Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 356)

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It was another frustrating night in front of goal for Yeovil Town as they lived up to their billing as the division’s lowest goalscorers with an eighth blank of the season in the 0-0 draw with Maidenhead United at Huish Park last night.

But, as Ian concludes, there were some reasons to be cheerful about at least some parts of the performance, here’s how he saw it……

Confidence is key. The first half performance showed a real lack of confidence and belief. Mark Cooper’s team played safe, we’re reluctant to take risks and barely threatened the Maidenhead United goal. Midway through the second half things started to click though. There was energy, attacking intent and the Glovers looked more likely to get something from a game that often ends goalless. After the match Mark Cooper said it was all about rebuilding the Confidence in his players and I think the last 20 minutes was a good platform to build off.

Cooper’s signings look the part. We expected changes in the squad and Mark Cooper has wasted little time. Jamie Andrews has come straight into the midfield and put in a man of the match performance last night. Anthony Georgiou was forward thinking and once settled looks like he can make a good contribution and the lift that Andrew Oluwabori gave the team and crowd was the highlight. His dribbling and speed got supporters on their feet and Yeovil improved with him on the pitch.

Goals are still a problem. Despite a couple of positives (and boy do we need some of those) the lack of goals is a huge problem. There was no shots in target on the first half and just two all game. That comes from a lack of confidence but we’re crying out for a striker to put anything in the goal. After the match the manager revealed Louis Britton, a former Bristol City striker, hadn’t got international clearance yet but is incoming. He was optimistic he would add the goals we so desperately need, hopefully in time for Gateshead. We’re the lowest scorers in the league and if we don’t rectify that we’re in for a long hard slog.

It’s going to take time for things to click. Given our position in the league, it’s difficult to remain patient but we need to be patient again. There was criticism on social media of the performance but two weeks ago most of this team were at their lowest with anger directed at them and Chris Hargreaves. As confidence builds, hopefully the adjustments will click, the patterns of play will develop and results will turn. We kept a clean sheet, looked comfortable defensively for the majority of the game and the attacking intent got the supporters behind the team and we need to harness that.

It’s groundhog day off the pitch. As performances dwindled, the crowds have too. It was a grim night in Yeovil last night and you can forgive those for not deciding to venture out in those conditions, but the reality is 21st vs 16th in a match notorious for a lack of goals isn’t going to draw the punters in. Yet again we find ourselves in the midst of takeover saga that needs a speedy conclusion so that we don’t go through months of uncertainty for the second season in a row.

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A survivor of the Hillsborough disaster will speak about his battle with mental health at a webinar organised by the Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust (YTCST) next week.

Martin Roberts was a teenager in April 1989 when the disaster happened at an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest leading to the death of 97 supporters.

He now delivers a talk, A Walk in My Shoes, which focuses on the importance of prioritising mental health and how leaders, players, staff, coaches, and parents/carers within the football community can take key steps to support themselves and those in their care.

The free webinar takes place next Monday 14th November between 6.30pm – 7.30pm. To register visit www.thefmha.com/events.

Martin said: “I am absolutely thrilled to have been invited by Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust and The Football Mental Health Alliance to share my personal story. As many will know it was a football match on the 15th of April 1989 that nearly cost me my life and did so tragically for 97 other fellow football supporters.

“Some 30 years later it totally defined my personal and professional life. A purpose in life is a life with purpose and I certainly have found mine. I commend both organisations for taking the lead on mental health in football and can’t wait to share how all those interested in football can take key steps to support themselves and those around them.”

YTCST Manager Sara Bradley said: “Here at Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust, the mental wellbeing of all those in our community is a huge priority for us. We are only too aware of the significant impact the events of the last couple of years and beyond have had and continue to have on the mental health of society.

“This webinar will allow people across the whole of our community to learn and implement key tips around mental health from a recognised expert.”

