Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 128)

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Forward Sam Pearson believes the momentum which guided Yeovil Town to the National League South title last season can build again as they take on the National League Premier this season.

The Welshman has featured in the last two matches which have both yielded victories having played a key role in the winning goal at Braintree Town last weekend and then played the opening 73 minutes of the 3-2 home win over Ebbsfleet United on Tuesday night.

Now the Glovers travel to Gateshead on Saturday to face a side tipped to be pushing for promotion this season having picked up seven points in their opening three matches.

Speaking ahead of the trip, Pearson said:  “It is no secret that they are a good ball-playing side, but the group of boys we have are not afraid to go anywhere. We have a mentality where we are not scared of going anywhere, we know we have got the quality to go and win games and we showed that in the first half the other night. I am sure if we do what we do, we will have a good chance to do that.”

Sam Pearson in action on Tuesday night. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

On Tuesday night, Yeovil cruised in to a 2-0 lead in the first half against Ebbsfleet, before conceding two goals in seven second half minutes to be pegged back to 2-2, before substitute Harvey Greenslade grabbed the winner with nine minutes remaining.

Pearson said the performance in the first half showed the way that manager Mark Cooper wants his side to play and the character required to battle back and take the three points,

The former Bristol City player said: “That free-flowing football is the way we want to play, we want to press high and create and score goals and we showed that in the first half.

“Even in the second half, there was a seven-minute spell where we were off it but then we showed the character to go back and get the winner.”

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Manager, Press Conferences

Manager Mark Cooper does not want his side to travel to Gateshead fearing a side he describes as “the purest football team” in the National League Premier Division.

The Glovers’ boss likened the quality of their opponents this weekend to that his own side enjoyed in National League South last season when a number of teams changed their tactics to try and nullify them at Huish Park.

Speaking ahead of the long trip to Tyneside this weekend, he said: “They are the most pure footballing team in the league in terms of the way they play, it’s really easy on the eye, they really test you and ask you questions and if you switch off for a minute, you are in trouble.

“If you ask their staff and players, teams try and do something different against them, similar to what we had here last year where people were looking to get a result against us.

“The biggest respect that Gateshead get is that everybody changes how they play against them. I really respect the way they play, they have some fabulous technical players, but so have we and we have to believe we can go there and cause them problems and hopefully win a really good game of football.”

Gateshead have seven points from their opening three games having picked up a comprehensive 5-1 opening day win over Ebbsfleet United before getting a 2-0 win at Woking in their second match. However, that game saw them lose captain midfielder Greg Olley to a horrific injury which undoubtedly affected the players as they were held to a 1-1 draw at FC Halifax Town on Tuesday night.

Harvey Greenslade celebrates the winner in the 3-2 win over Ebbsfleet United. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

Yeovil have six points from their first three and make the 12-hour round journey off the back of consecutive victories over Braintree Town last weekend and then Ebbsfleet, who they beat 3-2 having been pegged back to 2-2 to after a kamikaze  spell in the second half at Huish Park.

Cooper said: “We had a seven-minute spell where we lost control of the game. When you are 2-0, you know if we concede a goal we are on the back foot, and we went from being in total control for 65 minutes and then to ‘let’s get the ball as far away from our goal as we can’ and did not control the game.

“That bit us on the backside because the ball kept coming back at us for 5-6 minutes and they scored two goals. After that we regained our composure and we went on to win the game, but for those few minutes it was crazy. We have identified why and we move on from it.”

He added: “There’s always going to be a spell when your opponents have the upper hand and it comes down to how you manage in that situation. We had players running out of good positions, and we need the player next to them needs to say ‘get back here with me’ and be nice and solid. We need to control the game with the ball, but we started panicking.”

The Glovers went in to half-time 2-0 after a first half performance which oozed class at times and, at the heart of much which was good in an attacking sense, was new signing winger Josh Sims. Speaking ahead of the game, Cooper said the former Ross County and Southampton player would only play the first 45 minutes.

The manager said: “We are building his fitness up, but we are not too bothered about 90 minutes if he can give us a brilliant 60 minutes. What we don’t want to do is take liberties with him and rule him our for six weeks.”

