Hargreaves hopes win can be “a springboard”
Yeovil Town manager Chris Hargreaves said he hopes his side’s second win of the National League season can act as a springboard to push them up the table.
The Glovers moved out of the division’s relegation zone with an impressive 1-0 win over a Solihull Moors side who are among those challenging for the play-off positions after 13 matches of the season.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the game, the manager thanked supporters for their patience and admitted he understood the frustration at a faltering start to the campaign.
He said: “I want to thank the supporters, I know there’s been a bit of frustration and I get that, I understand it completely, but I am pleased we have sent them away with three points. They can enjoy their weekend, as can I for the first time in a long time.”
The boss added: “I hope this is a springboard for us to kick on and it should be because there is a group of players in there who are good enough.”
A 58th minute goal from Chiori Johnson, who was employed as a left wing-back, sealed the three points, but the boss suggested the former Torquay United man had been sent out with some ‘extra motivation’ from the management after missing a good first-half chance.
Hargreaves said: “He is determined to do well and he hasn’t been happy not to be in the team which I understand and I have said that to a lot of players.
“It’s not pleasant to be a professional footballer and you’re trying all week to get in the team and you’re not even in the squad and (Chiori) has been in that situation.
“So I am really pleased for him to get that goal. I thought he played well and probably got through some uncomfortable situations, let’s say!”
Having come in for criticism – yes, including on this website and podcast – for being too defensive having taken the lead in matches this season, the Glovers’ boss was pleased to see his side continue to press for a second goal.
A couple of exceptional saves from Solihull keeper Louie Moulden, who is on loan from Premier League Wolves, denied the hosts the opportunity to add gloss to the scoreline.
He added: “The players were outstanding and they have been like that, in the main, every game. We just either haven’t held on or we haven’t killed the game.
“Today we definitely could have killed it, their keeper made two outstanding saves and if we had scored that second goal it becomes less of a tense last five minutes.
“They stuck to what the game plan was, they delivered and they were excellent from minute nought to minute 90 plus eight – again!
“We didn’t want to sit back and our front players looked dangerous and like they wanted to score and create, so I am really pleased with the confidence to keep playing and not just sit back in because it is so dangerous to do that.”
Match Report: Yeovil Town 1 Solihull Moors 0
Venue: Huish Park
Saturday October 8th, 3pm kick-off
Conditions: A clear, sunny Somerset day
Pitch: Looking good, but cut up in places
Attendance: 2,244 (60 away supporters)
Scorers: Chiori Johnson 58 (1-0)
Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Sam Pearson 11, Matt Worthington 73.
Solihull Moors: None.
Referee: Alan Dale
Yeovil Town : (3-5-2)
Grant Smith
Owen Bevan Josh Staunton Ben Richards-Everton
Sam Pearson Matt Worthington Lawson D’Ath (for Morgan Williams, 53) Sam Perry Chiori Johnson
Charlie Wakefield Malachi Linton (for Alex Fisher, 72)
Substitutes (not used): Max Hunt, Will Dawes, Jake Scrimshaw.
Solihull Moors: Moulden, Clarke, Coker, Maycock (for Reid, 78), Gudger, Howe, Sbarra (for Parsons, 90+2), Dallas, Osborne, Barnett, Kelly. Substitutes (not used): Kelleher, Vaughan, Whelan.
Match Report
Yeovil Town picked up their second win of the season in a 1-0 win over Solihull Moors at Huish Park this afternoon.
Chiori Johnson’s second half goal was enough for Chris Hargraves side who saw the game out comfortably to pick up three points.
The result lifts the Glovers out of the National League drop zone and up to 17th place.
Here’s how Ian saw it…..
First half
Yeovil were under pressure less than a minute in. Josh Staunton conceded a free-kick which, after a corner and throw in, resulted in an a good left handed save from Grant Smith as the Glovers struggled to clear their lines.
