Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 348)

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Chris Hargreaves said he was pleased with the fitness level and mentality of his Yeovil Town side following the 1-1 draw with League One newcomers Exeter City at Huish Park today.

A Tom Knowles goal gave the Glovers the lead before they were pegged back by a Matt Jay goal shortly before half-time with the second half seeing a flurry of changes on a very hot day in Somerset.

Speaking after the game, the manager said: “I was really pleased, we were resilient, looked a threat at times and were in the mindset of working their socks off all day.

“We are a fit bunch of players and even in the second half when we were making changes and putting out a team of young boys and trialists, they bought in to it with the mentality we have and the fitness levels.

“There is lots to work on, we could keep the ball better at times, but (new signing, striker) Alex (Fisher) has added a different dimension because you have a focal point which you can look to at times.

“But the main thing today was the fitness levels and attitude which was spot on.”

The boss said he expects his side to play “percentage football” when the National League season kicks off in three weeks time.

He told the Gloverscast‘s Ian Perkins: “I don’t think we can be obsessed with the way we are playing, we want to play the right way but in this league we have to play percentage football.

“We’ve also got to add to the squad, so we can only do what we can do at the moment is how I would summarise it.

“We are trying to work on a couple of things to give us a couple of options in the way we play and I was pleased with some of it.

“Against a good opposition (in Exeter), you are not going to dominate the ball, so to have that type of resilience was good.

“What I would like to see in more games is more play in the final third, more shots on goal and more crosses, but that is difficult against a good side.”

Hargreaves is still looking to add more to the squad with four more trialists getting an outing against the Grecians.

Ex-Torquay United full-back Chiori Johnson played 70 minutes in his second appearance having played in the midweek draw at Taunton Town, and forwards Pierre Fonkeu and Stanley Anaebonam also appeared after the break.

Fonkeu appeared against Taunton and was most recently with National League South side Hemel Hempstead and had a spell at W*ymouth (which we’ll not talk about),whilst Norwegian Anaebonam most recently played in the Irish League with Shelbourne.

The manager said: “We still have a couple of add and we are working hard to do that at the moment, but on today’s evidence the application was evident.”

New signing striker Alex Fisher played 75 minutes against one of his former clubs and impressed his manager.

Alex Fisher in action against Exeter in his last spell at Huish Park in 2018. Pictures courtesy of Mike Kunz.

The boss said: “Alex wants to be here and that is something I have maintained with the lads we have talked to, they have different reasons for being here.

“The captain, Josh Staunton, wants to leave a legacy of his time at the club which is great because you can go back to the era you are at with Yeovil and you are well thought of.

“It’s the same for Fish, he wants to play a certain amount of games and score a certain amount of goals for the club. (Let’s hope that means ‘lots’)

“I love that because it means you are absolutely up for the challenge, so I am delighted to have him.

“(Full-back) Jamie Reckord has been fantastic since he joined, as has (striker) Malachi Linton, they have shown me why they wanted to come here.”

Lawson D’Ath. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz

Playmaker Lawson D’Ath sat out the friendly at Huish Park having missed the Taunton Town game, but Hargreaves insisted the knock was “nothing to worry about.”

He said: “I have a lot of sympathy for Lawson because he’s had a couple of pre-seasons where he’s not been able to get fit, some with serious injuries and some with bad luck.

“He just had a reoccurrence of an injury, ever so slight but we have to make sure when he gets back, he gets back fully fit.

“Nothing to worry about, just a frustration really.”

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Yeovil Town new signing Alex Fisher said it was “a no brainer” to return to Huish Park after completing 75 minutes in a pre-season friendly draw with Exeter City today.

Alex Fisher. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

The striker, who was released by League Two Newport County at the end of last season, said a conversation with Glovers’ boss Chris Hargreaves convinced him to turn down other offers.

Speaking after the 1-1 draw with Exeter, the 32-year-old said: “I have known Chris for a few years, I actually played with him (at Oxford United) towards the beginning of my career and towards the end of his, so I know him very well.

“I know what his work ethic is and what he wants from a team, he’s very ambitious and having had a previous spell here (at Yeovil) myself, it was a no brainer to get myself sorted.”

The 32-year-old had been on trial at Terry Skiverton’s AFC Wimbledon earlier in the week and previously had been training with League One Cheltenham Town.

