
Suddenly, the de ja vu of two days earlier – a Quigley opener, an equaliser in the closing third – flooded back to the 334 travelling supporters but, to their credit, Yeovil did not give up.
This time equipped with a full compliment, a long ball forward found Wilkinson as a slightly odd resident of the attacking penalty area where he was hauled down and the visitors were awarded a spot kick.
After last season’s exploits from 12 yards, please forgive this correspondent for having heart palpitations at this point but Quigley stepped up to send the keeper the other way. Cue pandemonium in the away end – and what an amazing away end that is at the Recreation Ground.
But, far from shutting up shop at that pint, the visitors actually carved out two fantastic chances to put the game even further beyond their hosts in the closing four minutes.
Firstly on 86 minutes, great link up play Yussuf and Quigley linked up well for the latter to round Walker an inexplicably put the ball in to the side netting before three minutes later a cross from Wakefield found Yussuf, but his shot was tame.
So, three points on the road and while the celebrations at the end may have appeared over-the-top, there was a real sense of relief among the travelling faithful and presumably those on the pitch.
Drink in the victory (and I’ll even give only a passing mention to five bookings including a couple for stupidity) and get back on the training pitch for what is sure to be a very different challenge against FC Halifax Town at the weekend.
Oh, and the BT Sports cameras at Huish Park – deep joy.

Full time: Aldershot Town 1 Yeovil Town 2 (Quigley 2)

 

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

Venue: Huish Park
Saturday August 28 2021, 3pm kick-off.

Conditions: Sunny
Ground: Fine

Scorers: Quigley 15 (1-0), Coleman 71 (1-1), Sundire 85 (1-2)

Attendance: 2,024

Referee: Gary Parsons

Bookings:
Yeovil: Knowles 51, Staunton 64, Yussuf 80
King’s Lynn: Coleman 70

Sendings off:
Yeovil: Worthington 38
King’s Lynn: None

Yeovil Town (5-4-1):
Grant Smith
Morgan Williams Luke Wilkinson Max Hunt
Matt Worthington                                                            Jordan Barnett
Charlie Wakefield Dale Gorman Josh Staunton Tom Knowles
Joe Quigley

Subs: Dan Moss(for Knowles, 60), Adi Yussuf (for Barnett, 68), Sonny Blu Lo-Everton (for Gorman,82) Max Evans (not used), Toby Stephens (not used).

King’s Lynn: Jones, Denton, Fernandez (for Gyasi, 65), Callan-McFadden, Bird, Barrows, Clunan (for Sundire, 72), Coleman (for McGavin, 84), Omotayo, Linton, Rowley.
Substitutes (not used):Bowry, McGavin, Gascoigne.

 

SUMMARY

Yeovil Town started the National League season with a 2-1 defeat at home to King’s Lynn Town at Huish Park.

The day had started well for the Glovers who had to soak up pressure from the visitors before striker Joe Quigley broke the deadlock with a stunning strike on 15 minutes.

The game turned on 38 minutes when midfielder Matt Worthington was given a red card.

That put the home side under pressure and the visitors got a deserved equaliser through Ethan Coleman with 19 minutes left, before Munashe Sundire completed the turnaround with just five minutes remaining.

Here is how our reporter Ryan Jones saw the match…..


FIRST HALF

Yeovil lined up in a 5-4-1 with Jordan Barnett, Dale Gorman and Charlie Wakefield all making their competitive debuts for Town. King’s Lynn made the more composed start on the ball and were able to force a couple of early corners which the Glovers defence were able to see out comfortably.
Joe Quigley hammers home the opener.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Yeovil then created a half chance on the 12th minute after a good run from Tom Knowles who crossed into Quigley but he couldn’t quite get the ball under control. However, a few minutes later, Yeovil took the lead with a stunning strike which befitted the return of the Yeovil faithful.

After an interception in midfield, the ball was played into Yeovil’s new 10 who beat two players before unleashing a shot which swerved into the top corner. The Glovers then had a spell of possession off the back of the goal without creating too much.
The Linnets then had a couple of chances of their own with a shot skewed wide from the edge of the box and then former Town forward Gold Omotayo had a well directed header sharply saved by Grant Smith.
More chances came and went with Rowley shooting over after cutting I’m from the wing and Omotayo heading high and wide. Worthington sent off after a late challenge.

Half time: Yeovil Town 1 (Quigley) King’s Lynn Town 0

SECOND HALF

The second half was relatively uneventful from a Yeovil attacking point of view with Kings Lynn able to get down both sides of the Yeovil defence and getting crosses in and winning corners without causing too much danger on the Yeovil goal.
Yeovil’s resolve was finally broken when The Linnets equalised on 70 minutes through a powerful header which looped over Grant Smith, who despite his best efforts, was unable to keep the ball out as it trickled into the net.
Soon after, the away side turned the game on its head when the Yeovil defence couldn’t deal with a ball into the box and after a scramble to clear the ball, King’s Lynn were able to get the decisive touch to bundle the ball in.
Loan signing Dan Moss in action against King’s Lynn Town.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.
Almost instantly from the restart, Joe Quigley flicked the ball onto Adi Yussuf whose shot whistled wide across goal.
Unfortunately Yeovil were unable to get back into the game and they started their 2021-2022 campaign with defeat albeit with some positives to take from the game with Quigley and Yussuf linking up well after the new man’s introduction.