Chiori Johnson should have put Yeovil ahead in the 4th minute. The Glovers broke with Malachi Linton who returned the ball to Charlie Wakefield after his flick on and Wakefield’s cross was on a plate for Johnson who skied it over the bar.
The Glovers had momentum and a speculative strike from Linton was deflected wide of the Solihull goal as Louis Moulden scrambled to his left.
Joe Sbarra had his first sight of goal in the 10th minute, cutting inside and firing a low effort at goal that was pushed wide by Smith.
As the match calmed in middle of the first half, both sides dwelled for possession with Yeovil’s familiar pattern of patience followed by an impatient lump forward. Solihull had a decent effort from a free-kick just effort the half hour mark, although Smith watched Ben Coker’s shot glide past his post.
Yeovil had a golden opportunity to open the scoring in the 38th minute as Matt Worthington broke from a corner with three teammates in support against a lone Solihull defender. He shifted the ball to Wakefield on his left and as Wakefield cut inside to shoot he seemed to get his foot stuck in the turf and fell to the floor.
As the first half entered stoppage time, Linton picked the pocket of a Moors defender and looked to curl a shot into the far corner. His effort looped into the away end as the first half came to a close.
Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Solihull Moors 0
Second half
Neither side came out of the traps particularly fast but Solihull nearly drew first blood in the 50th minute. A great ball in behind saw Josh Kelly go one on one with Smith. As Josh Staunton chased Kelly down, the striker put his shot over the bar.
Chris Hargreaves made his first change of the match shortly after with Morgan Williams coming on for Lawson D’Ath, moving Sam Pearson central and Williams to right midfield.
Chiori JOHNSON made up for his early miss in the 57th minute to give the Glovers a 1-0 lead. The left wing-back/midfielder was in the right place at the right time to tap home after Worthington’s shot from the edge if the box was parried into his path. 1-0.
Alex Fisher came on for Linton and almost had an immediate impact. His left footed strike was saved by Moulden but fell to the feet of Williams who had his shot charged down by two Solihull defenders.
As the clock ticked away Solihull seemingly took their foot off the gas, seemingly happy with zero points.
Fisher very nearly got the Glovers second in the 84th minute, meeting Ben Richards-Everton’s cross with a header that was well saved by Moulden.
Yeovil should have been out of sight two minutes from time, the Glovers broke at pace with Pearson who had Williams up with him. As the Bristol City loanee bore down on goal, he went for it himself rather than pass to Williams who was in the better position.
With six minutes added on, Solihull really didn’t chase the game as you’d expect and Chris Hargreaves side were in control as they picked up their second win of the season.
Full time: Yeovil Town 1 Solihull Moors 0
Team News: Solihull Moors (home)
There are three changes to the Yeovil Town starting line-up for today’s match with Solihull Moors at Huish Park (3pm kick-off).
Ben Richards-Everton returns in defence in place of Max Hunt, Charlie Wakefield is in for Morgan Williams and Sam Perry presumably replaces Will Dawes, with all those missing out named on the substitutes’ bench.
The formation may require kick-off to figure out exactly what it is, but we’re going to have a guess that manager Chris Hargreaves is sticking with his favoured three-man defence with wing-backs as follows…..
Yeovil Town : (3-4-3)
Grant Smith
Owen Bevan Josh Staunton Ben Richards-Everton
Charlie Wakefield Chiori Johnson
Lawson D’Ath Sam Perry Matt Worthington
Sam Pearson Malachi Linton
Substitutes: Max Hunt, Morgan Williams, Jake Scrimshaw, Alex Fisher, Will Dawes.
York City “disappointed” at dropping of racism probe
York City have said they are “disappointed” that an investigation in to racial abuse directed at its striker Lennell John-Lewis has not been able to identify an offender.
On Thursday, Yeovil Town confirmed it had been unable to identify the person responsible for the abuse caught on camera in a fixture at Huish Park on 3rd September despite a month-long enquiry supported by Avon & Somerset Police and Kick It Out, the anti-discrimination campaign.