But, he admitted it was good to be back in green and white for the first time since the closing day of the 2018-19 season which saw Yeovil relegated from the Football League.

He said: “It was great with the old colours back on, it felt really natural, it’s a great team with some really good players in there and I think we are going to be gearing up for hopefully a very successful season.

“The reception I have had so far has been fantastic, it makes such a huge difference, it’s been so warm and familiar, so I am really grateful to everyone and it does make the transition easier.”

https://twitter.com/andydixon975/status/1546964214517997568?s=20&t=MRbJRE9d6DHUmceV4N6LeA

 

Asked if his experience of more than 200 appearances could see him assist his younger team-mates, he said: “They don’t need too much help these guys, they look pretty sharp in training and I thought everyone put in a pretty good display today.

“But if I can impart some wisdom and maybe be a voice out on the field I would relish the opportunity.”

 

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Venue: Huish Park
Saturday July 16th, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: “I like it hot, but I don’t like it this hot.”
Pitch: Exquisite

Attendance: 926

Scorers: Tom Knowles 20, Matt Jay 34

Referee: Gary Parsons


Yeovil Town : (5-3-2)

Grant Smith

Chiori Johnson (Trialist) (for Charlie Wakefield, 70), Max Hunt, Josh Staunton (for trialist, 70), Morgan Williams, Jamie Reckord (for Ollie Haste, 76)

Sam Perry (for Toby Stephens, 80), Matt Worthington (for Matt Buse, 70),

Tom Knowles (for Pierre Fonkeu, 56)

Malachi Linton (for Ollie Hulbert, 56) Alex Fisher (Triallist, 75)

Substitutes (not used): Max Evans

Exeter City: Lee, Caprice, Sweeney, Stubbs, Hartridge, Sparkes, Kite, Trialist, Dieng, Nombe, Jay..(and a lot of unnamed substitutes)

 

Match Report

Chris Hargreaves first friendly at Huish Park ended in a 1-1 draw against League One Exeter City.

A vintage Tom Knowles finish opened the scoring in the 20th minute for Yeovil but that was cancelled out by Matt Jay’s equaliser just before the half time break.

On a hot afternoon in Yeovil, neither side particularly over-exerted themselves as the game wore on and petered out in true pre-season friendly fashion.

First half

On the most glorious of glorious days, Huish Park was looking resplendent in this sunshine and the early exchanges were cautious in the heat. 

The returning Alex Fisher nearly put his new partner Malachi Linton through on with a chested pass that just about ran on to the Exeter keeper.

Soon after, a cross to the back post was headed wide of Grant Smith’s goal by Sam Nombe under pressure from Morgan Williams and Chiori Johnson.

Nombe had the next chance for Exeter in the 14th minute as the Grecians nicked the ball from Yeovil’s midfield and broke away. The striker slipped as he attempted a hopeful left-footed effort from distance that comfortably rolled through to Smith.

The Glovers took the lead 20 minutes in through Tom Knowles. Making amends for his penalty miss at Taunton, he picked the ball up after sloppy play from Exeter and drove purposefully through the defence to strike a low left footed effort past Harry Lee in true Knowles fashion #DFILWF. 1-0

Yeovil held a strong defensive shape and kept Exeter to efforts from distance and in the 28th minute a curling effort from their left back Jack Sparkes had Smith at full stretch as it flew wide of the post.

Exeter found an equaliser on 34 minutes after a poor header by Max Hunt fell to skipper Matt Jay in the six-yard box who couldn’t miss. 1-1

 Half time:  Yeovil Town 1 Exeter City 1

Second half

As the temperature reached 38 degrees on the pitch (according an Ian Welch announcement), the action started to liven up after five minutes of the second half. A driving run and low cross by Sparkes forced an important stop in the box by Smith and created a breakaway for Knowles who was pulled back by an Exeter trialist who received a booking. 

The Glovers made their first changes of the game after 56 minutes, with Ollie Hulbert and a trialist (Pierre Fonkeu) replacing Knowles and Linton.

The action tempered away in the heat with Exeter reduced to optimistic pot shots against a well-organised green and white striped back line.

As the clocked ticked past the hour, Huish Park was treated to more substitutes from both teams with former Yeovil academy player Pedro Borges coming on for the Grecians and Stanley Anaebonam (trialist) joining the Glovers attack.

