Match Reports (Page 8)

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The lowest crowd of the season at Huish Park saw Yeovil Town slump to defeat at against relegation battlers Boston United.

Just 2,138 supporters were inside on a cold night to witness two soft goals in four minutes at the end of the first half see the Glovers trail 2-0 at the break before substitute Zak Mills took advantage of more generous defending just after the hour mark.

First half

The absence of Frank Nouble was the headline of the team news with the striker not named in the squad having started the last five matches. Speaking ahead of the match, manager Mark Cooper revealed the 33-year-old had told the club he had agreed to join National League Premier Division side Gateshead which had subsequently fallen through.

His replacement in the starting line-up is Rotherham United loanee Ciaran McGuckin, the only change from the 1-0 defeat at FC Halifax Town at the weekend.

The 23rd minute saw captain-for-the-night goalkeeper Aidan Stone keep the club in the match – twice. First he made a wonderful reflex save to deny Cameron Green from close range after a great run down the left, before the keeper had to make a full length stop to turn the ball around the post from Green shot. Outstanding save from the stopper who had a spell on loan at Boston earlier in the season.

Superb save by Aidan Stone….

Three minutes later Brad Nicholson went in for a 50-50-looking challenge with Marcel Lavinier which the referee gave in favour of the Yeovil player. The Boston player picked up a knock for his troubles and a yellow card.

Just before the half-hour mark, Alex Whittle had Yeovil’s first effort on goal when his long range effort was turned around the post by Cameron Gregory. There was a worrying moment four minutes later when the full-back went down with what looked like a groin injury.

Boston striker  Jimmy Knowles lifted a shot over the crossbar after an unconvincing punch from Stone from Green’s free-kick in to the area.

It was Knowles who gave Boston the lead on 38 minutes. Jacob Hazel held the ball up and fed Jimmy KNOWLES through a wide open Yeovil defence, the striker ran through and threaded it past the grounded Stone. It’s hard to say the goal had not been coming.

But what was to come was even worse. A loose ball by Frankie Terry to Charlie Cooper who slipped and gifted the ball away to Dylan Hill who ran through, laid it off to Jacob HAZEL who fired it past Stone. A terrible goal to concede and there are boos at Huish Park.
 
There were further boos when the half-time whistle sounded and you cannot blame the home crowd.
 
 

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Boston United 2

Second half

 
The start of the second half saw Yeovil Town make two changes with new signing Jahmari Clarke and Josh Sims replacing Ciaran McGuckin and Ryan McLean. The change in shape saw Clarke partner Kyrell Wilson as a front two with Sonny Blu Lo-Everton in front of them with Cooper in front of a back three.
 
On 49 minutes, a lapse in concentration by Boston gave Wilson possession the chance and he moved forward towards goal, he was faced by a number of visiting defenders and tried to lay it off to Sims who could not get his shot away.
 
Marcel Lavinier floated a harmless effort in to the hands of Gregory on 56 minutes, does that count as a shot on target? We might have to claim that one. 
 
Then on 63 minutes, Boston added a third with a goal which was unbelievably worse than the second. A long throw from Nicholson, the ball was allowed to bounce inside the box and dropped to Zak MILLS, just on as a substitute, and he stabbed it home. People are leaving Huish Park and you cannot blame them.
 
3-0, game over
 
Jahmari Clarke had a great opportunity to reduce the deficit on 65 minutes. Great play down the left by Lo Everton who played it in to the feet of the striker whose finish was one of a player who has not played at any decent level in a long while. High in to the Thatcher’s Stand.
 
Harvey Greenslade came on to replace Brett McGavin after 67 minutes and went up front alongside Clarke with Wilson just behind them. Clarke looked like a stranger from Wilson, who he had probably only met a few hours before kick-off, and it is unlikely he is any more familiar with Greenslade.
 
With three minutes of the four added on at the end of the game, Boston substitute Keaton Ward was given the freedom of Huish Park to hammer in a dipping shot which luckily dipped over the bar. 
 
Moments later, Finn Cousin-Dawson got on the end of a corner, but straight in to the arms of Cameron Gregory. The most pleasing point of the entire match? The final whistle which was met by loud boos.

Full time: Yeovil Town 0 Boston United 3

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Date: Tuesday 11th March, 7.45pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Jimmy Knowles 38 (0-1), Jacob Hazel 42 (0-2), Zak Mills 62 (0-3)

Pitch: Had a bit of time to grow some grass
Conditions: Dull with a chill in the air

Attendance: 2,138 (73 away supporters)

Bookings: 
Boston United: Brad Nicholson 27
Yeovil Town: Jahmari Clarke 80

Referee: Wayne Cartmel

Yeovil Town (4-2-3-1)

 

Substitutes:  Josh Sims (for Ciaran McGuckin, 46), Jahmari Clarke (for Ryan McLean, 46), Harvey Greenslade (for Brett McGavin, 67) Dom Bernard (not used), Corey Koerner (not used), Lewys Twamley (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Boston United: Cameron Gregory, Cameron Green, Martin Woods (for Keaton Ward, 60), Jacob Hazel (for Tony Weston, 83), Jai Rowe, Brad Nicholson, Jimmy Knowles (for Adam Marriott, 83), Jordan Richards (for Olly Green, 83), Zak Mills, Dylan Hill, Jacob Scott (for Kieran Coates, 73).

Substitutes (not used): Connor Teale, Jake Lovelace.

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Yeovil Town fell to another league defeat courtesy of a first half strike from FC Halifax Town’s Angelo Capello on the notorious surface at The Shay on Saturday.

The winger fired a strike which seemed to go straight through Glovers’ keeper Aidan Stone with just 13 minutes played and that was enough to earn the hosts the three points.

Brett McGavin rattled the crossbar early in the second half with an effort from the edge of the box, but Yeovil did little to test Halifax keeper Sam Johnson.

First half

The first opportunity fell to the home side after four minutes when Cappello clipped a ball from the left side towards Adam Senior, but the combination of Aidan Stone and Frankie Terry put it off.
 
The ominous surface at The Shay surface, heavily watered just before kick-off, quickly showed its ‘quality’ with the majority of players looking a lot like Bambi on ice. You could tell that even the home side were uncertain which way the rutted surface, which is also the home of rugby league side, Halifax Panthers, was going to bounce.
 
It took 13 minutes before the home side found a breakthrough. The Glovers lost two battles in midfield before Leeds United loanee Luca Thomas pressed forward and laid the ball off to Angelo CAPELLO down the left and he drilled a shot which beat Aidan Stone far too easily. The ball flew through the keeper’s legs.
 
 
Five minutes later, a lucky bounce on the pitch set Ryan McLean away down the right, but his ball into the area was just behind Frank Nouble who could not rotate himself enough to get an effort in on goal.
 
On 25 minutes, great play by Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, the only player who appears to be able to control the ball on this surface, brought it under his spell, fed Brett McGavin who in turn found McLean, he stepped inside his man but his effort went over. That should have been at least on target.
 

On 35 minutes, Capello got away from Lavinier down the left side (again) and fed Florent Hoti who fired in a shot which Stone beat away.

The possession stats will (probably) tell you that Yeovil controlled more of the ball throughout the first half, but in terms of shots on target it was Halifax in the ascendancy.
 

