Match Reports (Page 26)

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Venue: Huish Park
Saturday, September 18 2021, 3pm kick-off.

Conditions: Dry
Ground: Fine

Scorers: Oyeleke 19, Tshimanga 36,

Attendance: 2,356 (238 away)

Referee: Daniel Lamport

Bookings:
Yeovil: Williams, 45
Chesterfield: Payne 68, Tshimanga 78

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: Morgan Williams (for Wilkinson, 28), Yussuf (for Lo-Everton, 46), Max Evans (not used), Alex Bradley (not used), Jack Robinson (not used).

Chesterfield: Loach, Miller (for Whittle, 66), Grimes, Gunning (for King, 46), Kerr, Carline, Weston, Oyeleke (for McCourt, 75), Mandeville, Payne, Tshimanga. Subs (not used): Khan, Minter.

 

Summary

Yeovil Town‘s decent start to the season hit a hefty speed bump this afternoon with a 2-0 defeat against Chesterfield at Huish Park.

An own goal from goalkeeper Grant Smith  – albeit one credited to midfielder Emmanuel Oyeleke – and a finish from Kabongo Tshimanga was enough for the superior Spirerites as the Glovers expelled a lot of energy but couldn’t break down their opponents.

A big concern for Yeovil will be the first half departure of defender Luke Wilkinson who was forced off with an injury.

Here’s how Ian Perkins saw it at Huish Park…..

 

FIRST HALF

Glovers’ boss Darren Sarll was able to name an unchanged starting XI for the fourth consecutive game with the only change coming on the substitutes’ bench where on-loan defender Jack Robinson replaced Toby Stephens.

Josh Staunton thought he’d given Yeovil the lead after 15 minutes when he scrambled a dropped ball into the back of the net. The referee adjudged that visiting goalkeeper Scott Loach was fouled.

Moments later, the Spireites took the lead through an own goal. After a decent stop from  Grant Smith, Emmanuel Oyeleke was teed up on the edge of the 18 yard box and his powerful drive rebounded off the post into a body and into the back of the net. The goal was credited to OYELEKE.

Yeovil suffered the early loss of skipper Luke Wilkinson, who limped off just before the half an hour mark.

The Glovers came close to striking back through Tom Knowles after Joe Quigley rounded Loach. Quigley was forced wide by the Chesterfield defence but he set up Knowles who glided past a couple of blue shirts before his effort was cleared off the line.

In the 36th minute, Kabongo TSHIMANGA doubled the Spireites lead. A routine hoof up the pitch was allowed to bounce, with neither Morgan Williams nor Max Hunt covering themselves in glory. The £100k man slotted past Grant Smith with composure.

Half-time: Yeovil Town 0 Chesterfield 2

SECOND HALF

Sarll made a change at half time, with Adi Yussuf replacing Sonny Blu Lo Everton in the hosts’ forward line.

It wasn’t until the 58th minute that there was a real effort of note. After a spell of pressure the Glovers moved the ball nicely and a rasping effort from Josh Staunton drew a good one handed save from Loach.

Max Hunt came close to pulling one back with a free header in the box after a Knowles cross, but the defender’s effort glanced high and wide.

Yeovil had another decent chance in the 71st minute after neat work by Charlie Wakefield on the right wing found Knowles in the box. Knowles’ execution wasn’t the greatest and his strike went well over the bar.

Knowles grew into the game as it progressed and came close again five minutes later with a speculative effort from distance which went wide of Loach’s left hand post.

As time wore on the game petered out with Chesterfield standing firm and Yeovil, without a Plan B, sapped of energy and ideas.

Full time: Yeovil Town 0 Chesterfield 2

Read our Five Conclusions – here
https://youtu.be/Tn-bq4Jqt-g

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Venue: Edgeley Park
Saturday, September 11 2021, 3pm kick-off.

Conditions: Dry but dull
Ground: Fine

Scorers: Wakefield 26 (1-0), Quigley pen 53 (2-0), Yussuf 86 (3-0)

Attendance: 5,231 (207 away fans)

Referee: Scott Jackson

Bookings:
Yeovil: Knowles 8, Gorman 78, Smith 79
Stockport County: None

Sendings off:
Yeovil: None
Stockport County: Palmer, 52

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: Alex Bradley (for Knowles, 76), Adi Yussuf (for Lo-Everton, 81), Toby Stephens (for Wakefield, 89) (for Wilkinson, 28), Max Evans (not used), Morgan Williams (not used).

