Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 39)

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Jake Wannell and Michael Smith both return to the Yeovil Town starting XI for today’s match from Oldham Athletic at Huish Park (3pm kick-off).

The Glovers announced the departure of loan defender Kyle Ferguson ahead of kick-off and Wannell is back in the centre of defence in place of him.

Charlie Cooper is also not in the squad having gone off after 28 minutes in last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Altrincham with tendonitis in his Achilles. Harry Kite, who replaced him seven days ago, is given his first start for the club.

There is no Otis Khan who is unable to play against his parent club whilst defender Morgan Williams and on loan Swansea City forward Kyrell Wilson are named on the bench. Ryan McLean, who is on loan from AFC Wimbledon, is also not in the squad.

Former Glovers’ captain Matt Worthington, who swapped the South West for the North West at the end of January, is not in the visitors line-up with top scorer Mike Fondop named among the substitutes.

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Defender Kyle Ferguson has been recalled from his loan at Yeovil Town by his parent club Rochdale

The 25-year-old joined until the end of the season just under a month ago having been out of favour in Greater Manchester, but has been recalled to cover for defensive injuries.

It is a blow for the Glovers ahead of today’s home match with Oldham Athletic after Ferguson had played the previous four matches and forming an impressive partnership alongside fellow loanee, Frankie Terry,

The Scotsman is out of contract at Spotland this summer having signed a two-year contract with the National League Premier Division side in June 2023 when he arrived from Harrogate Town.

The news comes just a few days after the son of Glasgow Rangers interim manager and former Scotland international midfielder Barry said that his decision to come to Somerset had saved his season.

Speaking on Thursday, Ferguson said: “I was not too happy with my season until I came here, but since I came here I am feeling a lot better. I have just loved the team here and the chance to play here and showing people how good I can be.

“This is the first three or four games I have played in a row in a long time and I never got the chance to do that at Rochdale. I feel like the Gaffer believes in me here and has given me the chance to go out and play football and show what I can do.”

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Defender Morgan Williams is in contention to be involved for Yeovil Town in this weekend’s home match with Oldham Athletic.

Manager Mark Cooper has confirmed the former Coventry City player has been in full training all week and said the Huish Park coaching staff would make a decision whether to risk him for the National League Premier Division fixture. Williams has not featured since the 1-1 draw at Dagenham & Redbridge at the start of February.

He is one of a number of injury question marks in the squad with full-back Alex Whittle suffering a nasty cut on his head during last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Altrincham, which saw both him and midfielder Charlie Cooper (tendonitis) withdrawn after just 28 minutes.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins on Thursday, Cooper said: “Morgan Williams is back in full training this week, so we have a decision to make about whether he has done enough or are we putting him at risk by playing him in maybe putting him on the pitch at some point. That is something we are assessing.

Morgan Williams is back in full training. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

“Alex Whittle had a really bad cut on his forehead and we are not sure whether he will be able to play. It is certainly going to open up the cut again, but amazingly we did not even get a foul or a free-kick. Charlie has been struggling with tendonitis in both of his Achilles tendons, so it is a difficult one. We are not blessed with lots of players so we will have to see how that goes.”

The boss also gave an update on the fitness of striker Aaron Jarvis, who has not featured since suffering a hamstring injury in mid-January, adding: “If Aaron Jarvis is going to play any part (this season) it will possibly be the last two games off the bench.”

Oldham arrive in Somerset looking to arrest indifferent form which has seen them lose their last two games including a 2-1 defeat at home to Woking on Tuesday night.

The Glovers went down to a 1-0 defeat in the reverse fixture in Greater Manchester in September when a goal from top scorer Mike Fondop was the difference between the two sides in a match which saw Cooper sent off for his protests to the referee.

He said: “It was a tight game up there. They are in a little bit of indifferent form and I think they have a few injuries, but they have really good players and a manager who knows how to get out of the league and they will be in the play-offs, it just comes down to which position they finish in. They are a massive club, probably the biggest in the division, so we are expecting a tough game. We have to be concentrated on what we do, be really difficult to play against like we have been in the last few weeks and hope we get a bit of luck.”

