Match Reports (Page 28)

Venue: Huish Park
Saturday, October 15 2021, 3pm kick-off.

Conditions: Dry and bright
Ground: Perfect – again.

Scorers: Wakefield 12 (1-0), Bearwish 90 (1-1)

Attendance: 3,354 (676 away fans)

Referee: Darren Drysdale

Bookings:
Yeovil: Gorman 71, Barnett 90.
W*ymouth: None.



Yeovil Town
: (4-3-3)
Grant Smith
Dan Moss, Max Hunt, Josh Staunton, Jordan Barnett
Tom Knowles, Matt Worthington, Dale Gorman
Ben Seymour Joe Quigley Charlie Wakefield

Substitutes: Jack Robinson (for Tom Knowles, 80), Lewis Simper, Jordan Dyer, Toby Stephens, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, Adi Yussuf, Max Evans.

W*ymouth: Fitzsimons, Brooks (for Bearwish, 86), Yarney, Leslie-Smith, Harfield, Shields, Cordner, Mussa, Goodship (for Rose, 60) McQuoid, Ash (for Taylor-Crossdale, 60).

Substitutes:  Robinson, Murray, Bruton, Olomowewe.


Match Report

An equaliser three minutes in to injury time from local rivals W*ymouth means Yeovil Town will face a replay if they are going to make the first round proper of the FA Cup.

Having led through a Charlie Wakefield strike after 12 minutes and dominated the first half, the Glovers fell deeper and deeper as their visitors pushed for an equaliser.

It looked like we would do enough to sneak past the kitchen sink being chucked at us, only for substitute Tom Bearwish to scramble the ball home from a long throw at the death.

The home side began strongly with Joe Quigley having an effort diverted wide from a corner in the opening attack.

That set the tone for a positive start from Yeovil shooting towards a packed Thatcher’s End.

After a couple of half chances, the first clear cut opportunity fell to Charlie WAKEFIELD when Dale Gorman‘s quick free-kick found the winger with a sublime pass. He shrugged off his marker  and rifled home the opener from just inside the box.

Barnett looked to have been fouled but referee Darren Drysdale waved play on and Bradley Ash burst through on to Omar Mussa‘s ball, but only put his shot in to the side netting with the game approaching the half-hour mark.

Ben Seymour lashed an effort in to Thatcher’s shortly and Quigley had an opportunity blocked soon after.

As half-time approached, the visitors pressed for an equaliser and Josh McQuoid’s shot just went the wrong (right?) side of the post after a deflection off Matt Worthington.

A cross from Tom Knowles to the back post where Worthington was in an advanced position – what a nice thing that is to write – but he could not get enough of a connection to turn it home.

Boss Darren Sarll will have been pleased with the performance of his side in a typically all-action derby game – just edging it without being spectacular.

 

Half time: Yeovil Town 1 W*ymouth 0

W*ymouth started the brighter in the second half and midfielder Shaun Shields had an effort which was turned away by the legs of Grant Smith in the home goal.

That was the only real opportunity of the opening 15 minutes and W*ymouth boss Brian Stock introduced Martell Taylor-Crossdale and Akheem Rose on the hour mark at the expense of Ash and Brandon Goodship.

A speculative long-range effort from Knowles failed to trouble visiting keeper Ross Fitzsimons on 64 minutes and shortly after Quigley had the ball in the net but was adjudged offside.

It took until 71 minutes for the first booking of the derby to be given and Dale Gorman was the recipient – call this a derby? Into ’em, Yeovil.

With ten minutes to go, Jack Robinson came on for Knowles with Barnett moving forward in to midfield. This isn’t us sitting back for the final stages, is it?!

Meanwhile, the Terras were going for it with a packed  forward line and we all knew what was going to happen. A long throw in to the box with three minutes of the four played and Tom BEARWISH and scrambled the ball in at the near post to nick an equaliser.

The away end erupted, the Thatcher’s Stand was stunned. We do it again at the Wessex Stadium probably on Tuesday night.

Full time: Yeovil Town 1 W*ymouth 1


Venue: Huish Park
Tuesday, October 12 2021, 7.45pm kick-off.