He suggested there will be further game time for Sims at Gateshead on Saturday lunchtime and is hoping full-back Alex Whittle, who went off at half-time with a hamstring injury in midweek, will be available.

The boss was full of praise for match-winner Harvey Greenslade who shrugged off injury to come off the bench and bag the winner against Ebbsfleet.

Cooper said: “Harvey was touch and go, he did not train on Monday and he could not move on Tuesday morning. He had a fitness test at 4pm and the plan was always to give him 20 minutes because (Aaron Jarvis) had put in a great shift. Ebbsfleet sensed blood and I felt there would be opportunity in behind them.”

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Yeovil Town make the short trip north to face Gateshead on Saturday lunchtime… (12:30 kick off, remember!!!) and here is who will take charge of the game.

Martin Woods has the whistle, if that name rings a bell, Glovers fans, here’s why.

Back in 2020 he was in charge for the Yeovil game, at Huish Park against Hartlepool.

The game ended 2-2 (Goals from Matt Worthington and Charlie Lee, if you were wondering) but the talking point was a rather soft red card to Rhys Murphy.

Just before the hour mark, a fairly innocuous coming together between Murphy and a Hartlepool player ended in Murphy heading for the changing rooms.

After the game, Darren Sarll said they would be appealing the decision, which they did, and a few days later it was actually rescinded, meaning the Bagsman could return to action.

This season, Martin Woods has only reffed one game, a League Two game between Salford and Port Vale, a game with only two yellow cards shown.

He’s only ever taken charge of two Gateshead games, between them he’s shown just ONE yellow card and given one spot kick.

Mr Woods will be assisted by Jonathan Wyatt and Emmanuel Edet with Thomas Wilson making the cups of tea… sorry, I mean, holding the subs board.

Martin Woods Sends Off Rhys Murphy

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News
Referee, Greg Rollason, Ref

Pictures courtesy of Gary Brown. Please ask for permission before using.

 

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Mark Cooper’s Green and White Army made it two wins on the bounce, with a thrilling 3-2 win over Ebbsfleet United on Tuesday night. Let’s see how the rest of the league got on, and where it leaves the Glovers…

We begin at last weekend’s hosts, where Braintree Town came from behind to beat Aldershot Town for their first points, and win, of the campaign in a 2-1 win, a 90th minute winner from Kyrell Lisbie, son of Kevin, sealing the win for the Iron. In another 2-1 win, Eastleigh ensured they were the only team standing with a 100% record after matchday 3, as they won at home against Solihull Moors to leave them at the top on their own! Boston United’s miserable start continued, as they still wait for their first goal, and points, following a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Southend United.

Gateshead‘s first game following the horrific injury to captain Greg Olley ended in a 1-1 draw with FC Halifax Town, while Oldham Athletic and AFC Fylde also played out a 1-1 draw at Boundary Park to keep the hosts firmly in the playoff spots. There were SIX 1-0 victories last night, so we’ll run through those now; a late Zak Brunt winner gave Barnet the win over 10 man Forest Green Rovers, while it was opposite up north, as an early Ricky Aguiar goal gave York City the three points against Rochdale.

Sutton United continued to build their early promotion ambitions, as they won away at Wealdstone, Altrincham recovered from their weekend thumping to register a win away at Maidenhead United, Hartlepool United remain unbeaten under Darren Sarll as they scored a late winner away at Tamworth, and finally Woking got their first points on the board with a 1-0 win over Dagenham & Redbridge.

 

National League results – in full

Barnet 1-0 Forest Green Rovers
Braintree Town 2-1 Aldershot Town
Eastleigh 2-1 Solihull Moors
FC Halifax Town 1-1 Gateshead
Maidenhead United 0-1 Altrincham
Oldham Athletic 1-1 AFC Fylde
Southend United 2-0 Boston United
Tamworth 0-1 Hartlepool United
Wealdstone 0-1 Sutton United
Woking 1-0 Dagenham & Redbridge
Yeovil Town 3-2 Ebbsfleet United
York City 1-0 Rochdale

National League table

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Manager, Press Conferences

Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper was pleased to see his side stick to their “footballing identity” as they picked up a 3-2 home win over Ebbsfleet United at Huish Park.

The Glovers dominated the first half and were deservedly 2-0 up at half-time through goals from Brett McGavin and Michael Smith, but a change of personnel at the interval saw the visitors grab two goals in five minutes to draw level.