As more trialists (and Charlie Wakefield at wingback) entered the fray on 70 minutes, a mix up in the Exeter defence nearly allowed Hulbert to put Yeovil ahead but the ball ricochet in the box before trickling into the keeper’s gloves.

No real action followed that as the substitutions and heat saw the flow disrupted and both sides play it safe through to the 90th minute.

Full time:  Yeovil Town 1 Exeter City 1

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There is just one trialist named in the Yeovil Town starting XI for today’s pre-season friendly against League One new boys Exeter City at Huish Park today (3pm kick-off).

Alex Fisher in action against Exeter in his last spell at Huish Park in 2018. Pictures courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Trialist A appears to be playing at right back on the team-sheet and therefore we assume it is Chiori Johnson, the former Torquay United player who played in the goalless draw at Taunton Town on Tuesday night.

Four other trialists are named on the substitutes’ bench whilst striker Alex Fisher, who joined on a two-year deal in the week, makes his first start since returning to the club.

Charlie Wakefield and Ollie Hulbert are both named on the bench having missed the midweek game through injury, but there is still no place for Lawson D’Ath.

Yeovil Town: Grant Smith, Trialist A, Morgan Williams, Max Hunt, Josh Staunton, Jamie Reckord, Sam Perry,  Matt Worthington, Tom Knowles, Malachi Linton, Alex Fisher. Substitutes: Max Evans, Ollie Haste, Toby Stephens, Charlie Wakefield, Ollie Hulbert, Trialist B, Trialist C, Trialist D, Trialist E.

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The signing of a 21-year old Gavin Williams from Hereford in June 2002 was arguably the key that turned Yeovil into not only Conference title contenders, but eventual champions by a comfortable distance. After scoring six goals and ten assists in the title-winning season, he would go on to be the player of the season in Yeovil’s first Football League campaign. At a time when the Glovers found goalscoring the most difficult part of the step up, he was the club’s leading scorer with 13 goals and 9 assists, including a spectacular solo effort against Kidderminster and a last minute winner in the last game of the season against Lincoln.

In the following season that would eventually see Yeovil crowned champions of League Two, he sustained a wrist injury in the second game that saw him miss the early part of the season. He returned in dramatic fashion, scoring a late penalty to secure a 1-0 win at home to Swansea, annoying the opposition with his customary Cardiff ‘Ayatollah’ celebration even though it was not in front of the away fans (this time). Knowing it would wind up the opposition fans, he was well known for his eye for mischief.

Gavin scored two goals and four assists from 14 starts that season, before being sold to Championship side West Ham for £250,000. His other goal was in the memorable game against Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium, which saw the home side have two men sent off but still come back to draw 2-2. It was an excellent move which was started in his own half and then finished off with a curling shot by the Welsh wizard. It was always eventful with Super Gav around, such as the time he had a penalty saved against Shrewsbury on the day Yeovil went top of League Two in 2004 – it was ordered re-taken for an infringement, but the re-take was saved again, the only time I think I have ever seen a penalty missed twice (or saved, to be fair). His last action in his first spell for the Glovers was to be (rightly) sent off in the away game at Lincoln in November 2004. Although it was his only straight red for us – his other dismissal against Torquay in 2004 coming for two bookings – let’s be honest he came close to a few others as he was a player who liked to tread that fine line when it came to discipline, and as we all know he loved to wind up the opposition players and fans.

Gavin’s first goal for West Ham came in the 2-1 defeat at Leeds in February 2004. West Ham were on their way to promotion from the Championship, and once they became a Premier League club he found it difficult to break into the team, making only one appearance in the League Cup. He was loaned out to Ipswich in November 2005, making the deal permanent for £300,000 during the transfer window.

He remained at Ipswich until 2008 when, finding his first team opportunities limited, he linked back up with Gary Johnson for a second time, signing for Bristol City where he joined his former team-mates Lee Johnson, Michael McIndoe and Chris Weale.