In a statement published by the York Press, York City said: “We are disappointed that Yeovil have not been able to identify the culprit.
“There must be somebody who would be able to identify who was involved, but have chosen not to come forward.
“Society needs to work together to stand up to racism in all its forms, allowing perpetrators of racist acts to stay anonymous is to be complicit in their wrongdoing.”
Avon & Somereset Police has said the investigation had “exhausted all reasonable lines of enquiry”, adding that it would always look in to an new information which comes forward about the incident.
In its response, Yeovil Town said: “As a football club, Yeovil Town finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour totally abhorrent and unacceptable. It is completely against the values of our club, and we believe it has no place at Huish Park or anywhere else within our communities.
“We continue to stand against all forms of racist, sexist, or homophobic discrimination and we reiterate that we will always seek to take the strongest action against anyone identified committing these acts.”
Both the club and the Police urged anyone who knows anything about the individual responsible for this disgusting act to contact them calling 101 and giving crime reference number 5222215076. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or contact them through their online form.
Taunton at home… again!
Yeovil Town have been drawn at home to Taunton Town again!
This time in the Somerset FA Men’s Premier Cup as Yeovil begin the defence of their trophy.
The Peacocks are aready due to visit Huish Park in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round next weekend and no doubt we will probably draw them in the FA Trophy too.
The National League South side beat Bath-based Odd Down 7-0 in the first round of the competition, the Glovers got a bye through to the second round.
Ties will he played week commencing 7th November.
The full draw is below.
Hulbert returns to Glovers
Yeovil Town striker Ollie Hulbert has returned to the Glovers after his one-month stint at Gloucester City came to an end.
He made three appearances for the National League North side, scoring once on his debut against AFC Telford United last month..
During his spell, the Tigers played two FA Cup ties which the Yeovil man was not given permission to play in restricting his opportunity for more minutes.
Hulbert now returns to fight for his place at Huish Park and will be available for selection for this Saturday’s game home game against Solihull Moors.
It leaves just Toby Stephens out on loan at Truro City at the moment, with Ollie Haste recalled from his spell at the Cornish club in the week and goalkeeper Max Evans’ stint at Larkhall Athletic ended by injury.
Under-18s go in search of first league win
Yeovil Town Under-18s travel to Wimborne Town in search of their first win of the South West Counties Youth League win this weekend.
The young Glovers’ opponents have only played once this season, picking up a 2-1 win against Ringwood-based BRS Coaching Youth, who lost their other fixtures 7-1 and 11-0.
The match takes place at Blandford School in Blandford Forum at 10.30am on Saturday 8th October.
In the week, there were wins for Elite Player Development Programme (EPDP), run by Yeovil College in partnership with the club, with the first team running out 4-1 winners against Exeter College 2nd XI.
Charlie Bateson scored twice with Josh Sutton and Aiden Skiverton also on target. The EPDP 2nd XI won 5-0 at home to against Bridgwater and Taunton College’s 3rd XI.
The age group teams representing the Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust are also in action this weekend with the Under-11s and Under-12s facing their opponents from Paulton Rovers, whilst the Under-13s, Under-15s and Under-16s play Saints South West in the Junior Premier League.
Gloverscast #200 – Tony Pennock
Episode 200!
We spoke to Yeovil legend and one of our best goalkeepers ever, Tony Pennock, about his time in between the sticks at Huish Park! Enjoy!
Thank you to those who’ve listened to the podcast and supported as we’ve grown, here’s to #300!
Gloverscast #199 – “It’s the only topical squid I know”
On the 199th episode of the Gloverscast Ian, Dave and Ben catch up on the Dorking Wanderers draw and we speak to Jake Gallagher about why he thinks Chris Hargreaves needs more time to get things right at Huish Park. We have a bit of chat about Solihull and take your questions!
Thanks for listening!