Cooper withdrew left-back Alex Whittle, who was carrying a hamstring injury, and winger Josh Sims, who he had always planned to only play the first half, at the break, replacing them with Raphael Araoye and Charlie Cooper.

Speaking to BBC Somerset reporter Mark Stillman after the game, the manager said: “I thought we were in complete control when they scored their first goal, we moved the ball nicely but it is about 90 minutes and you are not going to have every minute your own way.

“The pleasing thing for us was the character we showed and that is what I was screaming at them on the pitch at 2-2, I wanted us to stand up and be counted and go and get a third goal. I was so pleased with all the boys, including those who weren’t involved, the celebrations together and the commitment, effort and some of the football we played.”

He added: “We tried to stick to our identity pleased me the most. I know there are certain sections of our crowd that want us to boot the ball forward, but I will not do that and maybe my opinion is what makes us effective. We can have large parts of the game with the ball and we did that tonight. There is a place for (playing it long), when we are 3-2 up with a minute to go, we can kick it out of the ground, but the pleasing thing was we kept playing our football when we were under severe pressure at 2-2.”

Michael Smith is mobbed after making it 2-0. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

Whittle, who came off in the second half of last Saturday’s 1-0 win at Braintree Town, had looked typically assured in the first half, and his replacement, on-loan Bristol City teenager Araoye had a torrid time with much of Ebbsfleet’s threat coming down the Yeovil left.

Cooper admitted the change “destabilised” his side, but backed Araoye to learn from the experience. He said: “Raph went on and his first time on the pitch at Huish Park. He will be better for that experience, he will come through that and will show us what a good player he can be. We have a couple of young players on the pitch and it is a big deal for them playing here. That destabilised us a little bit, I thought both goals were avoidable but that is football – there were five goals in the game, we scored three and we have got three points, so it’s a good night for us.”

Yeovil made five substitutes in the second half, the maximum they are able to under new rules introduced in the National League this season, and the arrival of match-winner Harvey Greenslade, Jordan Young and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton helped get them over the line.

The boss said he was pleased to be able to make the changes with a busy Bank Holiday weekend coming up as his side make the 12-hour round trip to Gateshead for a lunchtime kick-off on Saturday, before hosting Rochdale at Huish Park on Bank Holiday Monday.

Cooper said: “The toughest thing for us we played tonight, Saturday at the other end of the country and then back here 48 hours later, so that is about managing the squad, managing the minutes players play and making sure we have enough fresh players on the pitch to deal with tough game against the best footballing team in the league in Gateshead and a big game here against another ex-League team here in Rochdale.”

He confirmed that midfielder Dylan Morgan and defender Finn Cousin-Dawson had trained this week despite both players not being in the squad at Braintree at the weekend or against Ebbsfleet.

The manager added: “We can only pick seven subs, but Finn and Dylan missed out but they are really important to us now, probably more so because we are going to need them over the next two games.“

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Yeovil Town match winner, Harvey Greenslade has said that despite Ebbsfleet fighting back into Tuesday’s game, he and the rest of the players had no doubt they would go on to win the game.

The former Bristol Rovers man was introduced into the game for Aaron Jarvis seconds after Ebbsfleet had equalised and would go on to score the winner after good build up play from Frank Nouble.

Speaking to the BBC after the game, the front man said: “It’s a really good feeling, when I came on, there was only one thing I wanted to do – needed to do – I had to come on and work my socks off, and thankfully I got the goal.”

Harvey Greenslade fires Yeovil back in to the lead.

Pre-match there was some doubt that Greenslade would even be involved, saying he’d taken a fitness test to make the bench.

“I was a bit of a doubt for the game today, I came in early to do a bit of a test, I told the coaches ‘I’m ready, I’m ready to play’. I’m delighted to come on and get the goal.”

Of the goal itself, it was Greenslade who won the ball back for the Glovers before Frank Nouble had not one – but two – bites of the cherry in the penalty area. Mark Cousins in the ‘Fleet goal pulled off brilliant back-to-back saves, before the ball fell kindly to Greenslade to sweep home.