Danny Matharu, founder of The Football Mental Health Alliance and a grassroots football coach, said: “We are delighted to be working with Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust – an organisation that is truly committed not only to providing excellent educational opportunities but also to supporting the welfare of all those in their community holistically. It is widely recognised that early intervention is key when it comes to maintaining good mental health, so we hope this webinar can help in educating and supporting the mental health of all those who register.

“The plan is for this webinar to be the first in a series across a whole year, offered alongside a full suite of mental health support products for all those who interact with and are interested in football.”

 

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Mark Cooper has challenged his Yeovil Town players to tap in to “the power of Huish Park” after an improved second half performance in the goalless draw with Maidenhead United.

The Glovers’ boss was pleased with the reaction of the crowd of under 2,000 when he introduced substitute Andrew Oluwaborie after a hour, a move which sparked more positive forward play from the National League’s lowest scorers.

Mark Cooper speaking after the goalless draw with Maidenhead United.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the match, the boss said he saw enough from his side to believe they will “be alright” despite having picked up their ninth draw of the campaign and failed to add to their two wins so far this season.

He said: “If we had started like we would have won the game, but you can see the problems. There is a real lack of confidence and a fear which is not good but the second half was good.

“I think once we get to grips with how I want to play, which is how we played in the second half, in terms of how we want to pass the ball and get our flair players on the ball one-v-one I think we’ll be alright.”

He added: “You saw the power of Huish Park in the second half, that is not going to happen by us just turning up, I said to the boys they have to give (the fans) something.

“In the second half, we gave them something and they got really behind the boys and they appreciated that and they enjoyed the second half. I think Andrew can be a crowd favourite.

“If we can play like we did in the second half for 70 minutes, the fans will be right behind us.”

The boss threw on Oluwaborie, who joined just hours before kick-off on loan from Peterborough United, and Gime Toure in the second half, but the hosts managed just two shots on target in the entire 90 minutes.

They have managed just 13 goals in their 18 National League matches, making them the division’s lowest scorers by two clear goals.

Cooper revealed after the match he is hoping to get international clearance to bring former Bristol City youngster Louis Britton in, but added that confidence was the issue with the club’s other forwards.

He said: “You have to believe that ball is going to come and land on your head. You have to be an optimist when you’re a striker, you have to believe you are going to get on the end of it and not hope. At the minute we are hoping.

“As a defender you have to be a pessimist and believe everything is going to go wrong and clear it, but in the other box we have to be optimistic and confident because we are hoping not expecting to score at the minute.

“We gambled in the second half, but if we can get more control in the middle of the pitch with the ball and get those exciting wide players that we have got and get Louis Britton’s clearance, who scores goals for fun, we will be alright.”

The boss concluded: “We have to take the positives which is (the point) we go away with and the second half (performance). I understand the first half where the players are down with a lack of confidence and a lack of belief, so you have to build that up.

“We’ll take a point, it takes us out of the bottom four and we go on to (Gateshead at home) on Saturday.”

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Matt Worthington. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Matt Worthington is sure that Yeovil will start getting wins soon after the Glovers were held to a 0-0 draw against Maidenhead.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins he said that a new manager with new ideas would start paying off soon.

“Hopefully everyone can see it was a big improvement from recent weeks, yeah, we are disappointed not to get the three points, but it’s an improved performance”

“Clean sheets always help, unfortunately we didn’t get one at the other end, but I’m sure that’ll come.”

Yeovil welcomed two new faces into the squad and Worthington was pleased with how Anthony Georgiou and Andrew Oluwabori got going on debut.

“I think the new additions, the wingers looked good coking on, (they) gave us some more attacking threat”

“I think they’re very direct, like to get balls in the box and it’s only a matter of time before we start scoring goals”

“…we know what the problem is, we need to score more goals, midfielders need to score more goals, strikers need to score more goals, but like I said, today was a much improved performance and hopefully going forward, we will get them”

Worthy also spoke about Mark Cooper, a manager he has worked with before, has begun his tenure as Glovers boss and he’s looking forward to seeing the improvements come.