Matt Worthington played 68 minutes of Oldham’s 2-1 home defeat to Woking on Tuesday night. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

One familiar face in the visiting squad will be former Glovers’ captain Matt Worthington who switched the South West for the North West at the end of the January having clocked up his 250th appearance for Yeovil.

Cooper said: “It will be great to see Worthy again, he was a great servant for us. He has been in and out of the team, but played the other night. He has got himself a good move to a big club, so we cannot begrudge that.”

The manager was also asked about how his planning was going to retain and build a squad for next season with the off-the-field uncertainty caused by the decision of chairman Martin Hellier to step down in recent weeks. The local businessman has declared his ambition to sell the club.

Cooper said: “When you realise what is going on above, it is very difficult to do any planning and that needs to be resolved before we get to that stage. At the moment it is just about everyone doing as well as they can to put themselves in a good position whether that is here or elsewhere.“

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On loan defender Kyle Ferguson has said his move to Yeovil Town has saved his season after a difficult time without regular action at his parent club Rochdale.

The centre half, who arrived from National League Premier Division rivals just under a month ago, has formed a good partnership alongside fellow loanee Frankie Terry and started all four games since arriving.

He made just four starts for Rochdale in the league this season with the majority of his 12 appearances coming off the substitutes’ bench.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s home match with Oldham Athletic, the 25-year-old said: “I have loved my time here, the Gaffer (manager Mark Cooper) has been really good with me. I have been playing which is a big positive for me, but the boys, the staff, the Gaffer especially have been great to me and the fans have been so welcoming, so I have loved it here so far.

“I was not too happy with my season until I came here, but since I came here I am feeling a lot better. I have just loved the team here and the chance to play here and showing people how good I can be.

“This is the first three or four games I have played in a row in a long time and I never got the chance to do that at Rochdale. I feel like the Gaffer believes in me here and has given me the chance to go out and play football and show what I can do.”

Kyle Ferguson. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

The son of Glasgow Rangers’ interim head coach Barry Ferguson will be looking to give his parent club a helping hand this weekend when their local rivals, Oldham Athletic, come to Huish Park looking for points to cement their place in the play-offs.

The Latics arrive in Somerset in fourth place in the National League Premier Division table, nine points adrift of third-placed Forest Green Rovers, having lost their last two games.

Ferguson said: “I am expecting it to be a really physical game and a tough game as well because they are pushing for the play-offs and want to finish as high as possible to have a shot at getting promotion. I think it will be a really tough, physical game, but prior to the Altrincham game we have been really good, so hopefully we can take confidence going in to this game.”

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“…and as for the officials, with Rule One rattling around my head, probably up there with one of the worst performances I’ve seen from the officials ever, at times they were literally guessing. Just pointing flags in random directions and I know Mr Stephen Copeland was a late sub for the game as the man in the middle, but it’s not all about you mate, control the game, protect the players. “

Well, this one could get awkward.

I sure hope Mr Copeland didn’t read that, or at the very least take it to heart. 

Stephen Copeland will be the man in the middle for Yeovil Town’s home game against Oldham this weekend.

The above quote comes from Gloverscast Ben’s Five Conclusions from the 0-0 draw with Tamworth, where, if you recall, he sent off Morgan Williams for an ‘Orange card’ offence.

His performance for rest of the game clearly rubbed Ben up the wrong way. 

It was the fourth time we’d had Mr Copeland as a ref, the other three without much incident, including a 3-0 home win over Wrexham.

He’s also reffed Oldham four times, but not this season.

He’s been used across various competitions this campaign and as such only has ten National League games to his name.

But in those 10 games, he dished out 52 Yellow cards, five reds and NINE penalties. 

Not one to get on the wrong side of.

Mr Copeland will be assisted by Stuart Kane and Andrew Ellis, Phillip Eddie will be keeping tabs on the dugouts and getting in both ears from the gaffers.