Half time: FC Halifax Town 1 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

Halifax made two substitutions at half-time with Jamie Cooke and Lewis Leigh coming on, whilst the visitors remained unchanged.
 
The first chance of the second half fell to Yeovil when good play down the left saw the ball find its way across to Brett McGavin, he turned his defender and thumped a shot off the crossbar.

Cooke had the ball in the net on 53 minutes, but Thomas’ slipped ball found the substitute in an offside position as he lifted the ball in to the net.

Ciaran McGuckin replaced McLean after 57 minutes, taking up a position on the left side and within three minutes of arriving, he found a shooting opportunity from the edge of the box but fired over the bar.
 
McGuckin lifts an effort over the bar on the hour mark.
 

On 64 minutes, a Jamie Cooke free kick from the edge of the area was pushed away by Stone. From one of the resulting corners, Finn Cousin-Dawson went down injured whilst Sean McGurk replaced Sonny Blu Lo-Everton.

As the game pressed in to the second half of the second half, Yeovil’s defence lived a charmed life. Firstly when Capello went down inside the box followed what looked like a push from Whittle and the referee saw no offence. Then on 73  minutes, Yeovil failed to make any impact from a corner and then allowed Halifax to sprint forward through Owen Bray who exchanged passes with Emmanuel but lifted his shot over the bar from inside the box.

Probably the best attacking opportunity since McGavin rattled the woodwork fell to McGurk with 15 minutes remaining. His effort from inside the box dropped to the substitute inside the box but was blocked. Moments later, the Swindon Town loanee was replaced by Lewys Twamley and appeared to be hobbling as he came past the away supporters. 
 
The Shaymen almost doubled their advantage with two minutes of normal time remaining, a free-kick from the left found defender Festus Arthur at the back post, but his header was cleared off the line by Alex Whittle.
 
With seconds of normal time remaining, a long throw from Charlie Cooper was flicked on by Nouble before dropping to Twamley on the far post, but he could not get it under control and lifted it over the bar.
 
Sadly, that was the story of the Glovers’ attacking intent. 

Full time: FC Halifax Town 1 Yeovil Town 0

Match Details

Venue: The Shay
Date: Saturday 8th March, 3pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Angelo Capello 13 (0-1)

Pitch: Would make a Sunday league team blush
Conditions: Dry and sunny

Attendance: 1688 (144 away supporters)

Bookings: 
FC Halifax Town: Angelo Capello 54
Yeovil Town: Text

Referee: Dean Watson

Yeovil Town (4-2-3-1)

 

Substitutes: Ciaran McGuckin (for Ryan McLean, 58), Sean McGurk (for Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, 68), Josh Sims (for Kyrell Wilson, 77), Lewys Twamley (for Sean McGurk, 81), Harvey Greenslade (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

FC Halifax Town: Sam Johnson, Adam Senior, Festus Arthur, Ryan Galvin, Harvey Sutcliffe (for Josh Emmanuel, 58), Jack Jenkins (for Jamie Cooke, 46), Jack Evans, Angelo Capello (for Tom Pugh, 76), Florent Hoti (for Oli Bray, 61), Zac Emerson (for Lewis Leigh, 46), Luca Thomas.

Substitutes (not used): Nathaniel Ford, Adam Alimi-Adetoro.

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Yeovil Town were blown away by table topping Barnet on Tuesday night.

The injury-ravaged Glovers’ defence was under pressure from start to finish and three first half goals, including a special effort from the Barnet skipper Anthony Hartigan rendered the game over at the break.

A second half pair of penalties added salt to the wounds, it was a night to forget for the Glovers (not Ryan’s family, they probably had a lovely time).

Ben parted with his hard earned to watch on DAZN, here’s how it went down.

First half

The opening exchanges were, perhaps predictable in terms of dominance, Barnet having plenty of the ball and plenty of opportunities to get the ball into the box.
A third minute corner was one of a number of chances falling the way of the Bees, but, Aidan Stone, didn’t have anything of any note to actually do in the opening few minutes.

With just 11 minutes gone, Ben Coker and Ryan Glover were interchanging passes with ease.

Everyone of the visiting side was within 20 yards of their own goal line and still Glover had time to blaze over the opening shot of the fixture.

On 15 minutes, Zak Brunt found space after sending both Kyrell Wilson and Alex Whittle for a dummy, his cross was dangerous but unable to find a Bees head.
But it was only a matter of time and on 17 minutes, Idris Kanu put in a delightful cross met by Ben Coker. His header was wonderfully saved by Aidan Stone, but Ryan GLOVER made no mistake from the rebound.
 
Skipper Anthony Haritgan tested Aidan Stone from distance on 20 minutes, Stone couldn’t keep the initial save contained and he had to react well before Callum Stead pounced to double the lead.
 
The game was nearly 25 minutes old before the Glovers got within striking distance of the Barnet goal; Frank Nouble and Sonny Blu Lo Everton linked up well 20-yards from goal, before Harvey Greenslade found room on the right side of the area and fired a shot narrowly wide. 
 
The defensive injury crisis was about to get worse, Michael Smith signaled to the bench whilst grabbing his hamstring, a first change saw Josh Sims replace the Northern Ireland international.
 
Sims initially dropped in as a straight replacement for Smith at right back.
 
Kanu was causing all kinds of trouble down the Barnet right hand side, he played a wonderful, long range one-two with Callum Stead, but Kanu’s right footed effort went narrowly past Stone’s right hand post.
 
Two minutes later, the Bees were opening up down the left hand side, Coker found Brunt who turned on the edge of the area and fired just wide. 
 
 
With ten minutes to go, Coker was once again in far too much too space on the left hand side, he could take his time to pick out Callum STEAD who was had time and space 10 yards from goal to pick his spot to double the home side’s lead. 
 
If Yeovil fans were looking for something to cheer, they NEARLY had one on 40 minutes, Barnet keeper Owen Evans found himself under huge pressure in the six yard box from Frank Nouble.

Evans though showed some fancy footwork to nutmeg the guvnor and clear his lines. 

The ball was soon back down the other end though, Kanu down the right, Coker down the left, time and time again.

 
Danny Collinge was next to have a pop, 25 yards out, picked his spot and again only Aidan Stone’s big right mit got in the way.
From the resulting corner though, there was nothing Stone could do from Anthony Hartigan’s effort.
 
Hartigan took the corner short, got the ball back and whipped a viscous effort into the top corner, some effort.
 
It’s been attack vs defence for 45 minutes, the half time whistle a sweet relief for the Glovers’ back line.

Half time: Barnet 3 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

Yeovil made their second change in the break, Sean McGurk replacing Kyrell Wilson.
The second half began in much the same way the first one ended, but Josh Sims had gone to left back, Sonny in at right back with a central three of Bernard, FC-D and Whittle.
 
Callum Stead was sniffing around everything and Hartigan was in shooting mood, he had Stone scrambling down to his right hand side after 50 minutes, thankfully the ball squeezed just wide.
 
A goal mouth scramble on 55 minutes somehow saw Barnet fail to add to their tally, some good defending and wayward shooting keeping the score at a respectable level.
 
Finn Cousin-Dawson was in the book shortly after, the only fit centre-back available to us was now on thin ice.
 
