Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 148)

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Yeovil Town winger Dylan Morgan is confident his loan spell at National League South side Weston-super-Mare has helped him recover from an injury in pre-season.

The 22-year-old admitted it was “a bit of a surprise” to be sent out on loan having started the opening day home defeat to Hartlepool United, but believes his time on the north Somerset coast has helped him regain the form which saw him in impress in pre-season. He returned at the end of September having scored three goals in five matches for the Seagulls.

Speaking on Thursday ahead of the weekend’s trip to Wealdstone, he told BBC Somerset’s Toby Crabb: “I always wanted to be playing for Yeovil, but the injury happened and I spoke to the Gaffer (manager Mark Cooper) and he thought that was the best thing for me at that time. So I went there, delivered and then came straight back in to the team. I enjoyed my time there, but ultimately I wanted to get back here and deliver in the National League Premier. It was a bit of a surprise (to go out on loan), but I have been in worse positions than going on loan to Weston so I had to back myself and my ability and I did that and now I am back.

“I had a good pre-season, scored a lot of goals and I managed to do that again at Weston, and that made the club realise they had to bring me back in. I am happy I got the opportunity to come back in as quick as I have and hopefully the goals start coming for Yeovil. I always start the season saying I want ten goals this season, I got three at Weston so now I would like to get at least seven for Yeovil. It was lovely to come back and get a good reception and I am just hoping to put a few more smiles on people’s faces.”

Morgan said the players had come in to training “firing” following the FA Cup exit at lower league Chesham United last weekend. He was Cup-tied for the match having been allowed to play for Weston in the earlier stages of the competition.

He said: “It was pretty clear on Monday that it was not acceptable, it hurt everyone and that ups everyone by 10%, so everyone came in firing in training. It was awful (not to be able to play) because you want to be able to help in every game and have a good FA Cup run. It is a team game and I know everyone will be hurting as much as I am.“

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Manager Mark Cooper has challenged his Yeovil Town players to fight back after the disappointment of their early exit from the FA Cup.

Speaking on Thursday ahead of the trip to Wealdstone in the National League Premier, the Glovers’ boss said he “needed an angry reaction” after admitting it had been a “sombre” week of training since the fourth qualifying round defeat to Chesham United last weekend.

He told BBC Somerset’s Toby Crabb: “It’s been a tough week in terms of analysis, leg work, tactics, you know,  but we just want a reaction. I need an angry reaction, I need a group of players that want to show and we aren’t too far away from the team which played really well against Dagenham & Redbridge a week before. We got a standing ovation after that game, everybody got clapped off and we were the best team in the world.

“The performance from our goalkeeper to the edge of the opposition box (against Chesham) was not bad. I could give you loads of stats and how many times we got safely to the edge of their box, but when we got an attacking positions we did not produce and that’s the hardest part of the game, so we need to solve that. We are not doing anything drastically wrong.

“If we scored every chance we created we’d  be top of the league, but defensively we are really sound. The toughest part of the game is putting the ball in the net, because there are 11 men trying to stop you doing it. We know we need to be better, the players are not daft, we have got some experienced players and they know it is about getting that right.”

The boss expects to have striker Aaron Jarvis, who has missed the matches against Dagenham and Chesham with concussion, and full-back Alex Whittle available for the trip to north London on Saturday. However, he confirmed right-back Michael Smith was still “a few weeks away” from recovering from a hamstring injury.

He also confirmed that Port Vale loanee James Plant is available having not been given permission to play in the FA Cup tie and Dylan Morgan, who was Cup-tied having featured for Weston-super-Mare in the earlier rounds. Forward Harvey Greenslade, who appeared off the bench late in the defeat at Chesham, is also fit to feature having been missing with a shoulder injury since the end of August. 

James Plant, who was unavailable on Chesham last weekend, is available for the trip to Wealdstone. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

However, he will be without winger Sam Pearson whose contract was terminated by mutual agreement due to “personal reasons” and defender Raphael Araoye who was recalled from a five-month loan from Bristol City on Friday. Cooper confirmed the Robins had recalled the 6’3″ teenager due to injuries in their first team and said he could be in the squad for their Championship match to Middlesbrough at the weekend.