Stockport County: Hinchcliffe, Hogan, Palmer, Barclay (for Fryers, 46), Southam-Hales, Rooney, Whitfield, Raikhy (for Walker, 32), Croasdale, Madden, Reid (for Dünnwald-Turan,66).
Substitutes (not used): Collar, Ross.

Summary

A complete performance saw Yeovil Town pull off the result of the as they cruised to a 3-0 win at one of the National League’s promotion favourites Stockport County.

Charlie Wakefield opened the scoring after 26 minutes before a second half penalty from Joe Quigley which led to the dismissal of defender Ash Palmer and a late third from substitute Adi Yussuf sealed the victory.

The performance was unquestionably the Glovers’ best of the season so far and one manager Darren Sarll described as “right up there” in the best during his time in charge.

It can be said that the expensively assembled Stockport side, boasting the likes of Paddy Madden, Ben Whitfield, John Rooney and last season’s top-scorer Alex Reid, did not look like a side worthy of their lofty credentials, credit must go to the visitors for nullifying their hosts.

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

 

FIRST HALF

For the second weekend in a row, Darren Sarll was able to named an unchanged starting XI as he went with the same team that won 1-0 at home to FC Halifax Town seven days earlier.

We had been told to expect a Stockport side which dominated possession but did very little with it and that was how it proved to be with nothing that threatened the visitors’ back four of Moss, Hunt, Wilkinson and Barnett.

The game’s first meaningful opportunity fell to Wakefield who linked up with Sonny Blu Lo-Everton who was playing in the number 10 role behind Quigley for the third consecutive match. That set Wakefield away but his effort was turned around the post by Ben Hinchcliffe in the Stockport goal.

Following a performance which rather passed him by against Halifax, this was a very different Lo-Everton with the Watford loanee added a little more robustness to his undoubted quality on the ball.

Perhaps with opponents more akin to himself, he was not subjected to the rough and tumble he may experience against less cultured midfielder, but there was plenty to like about his performance.

That sparked a spell of pressure with Madden, who found himself playing almost permanently in midfield looking for the ball in the first half, having to scramble a corner wide before Josh Staunton‘s header called Hinchcliffe back in to action.

So when WAKEFIELD open the scoring on 26 minutes, there was no doubt it was a well-deserved advantage. Strong play for Quigley saw him find Lo-Everton whose lovely side-footed pass picked out Wakefield arriving on the right of the area to smash a superb angled drive in to the far corner.

Dale Gorman forced a flying stop out of Hinchliffe soon after before Stockport boss Simon Rusk made a tactical change to try with Tom Walker replacing Arjan Raikhy, who joined from Premier League Aston Villa where in the summer where he was a highly-rated member of the academy.

The move was testament to the tactics of Rusk’s opposite number whose tactics driven by the disciplined performances of Staunton and Gorman nullified their expensively-assembled opponents.

Half-time: Stockport County 0 Yeovil Town 1

SECOND HALF

With expectation almost palpable around Edgeley Park, it was no surprise when the home side came out of for the second half strongly.
But, for their initial pressure, a header wide by last season’s top-scorer Alex Reid was all Stockport had to show for it.
Meanwhile, down the other end a long ball forward found Tom Knowles the wrong side of his marker Ash Palmer who dragged him to the ground, gifting Yeovil a penalty and receiving a red card for his troubles.
Who else but Joe QUIGLEY stepped up to send Hinchcliffe the wrong way from the penalty for his fifth goal in the club’s opening five games after 53 minutes.
Seven minutes later the big frontman could had added to his tally but pulled his shot wide. Cue the departure of some home supporters and audible dissention amongst the County faithful – we’d been told there might be.
Kenan Dünnwald-Turan, a loan signing from Scunthorpe United in the week, replaced Reid who’d spent much of his afternoon in Max Hunt’s back pocket, and soon after the German was bearing down on Grant Smith’s goal – only to drag his shot wide.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, the hosts still saw plenty of the ball yet did little with it until the 79th minute when a lapse by Jordan Barnett released Madden whose shot was turned away by Smith – arguably the only meaningful stop the keeper was forced in to all afternoon.
It was left to Adi YUSSUF to complete the scoring. Pressure from Staunton in midfielder forced the hosts in to an error which the striker, who had just come on as a substitute for Lo-Everton, latched on to and coolly slotted away his third.

As he and his team-mates celebrated in front of the 200 travelling supporters, the boos rang out around Edgeley Park.

Full time: Stockport County 0 Yeovil Town 3

 

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Venue: Huish Park
Saturday September 4 2021, 5.30pm kick-off.