Ben Coker’s effort from the resulting free kick was high, wide and not so handsome.
As the clock struck the hour, Stead had chances, Ndlovu had chances but again, some good goalkeeping from Stone kept the Bees at bay.
 
Dean Brennan took the chance to make a couple of changes with Dom Telford and Harry Chapman entering the fray.
Whilst Mark Cooper played the only two other changes he could make, a debut for Ryan McLean in place of Lo-Everton and Harvey Greenslade making way for Lewys Twamley.
 
Not long after, a Chapman run was brought to an abrupt end by Charlie Cooper, who made his way into the book.
 
Ryan Glover was replaced by a former Glover, Billy Clifford. The mass substitutions proving to be, as ever, good at breaking up the flow of the game.
With 20 minutes to go, Ryan McLean was well placed after a neat Brett McGavin pass to run into the area, some good defending pushed the loanee wide though and his effort went wide from a tight angle.
 
At the other end, Dom Telford got a shot off which forced Stone into yet another save.
 
Twamley was next to put in a nice move, he exchanged passes with McLean, before trying to find Nouble, but the Welshman’s through ball was just too heavy.
 
 
On 76 minutes, Yeovil got their first corner of the game, Twamley and McLean teamed up with Nouble, but the number 10’s cross was nudged behind, the following set piece resulted in a Cousin-Dawson header which which harmlessly wide.
 
With ten minutes left, Dom Telford twisted and turned in the box, and Ryan McLean left his boot out for tripping over, penalty to the Bees.
Harry Chapman stood with the ball in his hands and proceeded to add a fourth to the score line, sending Stone the wrong way.
 
Five minutes left, it can’t get worse can it? It can.
Another surging run into the box, another rash challenge, another penalty, another goal. Dom Telford from the spot.
 
There was time for more carnage, Harry Chapman channeled his inner roadrunner and took on half the Glovers side, but almost inexplicably, put his shot wide when it looked easier to score. 
 
Frank Nouble did find a little time and space to fire a shot low and wide into added on time, but that was about all the visitors had to talk of in the second period.
 
After four additional minutes, the referee mercifully blew his whistle. 

Full time: Barnet 5 Yeovil Town 0

Match Details

Venue: The Hive
Date: Tuesday 4th March, 19:45

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Ryan Glover (1-0 ’17), Callum Stead (2-0 ’37), Anthony Hartigan (3-0 ’44), Harry Chapman (4-0 ’82), Dom Telford (5-0 ’86)
Pitch: Perfect Bus Parking Grass
Conditions: A bit fresh

Attendance: 1596 (180 Yeovil Fans)

Bookings: 
Barnet:
Yeovil Town: Finn Cousin-Dawson ’57, Charlie Cooper ’66

Referee: Andrew Miller

Yeovil Town (4-2-3-1)

 

Substitutes: Matt Gould, Lewys Twamley (For Lo-Everton ’64), Josh Sims (for Smith ’27), Sean McGurk (for Wilson ’46), Ryan McLean (for Greenslade (’64)

Barnet: Owen Evans, Ben Coker, Danny Collinge, Lee Ndlovu (for Telford ’60), Callum Stead, Idris Kanu (for Cropper ’74), Ryan Glover (for Clifford ’66), Zak Brunt (for Chapman ’60), Anthony Hartigan, Nikola Tavares (for Grimwood ’74), Myles Kenlock

Barnet (not used): Gio Bellagambi (GK), Adebola Oluwa.

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Yeovil Town suffered late heartbreak as they were forced to settle for a draw by a late Southend United equaliser at Huish Park.

The Glovers had the worst start when poor defending gifted the visitors Charley Kendall the lead with around 30 seconds – yes, seconds – on the clock, but they roared back with Kyrell Wilson’s composed finish drawing them level on 13 minutes before Frank Nouble put them in front with his third goal in as many games.

The second half was all about the hard work of the home side, led by an outstanding Charlie Cooper who dropped in to a back three for the second period, as Southend struggled to break them down – but defender James Golding’s stunning strike with four minutes of five added on at the end game saw the game finish even.

First half

The home side could not have started worse as they went behind after 30 seconds against a Southend United who have scored the fewest away goals in the National League Premier Division. A ball bouncing around in the midfield and Leon Parillon was allowed to get away down the left side, the cross came in under no pressure from the Yeovil defence and Charley KENDALL was able to take a touch and fire past Aidan Stone.
 
The visitors could have doubled their advantage when Michael Smith struggled with Jack Bridge running at him down the left side and fell to Parillon on the half-volley on the edge of the box and fortunately his effort went wide. Three opportunities and they have all come down the left side.
 
But, having been up against it for the opening 13 minutes, Yeovil pulled level out of nothing. A looping ball over the top from Charlie Cooper found Kyrell WILSON who did superbly to control it and lift it over the on-rushing Southend keeper Nick Hayes to draw his side level. Good composure from the Swansea City loanee and a nice finish.
 
Four minutes later they were ahead. Michael Smith’s ball down the right was perfect to find McGuckin he took his defender to the byline and his cross was perfect to find captain Frank NOUBLE who took a touch and fired in his third goal in as many games.
 
 
Southend have had by far the better opportunities, but Yeovil have reacted superbly to going behind. It’s a funny old game, isn’t it?! As for the celebration, let’s say the former Colchester United man enjoyed his celebration in front of his old Essex rivals.
 
A word for Frank who has been reborn since half-time in the 2-1 home win over Tamworth. From a player on the transfer list to three goals in as many games to add to some outstanding work-rate, that is some response.
 
On 27 minutes, Southend threatened when Kendall had a shot blocked before it was played back in to the danger area by Tom Hopper who found the dangerous Gus Scott-Morris. Alex Whittle did superbly to flick the ball away from his fellow full-back, who has 14 goals already this season.
 
Two minutes later Nouble proved a hero at the other end, clearing off the line when Goodliffe headed goalwards at the back post. A minute later, Aidan Stone pulled off a superb reflex save to deny Bridge who had been found by Scott-Morris who had got past McGuckin too easily. A superb save by Stone.
 
McGuckin appeared to roll his ankle moments before Scott-Morris went past him and on 43 minutes he went off injured and was replaced by Harvey Greenslade with 43 minutes played.
 
The first half finished with Charlie Cooper playing in the middle of of a three-man defence alongside Finn Cousin-Dawson and Dom Bernard with Whittle and Smith in the wide positions. It was something of a backs to the wall display from Yeovil after they went ahead – but ahead at the interval they are.
 
Picture courtesy of Debs Curtis.

Half time: Yeovil Town 2 Southend United 1

Second half

Yeovil came out for the second half with the same defensive unit as a back five with Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and Brett McGavin as a midfield two. In front of them, Greenslade and Wilson appear to be playing higher with Nouble dropping a little deeper in to a freer role which has seen him impress in recent weeks.
 
The visitors had to make a change with Oli Coker going off injured with seven minutes of the second half played, he was replaced by Keenan Appiah-Forson.
 
The opening 20 minutes was quite in terms of opportunities with neither side seemingly wanting to do anything too risky. The first opportunity came on 63 minutes when visiting defender James Golding headed a free-kick just wide.
 
With 20 minutes remaining, there was a moment when Cousin-Dawson slipped on the byline and there was a spell of about five crosses in to the Yeovil box. Nothing came from any of them for Southend, but the Glovers don’t seem to be able to get out. 
 