Full  time: Yeovil Town 1 (Quigley) King’s Lynn Town 2

 

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

Thanks to Ryan Jones for the following report from Weston!

Tom Knowles rescued a draw by the seaside this afternoon as Yeovil Town came from behind after a stunning free kick from Dale Grubb.

The afternoon was marred by an injury to Reuben Reid which saw him forced off in the second half.

First Half

Bright start from Yeovil, good work from Quigley brought the ball inside the penalty area. The ball fell to Ismail whose tame shot was easily saved.

Quigley and Reid linking up well and Ismail was being used as a good outlet particularly on the break.

Town had other chances throughout the half with Worthington hitting a shot straight at the keeper after good play from Reid.

Reid also had a shot that sailed over the keeper after beating his marker. Weston also had a few chances in an entertaining first half with a couple of shots whistling past the post.

They also forced a fair few corners which the impressive looking Yeovil defence were able to keep at bay.

Half Time: Weston-super-Mare 0 Yeovil Town 0

Second Half

After a slightly more measured start to the second half, Weston took the lead with a stunning free kick from Dayle Grubb.

Around about 5 minutes later, Reid was running through on goal from the right hand side. Just as he looked as though he was about to shoot on goal, he fell to the ground and had to be helped from the field and substituted due to injury.

The game fell into a lull for a little while with Weston seemingly taking control of the game and Yeovil not able to get anything going.

Weston had a good opportunity to double their advantage with a good strike which clipped the crossbar. Yeovil then equalised shortly after.

Lo-Everton (Trialist) played a good one-two with Wakefield before playing the ball to Knowles who cut inside and his well placed right footed shot flew past the Weston keeper.

Shortly after, Dale Gorman had a free kick which flew over the bar.

Final Score: Weston-super-Mare 1 Yeovil Town 1

Team: Smith, Bradley, Staunton, Hunt (Williams) Barnett, Gorman, Trialist (Wakefield, then replaced by Trialist, Worthington (Simper) Knowles, Quigley, Reid (Trialist)

Unused sub: Evans

 

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

Yeovil’s first friendly at Huish Park ended in defeat at the hands of Forest Green Rovers this afternoon.

A 14th minute strike from Jamille Matt was enough for Forest Green although Yeovil put in a decent performance against the League Two side and had some good opportunities.

Forest Green Rovers kick off the EFL campaign next Saturday and will probably be a little disappointed with the performance against the Glovers, given it was only the second friendly of the Glovers season preparation.

First Half                                

The Glovers should have had the lead when Reuben Reid set Charlie Wakefield through on goal, but Yeovil’s new signing couldn’t get the ball under control as he was closed down by Rover’s keeper, Luke McGhee.

Reid had the ball in the net for Yeovil in the 11th minute, but it was disallowed after he pretty much caught the ball before finishing.

Jamille Matt gave Forest Green the lead in the 14th minute with a simple finish from a cross on the right hand side. Matt snuck in front of his marker to leave Grant Smith rooted to the spot.

Reid another effort ruled out in the 38th minute. A signature Tom Knowles strike drew a good save from McGhee and Reid was given offside after putting the rebound away.

Half Time: Yeovil Town 0 – 1 Forest Green Rovers

Second Half

Yeovil were forced into a 55th minute change as an injury to Mark Little saw him make way for Alex Bradley.

Reid should have equalised for Yeovil just after the hour. Luke Wilkinson’s pressure on McGhee saw the Forest Green keeper spill the ball to the feet or Reid who could only find the Thatchers stand.

Jordan Barnett very nearly lobbed his own keeper with a sensational effort in the 64th minute. Grant Smith saved his left back’s blushes, heading the ball wide.

Glovers’ boss Darren Sarll made 5 changes in the 70th minute with three trialists entering the fray. Two of the trialist Harlain Mbayo and Deshane Dalling also played against Stratford Town last weekend.

Yeovil did have a late opportunity to equalise after a good cross from Wakefield found Dalling in the box. He laid the ball off to Simper whose shot was charged down.

Full Time: Yeovil Town 0 Forest Green Rovers 1

 YTFC: Grant Smith, Mark Little (55, Alex Bradley), Luke Wilkinson (Trialist – Mbayo), Max Hunt, Jordan Barnett (Trialist), Josh Staunton (Lewis Simper), Charlie Wakefield, Dale Gorman (Matt Worthington), Tom Knowles, Joe Quigley, Reuben Reid (Trialist – Dalling)

Subs: Max Evans

Forest Green Rovers: Luke McGhee, Kane Wilson, Dominic Bernard, Ben Stevenson, Jack Aitchinson (Young), Allen (Sweeney), Jamille Matt (March), Jordan Moore-Taylor, Hendry, Udoka Godwin-Malife, Sadio Diallo (Stevens)

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

Yeovil Town got their pre-season campaign underway with a 1-0 win over Southern League Premier Division Central side Stratford Town at Knight’s Lane on Saturday.