Conditions: A clear night with a bit of mist
Ground: Impressive as usual

Scorers: Joe Quigley 57 (1-0), AJ Leitch-Smith 65 (1-1)

Attendance: 1,640 (30 away supporters)

Referee: Matthew Russell

Bookings:
Yeovil: Robinson 90+2
Altrincham: Hancock 35, Pringle 83



Yeovil Town
: (4-3-3)
Grant Smith
Dan Moss, Max Hunt, Josh Staunton, Jordan Barnett
Tom Knowles, Matt Worthington, Dale Gorman
Ben Seymour Joe Quigley Adi Yussuf

Subs:  Charlie Wakefield (for Knowles, 75), Alex Bradley (for Moss, 86), Jack Robinson (for Worthington, 90), Sonny Blu Lo-Everton Max Evans.

Altrincham: Thompson (for Hampson, 16) , Hannigan, Moult, Jackson, Pringle, Senior, Mullarkey (for Furman, 23), Hancock, Kosylo (for Peers, 70), Leitch-Smith, Mooney . Substitutes: Densmore, Dinanga.

 


Match Report

Yeovil Town failed to win at Huish Park for the fourth consecutive game after being held to a draw against an Altrincham side who fielded a defender in goal for 74 minutes of the National League fixture.

Joe Quigley had put the Glovers’ ahead after 57 minutes only for the strike to be cancelled out by the old boy curse with former Glover AJ Leitch-Smith snatching an equaliser just eight minutes later.

The home side started brightly and had the first effort on goal after three minutes with Adi Yussuf drawing a good save from Tony Thompson in the visitors’ goal.

Max Hunt was fortunate not to put in his own net shortly after. Ex-Glover AJ Leitch Smith‘s effort towards goal struck Hunt’s hip and trickled past Grant Smith‘s post.

Tom Knowles in action against Altrincham.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Space opened up nicely for Tom Knowles in the seventh minute but his low effort skidded wide of the left-hand post.

Altrincham were forced into an early change with an injury to keeper Thompson. With no keeper on the bench they were forced to bring on  Connor Hampson in his place and it was not long before the left back was called in to action.

A scramble in the box opened up nicely for Yussuf who struck a low effort which Hampson was equal to with an impressive reaction from the stand-in stopper.

Altrincham were forced into another change in their backline in the 22nd minute with Toby Mullarkey going off injured.

In the 45th minute Altrincham had their first effort at goal through top-scorer, Dan Mooney. Good interplay between Leitch-Smith and Josh Hancock set up the winger who cut inside and curled a left-footed effort over Smith’s bar.

The half-time break came with Yeovil having the majority of the ball without doing a great deal with it.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Altrincham 0

he Glovers came out strong in the second half and Matt Worthington had a decent effort from the edge of the box which was deflected wide for a corner.

Yeovil Town celebrate Joe Quigley’s opening goal.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Just before the hour mark Yeovil opened the scoring after Joe QUIGLEY pounced on a free kick that was spilled into the six yard box by Altrincham’s (not) keeper. Yeovil’s top scorer finished with the goal gaping and raced off in front of the raucous Thatchers’ Stand.

LEITCH-SMITH equalised for Altrincham in the 65th minute – why wouldn’t he? He was alert after Staunton couldn’t clear his lines allowing The striker to out it into the roof of the net.

Yeovil reacted and came inches from retaking the lead shortly after. The Glovers piled on the pressure from a corner and Hampson in the goal. He saved a header from a corner but put it back into danger and Max Hunt’s head. Altrincham defenders were on the line to clear away from the goal.

In the hosts’ goal, Smith was forced into a reaction save in the 73rd minute, palming the ball over the line after a couple of ricochets.

Quigley nearly had a second moments later with a sharp turn and volley that went wide of the post. Ten minutes from time Quigley’s low header caused problems.

Altrincham were adamant they should have had a penalty a couple of minutes later when Leitch-Smith’s shot was blocked by Staunton. The Altrincham players appealed for handball but the referee awarded a goal kick in the resulting scramble.

Adi Yussuf in action against Altrincham.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Yussuf thought he’d given Yeovil a late lead in the 85th with a back post header that was blocked around the line. Altrincham were awarded a freekick as Yussuf appealed but there was nothing given.

Yeovil kept pressing and searching for a winner but couldn’t break down Altrincham’s back line who managed to earn a draw after defending a goal without a recognised keeper for 70 minutes.

The win moved Darren Sarll’s men up a place to 14th in the National League table, but with an FA Cup tie against local rivals Weymouth coming up at the weekend, Huish Park still expects.