On 73 minutes, Josh Sims replaced Kyrrel Wilson off the bench. The goal will have done the 20-year-old the world of good and he has put in another high-energy performance. There was a lot of effort from everyone in green-and-white, even if they have not done much to threaten Nick Hayes in the visitors’ goal.
 
As the game drew on, Yeovil sat very deep and made themselves hard to break down. Southend had plenty of the ball, but could not find a way past their hard-working hosts. 
 
But, after piling on the pressure, the visitors grabbed an equaliser with four minutes of the five additional minutes played. Great work by Kendall to hold up the ball and found defender James GOLDING on the edge of the box, he showed some superb technique and rocketed a shot past Stone. 
 
A point is a good result against a decent Southend side, but the way it happens – with a goal in the first 30 seconds and the last 30 seconds – is absolutely gutting.
 

Full time: Yeovil Town 2 Southend United 2

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Date: Saturday 1st March, 3pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Charlie Kendall 1 (0-1), Kyrrell Wilson 13 (1-1), Frank Nouble 17 (2-1), James Golding 90+4 (2-2)

Pitch: Looking better than it has in recent weeks, a bit bobbly
Conditions: A glorious Spring day

Attendance: 3,508 (354 away supporters)

Bookings:
Yeovil Town: None
Southend United: Oli Coker 50

Referee: William Davies

Yeovil Town (4-2-3-1)

 

Substitutes: Harvey Greenslade (for Ciaran McGuckin, 43), Josh Sims (for Kyrrel Wilson, 74), Corey Koerner, Lewys Twamley, Sean McGurk, Matt Gould.

Southend United: Nick Hayes, Guss Scott-Moriss, Jack Bridge, James Golding, Leon Parillon (for Josh Walker, 78), Ben Goodliffe, Tom Hopper (for Macauley Bonne, 84), James Morton, Charley Kendall, Oli Coker (for Keenan Appiah-Forson, 52).

Substuitutes (not used): Anssi Jaakkola, George Wind,  Daniel Waldron, Joe Gubbins.

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Yeovil Town picked up their first back to back wins since the end of October as they eased past Maidenhead United at York Road.

The Glovers took the lead with seven minutes of normal time remaining in the first half as Frank Nouble thumped in a shot which cannoned off a Maidenhead defender and flew in to the net.

There was some solid defending required to keep out a Maidenhead side who came out for the second half much brighter, before substitute Harvey Greenslade hooked home the second with seven minutes remaining.

First half

The opening chance fell to Yeovil after just two minutes. A good move found Michael Smith on the right side and his ball in to the box came to Sonny Blu Lo-Everton whose shot was deflected wide for a corner.
 
There were a number of half chances (box entries?) which followed with Yeovil probing at the back five in the well-stocked Maidenhead defender. On ten minutes, a free-kick found by Brett McGavin found its way out to Charlie Cooper on the left side and his cross found the head of Jake Wannell in the middle, but the effort was held by Craig Ross.
 
The first opportunity for the home side fell to striker Shawn  McClowsky on 26 minutes who was found in the middle of the box but shot over the bar, before a great ball in from the effective Alex Whittle picked out Ciaran McGuckin  inside the box but his header was well saved by Ross. The pressure was all Yeovil with Maidenhead preferring to play like the away team, sitting deep and hitting on the break.
 
The deadlock was broken on 38 minutes when a sustained period of Yeovil pressure saw a corner worked out to Cooper on the left again and Frank NOUBLE timed his run perfectly and smashed a shot towards goal. It looked to take a deflection off someone on its way in to the net, with the away side crediting Nouble and the home side putting it down as an own goal. If you don’t shoot, you don’t score, so we’ll give it to Frank.
 
Yeovil celebrate the opening goal from Frank Nouble – probably.
Overall, Yeovil looked good value for their half-time lead with a controlled performance. Solid without being spectacular.

Half time: Maidenhead United 0 Yeovil Town 1

Second half

The home side made two changes at the interval with Joshua Johnson and Ricky Korboa brought on and it was Maidenhead who started the second half like they had received a half-time dressing down from their manager.
 
But the  first chance of the half fell to Yeovil after ten minutes when McGavin threaded a ball through to Lo-Everton inside the box whose shot was parried away by Ross, before Will de Havilland’s headed wide from a Reece Smith corner four minutes later.
 

Having gone more than hour without a booking, Yeovil picked up two stupid ones within the space of a minute. First Charlie Cooper saw yellow for squaring up to McGuckin who he felt had not done enough to stop a Maidenhead raid down the left side. Then moments later, Yeovil were awarded a free-kick for a foul on Aidan Stone from a corner, the ball fell to Lo-Everton whose hoofed it away. Kicking the ball away, bookable offence. 

Not long after his public dressing down, McGuckin was replaced by Josh Sims. Whilst I understand why Cooper felt the need to do that and we have all called for leaders to set standards on the pitch, the harsh words felt like they would have been enough. In my opinion, grabbing McGuckin in the way Cooper did was too much.
 
With eight minutes left, the visitors doubled there advantage. A deep free-kick in to the box from Michael Smith looked to have missed all the Yeovil forwards, but substitute Harvey GREENSLADE had different ideas. He bustled in to the defender, controlled it on his chest before bringing it under his spell, swivelling and firing it in to the net. From the other end of the ground it looked special, on the replay it was even better. 
 
There was even a chance for a third with a minute to go when substitute Dom Bernard picked out Nouble on the left, he powered towards goal and flashed a ball across the face of goal with Lo-Everton flying in. Today was a different Frank Nouble to the one I saw at Dagenham & Redbridge just a fortnight earlier – and I am here for it. This was The Guv’nor and we need him in this form.

Full time: Maidenhead United 0 Yeovil Town 2

Match Details

Venue: York Road
Date: Saturday 22nd February, 3pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Frank Nouble 38 (1-0), Harvey Greenslade 82 (2-0)

Pitch: Not terrible for this point of the season
Conditions: Sunny and bright

Attendance: 1,330 

Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Charlie Cooper 68, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton 69
Maidenhead United: Larry-Fairweather 10, Abrahams 42, Tyrese Dyce 82.

Referee: Callum Walchester

Yeovil Town (3-4-2-1)

Substitutes: Harvey Greenslade (for Kyrell Wilson, 56), Josh Sims (for Ciaran McGuckin, 70), Dom Bernard (for Brett McGavin, 80), Lewys Twamley (not used), Sean McGurk (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Maidenhead United: Craig Ross, Will de Havilland, Thierry Latty-Fairweather (for Tyrese Dyce, 72), Shawn McClousky, Kane Ferdinand, Casey Pettit (for Ricky Korboa, 46), Reece Smith (for Sam Barratt, 84), Miles Welch-Hayes, Tristan Abrahams (for Tobi Sho-Silva, 84), Alan Massey (for Joshua Johnson, 46), Manny Onarise.

Substuitutes (not used): Harvey Collins, Owen Cochrane.

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Frank Nouble’s first goal of the season saw Yeovil Town pick up their first win in more than two months against a battling Tamworth side at Huish Park.

The Glovers fell behind when Rohan Maher stabbed home just before the half-hour mark and the home side failed to create anything approaching an effort on the visitors’ goal.