A trademark Tom Knowles goal from the edge of the area on 55 minutes was what separated the two sides, but in reality it was the form of former Glovers’ keeper Liam O’Brien in the home side’s net that kept the score from being more comprehensive.

The visitors gave starting debuts to summer signings goalkeeper Grant Smith, defenders Mark Little and Jordan Barnett and midfielder Dale Gorman with other new boys midfielders Charlie Wakefield and loanee Lewis Simper starting on the bench.

The starting XI lined up in a familiar diamond with Josh Staunton, back after a long lay-off through injury last season, at the base, Knowles at the tip and Gorman and Alex Bradley in the middle.

In front of Smith, Little and Barnett took up positions on the right and left respectively with Luke Wilkinson and Max Hunt in the centre of defence, and Reuben Reid paired with Joe Quigley up front.

 

First half

The Glovers started brightly with Reid having a goal ruled out for offside after just two minutes before O’Brien went down bravely at the feet of Knowles four minutes later.

Knowles had the ball in the hosts’ net on 15 minutes only for the goal to be ruled out for a foul by Reid on O’Brien.

Ben Stephens fired wide for The Bards a minute later and that led to a spell of pressure from the hosts who were playing their fifth pre-season fixture.

Quigley was denied by a fine stop from O’Brien, who impressed during a spell with Yeovil back in 2019 before sustaining a serious shoulder injury, who was turned in to action to deny Bradley shortly after.

Half time: Stratford Town 0 Yeovil Town 0

 

Second half

As is tradition in all pre-season friendlies, there were wholesale changes at half-time with the introduction of two of the four trialists named on the bench by Glovers’ boss Darren Sarll.

We have played the game of Guess The Trialist, the results of which you can read – here.

On in place of Reid was Deshane Dalling, a former QPR youth team player, who was paired alongside Quigley, whilst Colin Daniel (possibly, maybe) replaced Wilkinson in the heart of defence.

The other switches saw Matt Worthington come on in the heart of midfield and Wakefield take up position on the right side.

Bradley dropped back to full-back to replace Little with Smith, Hunt, Barnett, Gorman, Knowles and Quigley the other players who remained from the first half.

Within ten minutes of the restart, Knowles made space for himself on the edge of the box and unleashed a rasping strike which deservedly beat O’Brien.

In between the substitution merry go-round with youngster Max Evans replacing Smith and Simper coming on for Gorman, Quigley had three chances to double the advantage.

Twice he was denied by O’Brien – with one looking suspiciously over the line – and another getting cleared off the line.

Youngster Toby Stephens and trialist Richard Afrane-Kesey – see more here – came on after 68 minutes and Stephens linked up nicely with Simper soon after, but the loan players header did not have the power to trouble the in-form O’Brien.

Simper had another chance soon after before a late push by Stratford saw them press for an equaliser, but the Yeovil backline held firm.

All in all, for the opening pre-season friendly, Darren Sarll will be pleased with what he saw from his side with good levels of fitness, sharpness, attacking intent and defensive solidity.

If it had not been for the brilliance of O’Brien, the score could have been more impressive, but for the time being a win and a clean sheet seem like a good way to get started.

Full time: Stratford Town 0 Yeovil Town 1.

 

Yeovil Town: Smith (for Evans

Yeovil Town: Smith (for Evans, 62), Barnett, Wilkinson (for Trialist – Daniel, 45), Hunt (for Trialist – Mbayo, 71), Little (for Wakefield, 45), Staunton (for Worthington, 45), Gorman (for Simper, 63), Bradley, Knowles (for Stephens, 68), Quigley (for Trialist – Afrane-Kesey, 68), Reid (Trialist – Dalling, 45)

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

A season to forget for so many reasons came to an end for Yeovil Town with a defeat against play-off hopefuls $tockport County at Huish Park.

It was a 23rd minute own goal from Michael Kelly that sealed it. The defender’s outstretched leg turned a shot from the visitors’ midfield talisman John Rooney past a helpless Adam Smith in the Yeovil goal.

But, the story here was not the scoreline or even the performance in many ways, it was an opportunity to celebrate the life of club captain Lee Collins whose family were present to join his team-mates.

On top of this, we said farewell to defender Carl Dickinson and midfielders Charlie Lee and Jimmy Smith, who were all playing their final matches for the club before going on to pastures new.

It felt like the end of an era with the exit of some of the key players who have symbolised the side Darren Sarll has put together since the club’s relegation out of the League – but perhaps the most welcome thing it symbolised was the end of a long, difficult campaign.

Perhaps even more sadly, there was no sign of out-of-contract top scorer Rhys Murphy whose future appears to be away from Huish Park.

