Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 414)

Yeovil Town 3 Southend United 1 – Saturday 20th November 2004

In our first couple of seasons in the league, Yeovil had some big games against Southend. In the first league meeting of the two teams in November 2003, it was the Lee Johnson show as the midfield maestro scored two goals and three assists in a 4-0 win. The return fixture was the penultimate away game of the season, when two goals from Dani Rodrigues kept Yeovil in the play-off race. In May 2005 of course, the two sides would meet in a top of the table clash with just two games to go, which will no doubt feature in a future throwback.

Southend’s visit to Huish Park in November 2004 was a critical time for both clubs. After a mixed start, Yeovil had briefly gone top of League Two with a 2-1 win away at Shrewsbury in September. However what followed was a run of just two points from five games, including defeat at Scunthorpe and the memorable night which saw a 2-0 lead given away against nine-man Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium. Dropping down to 8th, it was not clear whether the new signings of Jevons, Tarachulslki, Stolcers, Caceres and Rose would be enough to mount a serious title challenge.

In the opposition corner were Southend, who had started slowly after a disappointing season in 2003/04, only just avoiding relegation. With only two points from the first five games, from September onwards their form began to improve and by the time the two teams met they were into the playoff places, with four wins from their last six games. The Shrimpers had been boosted by the arrival of Freddy Eastwood in October, who would go on to score 24 goals in the season.

With the visit of potential promotion challengers in good form, it was a test of Yeovil’s mettle in front of just under 6,000 fans. The Glovers created several chances in the first half with Jevons hitting the bar, and the striker went one better just before half time, giving Yeovil the lead with a deft header from a Gavin Williams cross. Southend rallied in the second half and scored an almost identical equaliser, with former Bristol Rovers defender Adam Barrett heading in a free kick from captain Kevin Maher.

The game remained even before turning in Yeovil’s favour with just a few minutes to go. Gavin Williams, in one of his last games for the club before his move to West Ham, was pulled back in midfield by Maher, who was shown a very soft second yellow and was dismissed on 82 minutes. The resultant free kick was floated in by Lee Johnson and stabbed home by Scott Guyett for his first goal for the club. A minute after the restart Kevin Gall ran almost the entire length of the pitch with the ball and crossed for Bartosz Tarachulski to convert a diving header and give the scoreline a more comfortable look. A tough game against quality opponents who would be up there come the end of the season, had seen Yeovil come out on top.

After an indifferent run of form had seen the Glovers drop down to 8th, the Southend game perhaps gave a boost to the team’s confidence and signalled something of a return to form, as the win took them up to third in the table and began a run of 11 wins in 12 league and cup games over the festive period, which would take them to the top of the League Two table ahead of Scunthorpe early in the New Year of 2005. Southend would lead the table late in the season and also get to the final of the LDV Trophy at the Millennium Stadium. They were eventually promoted via the playoffs.

Team that day: Chris Weale, Paul Terry (sub. Andy Lindegaard, 77), Michael Rose, Scott Guyett, Colin Miles, Darren Way, Lee Johnson, Gavin Williams, Andrejs Stolcers (sub. Kevin Gall, 77), Bartosz Tarachulski, Phil Jevons. Subs not used: Steve Collis, Roy O’Brien, Adrian Caceres

A pair of Yeovil Town heroes of the late 1990s have spoken about their memories of playing for the club on its way back from its lowest ebb in recent years.

Striker Howard Forinton and captain Micky Engwell were part of the side which won promotion the ICIS League, the sixth tier, back in to the Conference in 1997 after two seasons away.

In the first of a new series, Glovers Past from the Gloverscast, at the request of some of our listeners (and one of our regular contributors!), the pair have relived their memories of that time.

Yeovil Town with the ICIS League trophy at the end of the 1996-97 season.
Picture courtesy of Tim Lancaster.

Forinton, who came back for two further spells in the early 2000s, scored 23 goals in 21 appearances that season.

He spoke about the supporters who would follow the team across the country, saying: “We were turning up at places not expecting to get beaten against decent opposition, but there was so much confidence in the side. I just could not see us ever losing.

“When we went away, the away support would sometimes outnumber the home fans two to one and just coming out and seeing those numbers was just inspirational – we knew we could not let them down.

Engwell said he could not turn down the opportunity to travel from his home in Essex when then-Glovers’ boss Graham Roberts contacted him following the club’s relegation from the Conference in the summer of 1995.

The full-back said: “When the Yeovil job came for Graham, he contacted me and asked if I would be interested in the travelling and I knew the fan base and the history.

“I was only too pleased to join him and travel down there for the seasons I had there, it was the best and most enjoyable football I have played in my career.

Yeovil is a massive club, when someone offers you the opportunity to join a club like that you jump at the chance.”

The pair also spoke about their memories of a night at Huish Park where 8,007 fans packed in to the ground to watch a 2-2 draw with title rivals Enfield in March 1997.

Forinton revealed that it was that then-Birmingham City manager Trevor Francis was in the crowd that night at the invitation of his former Rangers’ team-mate, Yeovil manager Graham Roberts.

At the end of the season, Forinton went on to join the Blues along with full-back Jerry Gill.

Engwell scored the opener after just five minutes, but admitted he may not have meant it: “I have never said anything, but I think I was crossing it to Warren (Patmore), but I told everyone I chipped the goalkeeper!”

Courtesy of the Green & White Goals archive, here’s that match and the goal – make up your own minds!

