Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 333)

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Yeovil Town Under-18s came from behind three times to kick off their season with a 3-3 draw at home to Cirencester Town at Alvington on Saturday.

On the scoresheet for young Glovers’ were Benjani Junior, Charlie Bateson and Nathan Hart in an entertaining match in the South West Counties Youth League.

The result puts them third in  table – after one match, of course – with Bridgwater United making an impressive start to the new campaign with an 11-0 win over the division’s newcomers, BRS Coaching Academy of Ringwood.

They travel to Salisbury FC Under-18s next Saturday for a match played at the British Army’s Bulford Barracks camp.

The Under-18s had lost just one of their five pre-season friendlies with victories over their counterparts at Bristol Manor Farm and Tiverton Town and ending with a 5-2 win over Sherborne Town Reserves.

 

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Chris Hargreaves admitted his Yeovil Town side were “below par” after they went down to a 1-0 defeat at home to National League newcomers York City.

The Glovers’ boss said he felt his players looked fatigued and cited a strong wind blowing across Huish Park as reasons for the loss which means they have won just one of their opening seven matches.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the game, Hargreaves said substitutions to bring on Gime Toure and Sam Pearson after an hour did not work.

He said: “We can’t hide away from the fact that a few (players) were below par, I don’t think there’s any getting away from that fact.

“I tried to change it at 0-0 and it didn’t really affect it for whatever reason, and that was disappointing because we try and change it to get more chances, but it didn’t.”

He added: “There’s been some very good performances this season and today wasn’t one, I accept that 100%.

“No-one will be doing anything other than looking at themselves in the Hargreaves household that’s for sure, because that’s my job.

“I’ll review it, I’ll review what I could have done better, we were at home, we were 0-0, I tried to make the changes, I tried to be positive with the changes, didn’t come off and we conceded a very poor goal.”

Goalkeeper Grant Smith pulled off a 70th minute penalty save from eventual goalscorer Lennell John-Lewis and made two other great saves to deny the striker.

Midfielder Matt Worthington missed the game with an injury which the manager said was “not too serious” and there was no place in the squad for new signing Will Dawes, signed for an undisclosed five-figure fee from Stratford Town in the week.

Charlie Wakefield had another frustrating game having started in a more central position and ending the game as a centre forward with strikers Alex Fisher and Malachi Linton both withdrawn before the end.

The manager said: “We’ve seen him play in two or three positions, one of those was late on up front, he didn’t quite have the legs to get away when we did have one chance where he was sort of clean through or one-v-one.

“They are my decisions and I’ve got to stick them, did I see enough before then? No, which is why I made the changes.”

The Glovers’ now have seven days until they travel to Woking, managed by former manager Darren Sarll, for their next National League encounter.

Asked how he would pick up his players, Hargreaves said: “They’re professional footballers, they’ll pick themselves up, they’ll be desperate to train, they’ll be desperate for the next game I’ve got no concerns about that.

“They’re a fantastic group of lads, they know what we want from them – we didn’t quite put the action plan together today for a number of reasons which we need to review very quickly.

“But I’ve got no problem with the morale of the group, they know they’ll be together and be fighting from the first until the last minute next week.”

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Venue: Huish Park
Saturday September 3rd, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Unpredictably windy
Pitch: Looking good

Attendance: 2294 (127 away supporters)

Scorers: Lennell John-Lewis 80

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Lawson D’Ath 15,
York City: Fraser Kerr 36, Lennell John-Lewis 42

Referee: Aji Ajibola


Yeovil Town : (3-5-2)

Grant Smith

Max Hunt  Josh Staunton  Ben Richards-Everton

Morgan Williams (for Sam Pearson, 60) Lawson D’Ath Sam Perry Jamie Reckord

 Charlie Wakefield

Alex Fisher (for Chiori Johnson, 81)  Malachi Linton (for Gime Toure, 60)

Substitutes: Owen Bevan, Jake Scrimshaw.

York City: Ross, Kouogun, Kerr, Sanders, Fallowfield, Pybus, Dyson, Hancox, Hurst (for Boden, 65), Kouhyar, John-Lewis. Substitutes: Whitley, Whittle, Greaves, Duku.

Match Report

A frustrating afternoon saw Yeovil Town outclassed by a York City side who were unfortunate to only go away from Huish Park with a 1-0 victory.