“I saw us on the counter, and thought ‘I better get up there and do my job’ and luckily the ball came to me and there was only one thing that was going to happen.”

“there was not a doubt for us players that we weren’t going to win that game”

A dominant first half display from Yeovil was nearly all undone in five crazy second half minutes. Greenslade admitted things were tough for a while, but that he had little doubt the Glovers would see the game home.

“The first half, I thought we were really good, some things to work on, but some really good football played, the lads did really well first half.

“It’s always hard when you concede a goal when you’re 2-0 up, the momentum always goes to them and the game changes. I thought we still did well, we showed a lot of character towards the end. The whole team played their part, there was not a doubt for us players that we weren’t going to win that game. Yeah, ok, the two goals went in, but objective was still the same and get three points.

“The main message was to stay calm, we’ve been here before, especially the lads who were here last year that went on to win the league. I don’t think they know how to crumble, coming into it [the group] we’ve got a good team and structure to work on. The lads did really well to bounce back.”

Looking forward, Greenslade said he has high ambitions for the group… although he did admit the coach journey to Gateshead might not be fun on Friday.

“Coming back [to the National League] there’s only one thing I want to do, that’s get promoted, like the lads did last year, there’s no reason why we can’t.”

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

A second half goal from substitute Harvey Greenslade saw Yeovil Town survive a scare from Ebbsfleet United and pick up their first home win of the season.

The Glovers were in cruise control in the first half and deservedly led 2-0 at half-time with goals from Brett McGavin and Michael Smith, but a flurry of substitutions saw the visitors score twice in the space of five minutes.

An error from goalkeeper Ollie Wright saw him spill the ball to the feet of Lewis Page on 64 minutes before Dominic Samuel bent one in from the edge of the box three minutes later to leave Huish Park stunned.

At that point, it would have taken a brave person to call which way this encounter was going to go, but it was Greenslade who struck with nine minutes of normal time remaining to seal the three points for Yeovil.

First half

There was a slightly worrying moment after eight minutes when Michael Smith went down awkwardly having vaulted over the visitors’ Lewis Page. The experienced defender went down looking to be in some discomfort, but returned to the fray soon after.

The opening 15 minutes saw Ebbsfleet willing to work hard to close down Yeovil who typically tried to keep the ball on the floor and pass their way through their opponents. It meant the visitors pressured the Glovers’ backline without creating anything to threaten Ollie Wright, whereas the home side kept patient.

Winger Josh Sims, making his first start for his hometown team, was involved in our best forward play missing out to Ebbsfleet keeper Mark Cousins on 18 minutes, before he linked up with Frank Nouble three minutes later to break in to the box but his effort was blocked.

But with 25 minutes the breakthrough came. Alex Whittle got away down the left and got a ball in to the box, Sam Pearson swung a boot at it in the middle of the box but only hit fresh air and Brett McGAVIN was there to fire an unstoppable strike in to the net. The first real opportunity for either side in the game and we’re in front.

Brett McGavin salutes the Thatchers Stand after his opening goal. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown

The persistence of hard-running striker Aaron Jarvis almost paid dividends just after the half-hour mark when he snuck up on visiting defender Louis John and almost left the Ebbsfleet made red-faced.

There was a bizarre moment on 34 minutes when Cousins came charging out of his area to meet Nouble charging down the right side, he managed to see the ball out for a corner and Matt Worthington’s ball in was flicked on by Morgan Williams, who got a head to it but it was never threatening the visitors’ net.

The visitors lost striker Kwame Thomas to injury with seven minutes of the first half remaining and two minutes later the Glovers doubled their advantage.

A beautiful bit of interplay between Sims and Pearson down the right caused chaos in the Ebbsfleet defence, Jarvis tried to bundle it home but it was Michael SMITH who was there to smash home from close range.

There was a glorious opportunity to make it 3-0 soon after. McGavin’s corner found Nouble at the near post and he tried to flick it goalwards but broke to Worthington who was denied by a last-ditch challenge and the grateful Cousins dropped on the ball.

Sims came close with a minute of normal time to go, cutting in from the left and curling an effort not far over the angle of post and bar. This lad has some quality, I’m telling you.

After a slow opening 20 minutes, Yeovil have done exactly what we always talk about needing to do – taken their opportunities. But, the two goals they scored both came from fantastic moves.