On Pearson, the Glovers’ boss said: “Sam was a valued member of the squad. He had not done as well this season, but the reason behind that was that he was travelling five hours every day from Cardiff and that had started to affect his welfare, his performances, he was just down, and he just wanted to go and play closer to home. I am sure there will be drama out there that me and him have had a fall out, but we got on great. We had to help him  and his wishes were to be closer to home. When the player is adamant that he wants to go, we have a duty of care to the player.  Sam’s had that issue before where he’s he’s been homesick and he’s wanted to to go back and we have to appreciate that.”

On Araoye, he added: “It was not a mutual decision. Bristol City called him back, (Academy Director) Brian Tinnion called me yesterday and was really apologetic but said they have got some injuries and and Raph could be involved in the first-team at the weekend. That is fantastic for the boy and it shows you what a loan does for the younger lads, they come out and play some senior football and and do pretty well, and they’re ready to go back and compete for first-team place.”

Cooper said that he was confident he would be backed in the transfer market to bring in a forward player if he could find the right candidate, but hailed the form of on-loan Rotherham United striker Ciaran McGuckin, who has scored twice in his last three appearances.

Cooper said: “If there is a player there that can improve us we will look at it. I know if I went to the chairman (Martin Hellier) and said ‘I have found this player who is going to get us 20 goals before the end of the season’, he’d say  ‘let’s do it’ – but I haven’t found that player and it’s a difficult part of the season to be able to do it. Of course we are looking but I want really one of the other boys that are here to catch fire. McGuckin is on fire, not just with his goals, but it’s performances as well, and we need one of the others to come to the party now. They have got real quality, they are great lads who work their socks off. I don’t think any anybody could label our team for not trying, we give everything we’ve got and that’s a must, but we need one of those boys to catch fire (in front of goal).”

This weekend Yeovil travel to a Wealdstone side which sit second from bottom of the National League Premier Division table having won just once all season. However, the Stones did progress to the First Round Proper of the FA Cup with a 4-1 home win over Gosport Borough, who play two divisions below them in the Southern League Premier Division South.

The Glovers go in to the match in tenth in the table and with the seventh-highest away record in the division having picked up three wins and a draw in their opening six games on the road.

Cooper said: “The last time we played in the league (the 1-0 home win over Dagenham & Redbridge) we were exceptional and I am sure Wealdstone will have looked at that performance and they will know it is going to be a tough game for them. If we play like we did there, we have a chance.

“But bear in mind three players came out of the team (which played Chesham) from the team which beat Dagenham. James Plant could not play because Port Vale would not let him play in the Cup, Michael Smith was injured and Dylan Morgan could not play. That is three big misses and we get them all back this weekend, so let’s see.”

On the weekend’s opponents, he added: “They have a real culture of being heavily possession based and trying to dominate the opposition with the ball, so if you get your out-of-possession stuff wrong against them they can really hurt you. We like to get at teams when we do not have the ball, but we will have to get whatever we do spot on against Wealdstone because they are technically very good. They cannot afford to go and get the best striker, they have to have a real way of working and they have done it for a number of years now. They are very easy on the eye, so it will be a tough game but we want to react and put in a good performance.”

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Defender Raphael Araoye’s time at Huish Park has finished with Bristol City recalling him from his loan spell which had been due to to run until January.

The 19-year-old joined at the start of the season and has made six appearances in a spell interrupted by a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a dead leg he suffered in the 3-1 win at Boston United at the end of August.

Confirming his departure on Thursday morning, the club said: “We can confirm Raphael Araoye has returned to Bristol City after being recalled from his loan spell.

“The 19-year-old arrived in August and has made 6 appearances during his time with the Glovers.

“We would like to thank Raphael for his services and wish him all the best in the future.”

Araoye’s last appearance was in the 1-0 defeat at Chesham United in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round last weekend.

The 6’3″ defender made two starts and two appearances in August, filling in when Alex Whittle was unavailable on the left side of defence, before picking up the injury at Boston. He returned as a 76th-minute substitute in the 1-0 home win over Dagenham & Redbridge earlier this month and then started on Saturday.

He becomes the second player to depart the club this week after the exit of winger Sam Pearson who mutually agreed to terminate his contract due to “personal reasons” on Wednesday.