Best behavior, lads.

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It was further heartbreak for Yeovil Town, as a late winner condemned the Glovers to defeat at Altrincham in a 2-1 loss. Let’s see what else went on in a busy day for the division’s sides…

We begin in County Durham, as a 94th minute winner from Sam Folarin rescued a victory for Hartlepool United over bottom side Ebbsfleet United in a 3-2 thriller, the hosts were made to work for their win as they were twice pegged back by their visiting opposition. There were big results in the relegation battle on Saturday, as Maidenhead United secured a huge 3-1 win at home against Tamworth, leaving them two points off safety and harming the Lambs’ playoff ambitions in the process, while AFC Fylde’s route to safety became a lot harder following a home defeat to title hunting York City.

There were slip ups for the other two sides in the top three to bottom half opponents, as Braintree Town continued a great end to their season under Steve Pitt with a 2-1 win over league leaders Barnet, ending their 25 league game unbeaten run in the process, while Wealdstone hero Alex Reid’s double downed Forest Green Rovers, both victors coming from behind to win their matches. Gateshead ended a run of eight league games without a win as they defeated relegation candidates Dagenham & Redbridge in a 2-1 result. Sutton United secured a point with a 94th minute Ashley Nadesan equaliser against Southend United, while an 89th minute equaliser from Tomas Galvin meant FC Halifax Town left Eastleigh with a point from the evening kickoff, both games ending in 1-1 ties.

Finally, there were three National League sides in FA Trophy action, and there was plenty of drama in both ties! Aldershot Town ensured they would make their first appearance at Wembley, coming from behind in controversial circumstances to defeat Woking 2-1. Cards midfielder Harry Beautyman was sent off for “elbowing” an opponent defender, with Lewis Walker nabbing a goal for the depleted visitors, but a James Henry penalty and a 92nd minute Jack Barham winner sent the Shots to the final.

In the other tie, Rochdale were pegged back twice by National League North side Spennymoor Town, before being knocked out on penalties. Devante Rodney gave the hosts the lead in the 48th minute, three minutes later Finley Shrimpton equalised for the visitors, before an Aidan Barlow penalty handed Rochdale the lead another three minutes later. Spennymoor kept themselves in contention with a dramatic 95th minute equaliser from Aidan Rutledge, before burying all five of their penalties during the shootout. Tarryn Allarakhia missed for the Dale, sending the Moors to Wembley and ensuring a first non all-National League final since Hornchurch won in 2020/21.

National League results – in full

AFC Fylde 1-3 York City
Altrincham 2-1 Yeovil Town
Braintree Town 2-1 Barnet
Gateshead 2-1 Dagenham & Redbridge
Hartlepool United 3-2 Ebbsfleet United
Maidenhead United 3-1 Tamworth
Sutton United 1-1 Southend United
Wealdstone 2-1 Forest Green Rovers
Eastleigh 1-1 FC Halifax Town

FA Trophy Quarter Final results (NL teams in bold)

Aldershot Town 2-1 Woking
Rochdale 2-2 Spennymoor Town (Spennymoor win 5-4 on pens)

National League table

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Late heartbreak for the Glovers on Saturday, but it didn’t go well for our loan watch sides in the National League South either.

Will Buse was not able to save his W*ymouth side from being officially relegated out of the National League South. The ‘keeper has been on the bench in recent games and their 4-1 defeat to Eastbourne means they’ll be in the Southern League next year.

Jordan Thomas was a late substitute for Torquay, but their title challenge took a dent when they conceded twice in the second half to lose at home to Chesham.

The result leaves them fifth in the table, but incredibly, still just three points off the top
. 

Into the regional divisions, and Sherborne’s game against Cowes Sports was called off because of Ferry crossing problems, the perils of playing sides from the Isle of Wight! 

But Wellington did play, they drew 1-1 with Saltash and Jacob Shore backed up a solid midweek 90 minutes with a Man of the Match performance on Saturday.

No game for Bridport, so they, like Sherborne will have to wait for another day.