It looked like the Glovers might have got out of jail after a lacklustre showing when Grant Smith saved a penalty from visiting striker Lennell John-Lewis on 70 minutes, but ten minutes later the experienced striker was found inside the box and fired the opener.

The sponsors’ man of the match was awarded to Smith who made two impressive saves to deny John-Lewis whilst at the other end one tame effort from Alex Fisher was all the hosts offered.

Not a good day at the office, here’s how it went…….

 

First half

Yeovil Town made three changes  from the Bank Holiday Monday stalemate at Wealdstone with Charlie Wakefield returning in a more advanced possession in place of Gime Toure who dropped to the bench.

The other changes was Max Hunt return in place of Alfie Pond, whose loan stay was cut short by his deadline day move from Exeter City to Wolves, and Lawson D’Ath replaced Matt Worthington who boss Chris Hargreaves said was injured albeit “not serious.”

On-loan Bristol City winger Sam Pearson returned to the bench having missed the previous three matches through injury. He was joined by Owen Bevan, the teenage centre half who joined from AFC Bournemouth on Friday.

After a bright start from the home side without threatening on goal, visiting midfielder Alex Hurst had a ninth-minute shot just over had Grant Smith scrambling in the Yeovil goal and moments later striker Lennell John-Lewis forced a fine stop out of the keeper, albeit the linesman’s flag was raised.

Linton, who missed a penalty five days earlier at Wealdstone, had an opportunity denied by the flag on 15 minutes, but it’s fair to say opportunities were at a premium in the opening quarter-of-an-hour.

The assistant was involved again four minutes later when Reckord’s free-kick was well met by Ben Richards-Everton, and a minute later Hurst was denied by a well-timed tackle.

On 39 minutes, a quick throw caught the Yeovil defence napping and John-Lewis nicked the ball over the leg of Josh Staunton and fired in a shot which Grant Smith did well to deny the powerful striker. Far and away the best chance of the match.

Three minutes later, John-Lewis was at the heart of the action soon after he caught Sam Perry with what looked like a stray elbow. There were cries for a red card from the home crowd although it looked as if a heavy landing was more damaging for the Walsall loanee. He was eventually fine to continue.

On 44 minutes, it was John-Lewis who was at the heart of a quick break and was forced wide and had a shot block, it dropped to Dyson whose effort went wide.

The issue for Yeovil was a lack of creative spark and energy in the centre of midfield (again, I know!) with D’Ath lying deeper and the absence of the industrious Worthington, there was not much forward play from Perry and Wakefield isolated in a more central role.

Goalless at the break. Very goalless.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 York City 0

Second half

There were no changes for either side at the break and with the exception of an Alex Fisher flicked header flicked which went over there was not a meaningful opportunity for either side by the time we reached the hour mark.

It was the visitors who looked the more cohesive in their play and showing some attacking intent which was sorely lacking from the home side.

On the hour mark, Pearson and Toure entered the fray in place of Morgan Williams and Linton.

Alex Fisher forced York keeper Ethan Ross in to his first meaningful action of the match when he picked the ball up on the edge of the box and fired in an effort.

The changes failed to have an instant impact with neither Toure or Pearson unable to become the player able to get on the ball and cause a threat.

On 69 minutes, Staunton looked to go to head a ball away, it struck his arm and the referee awarded a clear-cut penalty. John-Lewis took the ball but also took an age to take the spot kick and, when he eventually did, Smith saved with his legs.

Sloppy play from Yeovil gifted John-Lewis an opportunity to rectify his mistake soon after, but he headed his effort wide. On another day, the former Grimsby man could have had a hat-trick and no-one could have grumbled.

The penalty miss did not deter York with substitute Scott Boden heading wide and then Smith denying Dyson with Yeovil dropping deeper and deeper against the frantic waving of Chris Hargreaves in the opposite direction. The frustration around Huish Park was audible.

With ten minutes gone, the inevitable happened with York taking the lead and it was the outstanding Lennell JOHN-LEWIS who got it. A low cross from the man they call ‘The Shop’ inside the box, he got a bit of luck with a deflection past Smith, but you could not deny the visitors deserved their lead.

In the first minute of stoppage time, substitute Chiori Johnson header a D’Ath corner against the crossbar. It could have been an equaliser but it would have been completely undeserved.