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Right, the FA Cup is done, time to concentrate on the league, right? Good.

Yeovil head to Wealdstone on Saturday and we’re going to need a referee.

Mr Sam Mulhall is our official for the game, he’s refereed Yeovil three times in his life… but it could have been four, more on that in a moment.

The last time we saw Mr Mulhall, was when we beat Gateshead 3-1 at Huish Park in November 2022, he only booked Matt Worthington on that occasion, all good.

He was though, also in charge for a 1-0 defeat to Southend a month or so prior to that, he sent of Gime Toure for *checks notes* an “off the ball incident”. 

Referee Sam Mulhall shows Gime Toure a red card

There was also a 0-0 against Wealdstone that same season, he sent off Lewis Kinsella after just nine minutes for kicking Malachi Linton and gave the Glovers a late penalty, Linton stepped up, but put the spot kick into a neighbouring borough of London. Eurgh.

Referee Sam Mulhall sends Lewis Kinsella off for a VERY early bath.

Now, onto that game he NEARLY refereed.

Mr Mulhall was subject of a ‘formal complaint’ by Yeovil Town after he made a decision to call off a home game against Altrincham in January 2023.

The Glovers had a ‘heater’ on one area of the penalty area in front of the Thatchers Stand and that was deemed troublesome enough for Mr Mulhall to send the Lancashire-based side back up north and looking forward to a midweek trip in Somerset.

Awkward. 

Mulhall will be assisted by Daniel Robinson, Andy Bennett and Daniel Baines is in the fourth official’s chair.

 

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Winger Sam Pearson has “mutually agreed to terminate his contract” with Yeovil Town due to “personal reasons.”

The 22-year-old Welshman arrived at Huish Park in January having previously had a spell on loan with the Glovers during his time with Bristol City.

In a statement issued on Wednesday afternoon, the club added: “Discussions have been ongoing in recent weeks, with both parties reaching a mutual understanding that it was in the best interests of Sam and the club to part ways at this time.

“Yeovil Town Football Club would like to thank Sam for his contributions during his time at the club and wish him all the best for the future.”

On his Twitter/X account, Pearson said: “Just want to say thank you to everybody at @YTFC. To the fans thank you for your continued support to me and the team home and away it goes a long way, I always gave 100% for the shirt and nothing less. Shame it didn’t work out the way I wanted it to.

“I’ve enjoyed every minute of being a Glover. What we achieved last season will always be with me and never forgotten. Wish the staff and all the players the best in the future.”

 

Chairman Martin Hellier responded to criticism about the decision to allow Pearson to leave on the club’s Facebook account.

Pearson has appeared 13 times for the club this season and was a second half substitute in last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Chesham United which saw Yeovil exit the FA Cup in the fourth qualifying round. His only goal this season came in the 4-3 win at AFC Fylde at the start of September.

His first spell at the club began in July 2022 when then-manager Chris Hargreaves brought him on an initial one-month loan which was extended until the end of January 2023. However, he departed in October 2022 suffering with “fatigue” before Cooper arrived.

Pearson spent second half of the 2022-23 on loan at AFC Wimbledon and was released by Bristol City in January before returning to bolster Cooper’s National League South title chasers six days after his departure. He became a champion a few months later and extended his stay signing on for the current season in June.

As a regular presence in the Glovers’ squad this season, it is fair to say that few people will have seen his departure coming and no doubt it will be a question to manager Mark Cooper when he speaks to the media ahead of this weekend’s trip to Wealdstone in the National League Premier division.

From us here at the Gloverscast, we thank Sam for his time with the club and wish him the best for the future – as long as he doesn’t score against us!

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Yeovil Town Women, Ladies

Yeovil Town Women Create FA Cup History

Match Round Up

Yeovil Town Women booked their place in the first round proper of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup as they beat Southampton Women on Sunday. As they did in the previous round, Paul Knight’s side qualified via penalty kicks after a closely fought 90 minutes. With their opponents being two leagues above, it was an achievement to be proud of for the Glovers.

Paul Knight made four changes to the side who beat Weston-super-Mare last time out, as Ava Beattie, Chloe Davenport, Jess Hodge and Zoe Ball came into the starting eleven.