Full time: Yeovil Town 1 Altrincham 1


Venue: Huish Park
Saturday, October 9 2021, 3pm kick-off.

Conditions: An August day in October.
Ground: A great surface which was almost unused.

Scorers: Reuben Rodrigues 16 (0-2), Reuben Rodrigues 81 (0-2)

Attendance: 2,438 (291 away)

Referee: Gary Parsons

Bookings:
Yeovil: Robinson 55,
Notts County: Nemane 11, Palmer 14, Chicksen 45, O’Brien 57


Yeovil Town : (4-4-2)
Grant Smith
Dan Moss, Max Hunt, Josh Staunton, Jack Robinson
Dion Pereira, Dale Gorman, Matt Worthington, Tom Knowles
Sonny Blu Lo-Everton
Joe Quigley

Subs:  Charlie Wakefield (for Knowles, 46), Ben Seymour (for Lo-Everton, 56), Mitchell Rose (for Gorman, 66)  Jordan Barnett, Adi Yussuf.

Notts County: Patterson, Brindley, Brennan, Cameron, Chicksen (for Kelly-Evans, 70), O’Brien, Palmer, Rodrigues, Nemane (for MItchell ,80), Roberts Wootton Subs: Mitchell, Francis, Vincent, Sam.


Summary

Yeovil Town fell to their third home defeat of the season at the hands of a far superior Notts County side this afternoon. Ruben Rodrigues put the Glovers to the sword with a goal in each half.

There were three changes for Yeovil after Tuesday’s

New signing Dion Pereira in action against Notts County.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

dismal draw against Maidenhead United Matt Worthington came in for Mitch Rose to partner Dale Gorman in central midfield. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton took Ben Seymour’s place behind Joe Quigley and there was a debut for Luton loannee Dion Pereira with Charlie Wakefield dropping to the bench.

The opening ten minutes of the match saw little in the way of any action with both sides trying to get a foothold. There was an early yellow card for County’s Aaron Nemane after he cynically brought down Pereira in the Yeovil half. Matt Palmer joined his teammate in the book shortly after for a late challenge on Gorman.

Notts County took the lead after quarter of an hour through RODRIGUES who picked up the ball outside the box and sauntered past Max Hunt before firing a left footed effort at goal which took a small deflection leaving Grant Smith on his knees.

County dominated the ball following their opener and Smith was called into action again diving to his right to palm away Cal Roberts’ deflected shot from just outside the edge of the area in the 24th minute. Smith’s save fell to the feet of Nemane but the Glovers cleared their lines after a scramble inside the 18 yard box.

Yeovil did get County’s defenders hearts racing moment later with some neat interplay between Pereira and Quigley almost forcing an effort at Patterson’s goal.

Joe Quigley battles for the ball.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

The Glovers were starved of any meaningful possession as County imposed their technical superiority, finding space across the pitch. Murmurs of discontent grew with supporters struggling to keep their patience at wayward passes and aimless hoofs forward.

The closest Yeovil came to a shot in the first half was in the 44th minute when Dan Moss aimed a cross into the box towards Quigley. His effort was charged down on the penalty spot by a County defender.

County should have doubled their lead before the break as they outnumbered Yeovil defenders on a counter. Some fancy footwork in the box slowed the attack down and Moss got a block in on Kyle Wooton‘s shot.

As the half time whistle went there were boos from the Thatcher’s terrace, unsatisfied with a submissive first half display.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Notts County 1

The Glovers made a change at half time with Tom Knowles, who had been largely anonymous, making way for Charlie Wakefield. Wakefield moved to the right with Pereira taking up Knowles position on left midfield.

County had an early effort on goal through Rodrigues who was allowed to take the ball from the half way line to the edge of the box by a back-pedalling defence. His effort was high and wide, though.

Roberts thought he had a shout for penalty in the 53rd minute as he went down under a challenge in the box. The referee waved away the appeal, and there were few shouts from Roberts teammates.

Sonny Blu Lo-Everton.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Sonny Blu Lo-Everton was replaced by Ben Seymour just before the hour mark with the Glovers chasing the game. The diminutive midfielder struggled to make an impact throughout the game.

County had a big chance to grab a second in the 60th minute as Roberts put a sliding effort wide of the left hand post. The winger had plenty of time on space after being found by Rodrigues.