The final whistle was met by boos from the Huish Park crowd and you can’t blame them on that performance. For York City, well played, thoroughly deserved it.

Full time: Yeovil Town 0 York City 1

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Chris Hargreaves has made three changes to his starting line-up to face National League newcomers York City at Huish Park today (3pm kick-off).

Max Hunt, Charlie Wakefield and Lawson D’Ath return in place of Matt Worthington, who is not in the squad presumably through injury, Gime Toure, who drops to the bench after playing the full 90 minutes at Wealdstone on Monday, and Alfie Pond, whose loan was cut short after he joined Premier League Wolves.

It looks like Wakefield will take Toure’s role behind a front two of Malachi Linton and Alex Fisher with D’Ath pairing Sam Perry in midfield.

New signing defender Owen Bevan is named on the substitutes’ bench alongside fellow loanee Sam Pearson who returns after injury. There is no place for winger Will Dawes who joined from Stratford Town for an undisclosed five-figure fee in the week.

Yeovil Town : (3-5-2)

Grant Smith

Max Hunt  Josh Staunton  Ben Richards-Everton

Morgan Williams Lawson D’Ath Sam Perry Jamie Reckord

 Charlie Wakefield

Alex Fisher  Malachi Linton

 

Substitutes: Owen Bevan, Chiori Johnson, Gime Toure, Sam Pearson, Jake Scrimshaw.

York City: Ross, Kouogun, Kerr, Sanders, Fallowfield, Pybus, Dyson, Hancox, Hurst, Kouhyar, John-Lewis. Substitutes: Whitley, Boden, Whittle, Greaves, Duku.

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AFC Bournemouth youth team captain central defender Owen Bevan has joined Yeovil Town on loan until the end of the season to fill the void left by the departure of Alfie Pond.

The 19-year-old arrives just hours after Pond’s loan spell was cancelled following a transfer deadline day move to Wolves.

Glovers’ boss Chris Hargreaves said the move was necessary as he prepares for the visit of York City to Huish Park on Saturday.

He said: “With Alfie Pond departing, we needed another defender in the building, and I’m pleased to welcome Owen to the football club.

“Owen is an extremely promising young footballer who is highly thought of by all at Bournemouth.

“We believe he can make a real impact on the pitch during his time here, I look forward to working with him.”

Bevan arrives at Huish Park just a week after making his Premier League debut as an 82nd minute substitute in the Cherries’ 9-0 thrashing at Liverpool.

He made his first senior appearance for his parent club as a substitute in a Carabao Cup penalty shoot-out win over Norwich City the previous week, and featured in for them in pre-season.

Despite being born in Winchester, the defender has represented Wales at youth level following his progress through the Bournemouth academy which he joined at the age of nine.

He had a spell on loan at Truro City in January before signing his first professional contract at Dean Court in March.

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Alfie Pond‘s loan at Yeovil Town has been cut short after he joined Premier League Wolves from his parent club Exeter City.

The 18-year-old centre half made an impressive debut in the 1-0 home win over Dagenham & Redbridge and featured in the stalemate at Wealdstone on Bank Holiday Monday.

His departure was speculated about late yesterday ahead of the closing of the Football League and was confirmed by Exeter on Friday morning saying the deal had been done for an “undisclosed fee“.

In a statement confirming the end of his loan, Yeovil added: “Confirming the end of the defender’s loan, All at Yeovil Town would like to send their congratulations to Alfie on his move to Molineux and wish him all the best in the future.“

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Just when you thought Transfer Deadline Day didn’t apply to us in the lowly National League…

Alfie Pond. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Just as the Summer 2022 Transfer window was ready to slam shut, yellow ties were being folded away and the Sky Sports News tickers were being ground to a halt, did news begin to surface about a late move from Wolves for Alfie Pond.

The Athletic – and then subsequently plenty other outlets – report a £500k fee has been reached between the Premier League side and Exeter for the defender with Journo Steve Madeley saying that his loan at Huish Park had been ‘cancelled’ to facilitate the deal.

No official confirmation from any of the three parties involved has come through (as of 05:30 on Sept 2nd), but this would mean something ofna shake up ahead of the Glovers’ game against York City on Saturday.

Pond has played in each of the last two games for the Glovers.

More to come if confirmed.