The Glovers started brightly, as Abbie Carslake and Chloe Davenport combined in the final third, with the attack failing to develop into a goal scoring chance.

Yeovil had several chances to take the lead early in the half but failed to break the deadlock.

As the half progressed, Southampton began to grow into the match, with Charlotte Johnson being called into action as she confidently claimed a dangerous cross from the visitors.

Despite this, Yeovil responded perfectly as the deadlock was finally broken in the 35th minute. Zoe Ball finished after impressive build up from the hosts, with her first goal of the season proving to be an important one.

Yeovil Town Women, Ladies
Ava Beattie shoots
Pic Green Mind Photography

Yeovil went in at the break one goal to the good.

In a second half in which Yeovil had chances to put the tie to bed and book their place in the first round proper, a second goal did not arrive. The one goal deficit kept the visitors within touching distance of the hosts.

As the half wore on, the Saints managed an equaliser in the 81st minute. Charlotte Johnson’s gallant clean sheet effort was cancelled out as the visitors levelled it up from a corner.

Moments later, Yeovil’s young centre half Daisy Evans received her second yellow card and was sent off, to add insult to injury.

Despite conceding late and having one less player, the Glovers continued to push, as Niamh Nicholls shot wide in the 88th minute.

The affair finished all square, and Yeovil would have to prevail on penalties once again in the FA Cup. Similarly to the previous round against Pucklechurch, Paul Knight’s side would have felt that with extra time they would have got the job done.

This tie all but confirmed that the penalty woes of last season were no more for Yeovil, as they won 4-2 on penalty kicks to confirm their place in the first round proper of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup. Terri Will, Niamh Nicholls, Charlotte Johnson and Abbie Carslake scored for the Glovers.

That’s what they said

Yeovil Town Women manager Paul Knight provided his thoughts after his team’s victory.

Paul began, “I’m still shaking, that was edgy. It’s one of those games, it’s so frustrating because we could have just won it early on. I’m buzzing at the minute, over the moon for the girls, they’ve dug deep. We were the better side today by far, I really believe that and I think to go to penalties was quite flattering, it got a little bit scrappy in the second half, but that’s football”.

Paul discussed his team’s early pressure and the opposition’s attempts to defy his team, “Until we scored the first goal we were going to change the system, because it was obvious for all to see today that they came with a system to block us. They’re two leagues higher so if they’re going to play a block and hit us on the counter it’s quite dangerous but I just don’t feel like they ever threatened us. Literally just before we scored we were going to change the formation, once we scored they didn’t really come at us and we just sat with it really. Our plans going into the second half were really just about overloading their backline and we had our opportunities, we really did and for me we should have come away two or three to the good.”

Finally, Paul explained the thought behind his team selection and the penalty takers, “I did change it up, we’ve had a few injuries and a few sicknesses. The first time we did it we threw them into it, I know who can take penalties and they were almost perfect. Today I felt a bit more nervous with it, I felt like the girls had overthought the penalty taking, but they’ve pulled it out of the bag. They’ve done their thing, we made the odd change but we look good when it comes to penalties”.

 

Up Next

Following the draw, Yeovil have been drawn away to Cheltenham Town in the first round proper of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup.

The Glovers return to action next Sunday 20th October, as they travel to Plympton in the Regen Arable Division One South 14:00 KO.

 