Half time: Yeovil Town 2 Ebbsfleet United 0


Second half

There were changes for both sides at half-time with Sims going off as advertised by manager Mark Cooper in his pre-match interview along with Whittle with Charlie Cooper and on-loan Bristol City defender Raphael Araoye coming on to replace them.  The change for Yeovil saw Cooper sitting in midfield giving Worthington and McGavin more licence to push forward, whilst Araoye slotted in at left-back.

For the visitors, striker Dominic Poleon, who had scored in their opening two matches of the season, also came on.

The Yeovil pressure  – not dissimilar to the job Hartlepool United did on them back on the opening day of the season continued after the break. Pearson was in the middle of the early opportunities, first setting up Nouble whose effort was blocked and then almost finding Williams, who could not get enough on it.

Nouble put an effort high, wide and not so handsome soon after, but if anyone thought the half-time changes were Mark Cooper shutting up shop, the opening ten minutes proved otherwise.

With ten minutes of the second half gone, Ebbsfleet manager Danny Searle decided he saw enough and made two other substitutes. They are yet to lay a glove on the Glovers yet, but the changes brought a bit of impetus and the Kent side pulled a goal back on 64 minutes.

A ball in from the right from one of the new arrivals, Dominic Samuel, was not dealt with by Ollie Wright who spilt it to the feet of Lewis PAGE who steered it home.

That seemed to rock Yeovil who allowed themselves to get penned in by their visitors who found an equaliser three minutes after reducing the deficit. Worthington went in for a tackle just inside the penalty area, but he could not clear the ball and it broke to Dominic SAMUEL who fired in from the edge of the box.

With an hour gone it would have taken a very brave person to have suggested Ebbsfleet had any chance of finding their way back in to the goal. 

Mark Cooper responded with changes with three changes inside five minutes with Harvey Greenslade replacing Aaron Jarvis, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton coming on for McGavin and then Jordan Young coming on for Pearson.

Nouble was inches from getting on the end of a Pearson ball in moments before the Welshman’s departure, but the attacking verve of before that quickfire double from the visitors was sorely lacking.

Greenslade could not control a header after a lovely forward run and chipped ball in to the box from Smith found him unmarked with 77 minutes gone.

But it was the substitute who both created and finished the goal which restore the Yeovil lead  on 81 minutes. The ex-Bristol Rovers man won the ball in midfield and fed Nouble who had two efforts at goal, including one off the post, before GREENSLADE was on hand to sweep the ball home.

Harvey Greenslade fires Yeovil back in to the lead.

Soon after Jordan Young drifted in from the right side and curled an effort just the wrong side of the post and despite pressure from the away side, Yeovil were able to hold out to take the win.

No-one saw that coming after the first half, but three points on the board nevertheless.

Full time: Yeovil Town 3 Ebbsfleet United 2

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Date: Tuesday 20th August – 7.45pm

Competition: National League Premier

Pitch: Looking in good nick.
Conditions: Dry.

Attendance: 3,295 (95 away supporters)

Scorers: Brett McGavin 25 (1-0), Michael Smith 40 (2-0), Lewis Page 46 (2-1), Dominic Samuel 67 (2-2), Harvey Greenslade 81 (3-2)

Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Ollie Wright 42, Frank Nouble 82
Ebbsfleet United: Lewis Page 45+6, Franklin Domi 89

Referee: Greg Rollason

 

Yeovil Town (4-2-3-1)

Substitutes: Charlie Cooper (for Josh Sims, 46), Raphael Araoye (for Alex Whittle, 46), Harvey Greenslade (for Aaron Jarvis, 68), Sonny Blu Lo-Everton (for Brett McGavin, 71), Jordan Young (for Sam Pearson, 73), Jordan Thomas (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Ebbsfleet United: Mark Cousins, Luke O’Neill, Lewis Page (for Greg Cundle, 83), Josh Wright (for Franklin Domi, 55), Louise John, Jim Kellermann, Wes Fonguck (for Dominic Poleon, 46), Ben Chapman, Tom Dallison, Craig Tanner (for Toby Edser, 55), Kwame Thomas (for Dominic Samuel, 39). Substitutes (not used): Dylan Berry, Tyler Cordner.