Sarll made is final substitution in the 66th minute taking off Gorman for defensive midfielder Mitchell Rose, to a smattering of boos from the terrace.

Wakefield managed to get hold of the ball on the right and get round two Notts players before slipping Seymour through on the right of the 18 yard box. The Exeter loanee struck a stinging cross across the box which was palmed out by Patterson. The incoming Periera and Wakefield got in each others way with the former handling the ball and conceding a free kick.

Worthington had a half chance moments later after a Seymour flick on but he couldn’t get the ball under control and a Notts County defender pinched the ball off his toe on the edge of the box.

RODRIGUES doubled his tally in the 80th minute with the County man rising alone in the box to head home from a corner emphatically.

Seymour had Yeovil’s first effort at goal in the 85th minute after being put through on the left hand side. He was closed down quickly by Patterson who saved his tame effort comfortably.

Yeovil forced another half chance in the 90th minute as a cross from left found Wakefield in space but his volley was saved well at the near post.

Five minutes were added on at the end of what has been a disappointing week for Sarll’s men in front of the Huish Park faithful. Altrincham on Tuesday before Weymouth in the FA Cup next Saturday look to be two increasingly important fixtures for Sarll.

Full time: Yeovil Town 0 Notts County 2

Read our Five Conclusions Here

 


[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”16″ display=”basic_imagebrowser”]All pictures courtesy of Mike Kunz – thanks Mike!

 

Venue: Huish Park
Tuesday, October 5 2021, 7.45pm kick-off.

Conditions: Cold…..very cold.
Ground: Slick. Held up well despite the rain.

Scorers: None – to put it mildly!

Attendance: 2,031

Referee: Adrian Quelch

Bookings:
Yeovil: Staunton 24, Knowles 37
Maidenhead United: Mingi 28, 71, Massey 45, Kelly 81

Sendings off:
Yeovil Town: 
None
Maidenhead United: Mingi (second bookable offence), 71


Yeovil Town : (4-4-2)
Grant Smith
Dan Moss, Max Hunt, Josh Staunton, Jack Robinson
Charlie Wakefield, Dale Gorman, Mitch Rose, Tom Knowles
Joe Quigley, Ben Seymour

Subs:  Sonny Blu Lo-Everton (for Seymour, 69),  Jordan Barnett (for Tom Knowles, 80), Alex Bradley (for Moss, 90), Max Evans (not used), Matt Worthington (not used).

Maidenhead United: Lovett, Massey, Wells, Parry, Clerima, Minigi, Ferdinand, Upward, Barratt (for Kelly, 69), Smith (for Beckwith,88), Blissett (for Acquah, 79). Subs: Adams (not used), Asonganyi (not used).


Summary

Yeovil Town were held to a dull and disappointing 0-0 draw by Maidenhead United at Huish Park this evening. A game of low quality with a lack of clear cut opportunities made for minimal entertainment in the cold for the 2031 spectators who fancied a Tuesday out.

Darren Sarll changed up his side for the clash with out of form Maidenhead United, who were without a win in six games going into the match. Loanees Jack Robinson and Ben Seymour came in for their full debuts alongside controversial new signing Mitchell Rose. The reception for Rose was considerably muted during the pre match team announcement. Jordan Barnett was sacrificed at left back for Robinson despite his decent start for the Glovers. Seymour came in for the suspended Adi Yussuf and Rose replaced Matty Worthington the central midfield to partner Dale Gorman.

Joe Quigley battles for the ball.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

A cautious opening five minutes saw both sides trying to gain a hold of possession with neither in the ascendancy. Ben Seymour forced Maidenhead’s keeper Rhys Lovett to deal with a fizzed left footed cross that was searching out top scorer Joe Quigley.

George Wells had the audacity to attempt lobbing Grant Smith after his clearance found the Maidenhead full back. His effort was speculative at best with Smith in a decent position and the execution poor.

Kane Ferdinand gave the Glovers defence a minor scare a few minutes later when he found himself with acres in the middle of the eighteen yard box. His weak headed effort was over the bar and he as adjudged to be in an offside position.

Tom Knowles had a shout for a ‘seen ’em given’ penalty in the 21st minute. A cross from the left hand side was sent in towards the penalty area and the winger hit the deck under a challenge from Wells but the referee wasn’t inclined to award anything.