But, they were handed an equaliser through a slice of luck when Charlie Cooper’s effort took a deflection to go past Jas Singh in the Tamworth goal and then just before the hour mark Nouble’s shot across the keeper flew in to the bottom corner to earn the win.

They had to scrap for it for the remaining half-an-hour with Tamworth bringing on long throw specialist Tom Tonks, whose missiles in to the box caused problems, but Yeovil held on for the win that their second half performance deserved.

First half

There was not too much to discuss about a scrappy opening 15 minutes on what appeared to be a solid pitch, with the first opportunity coming from  a good turn from the returning Frank Nouble on the left side saw them send a ball across the face of the visitors’ goal. No-one taking a gamble in the hosts’ attack. At the other end Jordan Ponticelli had an effort blocked four minutes later, but that was about it from either side.
 
Much like last weekend’s home defeat to Wealdstone, the first chance led to a goal – for the visitors. McGlinchey got away down the left hand side and got the ball in to Ponticelli, who got the ball in to Rohan MAHER who stabbed it home with 28 minutes gone. With absolutely nothing going forwards, it is another big ask for Yeovil’s players.
 
Tamworth celebration Rohan Maher’s opening goal after 28 minutes.
 
On 35 minutes, James Plant got past a defender and unleashed the first effort ‘on goal’, well, it went high over the bar and two minutes later Maher tried his luck from distance with a snap shot which Aidan Stone had to be on his toes to parry away.
 
On 39 minutes a moment of controversy. Wilson ran in to the box and appeared to have his heels clipped by Ben Crompton. Referee Dale Baines looked to point to the penalty spot, no, he clearly pointed to the penalty spot but then changed his mind. Has his assistant had a word in his ear? Hard to say Yeovil’s attacking efforts deserved it, but the laws of the game say that is a penalty. If it’s not a penalty, it is a booking for Wilson for a dive. It’s neither.
 
Kyrell Wilson goes down in the box…..nothing given.
 
Tamworth central defender Haydn Hollis fired a left-footed shot just wide with two minutes of the half remaining before Sonny Blu Lo-Everton hit one high over the bar at the other end. Like, out of the ground high over the bar.
 
A soft goal conceded and Tamworth’s defence has not been tested at all, goalkeeper Jas Singh could have put a deck chair up inside his penalty area. A big 45 minutes coming.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Tamworth 1

Second half

It needed a big response from the home side and five minutes after the restart, Yeovil were level. There was a huge slice of luck involved as Charlie COOPER‘s shot from the edge of the box took a deflection off a Tamworth defender and beat Singh all ends up. A huge slice of luck, but we will take it.
 
On 53 minutes, James Plant did superbly to win the ball off a defender and broke away with Yeovil having three on one against the Tamworth defence. Plant had Lo Everton to his left and Wilson to his right, but the Port Vale loanee tried to feed it in to the path of Wilson – but put far too much on it and the ball ran out for a goal kick. Great opportunity.
 
The goal – however lucky it was – has given Yeovil confidence and just before the hour mark they took the lead. The ball was worked out to the right side where Frank NOUBLE drove towards the box and unleashed an angled shot which went in to the far corner. It was the striker’s first goal in almost a year, but what a time to get it.
 
On the hour mark, Tamworth made two changes including the arrival of midfielder and long throw specialist (/human missile launcher) Tom Tonks.
 
There was a big blow for Yeovil on 64 minutes as Plant went down off the ball and immediately looked in trouble. He needed to be helped off the pitch by the medical staff with what looked like a hamstring injury, the same thing which saw him return to his parent club Port Vale in December. Another f***ing injury. Ugh. Ciaran McGuckin came on to replace him.
 
Remember I mentioned Tom Tonks? Having caused issues with some earlier throws, on 72 minutes he found Hollis whose close range effort was blocked by Stone. Not sure quite how he saved it, I’m not sure the goalkeeper is even sure how he did. Possibly with his face. Don’t concede a throw in your own half, boys.
 
On 81 minutes, Dan Creaney nodded over from another Tonks free kick and the visitors helped their hosts with a couple of poorly flight free kicks (including one from Tonks who seems better with his hands) which were given away in dangerous positions.
 
Six minutes of injury time were nervous to put it mildly, but everyone connected to Yeovil Town needed a win and they got one. A much better second half, a slice of luck with the equaliser sparked it, but however it happened, it happened.

Full time: Yeovil Town 2 Tamworth 1

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Date: Tuesday 18th February, 3pm

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Rohan Maher 28 (0-1), Charlie Cooper 50 (1-1), Frank Nouble 59 (2-1)

Pitch: Hard and bobbly
Conditions: Cold

Attendance: 2,649 (119 away supporters)

Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Ciaran McGuckin 80
Tamworth: Arjan Raikhy 82

Referee: Dale Baines

Yeovil Town (3-4-2-1)

 

Substitutes:  Ciaran McGuckin (for James Plant, 64), Harvey Greenslade (for Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, 77), Josh Sims (for Kyrell Wilson, 90+5), Dom Bernard (not used), Lewys Twamley (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Tamworth: Jas Singh, Matt Curley, Kennedy Digie, Ben Milnes (for Ben Milnes, 60), George Morrison, Tom McGlinchey (for Kyle Finn, 84), Haydn Hollis, Munashe Sundire (for Arjan Raikhy, 71), Ronan Maher (for Beck Ray Enoru, 71), Ben Crompton, Jordan Ponticelli (for Dan Creaney, 60),

Substitutes (not used):  Alex Fletcher, Nathan Tshikun.

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Yeovil Town’s run without a win stretched to nine games and two months after they were beaten by relegation battlers Wealdstone at Huish Park this afternoon.

The Glovers fell behind to a soft header from Enzio Boldewijn after just 14 minutes before Finn Cousin-Dawson thumped home a header as the game ticked in to first half injury time.

But, it was more poor defending which gifted former Yeovil loanee Josh Grant ten minutes in to the second half and then the home side were unable to break down a resolute Wealdstone defence.

 

First half

The opening chance of the game fell to Yeovil after five minutes when a breakdown in communications between the visitors’ Luca Gunter and captain Marian Ariappa allowed a combination of Kyrell Wilson and James Plant to have an opportunity only for it to go out of play.  Peak National League defending and finishing there.
 
For the first ten minutes, Yeovil looked the better side with both Wilson and Ciaran McGuckin stretching the visitors backline, but it was the visitors who took the lead after just 14 minutes. A diagonal ball beat Josh Sims and found Enzio BOLDEWIJN at the back post and his looping header beat Aidan Stone.
 
Four minutes later, visiting defender Adrian Mariappa appeared fortunate to remain on the pitch when he seemed to blatantly handled the ball. McGuckin was behind the defender, albeit with visiting defenders in attendance as well, but referee Issac Searle adjudged the striker had enough to do for it to it only be a yellow card. Huish Park and Yeovil skipper Jake Wannell disagreed with the decision with Wannell getting a booking for his protests.
 
McGuckin came close to pulling the Glovers level after 25 minutes when McGuckin got on to a through ball and prodded it past Gunter but Wealdstone defender Josh Grant, a former loanee at Huish Park back in 2019, did superbly to get back and clear it off the line.
 