Here’s how I saw it…..

FIRST HALF

The only change from the previous weekend’s defeat at Altrincham, saw Alex Bradley return to the side after a three-match suspension to replace the injured Josh Neufville.

There was no place in the $tockport starting line-up for former Glovers’ hero Paddy Madden, missing with an ankle injury, but the big-spending visitors did field a strong side as they sought three points to secure third place in the National League.

Before the match, there was an emotional minute’s applause in memory of club captain Lee Collins, who tragically died in March, with the Yeovil team joined by Lee’s family who were among the mascots for the game.

In the fourth minute, there was a further mark of respect for Lee as applause rang around the ground in memory of our number 4.

It  took until the 12th minute of a competitive opening for either side to muster a chance. Lawson D’Ath‘s long ball found Joe Quigley down the right and he unleashed a thunderous shot which $tockport keeper Ben Hinchcliffe did well to turn aside for a corner.

Reuben Reid found himself on the ball inside the box soon after but could not pull the trigger quickly enough to test Hinchcliffe.

On 22 minutes a corner floated to the back post looked to be destined for the head of Charlie Lee, only for Quigley to try and get his head on it and take it away from his team-mate. To put it mildly, Lee was not happy his the striker and less than a minute later, $tockport went ahead.

On 23 minutes, John Rooney, the brother of former England captain, Wayne, picked up the ball on the edge of the box and jinked his way forward before getting off a shot which deflected off the outstretched leg of Glovers’ defender Michael KELLY and flew in to the net.

On 32 minutes, a neat piece of play by Yeovil found Reid at the far post but his header was not powerful enough, but despite a decent number of chances for the home side, the visitors bossed possession and looked imperious on the ball.

For Yeovil, it was a frustrating first half from Reid and Quigley up front with neither managing to strike  up a partnership with each other. We really cannot underestimate the importance of getting a replacement for Rhys Murphy this summer.

A minute from half-time, D’Ath pulled up with an injury which physios very quickly applied ice to his knee, before he was led off the pitch on a stretcher.

Soon after Quigley was left with an obvious head wound after a collision with Ash Palmer. Referee Scott Tallis, who grip on the game had been slowly unraveling throughout the half, was happy to let the incident go until Yeovil keeper Adam Smith ‘informed him otherwise’, to put it one way. Palmer ended up in the book for the foul and Smith for dissent.

Then in an apparent effort to one-up himself, the referee gave a foul against Lee for a coming together inside the box which looked more like a foul against the midfielder – and then booked it.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 $tockport County 1 (Kelly o.g.)

SECOND HALF

It could have been the perfect start to the second half when, just a minute after the restart when Jimmy Smith‘s ball in to the box was met by a header from Quigley whose effort came back from the underside of the bar and away. In the words of Ben Barrett on the Gloverscast WhatsApp group – how’s your luck?

Rooney put a half-volley just over on the hour mark with $tockport still looking in control, and it was not long until Rooney was in the thick of it again working an opening for Ryan Croasdale who steered a shot wide.

As clear-cut chances go, that effort on the 67th minute was probably about as much as either side saw.

Alex Reid had put a half-chance well over at one end whilst for Yeovil there was plenty of possession midfield, some huff, some puff, but nothing that worked Hinchcliffe in the visitors’ goal.

Emmanuel Sonupe replaced Chris Dagnall and youngster Toby Stephens came on for the frustrating Reid, but despite refusing to stop pressing Yeovil could not create a threatening opportunity.

And that was that. The National League season we have been hoping could over for weeks is finally over. Enjoy your summer, folks.

Full time: Yeovil Town 0 $tockport County 1 (Kelly o.g.)

 

Yeovil Town: A.Smith, Kelly, Sass-Davies, Dickinson, Bradley, Lee, Knowles, D’Ath (for J.Smith, 44), Dagnall (for Sonupe, 74), Quigley, Reid.
Substitues (not used): Evans (GK), Stephens, Heaton.
Bookings: A. Smith, Lee

 

$tockport County: Hinchcliffe, J.Jennings, Hogan, Palmer, Rooney, Keane, Southam-Hales, Croasdale, Reid, Walker, Cardwell (for Bennett, 80).
Substitutes (not used): Fitzsimons (GK), Minihan, Bennett, Williams, Newby.
Bookings: Palmer, Southam-Hales.

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

Two goals in the last five minutes saw Yeovil Town fall to a heart-breaking 4-3 defeat at Altrincham in a game played with the intensity of a relegation scrap rather than a mid-table dead rubber.

To add injury to insult, the Glovers also lost influential midfielder Josh Neufville after just 12  minutes at Moss Lane, stretchered off in a leg brace with a broken ankle.

It was 90 minutes which summarised this season to be honest – missed chances, defensive clangers, a huge amount of character/spirit/willingness, injuries, bookings and ultimately falling short.