OppositionKick OffH/ACompetitionScoreLocationScorers
September
01.09.2024SGS Olveston Utd14:00AFAC 1st Q Rnd0-2SGS CollegeN Nicholls '8, B Miles '92
08.09.204Sticker14:00HLeague2-2Alvington LaneB Miles '11, E Hall '55
15.09.2024Helston Athletic14:00ALeague3-1Helston Ath FCB Miles '46
22.09.2024Pucklechurch AFC14:00HFAC 2nd Q Rnd1-1 (4-3Pens)Alvington LaneCarslake '57
29.09.2024Bideford AFC14:00ALeague0-9Kingsley RoadCarslake '10, Hodge '20, Nicholls '45 '85 '90, East '50, Miles '65 '69, Beattie '75
October
06.10.2024Weston-super-Mare14:00HLeague2-1Alvington LaneCarslake '11, Miles '32
13.10.2024Southampton Women's FC14:00HFAC 3rd Q Rnd 1-1 (4-2 Pens)Alvington LaneBall '35, Evans S/O '81
13.10.2024Feniton14:00ALeagueP-PTBC
20.10.2024Plympton14:00ALeague3-0Paradise Road, Plympton
November
03.11.2024Cheltenham Town14:00AFAC 4th Q Rnd7-0Newlands Park
03.11.2024W*ymouth14:00HLeagueP-PAlvington LaneRearranged for 27.04.25 at Huish Park
10.11.2024Sticker14:00ALeague4-0Burngullow Park
17.11.2024Feniton Women14:00ALeague1-4Station Road, FenitonCarslake '26, Davenport '46, Wensley '59, Miles '60
December
01.12.2024Bideford AFC14:00HLeague7-0Alvington LaneMiles '14 '75, Will '42, Davenport '56, Hughes '76, Nicholls '78, Carslake '79.
08.12.2024Weston-super-Mare14:00ALeagueP-PTBC
15.12.2024Honiton14:00HLeague6-0Alvington LaneHughes '8 '40 '49, Davenport '17, Fordrey '44, Childs '68
January
05.01.2025Plympton14:00HLeague3-4Buckler's Mead Leisure CentreUndisclosed Scorers
12.01.2025W*ymouth14:00ALeague1-3Bob Lucas StadiumFordrey '8, Carslake '44, Hunt '69
February
02.02.2025Feniton14:00HLeague5-0Somerton Sports Club Hall '9, Hunt '11 '34, Childs '12, Fordrey '80
09.02.2025Saltash Utd14:00HLeague3-0Alvington LaneMiles '17, Hunt '39, Carslake '53
March
02.03.25Honiton14:00ALeagueHoniton Sports and Social Club
09.03.25Weston-super-Mare14:00ALeagueThe Optima Stadium
16.03.25Keynham Town14:00ACounty CupKeynsham Town FC
23.03.25Saltash United14:00ALeagueKimberly Stadium
April
27.04.25W*ymouth14:00HLeagueHuish Park

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Yeovil Town’s Under 18s have exited the FA Youth Cup after a spirited performance against Bridgwater United.

Yeovil, who were 2-0 down shortly before the hour mark fought back in the 2nd half and goal from George Geraghty had given them hope of pulling it back to force the game beyond the 90minutes,

Preston Hopwood and Finn Harswood put the Robins 2-0 up and those goals were enough to see the home side through to next round.

 

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Yeovil Town’s Women have gone one better than the men this season and have been handed a tie away at Cheltenham Town in the First Round Proper of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup.

Following their Penalty shootout victory over eight-time Womens FA Cup champions Southampton Women at the weekend, they will head to the Robins on Sunday November 3rd.

Cheltenham play in the FA National League Southern Premier Division where they currently sit 9th, with two wins to their name so far this season.

That equates to a level one higher than Southampton and three higher than the current division the Glovers find themselves in.

At this stage of the competition, there’s £6000 of prize fund money paid to the winning teams and £1500 for the losing teams.

 

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Yeovil Town’s clash with Barnet, originally scheduled for Tuesday 26th of November, will now take place 24 hours later on Wednesday 27th of November.

This is to allow the National League’s Streaming Partner – DAZN – the chance to give the game “enhanced coverage”, multiple camera angles and all that fancy jazz.

If you’re not going to make it to Huish Park for the game, it’ll be live on the National League TV platform with the DAZN coverage.

The full list of games selected for November;

Saturday 9 November
Aldershot Town v Wealdstone – 12.30pm
Barnet v Oldham Athletic – 5.30pm

Saturday 16 November
Forest Green Rovers v York City – 5.30pm

Wednesday 27 November
Yeovil Town v Barnet – 7.45pm

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A stoppage time set piece saw Yeovil’s FA Cup campaign end at the first time of asking. Ian and Dave are joined by Chris Spittles to chat about the action and the fallout. Plus we take your GCQs.

This one was beset with internet connection issues so apologies if it’s a bit glitchy. If you don’t notice it, Ian’s available for all your audio editing needs.