 
It is fair to say the Huish Park crowd does not sound happy, there’s jeers coming from all quarters of the ground. Plant has switched to the left side and got a shot away with 38 minutes gone, but Wealdstone manage to get the block in again.
 
On 41 minutes, wonderful run down the right by Wilson crossed a superb ball in to the box which was inches away from McGuckin, who is looking for his first goal since he scored in the Glovers’ 3-0 win at Wealdstone back in October.
 
But, on the stroke of half-time saw Brett McGavin lift a free-kick in to the middle of the box and Finn COUSIN-DAWSON rose highest inside the box to thump a header past  Gunter and draw the match level.
 
 

Half time: Yeovil Town 1 Wealdstone 1

Second half

After a thoroughly forgettable, the first action of the second half led to the visitors taking the lead after 55 minutes. Another silly free-kick given away by Josh Sims and a great free-kick from Anthony Georgiou was headed by Josh GRANT and possibly coming off a Yeovil player in its way in to the net. Cheap free-kick, terribly defended.
 
Shortly after the hour mark, Kofi Shaw replaced Sean McGurk and played alongside McGuckin and Wilson in the attacking three. A like for like change.
 
Unsurprisingly, Wealdstone had absolutely no qualms about wasting time and picked up a couple of bookings for their trouble, but Yeovil offered little in the attacking there. Josh Sims put a left-footed shot wide after 68 minutes and then another Georgiou free-kick flashed across the face of goal and Alex Reid was inches away from extending the visitors’ lead three minutes later.
 
Lewys Twamley replaced Dom Bernard with Cousin-Dawson dropping back in to a back three and then Harvey Greenslade replaced McGuckin, who has had a quieter second half. Wealdstone are quite happy to sit back and continue to be defensively solid and hit on the break. 
 
The sun came out in the second half – but that’s about as positive as it gets.
 
Frank Nouble appeared after 83 minutes, in place of Josh Sims, with a flat back four coming in. To be honest, even if he had a cape and was wearing his underpants over some tights, not sure what he can do here.
 
Credit to Wealdstone, they defended for their lives and deserved the three points. Yeovil also got what they deserved. The full-time verdict from the Huish Park crowd – roundly booed.

Full time: Yeovil Town 1 Wealdstone 2

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Date: Saturday 15th February, 3pm

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Enzio Boldewijn 14 (0-1), Finn Cousin-Dawson 45 (1-1), Josh Grant 55 (1-2), 

Pitch: Slippy and patchy in front of the Thatchers End
Conditions: Overcast and chilly

Attendance: 3,179 (143 away supporters)

Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Jake Wannell 19, Kofi Shaw 87
Wealdstone: Adrian Mariappa 19, Alex Reid 30, Craig Eastmond 61, Connor McAvoy 66, Alex Dyer 88, Luca Gunter 90+2

Referee: Issac Searle

Yeovil Town (3-4-2-1)

Substitutes: Kofi Shaw (for Sean McGurk, 61), Lewys Twamley (for Dom Bernard, 69), Harvey Greenslade (for Ciaran McGuckin, 75), Frank Nouble (for Josh Sims, 83), Michael Smith (not used),  Matt Gould (not used).

Wealdstone: Luca Gunter, Anthony Georgiou, Adrian Mariappa, Josh Grant, Connor McAvoy, Enzio Boldewijn (for Dominic Hutchinson, 46), Max Kretzschmar, Craig Eastmond, Harrison Sohna, Micah Obiero (for Alex Dyer, 79), Alex Reid.

Substitutes (not used):  Dante Baptiste, Henry Jeffcott, Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong, Jeffrey Sekyere.

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A Brett McGavin goal saw Yeovil Town get away from Dagenham & Redbridge with a point from a thoroughly forgettable encounter.

The Glovers had fallen behind to a fifth minute goal from the hosts’ Josh Rees before they were awarded a penalty – their first of the season when Kyrell Wilson was fouled inside the box after 39 minutes. McGavin’s initial effort was as saved by Nathan Harvey before the midfielder turned home the rebound.

Dave was one of the 311 in the away end at Victoria Road and here is how he saw it.

First half

Manager Mark Cooper gave a debut to recently arrived goalkeeper Aidan Stone following the departure of loanee Ollie Wright and brought James Plant straight in to the starting line-up after his return on a loan deal until the end of the season.
Stone’s first real action was to pick the ball out of his own net after five minutes. A long throw from the left was flicked on and dropped to Josh REES placed a superb finish past the keeper.
 
From there it was the home side which had the advantage with Hill heading a cross with wide before Dagenham had the ball in the net from Loupalo-Bi with the Yeovil defensive ineptitude only saved by the offside flag.
 
 
We look every inch a side that has not played for two weeks and were fielding another unfamiliar starting XI, meanwhile Dagenham seemed to sense blood and pushed forward at every opportunity. 
 
Yeovil’s first opportunity fell to Kyrell Wilson who shot was blocked by the legs of Dagenham keeper Nathan Harvey after 15 minutes, before Brett McGavin’s low free-kick ten minutes later forced the keeper in to action again.
But every time Dagenham pressed forward they found Yeovil in generous mood with Loupalo-Bi forcing Stone to tip one over the bar on 34 minutes and testing the keeper again four minutes later.
 
Then on 39 minutes the unthinkable happened when we were awarded a penalty after Nouble found Wilson inside the area and the Swansea loanee was felled. Our first spot kick of the season and Brett McGavin stepped up. Dead ball specialist, what could go wrong? Harvey saved the spot kick, but McGAVIN was there to turn home the rebound.
 
 
Even with the defence which won last season’s title we look all over the place whenever Dagenham attack, whereas the frontline looks at best disjointed. But, we’re level at the break and let’s been grateful for that.
 

Half time: Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Yeovil Town 1

Second half

The second half almost repeated the first when a free-kick in to the box from Dagenham was met by Tom Eastman whose header seemed to go in slow motion but Stone was level to it.
 
There was a distinct lack of Charlie Cooper in the Yeovil midfield which Mark Cooper tried to rectify with the arrival of Finn Cousin-Dawson in a central defensive midfield position, replacing Jacob Maddox after 55 minutes.
 
Wilson was probably the brightest part of the Yeovil attack and when he jinked in to the box after a hour but his shot was blocked.
 
On the 73 minutes, Dagenham came within inches of restoring their advantage when Shiloh Remy dribbled at the Yeovil defence and slammed a shot against the post and then on 77 minutes it was only a brilliant block on the line by Morgan Williams that denied substitute Khaleel.
 
 
Ciaran McGuckin and Sean McGurk were both introduced towards the end, but this was a match which seemed destined to finish even. Both sides coming in to it in such poor form, it was like neither side wanted to lose it or had enough to win it.
 
When Dagenham got a free-kick in dangerous position with two minutes of the four added on in the second half played, there was a sense of trepidation in the away end. There need not have been, it went high, wide and not very handsome. The universe wanted it to end level and so it did.

Full time: Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Yeovil Town 1

Match Details

Venue: Victoria Road 
Date: Saturday 8th February, 3pm

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Josh Rees 5 (0-1), Brett McGavin 39 (1-1)

Pitch: Not bad for this stage of the season.
Conditions: Cold and a bit damp.