In front of 600 home fans (one of which was definitely not me, if Altrincham FC are reading this), the home side played with a verve and intensity which many of the supporters I spoke with…..I mean, I imagine, would have loved to have seen more of after they went the last seven games without win.

Here’s how I saw it…..

FIRST HALF

Striker Reuben Reid replaced suspended defender Luke Wilkinson in the only change from the midweek draw with Maidenhead United, as another patched up side took to the field in Greater Manchester.

The reshuffle saw Reid up front with Joe Quigley as Chris Dagnall dropped back in to midfield and Lawson D’Ath moved from his central midfield role to right-back. Meanwhile, left-back Michael Kelly, who has been playing right back recently, went back to left-back where he replaced Carl Dickinson who went in to central defence.

And then within six minutes of the start, Yeovil suffered another injury when winger Josh Neufville was stretchered off in a leg brace after a heavy tackle from Altrincham midfielder Matty Kosylo, who was booked for the challenge.

Cue a further change as Emmanuel Sonupe came off the bench to replace the Luton Town loanee, who later revealed on his Instagram that he had suffered a broken ankle.

The injury was heart-breaking for the 22-year-old who has been unquestionably one of the bright spots in an ultimately disappointing season.

I am sure I speak for all Yeovil Town fans when I wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him back playing football again in the near future.

After a lengthy delay, Reid spurned a good opportunity to put the visitors in front and then on 15 minutes found himself in space inside the box and his effort hit both posts before bouncing away to safety.

Just two minutes later, Quigley was played in on the other side and his shot across the face of the goal clipped the far post and away.

It is not an exaggeration to say Yeovil could have been 3-0 up by this point but, as we have seen so many times, defensive frailties proved they undoing as the home side went ahead on 17 minutes.

D’Ath  was caught out of his unfamiliar right-back position as Alty broke away and, following an almighty goal-mouth scramble Connor KIRBY smashed home the opener which even the hosts’ own Twitter account described as “against the run of play.”

Four minutes later, Charlie Lee’s diving header from a corner was blocked on the line before the home side began to find their feet and were able to carve through Yeovil’s backline on a number of occasions, almost scoring a carbon copy of their opener only for Billy Sass-Davies to clear Ryan Colclough’s shot off the line.

It took until a minute in to the eight minutes added on at the end of the first half for Altrincham to get a second as a ball to the back post found Dan MOONEY unmarked to head home.

We went in behind at the break and, for our missed chances and defensive mistakes, could really have no-one to blame but ourselves.

Half time: Altrincham 2  Yeovil Town 0

SECOND HALF

At 2-0 down, there was every risk this game could have turned in to an embarrassment for Yeovil, but it was the visitors who started the second half the brighter.

On 56 minutes, some near interplay between Reid and Dagnall set up substitute Emmanuel SONUPE to fire home his second goal in three matches.

There was a strong breeze blowing towards the away end at Moss Lane and there’s no doubt it played a part in Alty’s ascendancy in the first 45 minutes and appeared to help Yeovil in the second.

Quigley could have equalised on the hour mark when Reid’s ball across goal just evaded him, but the striker was on target on 69 minutes. A long ball forward from goalkeeper Adam Smith found QUIGLEY with time and space on the edge of the box to lift the ball over Tony Thompson in the hosts’ goal.

Three minutes later, a free-kick in to the box was met by the head of Charlie LEE and from being behind and seemingly playing for damage limitation, Yeovil Town found themselves ahead.

You could have heard a pin drop inside the ground, except for the sound of me biting down on my tongue to avoid drawing attention to the fact I was screaming on the inside!

This was the point where a fully-fit Yeovil Town squad, a luxury enjoyed by their opponents, could have made a couple of changes with a view to seeing the game out for a well-earned three points.

I have spoken on many occasions on the Gloverscast about my desire to see more of our young players, but I can say that a full-blooded affair – with racked up seven yellow cards – was not the place for blooding youngsters.

On the contrary, Altrincham were able to make two changes in the closing stages as they took off goalscorers Kirby and Mooney and replaced them with Tom Peers, who has 31 appearances and five goals this season, and James Hardy.

And, a minute after coming on, a low ball to the near post was turned in by PEERS. The goal was not against the run of play and had been coming as Alty turned up the pressure, but it showed the benefits of having strength in depth simply not available to the visitors – not an excuse, just a fact.

The Glovers’ misery was completed a minute from the end when  Josh HANCOCK found himself in space inside the six yard box and smashed the ball home.

It was my first game since watching Marc Richards’ beauty at Dover Athletic back on March 7, 2020 seal a 1-0 win, and it was everything I have come to associate with the team I have watched on live stream this season.

Effort, flashes of brilliances, moments of calamity and ultimately not quite being good enough.

 

Full time:  Altrincham 4 Yeovil Town 3

 

Yeovil Town: Smith, Kelly, Sass-Davies, Dickinson (c), D’Ath Lee, Knowles, Neufville (for Sonupe, 12), Dagnall, Quigley, Reid (for Stephens, 89)
Substitues (not used): Evans (GK), Heaton.
Bookings: Dagnall, Quigley, Lee, D’Ath.