“He’s got a very good footballing brain, you could see that from the first day he came in, the training sessions have been very good, very structured and we know what he wants and what he demands… performances will get better under him”

“Training has been really enjoyable, he wants us to start playing football, I think today you saw glimpses of us in possession but now we can just work on the final third”

 

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Sam Perry. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Yeovil Town Manager Mark Cooper confirmed that Walsall’s Sam Perry has returned to his parent club.

The midfielder didn’t feature in Tuesday night’s draw and post match Cooper confirmed he was no longer in his plans.

Louis Britton celebrates with Cork City
? @LouisBritton14

Furthermore, he confirmed he was waiting on the clearance to sign former Bristol City front man Louis Britton.

Britton, who has been in Ireland with Cork City and Waterford, has plenty of experience in the South West with loans at Torquay, Bath City and Yate Town.

He scored 10 goals in 17 for Waterford before joining Cork City where he lifted silverware.

Cooper said; “if we can get Louis Britton’s clearance, who scores goals for fun, we will be alright.”

Britton needs international clearance from the Irish FA as his registration crosses international borders.

 

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Venue: Huish Park
Tuesday 8th November, 7.45pm kick-off

Conditions: Wet and windy
Pitch: Slippery

Attendance: 1,906

Scorers: None

Bookings:

Yeovil Town: Bevan 42, Reckord 64, Oluwaborie 90+4
Maidenhead United: Asare 45, Beckwith 67, Adams 90+3

Referee: Robert Massey-Ellis

Yeovil Town (4-3-3):

Substitutes: Andrew Oluwabori (for Ewan Clark, 60), Gime Toure (for Georgiou, 84), Chiori Johnson, Ollie Hulbert, Malachi Linton.

Maidenhead United: Gyollai, Ferdinand, Asare, Massey, Nathaniel-George (for Clifton 90+3), Acquah, Arthur (for Keetch, 54), Smith (for McCoulsky, 87), Beckwith, Adams, Clerima. Substitutes (not used): Odutayo, Andre.

Match Report.

Yeovil Town’s ninth draw of the National League season was enough to move them out of the National League relegation zone in Mark Cooper’s first home game in charge.

But, more tellingly, it was also the eighth time this season that the Glovers have drawn a blank in front of goal and a failure to do much to force the Maidenhead United goalkeeper in to action was plain for all to see.

There was an improvement – if you set the bar at the last time out against Aldershot Town in Chris Hargreaves’ final match – especially when debutant Andrew Oluwaborie came on after an hour, but it still was not enough.

 

First half

On loan Leyton Orient winger Anthony Georgiou was handed a debut and fellow wideman Andrew Oluwaborie, signed just hours before kick-off from Peterborough United, was named on the bench as the Glovers set up with a three-man forward line in a bid to improve their record as the National League’s lowest scorers.

However, there was no place in the squad for Will Buse, Morgan Williams, Sam Perry, Lawson D’Ath, Charlie Wakefield or Jake Scrimshaw. Signs of changes being rung by Mark Cooper?

The first meaningful chance saw Kane Ferdinand take advantage of a Max Hunt error to test Grant Smith with an effort from the edge of the box and moments later another effort skidded off the slippery surface to force the keeper to awkwardly turn it wide.

But chances were at a premium in the opening 45 minutes. Jamie Andrews, starting his second match since joining on loan from West Bromwich Albion, was a bright spark on a damp night, he kept his head up and seemed a creative force in midfield.

As the half came towards an end, Owen Bevan was lucky to escape with just a yellow after a two-footed tackle on Ferdinand – call that one an ‘orange’ card with referee Robert Massey-Ellis perhaps given him credit

The best chance of the game so far fell to Emile Acquah as the game crept in to injury time. The striker’s effort shot took a ricochet off someone and forced Smith in to a fine stop to turn it over the bar.