Attendance: 1,703 (311 away supporters)

Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Brett McGavin 14, Morgan Williams 54, Finn Cousin-Dawson 64, Jake Wannell 90+4.
Dagenham & Redbridge: Trent Rendall 25, Josh Umerah 54.

Referee: James Bancroft

Yeovil Town (3-4-2-1)

Substitutes: Finn Cousin-Dawson (for Jacob Maddox, 54), Ciaran McGuckin (for James Plant, 75), Sean McGurk (for Kofi Shaw, 83), Dom Bernard (not used), Josh Sims (not used), Lewys Twamley (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Dagenham & Redbridge: Nathan Harvey, Trent Rendall, Tom Eastman, Paul Kalambiya, Reagan Clayton (for Rafiq Khaleel, 75), Shiloh Remy, Jake Hessenthaler, Josh Rees, Ryan Hills, Josh  Umerah (for Reece Grego-Cox, 83), Aaron Loupalo-Bi (for Oscar Rutherford, 75).

Substitutes (not used):  Louis Jones, Chris Jones, Kayden Harrack, Christian N’Guessan.

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A second half horror show saw Yeovil Town crumble to a their joint heaviest defeat of the season as they capitulated at the hands of Rochdale at Spotland.

Having weathered an early storm of pressure from the home side, the Glovers could even have taken the lead when Ciaran McGuckin forced a fine out of Sam Waller and probably deserved to go in level at the break.

But after an error from goalkeeper Ollie Wright gifted Rochdale the lead four minutes after the break, it went from bad to worse for the visitors. Wright conceded a penalty for a foul on Kairo Mitchell eight minutes later which the striker converted before another defensive blunder gifted Leon Ayinde the third on 64 minutes.

Dale lifted their foot off the gas after that but found just enough for Jake Burger to add a fourth in second half injury time to send the travelling supporters back on the 240-mile trip back to Somerset thoroughly dejected.

Here’s how Dave saw it from the away end at Spotland…..

First half

The game started with both teams trying to avoid the huge square of new turf laid down in the middle of the pitch and a mud-sand hybrid in both corners of the end which Yeovil were attacking in the first half which offered the potential of being a serious risk of injury.
 
A fifth minute scramble inside the box which was hacked away by Ciaran McGuckin after a melee of bodies and a 12th-minute free-kick – featuring a yellow card for Finn Cousin-Dawson – which was has eventually headed over by Kairo Mitchell for Rochdale was as near to action as the opening 15 minutes offered.
 
On 16 minutes, Devante Rodney put a ball over the bar after good play down the left by Ayinde before the striker stroked another one harmlessly in to the arms of Ollie Wright. But the opening exchanges were almost entirely one way traffic against a Rochdale side happy to keep probing at the Yeovil back line.
 
On 26 minutes, one of our only midfield players, Jacob Maddox, who had gone down with an injury twice was replaced by Josh Sims.
 
Looking at the state of their pitch, there’s not been much sunshine in Rochdale lately – but there was plenty in the first half.
 
It took until the last 15 minutes for Yeovil to begin to come back in to the game and on 34 minutes McGurk and Wilson combined well for the latter to lift a shot over the bar when he would have been better feeding the Swansea City youngster for a chance on goal.
 
But undoubtedly Yeovil’s best chance of the first half fell to McGuckin after 39 minutes. Good pressure by McGurk and Wilson saw the ball break to the Rotherham United loanee whose effort looked to be going in the top corner only for Dale keeper Sam Waller to turn it over for a corner.
 
At the other end Ollie Wright was in action after 43 minutes after Charlie Cooper’s foul – leading to a booking for the midfielder and a two-match ban – gave Rodney an opportunity to get his effort on target only to be denied by the on loan Southampton keeper.
 

Half time: Rochdale 0 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

The first chance of the second half led to the first goal of the game and from an error from Ollie Wright. He came to punch a corner from East and it comes off the back of Alex Whittle and cannons in to the net. I think there’s a flick from Devante RODNEY before Wright punches it, but that looks like an own goal to me. A disastrous way to start the second half.
 
 

A complete communication break down between Wright and Cousin-Dawson saw Mitchell sneak in and go down under pressure from the keeper. Penalty. Kairo MITCHELL put the ball in the far corner with 57 minutes played. It’s gone from bad to even worse.

Kairo Mitchell strokes home the penalty.
 
Rochdale are running riot and our team looks like they have never met each other – an excuse which only new signing Kyrell Wilson can offer as any kind of defence. Charlie Cooper lucky not to pick up a second yellow card for a foul on the edge of his box.
 
On 61 minutes, Yeovil made three substitutions with Morgan Williams, Lewys Twamley and Frank Nouble coming on in place of Dom Bernard, Alex Whittle and Sean McGurk.
 
Three minutes after the changes and it is 3-0. The third goal was another defensive calamity, a ball from Tobi Adebayo-Rowling was completely missed inside the box by Cousin-Dawson and lands to Leon AYINDE who could not miss from inside the six yard box. 
 
It could have been worse on 68 minutes when a corner was nodded on by Liam Hogan who came back off the bar and away.  The amount of times that Rochdale cut us open down the right side with complete ease, even though that side of the the pitch is basically a swamp.
 
McGuckin has an effort well-saved by Waller before Cooper is replaced by Kofi Shaw with 68 minutes played, presumably as much to protect him from a second yellow card as much as anything else. Mercifully, Rochdale make a raft of changes with just over ten minutes remaining and seem to have taken their foot off the gas.
 
That said, Wright makes a good save from substitute evergreen striker Ian Henderson with eight minutes remaining and then with four minutes of second half stoppage time played, it’s four. A shot from substitute Jili Buyabu is saved by Wright, falls to Henderson who is denied by a last ditch tackle and Jake BURGER is on hand to smash it home from close range.
 
The final whistle is met by the sound of boos from the away end and quite rightly. That was a performance completely lacking in spirit from Yeovil and there can be no defence for it.
 

Full time: Rochdale 4 Yeovil Town 0

Match Details

Venue: Spotland
Date: Saturday 25th January- 3pm kick-off 

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Devante Rodney 49 (0-1), Kairo Mitchell 57 (0-2), Leon Ayinde 64 (0-3), Jake Burger 90+4 (0-4)

Pitch: Looked like the type of carpet your Dad puts down in his garage, but inside of oil stains there were huge muddy patches
Conditions: Brilliant sunshine

Attendance: 2,463 

Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Finn Cousin-Dawson 10, Charlie Cooper 41, Dom Bernard 41
Rochdale:  Sam Beckwith 90

Referee: Scott Oldham

Yeovil Town (3-4-2-1)

 

Substitutes: Josh Sims (for Jacob Maddox, 26), Lewys Twamley (for Dom Bernard, 61), Morgan Williams (for Sean McGurk, 61), Frank Nouble (for Alex Whittle, 65), Kofi Shaw (for Charlie Cooper, 69), Harvey Greenslade (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Rochdale: Sam Waller, Jid Okeke (for Jili Buyabu, 77), Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, Liam Hogan, Kyron Gordon, Sam Beckwith, Leon Ayinde (for Jake Burger, 77), Ryan East (for Charlie Weston, 87), Harvey Gilmour, Kairo Mitchell (for Connor McBride, 77), Devante Rodney (for Devante Rodney, 73).