Altrincham: Thompson, Ogle, Senior, Smith, Hancock, Moult, Mullarkey, Kirby (for Peers, 80), Mooney (for Hardy, 83), Kosylo (for Williams, 65), Colclough.
Substitutes (not used): Hannigan, Densmore.
Bookings: Kosylo, Colclough, Williams.

Attendance: 600 (all home fans – no away fans, honest!)

By:
On:
In: Match Reports

A sending off for Luke Wilkinson and a battling performance will be how the statistics show only Yeovil Town’s second goalless draw of the season, but the real story here was the return of supporters to Huish Park.

In total, 1,497 home fans – unless anyone from Maidenhead United sneaked in unnoticed – were on hand for a battle of two distinctly mid-table sides .

But, if this performance is anything to go by, you can see how much the Glovers have missed the presence of fans in the ground.

The better chances fell to the home side with Josh Neufville and Charlie Lee hitting the woodwork in each half and even after Wilkinson’s dismissal for a second yellow when he clearly handled a corner in to the net.

But, even with a man disadvantage, it was Yeovil who looked to be pressing for the winner and might even go away feeling disappointed not to have got more than a point.

All in all, for those lucky enough to be inside the ground – football is back.

Here’s how I saw it…..

FIRST HALF

Joe Quigley for Reuben Reid in the frontline was the only change Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll made to his starting line-up, with under-18s’ midfielder Adam Heaton named among the substitutes with the bench at full strength.

The boss was also able to start with the same back four as he did in the 3-1 win over King’s Lynn three days earlier. There’s a novelty, eh?

On the fourth minute, every fan, player and member of staff of both clubs joined in a rapturous round applause in memory of late Glovers’ skipper, Lee Collins. I’m not crying, you’re crying!

https://twitter.com/s_dalbiac/status/1394723470827794441?s=20

Josh Neufville had the game’s first opportunity forcing Maidenhead James Holden, who joined from Championship Reading five days earlier, in to a stop.

Five minutes later, the Luton Town loanee was cutting in from the right and hit a drive which grazed the top of the bar on its way over.

From then on in, it was fairly end-to-end next with the visitors threatening to create something, but not quite forcing Adam Smith in to any meaningful action as two physical teams cancelled each other out.

The nearest opportunity came on 35 minutes when a deep free-kick from Carl Dickinson saw Holden caught in no man’s land and found Quigley whose header was turned wide for a corner, from which Charlie Lee headed just over at the back post.

Holden was in action again with five minutes to go as Chris Dagnall‘s fine pass found Tom Knowles on the right of the box whose shot was turned away.

The half finished goalless but Yeovil will have gone in at the break feeling they had the better opportunities.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0  Maidenhead United 0

SECOND HALF

It was a bright start for the home side having a shot cleared off the line in the opening exchanges and making the better opportunities without ever really threatening the Maidenhead goal.

On the hour mark the visitors made an opening when Smith had to make a good double save from first full-back George Wilson and then reacted quickly to deny Danilo Orsi-Dadamo on the rebound.

On 62 minutes, a corner in from the right was met by the raised arm of Luke Wilkinson who bundled the ball back in to the net and, having picked up a yellow card in the first half, was given his marching orders by referee Daniel Lamport.

It was a disappointing way for such an experienced player to go with a first yellow for kicking the ball away and a second for deliberate handball to bring his season to a premature end.

Lee rattled the crossbar with an impressive volley with 20 minutes to go, but despite their numerical disadvantage it was still Yeovil who still looked the more likely to find the breakthrough with plenty of attacking intent.

However, the final chance of the game did fall to Orsi-Dadamo who broke in to the box in the final minute of normal time, but could only chip an effort over the bar.

Full time:  Yeovil Town 0 Maidenhead United 0

 

Yeovil Town: Smith, Kelly, Wilkinson, Sass-Davies, Dickinson (c), Lee, Knowles, D’Ath, Neufville (for Sonupe, 85), Quigley, Dagnall.
Substitues (not used): Evans (GK), Stephens, Heaton, Quigley.
Bookings: Wilkinson, Dagnall.
Sending off: Wilkinson.

Maidenhead United: Holden, Massey (c), Wells, Parry, Twumasi, Coley (for Keetch, 77), Smith (for Sparkes, 67), Ince, Comley (Egan, 80), Upward, Orsi-Dadamo.
Substitutes (not used): Wiltshire.
Bookings: Wells.

Attendance: 1,497

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

A brace from Tom Knowles and a late goal from Emmanuel Sonupe ended a run of three defeats for a patched up Yeovil Town against struggling King’s Lynn.

It was a miserable day at Huish Park with the wet weather assisting Knowles with his opening goal after the ball held up on pitch after eight minutes.

But, the midfielder’s second three minutes later owed everything to his amazing ability to connect with a ball as he bent the ball in.

The visitors pulled one back from the spot soon after before a second half which was as dismal as weather.