We look better than we did last time out against Aldershot Town, but that isn’t saying much. Not much to warm you on a miserable evening.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Maidenhead United 0

Second half

To say the second half started in similar fashion to the end of the first would be an understatement. Ferdinand brought a stop out of Smith on 57 minutes but that was probably about as ‘exciting’ as it got….and I use exciting in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Perhaps recognising the risk of hypothermia setting in for those in the Thatcher’s Stand, Yeovil manager Mark Cooper introduced Andrew Oluwabori in place of Ewan Clark, who had a bright first half but again took some heavy knocks.

The change brought the impact it was seeking with Oluwabori added attacking impetus and sparking fellow debutant Georgiou into bombing forward.

A couple of dangerous balls in to the box from Georgiou were turned aside first by Josh Staunton and then from Max Hunt, but neither forced Daniel Gyollai in to a stop.

The keeper was called in to action on 71 minutes when Oluwabori found Alex Fisher who flicked the ball towards goal but was denied by Gyollai. A shot on target, folks!

Max Hunt put a header wide four minutes later, but that was honestly about as near as we came to mustering a meaningful shot on target.

The statistics speak for themselves – two shots on target and two shots off target in 90 minutes of football.

We’re out of the bottom four at the expense of Scunthorpe United who take on Wrexham on Wednesday night, but beyond that positives are hard to come by.

Full time: Yeovil Town 0 Maidenhead United 0

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Chris Hargreaves said he will learn from the experienced of his disappointing spell as manager of Yeovil Town.

The former boss has issued a statement through the League Managers’ Association saying he was “hugely disappointed” to have been sacked after picking up just two wins in three months in charge.

The statement in full reads:

“I would like to start by thanking the staff and players for their efforts and support during my time at Yeovil Town.

“I was extremely proud to be given the opportunity to manage the club and naturally I am hugely disappointed to have left. In my short tenure, I believe that many of the team’s performances this season should have contributed to a higher points total and that this would have improved as the season progressed. We were competitive against some of the teams with the highest budgets in the league and on many occasions, showed huge potential.

“The experience, while disappointing, is something I will learn from. I am keen to get back on the grass and will be doing everything I can to ensure that my next job is the right one for me to achieve success for a club.

“I wish the board, supporters and everyone at Yeovil Town FC the very best for this season and beyond. I sincerely hope that they can achieve their objectives in the near future.”

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New signing Anthony Georgiou is handed an immediate debut as Yeovil Town go in search of three points against Maidenhead United at Huish Park tonight (7.45pm kick-off).

The Cypriot winger lines up in a three-man frontman led by Alex Fisher and supported by fellow loanee Ewan Clark with captain Josh Staunton, fellow loanee Jamie Andrews and Matt Worthington in midfield in a 4-3-3 formation.

Fellow new boy Andrew Oluwabori, who joined on loan from Peterborough United ahead of kick-off, is one of four forwards named on the bench with Ollie Hulbert, Gime Toure and Malachi Linton.

 

 

Substitues: Chiori Johnson, Gime Toure, Ollie Hulbert, Malachi Linton, Andrew Oluwabori.

 

 

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Yeovil Town made Peterborough United youngster Andrew Oluwabori their second winger to arrive at the club in 24 hours.

The 21-year-old’s arrival was announced ahead of the home match with Maidenhead United which he will be available for selection for alongside Anthony Georgiou, who joined from Leyton Orient on Monday.

Oluwabori, who has joined until 7th January making him available for ten matches (assuming it’s up to and including the 7th and a trip to Wrexham), spent the start of the season on loan at National League North side Kettering Town, scoring four times in ten appearances.

He becomes the seventh loanee at Huish Park joining Georgiou, Jamie Andrews, Sam Perry, Ewan Clark, Owen Bevan and Will Buse, if we assume that Sam Pearson’s stint in Somerset has ended after his return to Bristol City which was billed as “temporary” at the time.

Announcing the signing, the Glovers said: “Described as a front-foot winger, Andrew spent his early years in the academy at Huddersfield Town. He departed the Terriers prior to the 21/22 season and was picked up by Peterborough in September 2021.”

He made three substitute appearances in two-and-a-half months on loan at Boreham Wood last season.