Moments later there was a heart in mouth moment for Josh Staunton as he brought down Maidenhead’s centre forward Nathan Blissett on the edge of the penalty box, earning himself a fourth yellow card of the season. The referee, Adrian Quelch, deemed the challenge took place outside the box so awarded a freekick inches outside the box. Maidenhead attempted to work a fancy opening and Charlee Adams effort was laughably average.

Knowles gave Maidenhead a scare shortly after, cutting inside from the right a firing a rasping left footed effort into the side netting from outside the box.

Knowles was victim of a pretty reckless tackle just before the half hour mark. Jay Mingi, on loan from Portsmouth, went in forcefully on Knowles prompting calls for a red card from the supporters at Huish Park. Quelch gave Mingi a yellow but it probably fell into the ‘seen ’em given’ category.

Mitchell Rose in action for Yeovil Town.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Quigley came close to grabbing the first goal of the game in the 34th minute after a cross from the left wing by Mitch Rose. The strikers diving header flew wide of the post but certainly warmed the vocal chords on this chilly evening.

Blissett hit the side netting himself shortly after. Dale Gorman headed the ball over the backline towards Smith who decided not to come and claim the ball allowing Blissett a decent effort at goal. Any striker worth his salt would have forced a save but on this occasion he put wide.

Quigley had another header flash wide after Gorman’s delivery in the 44th and the first effort on target came moments after through Ben Seymour. The loanee from Exeter’s low strike was saved comfortably by Lovett.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Maidenhead United 0

A tepid opening to the second half saw neither side show much impetus from the break.

Lovett was forced into a goal-denying save just before the hour mark after his own defender flicked a Gorman freekick goalwards. Corner chaos ensued after but Maidenhead weathered the minor storm.

Some neat interplay on the edge of the Maidenhead box gave Quigley an opportunity to shoot but his effort dribbled into the palms of Lovett.

In attempt to bring some life to the attacking end of the pitch Sarll, Sarll made the first change of the game in the 68th minute. Sonny Blu-Lo Everton for Ben Seymour, slotted into the central attacking midfielder position behind Quigley.

Maidenhead found themselves down to ten men with 20 minutes left on the clock when Mingi was given a second yellow card.

Attacking vs defence ensued with the 11 players in green and white looking to force an opening, although Maidenhead weren’t dominated and employed a degree of time-wasting the opportunity allowed.

Charlie Wakefield in action for Yeovil Town.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

A promising run from Charlie Wakefield, where he coasted past three men before releasing Knowles on the right of the penalty area. Knowles first touch was lacking and he couldn’t get a credible effort on goal.

Knowles was replaced by Jordan Barnett shortly after with Wakefield moving to the right and the recent signing slotting in higher up the pitch than we’ve seen him so far in left midfield.

With four minutes added on, the late addition of Alex Bradley for Dan Moss made little difference in the attacking end as Yeovil struggled to break down the resilient Magpies, who even caused problems despite the man disadvantage.

Josh Staunton, skipper on the night, was awarded man of the match by the match sponsors which was a telling statement about the performance of the Glovers.

There were boos on the full-time whistle with some fans less than happy with their evening out.

Full time: Yeovil Town 0 Maidenhead United 0

 

Venue: Meadow Park
Saturday September 25 2021, 3pm kick-off.

Conditions: Dry but dull
Ground: Perfect

Scorers: Dale Gorman 15 (1-0), Worthington o.g. 26 (1-1), Rees 60 (1-2)

Attendance: 658

Referee: Scott Simpson

Bookings:
Yeovil: Yussuf 33, 38
Boreham Wood: Evans 52, Smith 85

Sendings off
Yeovil: 
Yussuf 38
Boreham Wood: None


Yeovil Town : (4-4-2)
Grant Smith
Dan Moss, Max Hunt, Josh Staunton, Jordan Barnett
Charlie Wakefield, Dale Gorman, Matt Worthington, Tom Knowles
Joe Quigley, Adi Yussuf

Subs: Jack Robinson (for Barnett, 71), Lo-Everton (for Worthington, 78), Rose (for Wakefield, 84), Max Evans (not used), Alex Bradley (not used).

Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Mendy, Ilesanmi, Evans, Fyfield, Smith, Rees (for Stephens, 90), Ricketts,Raymond (for Smith, 75), Marsh (for Clifton, 86), Boden. Subs not used: Mafuta, Smith.