The only bright spot for the home side came three minutes from time when substitutes Joe Quigley and Sonupe combined for the midfielder to open his account.

Here’s how I saw it…..

FIRST HALF

If you made it to the live stream in time to watch the highlights of the 2-2 draw between the two sides on the opening day of the season, refer to Gloverscast Rule 1 when watching the handball and offside for King’s Lynn’s first goal. Horrendous, just horrendous.

The team news saw returns to the starting line up for centre-half Luke Wilkinson, making his first appearance since limping off after 26 minutes in the 5-1 defeat at Solihull Moors, and full-back Carl Dickinson who missed the midweek trip to Aldershot Town.

Lawson D’Ath, who appeared as a substitute in midweek, got his first start since the 3-0 win at Weymouth in January, and there were just four substitutes for the Glovers.

A pre-match downpour left the Huish Park pitch sodden and the ball was clearly holding up in some parts, but it was a bright start for Yeovil with Billy Sass-Davies turning an early D’Ath corner over the bar.

The conditions played a part in Yeovil’s opening goal when an underhit back pass to King’s Lynn keeper Theo Richardson held up on the surface, gifting Tom KNOWLES a gilt-edged chance to break through, stepped round the keeper and fired the opener.

Then just three minutes later, a nicely-worked move down the left, found KNOWLES on the edge of the box and he bent a beautiful strike passed the helpless Richardson.

At that point, it looked like a case of how many for the home side, but that seemed to spur King’s Lynn.

They found a way back in to the game on 23 minutes when winger Michael Gyasi was felled inside the box by a clumsy Wilkinson tackle.

The penalty was awarded and experienced striker Simeon JACKSON sent Adam Smith the wrong way from the spot.

Shortly after there was another definite call for the Gloverscast Rule 1 (NB: Don’t complain about National League refs, they’re rubbish, just live with it) when Wilkinson appeared to win the ball with a heavy tackle on Michael Gash.

The defender limped away and unfathomably got a yellow card. Suffice to say, captain Carl Dickinson was less than impressed and, to add injury to insult, Wilkinson was left struggling.

The slippy conditions and a lack of quality in both boxes made for plenty of action, but very little to test either Smith or Richardson.

Dickinson had a long range free-kick held and that was about that for the remainder opening 45 minutes.

 

Half time: Yeovil Town 2 (Knowles (2) King’s Lynn Town 1(Jackson, pen)

SECOND HALF

The rain continued to fall during the half-time break making the pitch even heavier and you just knew it was not going to be pretty.

Wilkinson did return for the second half, but it was King’s Lynn who started the half the brighter. On 50 minutes, full-back Tyler Denton whistled a shot just wide from 30 yards with Smith at full stretch.

If you did spend £9.99 to watch the stream, I would try and get a discount for the first 25 minutes of the second half which was one you could easily have made a drink during and not missed anything.

It was not until the 70th minute that King’s Lynn pressure saw midfielder Sonny Carey have an effort cleared off the line by Wilkinson, presumably kicking with the one fit and healthy leg he had left.

Two minutes later, a cross from Josh Neufville seemed to be heading towards Knowles on the back post, dreaming of his hat-trick, the script was written……..but Knowles slipped. Yeah, that kind of game.

It took until the 84th minute to cheer up when Yeovil’s substitutes Joe Quigley, on for Reuben Reid, played a well-weighted ball through to Emmanuel SONUPE who ran through and coolly slotted home his first goal.

That was pleasing for both players.  Quigley again showing that he is more than a targetman and Sonupe,  one of the few bright spots when he came on against Wrexham seven days earlier, getting off the mark with a nice finish.

A minute from the end, a great ball in by Payne and Michael Gash got a header which looped over and (I think) Smith got a touch on it to turn it on to the crossbar.

Three points, three goals and a nice fillip going in to Tuesday night’s home match with Maidenhead United with fans back inside Huish Park for the first time in a long time.

From this exiled Yeovil Town supporter, if you are lucky enough to be there – give the boys a cheer from me!

 

Full time:  Yeovil Town 3 (Knowles (2), Sonupe) King’s Lynn Town 1 (Jackson, pen).

 

Yeovil Town: Smith, Kelly, Wilkinson, Sass-Davies, Dickinson (c), Lee, Knowles, D’Ath (D’Ath, 87), Neufville (for Sonupe, 78) , Reid (for Quigley, 70), Dagnall.
Substitues (not used): Evans (GK).
Bookings: Wilkinson,

King’s Lynn: Richardson, Howard, Callan-McFadden, Fleming, Denton, Clunan (c), Gyasi (Babos, 65), Kiwomya (Payne, 65), Carey, Jackson, Gash.
Substitutes (not used):  Bastock.
Bookings: Callan-McFadden, Denton.

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

It was another difficult night for Yeovil Town’s walking wounded as they went down to their third consecutive defeat on a disappointing night at Aldershot Town.