Substitutes (not used):  Kyle Ferguson, Tarryn Allarakhia.

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Yeovil Town drew a blank in front of goal as they were forced to settle for a point under the floodlights of Friday night football at Huish Park against play-off chasing Gateshead.

It was loanee Sean McGurk who came the closest to scoring for the Glovers when he slammed a shot against the base of the post in the second minute of the game and the hosts arguably edge the first half.

In the second it was definitely Gateshead’s with Luke Hannant curling an effort against the inside of the post with five minutes remaining before Ollie Wright pulled off an outstanding save from Will McGowan to seal the clean sheet and the point.

First half

It was an eventful bit of team news with manager Mark Cooper confirming the absence of striker Aaron Jarvis would be for the next three months and such was the reaction that the absence of defender Morgan Williams from the starting XI barely got a mention.
 
There were returns to the line-up of left-back Alex Whittle alongside club captain Matt Worthington who took the armband for his 250th appearance for the Glovers. New signing forward Lewys Twamley was named amongst the substitutes.
 
We had thought it was a back three (a fair guess) but it is Dom Bernard and Whittle taking up the right and left positions in defence with Jake Wannell and Finn Cousin-Dawson in the centre of the defence. Brett McGavin is playing (at least for the start of this game) as the deeper of his partnership with Charlie Cooper.
 
The opening chance fell to Yeovil and it was so close to going it after just two minutes. Josh Sims’ ball found Ciaran McGuckin with his back to goal, he could not turn the defenders but managed to find Sean McGurk just inside the box and the Swindon Town loanee smashed his shot off the foot of the post. So close.
 
We are moving the ball quicker. This is not a drill, we are moving the ball quicker. For the opening ten minutes, we weathered a bit of a storm but gave as good as we got against a Gateshead side which were very keen to dominate possession.
 
There was a blow for the visitors after just 12 minutes as defender Max Sheaf, recently signed following his release from Scottish side Ross County, went down injured and was replaced by Charlie Colkett.
 
Alex Whittle shown a yellow card after half-an-hour of his return from injury.
 
The tactic from the Yeovil midfield seems to be to try and draw the Gateshead defence out by playing a little deeper, presumably to free up for some space for McGuckin to run in to.
 
There’s not been a lot of action for either goalkeeper, a bit of a tactical chess game going on here. Some restless shouts from the Huish Park stands and judging from Mark Cooper’s gesticulation, he wants the ball forward as well. That speed of moving the ball I mentioned earlier has slackened off somewhat.
 
With 90 seconds of the first half remaining, a Charlie Cooper corner was not dealt with by Gateshead keeper Owen Mason and there was a scramble inside the box which Finn Cousin-Dawson headed wide. The offside flag was up, so it was academic anyway.
 
 
There was a yellow card for Gateshead captain Kenton Richardson for a foul on Josh Sims which led to the best chance since the second minute. Cooper’s free-kick in to the box was knocked back across goal by Jake Wannell and Matt Worthington stretched to try and turn it home but could not quite reach it.
 
A technical battle but we held our own and there was more energy and purpose going forward compared to the past couple of matches. We have arguably edged it, but GERRIT FORWARD, YEOVIL!
 

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Gateshead 0

Second half

The first chance (if you can call it that) of the second half fell to the visitors’ Louis Flower after five minutes of the restart. A ball in between Wannell and Whittle was not dealt with by either player but fortunately Flower could only put it over the away end and possibly on to the top pitches. Those individual errors we have been feeling the brunt of recently almost cost us again there.
Gateshead have stepped it up this half and are moving the ball quickly (lovely) and there was a bit of pressure in our area without forcing Ollie Wright in to action.
 
There was an effort from McGurk who was found by a beautiful ball from Brett McGavin affair 56 minutes and moments later Ben Worman had one easily held by Wright. Cagey affair this one.
 
On 59 minutes, new signing Lewys Twamley replaced Josh Sims. 
 
Gateshead’s foothold in the game is getting firmer and firmer as Yeovil drop deeper and deeper and on 61 minutes Jean Belehouan’s shot from inside the box went narrowly wide. It is one-way traffic with the visitors dominating and starting to create openings. 
 
Jean Belehouan shoots just wide of the post.
 
Another injury blow to add to the losses of Jarvis and Williams as another key player goes off the pitch. Brett McGavin limping off after 64 minutes replaced by Jacob Maddox.
 
On 66 minutes, Jake Wannell found himself unmarked inside the box to pick his spot from Cooper’s free-kick, but he got it all wrong. A great delivery but Wannell got it all wrong and found himself in the wrong position and headed in to the Thatcher’s End. That was a chance.
 
Kofi Shaw replaced Sean McGurk after 70 minutes. It looks like a tactical change as well with Worthington getting further forward with Twamley and Shaw in behind McGuckin.
 
With ten minutes remaining, there was almost a beautiful end to the script as Yeovil pressured the ball and McGuckin fed the ball through to Worthington who forced a fine stop out of Owen Mason on his 250th appearance. Worthy’s 250th appearance, that is.
 
There was another great chance with eight minutes remaining. The ball pinging around inside the Gateshead box, Maddox’s shot was blocked but broke to Shaw who inexplicably put the effort wide. Luckily for him the linesman’s flag spared his blushes. It’s Yeovil who are on top for now.
 
But, within seconds it was the visitors who had two glorious opportunities within the space of 90 seconds. On 86 minutes, Luke Hannant’s curling effort looked to be creeping in to the corner of the net only to come off the inside of the post and away to safety, then seconds later Will McGowan tried to curl one only to be denied by an outstanding save from Ollie Wright. Take a bow, son!
 
What a save, Ollie Wright.
 
We are looking like the walking wounded here, Alex Whittle, who looked like he was running backwards against Belehouan before the Hannant effort, is getting stretched out by a team-mate, and Matt Worthington is replaced by Frank Nouble after 88 minutes. Huish Park rises to recognise the 250th appearance from their captain. What a servant.
 
Well, a strike of the post apiece and an even game. It is not going to appease those looking for a different style of play, but a point each is probably a fair result. If you look at the league table, it’s not a bad point.

Full time: Yeovil Town 0 Gateshead 0

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Date: Saturday 17th January- 7.30pm kick-off 

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: None

Pitch: Patchy in front of the Thatcher’s, but looking okay otherwise
Conditions: Cold

Attendance: 2,919 (61 away supporters)

Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Alex Whittle 30
Gateshead: Kenton Richardson 45+2, Louis Flower 54

Referee: Ed Duckworth

Yeovil Town (3-4-2-1)

 

Substitutes: Lewys Twamley (for Josh Sims, 59), Jacob Maddox (for Brett McGavin, 64), Kofi Shaw (for Sean McGurk, 70), Frank Nouble (for Matt Worthington, 90), Ollie Hughes (not used), Harvey Greenslade (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Gateshead: Owen Mason, Jean Belehouan, Robbie Tinkler, Kenton Richardson (for Dan Jones, 84), Luke Hannant, Josh Williams (for Kain Adom, 89), Liam Humbles, Max Sheaf (for Charlie Colkett, 12), Will McGowan, Ben Worman, Louis Flower (for Jovan Malcolm,68).

Substitutes (not used):  Lewis Leech, Connor Pani, Jamie Bramwell.