 


Summary

Ten man Yeovil Town fell to a 2-1 defeat on the road to Boreham Wood this afternoon.

The Glovers took the lead from a Dale Gorman free kick after quarter of an hour, but calamitous goalkeeping saw Boreham Wood equalise after Grant Smith punched the ball into the back of Matt Worthington.

Adi Yussuf saw red in the first half for two bookable offences.

Josh Rees‘ 60th minute header was enough for Boreham Wood as the Glovers chased an equaliser but couldn’t break the Hertfordshire side down.

Here’s how Ian saw it…..

The Glovers made two changes from last weekends match against Chesterfield. Josh Staunton dropped into defence for Luke Wilkinson with Matt Worthington coming in to the midfielder to partner Gorman. Adi Yussuf started up front in place of Sonny Blu Lo Everton.

Smith was called into action in the 12th minute making a good reaction save.

Moments later, Gorman struck a low free kick which snuck under the Boreham Wood wall and through Nathan Ashmore and into the goal.

In the 25th minute Boreham Wood equalised after hapless defending. Smith opted to punch a corner rather than catch it and his punch ricocheted off of Worthington into the goal.

Yussuf picked up a silly yellow card in the 33rd minute and five minutes later he was given his marching orders jumping in recklessly for a 50-50.

Half time: Boreham Wood 1 – 1 Yeovil Town

Smith was forced into a smart one-handed save early in the second half and came close to taking the lead in the 57th minute.

Tom Knowles rode a Boreham Wood challenge and made to the byline before cutting back leaving two defenders on the floor. He struck a decent right footed effort which flew wide of the post.

Moments later Rees put Boreham Wood ahead with a back post header giving the Glovers an uphill task with ten men.

Yeovil pressed on looking for an equaliser and they had their chances.

Knowles hit the post in the 64th minute and with 20 minutes left Joe Quigley drew a save from Ashmore and couldn’t find Knowles with his second bite of the cherry.

Yeovil thought they’d found their goal in the 90th through Quigley. Ashmore and a good stop from Gorman’s strike and reacted well to keep out the oncoming Quigley’s header.

Full time: Boreham Wood 2 – 1 Yeovil Town

 

See our Five Conclusions from Meadow Park here.

 

Yeovil Town progressed to the second round of the Somerset Premier Cup with a 4-1 home win over Toolstation Western Football League side Bridgwater United at Huish Park.

The home side fielded a strong starting XI included defenders Morgan Williams and Max Hunt  and forwards Adi Yussuf and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton appeared having turned out in the National League against Chesterfield four days earlier.

The visitors went in front in the second minute as striker Jack TAYLOR fired home a 25 yard free-kick to stun the home side.

Yussuf came close soon after before WILLIAMS brought the sides level after 28 minutes when Yussuf’s effort came back off the crossbar and the defender was on hand to put in the rebound.

Hunt came close to putting Yeovil ahead on the stroke of half-time but his effort from Alex Bradley‘s ball in was cleared off the line.

Lo-Everton came close to putting his side ahead soon after the restart putting an effort just wide and then was denied by Jake Viney when he burst through shortly after the hour.

But the Watford loanee was not to be denied on 64 minutes when LO-EVERTON broke through to get the second.

Ollie Haste had a chance cleared off the line on 73 minutes before a special moment when Finlay Skiverton, the son of Glovers’ assistant, Terry, replaced Jake Graziano on the 74th minute.

Three minutes later, YUSSUF completed the scoring after being played in by Jack Robinson, playing making his first start since joining on loan from Middlesbrough.

But, the biggest cheer of the night came for Finlay SKIVERTON who made it four with two minutes remaining.

Yeovil Town: Evans, Graziano (for Skiverton, 74), Robinson, Williams, Hunt (for Andrews, 90), Worthington, Bradley, Lo-Everton, Haste, Stephens, Yussuf (for Borges, 90). Subs: Smalley,  Lye.

Bridgwater United: Viney, J. Llewellyn, Greenwood, Sturdy, Williams, Taylor, Woodrow, T. Llewellyn, King, Horton, Edwards. Subs: Armstrong, Jimenez, Hiroli, Brereton, Reed.

Attendance: 327.

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

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 MaddenBen WhitfieldJohn 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

 

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

 

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)