With a decent starting XI – with Luke Wilkinson in goal – on the treatment table, Darren Sarll’s starting XI was the walking wounded from the opening whistle.

A battling first half saw them match their hosts, but a defensive error from an out-of-position back line and a harsh straight red card for Alex Bradley inside four first half minutes left the already depleted Glovers with too much to do.

Here’s how I saw it…..

FIRST HALF

With too many injuries to mention – look at the match preview if you’re interested – there was a welcome return for Lawson D’Ath on the substitutes bench, marking his first appearance in the squad since the 3-0 win at Weymouth on January 5.

Joining him on the bench were four members of the Glovers’ under-18s, youth team captain Jiah Medrano, midfielders Adam Heaton and Toby Stephens, the latter who made his first-team debut at Wrexham at the weekend, and keeper Max Evans, who has been a regular on the bench this season.

On the pitch, the injury-ravaged visitors lined up with central midfielder Charlie Lee in the heart of defence alongside Billy Sass-Davies, and Josh Neufville playing at right back rather than his more forward approach with Bradley at the base of the diamond.

However, Yeovil started brightly and made much of the early running with Emmanuel Sonupe having an early shot blocked before Tom Knowles and captain Reuben Reid linking up nicely for Knowles to jink in to the box and fire in a shot that was well tipped away by Aldershot keeper Mitch Walker.

Shots’ striker Harry Panayiotou fired one wide having been found by a fine George Fowler pass soon after, but – despite what the Aldershot live stream pundits told us at half time – the Yeovil chances were not restricted to one effort.

On 11 minutes, Reid held the ball up well on the edge of the box, squared it to Dagnall whose shot was well-saved by Walker. That’s at least two efforts that had the keeper working.

But, that was about as good as it got for the Glovers in the first half, with the home side turning up the pressure after that with Craig Tanner having a shot come off the outside of the post.

The final 25 minutes of the half turned in to a less end-to-end affair although it was Aldershot who looked more threatening going forward.

That pressure showed up  exactly where Yeovil’s defence had players out of position with Neufville looking particularly vulnerable, as he did when he was deployed at right-back in the game at Chesterfield earlier in the season.

An equally big concern was head injuries to Sass-Davies and Chris Dagnall, the latter who ended up with a bandage around his head – injuries are not what we need right now.

Half time: Aldershot Town 0 Yeovil Town 0

SECOND HALF

Now, remember how I said in the first half that the out-of-position Neufville getting caught out of position? Well, with six minutes in to the second half, good play between Fowler and Tanner down the rightv saw a ball go to the back post and Chike Kandi got in front of Neufville to head Aldershot ahead at the back post.

To add insult to injury, three minutes later Alex Bradley saw red for a tackle from behind on Panayiotou in the middle of the box.

I’m obviously out of practice with this match reporting lark because I looked up just as the tackle went in, looked up to see Bradley walking. It looked wild to me at a first glance, but suffice to say not all of Twitter agreed with my glancing review, see below!

And, having watched the replay at the end of match, I concur with the views of Twitter – it was a yellow card, but never a red.

To add further injury to injury (or should that be insult as well?) a crunching tackle from behind on Tom Knowles by Aldershot substitute Jon Nouble’s on 69 minutes looked every bit as bad as the one Bradley saw red for.

Nouble got a yellow. What’s the first rule of the Gloverscast again?

Red card or not, the loss  put Yeovil’s walking wounded were under even more pressure and Kandi will be disappointed not to have doubled their advantage shortly after.

There was a bright spot with D’Ath making an appearance in the 67th minute, replacing Sonupe, and despite an obvious lack of match fitness, he showed his usual composure on the ball.

Sass-Davies threw his body on the line on at least two occasions to block shots coming in from the home side, but with nine minutes to go Dagnall headed over with a rare opportunity.

The home side continued to turn the screw and it was another defensive mistake that led to the doubling their advantage.

A long ball forward found Nouble with only Kelly in the vicinity of him and, with the rest of the Yeovil defence racing back from…..well, somewhere…..he played in Panayiotou  who hammered it home.

Adam Smith pulled off an amazing double save soon after, but dead on their feet is the way to describe how Yeovil looked by the closing 10 minutes of the match.

So, another defeat ends with me thinking the same thing as the after the last one – can’t we just finish the season now? Pretty, pretty please.

Full time: Aldershot Town 2 Yeovil Town 0

ALDERSHOT TOWN: Walker, Fowler, Sendles-White, Lyons-Foster, Rees (for Nouble, 28), Kandi (for Hinds, 74), Panayiotou, Anderson, Edser, Kinsella, Tanner (for Bettamer, 74).
Subs not used: Ogie, Miller.
Bookings: Lyons-Foster, Nouble, Panayiotou.

YEOVIL TOWN: Smith, Bradley, Sass-Davies, Lee, Kelly, Knowles, Sonupe (for D’Ath, 67), Dagnall (for Stephens, 82), Neufville, Quigley, Reid.
Subs not used: Evans (GK),Heaton, Medrano.
Sending off: Bradley.