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On today’s episode of the Gloverscast we talk about the 0-0 draw at Wealdstone, Lawson D’Ath and our reliance on him, our new signing Will Dawes and Dave’s got an answer on the latest Confirmation Statement on Companies House.

We hear from York City podcaster Simon from the Shooting Towards the Shippo podcast about our opponents tomorrow.

Enjoy!

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Yeovil Town director Stuart Robins has bought a 20% stake in the club and the money will be going straight in to its accounts – but we’re not quite sure how much money is involved.

A recent statement filed by Yeovil Football & Athletic Club (YF&AC), the company which runs the club’s operations, showed the new director had acquired 341,442 ordinary shares in the business valued at £1 each.

But, following a series of questions from Gloverscast about the investment, it appears the simple mathematics (if there such a thing) is not quite as simple as it seems because £1 is apparently the nominal value of a share in the business, not the current or market value of one.

The Confirmation Statement posted by Yeovil Football & Athletic Club Limited on August 15.

In a statement, the club told us: “Mr Robins’ has acquired 341,442 shares in YF&AC at the deemed current market value.

“This does mean that Mr Robins now owns 20% of YF&AC with the balance of 80% (1,365,772 shares) currently retained by Yeovil Town Holdings.”

Yeovil Town Holdings being a company set up by former owners Norman Hayward and John Fry which was acquired by chairman Scott Priestnall during his 2019 takeover, and lists the chairman as its only director.

So, if the shares were acquired from Yeovil Town Holdings, does that not mean that the money goes straight to it and bypasses the football club? It appears not.

The statement claims that a loan arrangement agreed with the clubs “professional advisers” whereby the YT Holdings has loaned YF&AC the amount invested and then written off the loan, leaving the club with the full investment on its books.

Let’s assume for the sake of this example Stuart Robins has invested £100,000 for his 20%; this means YT Holdings received £100,000 in the deal which gave no direct benefit to the football club itself. So, to enable the club to see the benefit, the statement suggests that, by way of accounting convention, the money has been given as a loan by the holding company to the football club, and that loan has then been written off, leaving the football club with the £100,00 in cash. But, of course, we don’t know how much it actually is.

If that doesn’t make sense, here’s how the club’s statement explains it: “It was intended that the new investor’s funds be made immediately available to the football club for working capital purposes.  However, following discussions with our professional advisers, it was known from the outset that the investment was going to need to be made in return for shares held by Yeovil Town Holdings Limited. 

“As a result, it was also recognised from the outset that the investment would, from an accounting perspective, create an unnecessary loan balance between Yeovil Town Holdings Limited and Yeovil Football and Athletic Club Limited. 

“As such, following the initial investment transaction made into Yeovil Town Holdings Limited, the second and immediate step required was to then waive that loan between the two entities such that the funds rest in the football club and could not be called back by Yeovil Town Holdings Limited. 

“Our professional advisers have helped guide us through these transactions to ensure there are no other related issues arising that may be detrimental to the football club, and we are pleased to confirm these transactions have indeed been completed and concluded accordingly. 

“The investment funds have therefore ended up in the football club without any additional liability arising on the balance sheet of any entity.”

Yeovil Town director Stuart Robins.

That is a somewhat long-winding way of saying that the money which Stuart Robins has invested for his 20% stake in the club is now on the books and being used for its intended purpose – as “working capital”.

What is working capital? Again, it could mean a lot of things. It could be wages, it could be transfer fees, it could be buying pies and pints for the teas bars – or any combination of these things.

As you’d probably expect, the statement tallies up with what the new director told us when back in Glovercast #178 at the start of July, when he said: “That money has gone straight to the club, that money is being used to help further develop the club, it’s not gone in to anyone’s pocket.”

So with that cleared up (right?), we did also ask for an update on any new investors and/or directors joining the board – remember we were promised a few back in April? If not, read here. Oh, and we asked what was going on with the South Somerset District Council (SSDC) plans to develop the land.

The reply on directors/investors was: “The search for further investors/club directors continues. Confidential discussions have been held with a number of individuals and it would be inappropriate to comment further unless or until agreements are reached.”

And on SSDC, it was: “Plans to develop the Huish Park site are subject to ongoing discussions with SSDC.”

In the time between the publication of the Confirmation Statement and receiving the answers, we got a response from SSDC which provides a little more detail on the latter point which you can read – here.