Conditions: Dry and bright
Ground: Perfect

Scorers: Quigley pen 14 (1-0)

Attendance: 1,899 (54 away)

Referee: Thomas Parsons

Bookings:
Yeovil: Gorman 52, Staunton 52
Boreham Wood: Slew 70, Warburton 84

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, 84), Alex Bradley (for Knowles, 90), Max Evans (not used), Morgan Williams (not used), Toby Stephens (not used).

FC Halifax Town: Johnson, Debrah, Bradbury, Maher, Benn, Warren (for Gilmour, 67), Woods, Summerfield  (for Green, 64), Warburton, Waters (for Allen, 83), Slew.
Substitutes: Spence, Swaby-Neavin.

SUMMARY

We broke the hoodoo, we got the monkey off our back, put it however you like but for the first time since Wembley 2013, Yeovil Town won a match on the telly.

The BT Sport cameras have not been kind to the Glovers since our return to non-League and it took a penalty smashed down the middle from Joe Quigley (who else?) to earn three points under the spotlight.

It came after 14 minutes when Tom Knowles was caught with a high kick from Halifax captain Niall Maher and referee Thomas Parsons had no hesitation but to point to the spot.

Here’s how David Coates saw it watching on the telly…..

FIRST HALF

On the day when breaking hoodoos was the order of the day, Yeovil Town boss Darren Sarll will have been pleased to name an unchanged starting XI to the one which had won at Aldershot Town on Bank Holiday Monday.

The boss’ only change was a fifth substitute on the bench in the form of Alex Bradley who returned after illness.

The game started with the move which led to the home side taking the lead. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton‘s ball in from the left could not find Quigley and rebounded as far as Tom Knowles who was caught by visiting captain Niall Maher.

Tom Knowles is caught by FC Halifax Town captain Niall Maher inside the box.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.
Referee Thomas Parsons had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Quigley stepped up to put it down the middle.
Knowles had a claim for a second spot kick five minutes later after a coming together with Maher but (again) he referee got it right and waved away any appeals.
That led to the game slowing down as Yeovil frustrated the visitors who were second best in the tactical battle, and it was not until the closing stages of the half that either side carved out any opportunities.
In the 45th minute, Charlie Wakefield‘s ball in from the right was heading towards Quigley at the back post, but was well defended by Tyrrell Warren, and a minute later a free kick from Dale Gorman was headed over by Luke Wilkinson, who was flagged offside. The television replay, however, suggested otherwise.
The lead was nothing less than Yeovil deserved having looked comfortable against a Halifax side who had picked up wins in their previous two matches.
Half time: Yeovil Town 1 (Quigley, pen) FC Halifax Town 0

SECOND HALF

With Halifax boss Pete Wild hopping around on the touchline for much of the first half (more on that later), the expectation was that the visitors would come out with a spring in their step or a flea in their ear after the interval.
If they did it was not immediately obvious Yeovil again starting the brighter with Gorman’s lofted ball in to the box finding Quigley, who could only manage a tame header.
The Shaymen did start to find their way back in to it and had their best chance of the game on 54 minutes when a free-kick from Matt Warburton, who probably the visitors’ only real attacking threat in the first half, was pushed away by Grant Smith.
His clearance only went as far as striker Jordan Slew whose shot from the far post rattled off the post and away.
From there the game started to get stretched with neither side able to find any fluidity. Wilkinson had a shot deflected over and Slew fired a ball in to the box which flashed past his strike partner Billy Waters, who had scored three in his first three matches for the visitors but was anonymous throughout.
It was not until the closing stages that either side managed to create a real opportunity. With  two minutes to go substitute Jamie Allen got away down the right and it was only thanks to an excellent interception from Max Hunt inside the area that he did not get his shot away.
Striker Adi Yussuf fires a shot in on goal.

Then, in the second minute of injury time, Glovers’ substitute Adi Yussuf broke away and rather than squaring the ball to either Quigley or Alex Bradley to his left, he tried to take on the shot which he put over.

That was too much for Wild who finally combusted and it did not take a lip reader to work out what he said to the officials to earn himself a red card. Ironically, in the build up to the game, Wild had spoken about how he expected Yeovil to bully his side and said he would be advising his players to keep cool heads.

His judgement presumably impaired by the loss of his temper, he later told the BT Sport cameras his side had “dominated the second half from start to finish.” If you say so, Pete.

Full time: Yeovil Town 1 (Quigley, pen) FC Halifax Town 0

 

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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)

 

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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

 

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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

 

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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)

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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)

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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.

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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!)