Towards the end of his time at Bristol City, we were unexpectedly reunited with Super Gav when he was brought in on loan by manager Terry Skiverton in 2010 – we have covered his second debut before, as in typical Gav fashion he got one goal, one assist and a red card all in just over an hour. He scored five goals in that loan spell, and came back for another loan in 2010/11 before re-signing permanently at the age of 31 at the start of 2011/12. During that season, he was reunited for a third time with Gary Johnson, returning as manager in January 2012, and went on to make a further 28 appearances in the League One promotion season in 2012/13. He scored several more spectacular goals in those latter spells, including that game against Hartlepool, away at Oldham, at home to Scunthorpe which was unfortunately lost in the fog, and then his final goal for us was probably the best of all, at home to Oldham again.

Gavin left us for the final time in the summer of 2013, following promotion to the Championship. After a brief spell at Woking during which he scored five goals, he packed up football for good in December 2013, calling time on a career of 558 games and 92 goals.

Or so he thought.

Following the death of his father, Gavin’s contract with Woking was terminated by mutual consent so that he could return home to Merthyr. He had no intention of getting involved with football there, but Merthyr Town manager Garry Shephard called him to ask if he wanted a game, and kept calling and calling until eventually he said yes. In 2014, he became assistant manager, stepping up to manager from 2016 to eventually calling it a day in 2021. He saw the club through some very difficult times financially, and at one point was told he had to make a 70% cut in the playing budget before the next game. Despite some players offering to play for free, he did not feel it was fair to ask them to do that as he could not guarantee their future wages, so for one game against Chesham he was forced to field not only youth team players, but also members of his office staff. With a 15-year old in goal and one of the office workers at centre half, Merthyr lost 13-1 in a game that has gone down in the club’s history.

There is an an article on the Wales Online site which goes into the situation and is well worth a read.

There is also footage of a goal the player-manager scored in the FA Trophy against Cinderford in 2016 which, even at the age of 36 evoked the Gavin Williams we all knew from his time at Yeovil.

 

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Striker Alex Fisher during his time at Yeovil Town.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Yeovil Town have announced that Alex Fisher has rejoined the Glovers ahead of the 2022/23 season.

Fisher was part of the Glovers side who dropped out of the EFL, departing in the Summer of 2019, but rejoins after spells at Exeter and Newport County.

He signs a two-year deal and is available from this Saturday for the friendly against one of his former employers, Exeter.

Speaking to YTFC.net, first team manager Chris Hargreaves said: “Alex has chosen to play for Yeovil Town over several League and National League clubs, which shows a great desire and attitude. Alex adds aerial ability and physicality in the final third, and wants to score goals for this club. He has a wealth of experience in the Football League and has the right character to help the younger boys in the squad.”

You can all his goals from his first spell at Huish Park below… here’s to a few more this season (and plenty of Fish based headlines for us to write too!)

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It’s difficult to conclude anything from the first preseason friendly with so many changes through the game, but it’s been a while so why not try eh?

Matt Buse looked the best of the trialists. It’s not particularly a secret that one of our anonymous trialists is former Torquay midfielder (and local lad) Matt Buse. In the brief time he was on the pitch last night he looked calm in possession and probably the one trialist who looked ready to step up and be a part of the squad.

It was good that the owner was in attendance. We’ve had plenty of pops at Scott Priestnall for not going to games, but you can’t complain if he arrives in Taunton for a pre-season . There were plenty of conversations with Chris Hargreaves and both Stuart Robins and Martyn Starnes were in attendance too, so there was executive representation at the match which is a positive. Let’s just hope they saw enough to know…

…we need a lot more! It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand the squad isn’t where it needs to be yet. Equally, I’m of the mind that it’s still early days. We’re a bit of an unknown quantity, we don’t know what system the manager will prefer (although it was a back five with wing backs) and as he said when he spoke to the Gloverscast, managers will want to get a couple of weeks of preseason in before deciding on the futures, or lack thereof, of their contracted squads.

It will be interesting to see which trialists remain. Some of these may be back for Exeter and get another chance of for a run out but, as with last year, many will move on. (Come back Harlain!) The manager spoke intently to a couple of them after the match so he and his coaching staff must have seen something. Other than Buse and Chiori Johnson nobody stuck out.

I won’t read too much into this game. It’s fitness, it’s minutes under the belt and it’s avoiding injuries. We went into this match without two key players in Lawson D’Ath and Charlie Wakefield and I imagine Ollie Hulbert will be a starter too. Hopefully we see some additions in the coming days and we’ll get more of an idea about the style of play Chris Hargreaves wants to implement as we progress towards the big BT kick off at Scunthorpe.

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Josh Staunton modelling the 2022-23 kit. Picture courtesy of YTFC.net.

Chris Hargreaves has confirmed that Josh Staunton will be named Captain for the 2022/23 season.

Speaking exclusively to The Gloverscast’s Ian Perkins following the draw with Taunton he said the defender/midfielder (and occasional player-manager) will lead the side this season.

It is likely that new left back Jamie Reckord will don the armband should Staunton ever miss out.

“Josh [Staunton] will be the captain, he’s a leader, a winner and a top character, but since Jamie [Reckord] has been in the building he’s been excellent.

He’s shown why he has played a lot of games, he wants to help younger players and I thought tonight he was resilient.”

“At the moment, we have a young squad, there’s a group of players that I’ve managed to keep hold of (from last season) which was vital but tonight was about minutes, staying clear of injuries and getting out of here and looking to the next game.”

Staunton has led Yeovil out a number of times already calling it an ‘honour’ when called upon last season with Luke Wilkinson and Mark Little missing at various times.

Congratulations to Josh and Jamie on their new roles.

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Yeovil Town manager Chris Hargreaves is hoping to have more players in before the first home pre-season friendly against Exeter City at the weekend.

Speaking after the 0-0 draw at National League South newcomers Taunton Town on Tuesday night, the boss said he hoped to have “a couple of bodies” in by the time the League One new boys arrive at Huish Park.

Chris Hargreaves talks to the club’s YouTube channel.

He also revealed that some of the trialists who featured in the game in the county town last night could return for that fixture, and that he is looking to get midfielder Lawson D’Ath and forwards Charlie Wakefield and Ollie Hulbert back after they missed the first friendly through injury.

The manager said: “I have so much admiration for the way Exeter do their business, the way they recruit and coached, so it will be another really good test.

“I am hoping to have another couple of bodies in the building before that game and hopefully some injuries back.”

Full-back Chiori Johnson, released by Torquay United at the end of last season, played most of the game at Wordsworth Drive with a midfielder, believed to be former AFC Telford man Dominic McHale, playing the first half before being replaced by Bristol-born striker Scott Wilson, who had a brief spell at Aldershot Town last season.

There were a large number of other trialists who took to the pitch in the second half as Hargreaves rang the changes – but we’re not certain on their identities.

Dominic McHale…..probably. Picture courtesy of Will Jones.

On the trialists, the manager added: “It’s so difficult for these lads, they are giving everything for a short amount of time and we’ve got to make quick decisions.

“I think a couple showed glimpses of what they can do and one or two will be invited back because we have got to build this squad and we need to unearth some gems and this is the way to do it in pre-season.”

Hargreaves described the injuries to D’Ath, Wakefield and Hulbert was “not long-term worries” but said he left them out of the fixture as a precaution.

The game ended goalless with Tom Knowles seeing a second half penalty saved by Taunton keeper Will Buse, who is born and lives in Yeovil.

On the match, the manager said: “It was a good test. They are in the league below us now, they have a lot of ex-pros, a lot of lads released from pro clubs.

“First half I think we probably rushed things and then in the second half we had a lot more chances, especially when they tired.

“We had the penalty, but we’ve also hit the post, the keeper has made a really good save and on another day we might have got a couple of goals. I was just pleased with the resilience and organisation when needed.

“The injuries to Lawson D’Ath, Charlie Wakefield and Ollie Hulbert at the moment, so we had to change things a bit and that meant (new signing striker) Malachi (Linton) was a bit isolated at times.

“But pre-season is the time to try things and see what these boys are good at and what they need help with and I also have to manage minutes.

“I don’t want to kill them early on, so I made a lot of changes in the second half and we had a team of trialists and young players, but they still understand their roles and responsibilities.”

Another new signing, midfielder Sam Perry, was put straight in the side following his arrival on a season-long loan from League Two Walsall on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old played played the first hour on a hot night in Somerset and Hargreaves said he saw enough to make him believe he will be a good addition.

He said: “He’s got the right mentality, he’s played League Two football and has the bit between his teeth.

“We saw glimpses of it, he understands the game and he knows when to play and when to dictate the tempo and when to go a bit longer.

“He’s a young lad with a lot to learn, but he’s a really good character and one the lads I am sure will enjoy being around.”