 

Venue: The Racecourse Ground
Tuesday November 30th, 7:45pm kick-off

Conditions: Not quite ‘hand warmer’ cold, with a fair breeze.
Pitch: A lovely, if slippy, carpet

Attendance:  8057 (103 away supporters)

Scorers: Josh Staunton 64, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton 82,

Referee: Scott Tallis

Sending off:
Wrexham: 
McAlinden 34

Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Moss 44
Wrexham: Lennon 36



Yeovil Town
: (4-3-3)

Grant Smith
Dan Moss, Max Hunt, Josh Staunton, Morgan Williams
Matt Worthington, Dale Gorman, Jordan Barnett
Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, Adi Yussuf, Charlie Wakefield

Substitutes: Luke Wilkinson (for Lo-Everton, 88), Alex Bradley (for Yussuf, 81), Ollie Haste, Max Evans.

Wrexham: Lainton, Hall-Johnson, Hayden, Tozer, Lennon (Jones, 69), Hosannah (Green, 78), Young, Davies, McAlinden, Ponticelli (Hyde, 78), Mullin

Substitutes (not used): Dibble (GK), French,


Match Report

Yeovil players celebrate with fans at Wrexham

Yeovil Town finished off a sensational November by beating Wrexham away at Hollywood Boulevard, aka, the Racecourse Ground.
Luke Wilkinson dropped to the bench after an overnight illness whilst Tom Knowles was absent following the body slam he received a the hands of ‘Hulk Hogan’ on Saturday.
Sonny Blu Lo Everton and Morgan Williams replaced them in the now customary, 4-3-3 line up.

Make sure you record this episode of the Netflix documentary, it’ll be one to savour, but only if you’re a Glover

First half

Yeovil Town started this game brightly, knowing a quick start would not only banish the demons of going behind early against Dover, but also prove as to be the only way this star studded Wrexham side were likely to be got at.

Within a few minutes of the start, Yeovil were whipping in multiple corners as the Wrexham defence hastily cleared their lines, the deliveries weren’t great, but Jordan Barnett was just getting his eye in for later.

The game always had something of a tense edge to it, Adi Yussuf getting booed every time he touched the ball as an ex-Dragons player.

A side of Wrexham’s quality were never going to kept quiet for long, Ben Tozer, a former Glover of course, was launching his Delap-esque throws whilst the attacking intent of Liam McAlinden and Luke Young to race beyond the home side’s front duo was always a tactic.

Dan Moss in action vs Grimsby. Pic Credit @leeblease

Neither ‘keeper had much in the way of a proper save to make by the time the main talking point of the match came around, a needless, reckless challenge on Dan Moss saw McAlinden shown a straight red.

He was adjudged to have led with an elbow long after Moss had cleared his lines and the Irishman was off.

Even with ten men Wrexham had chances to create openings, they had a penalty shout of their own turned down, but the all too familiar sight of a Yeovil defence standing tall took the game through to half time… a moment, finally, for some calm.

Half time: Wrexham 0 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

Wrexham made a tactical change at the break, a back four saw Tozer move into a defensive midfield role, whilst Yeovil knew calm heads and a patient approach would be the best way forward.

Jordan Barnett in his advanced role was proving a nuisance for the home side, he, along with Dale Gorman and Matt Worthington harried and hustled their hosts into countless errors.

Paul Mullin became more anonymous and Max Hunt kept Jordan Ponticelli quiet.

At the other end, gaps were starting to show and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and Charlie Wakefield combined on a couple of occasions to create chances, the final ball often just lacking an extra ounce of quality.

With an hour gone, Yeovil had another chance to put the ball in the box from a Jordan Barnett free kick, whilst initially cleared, he delivered a second cross beyond the Dragons’ back line, unmarked, with the freedom of Wales Josh Staunton was on hand to neatly apply the finish.

A tricky volley that squirmed beyond the ‘keeper who will feel he should have kept it out.

Wrexham made changes almost immediately and it bring a spell of pressure, for Yeovil to deal with, Bryce Hosannah was a constant threat and Cameron Greene was creating plenty of space with fresher legs than most.

The game was put beyond doubt with ten minutes left, when Alex Bradley delivered a wonderful ball to Max Hunt following another Yeovil set piece.

Hunt’s shot was wonderfully saved, Wakefield saw his follow up blocked, but Sonny Blu Lo Everton didn’t miss the third time, hammering the ball home from 10 yards.

The final few moments were relatively untroubled for Yeovil with the 8000 home fans streaming for the exit, Darren Sarll’s side saw the game out and recorded a fourth successive away win in November.

Full time: Wrexham 0 Yeovil Town 2

 

Yeovil Town completed an unbeaten November with a fantastic 2-0 win away at Wrexham, two thirds of the Gloverscast were there, with Ben Barrett keeping up his record this season of not seeing the Glovers even concede, let alone lose!

He was alongside Sheridan Robins in the commentary box and here are his five conclusions from a brilliant night in North Wales!

Five Conclusions: Wrexham 0 – 2 Yeovil

I think I’ve just about made it back down to earth following Yeovil’s 2-0 win over Wrexham, a night that I think will go down as a special night for the 103 Yeovil fans who made the journey.

When we first got the team sheet, there was a look of realisation that hadn’t maybe sunk in properly before, but we are down to the barest bones, and it’s not going to get any easier.

Sorry to start with a negative, I’ll get to the good stuff in a bit, but our bench had a Goalkeeper with nothing more than a couple Somerset Premier Cup games to his name, a 17-year old college student, an experienced pro who was touch and go for a game a couple days ago, was ill overnight and probably shouldn’t have been there and Mr Versatile – Alex Bradley.

Bradley, who has done nothing wrong in his minutes so far, was probably the ONLY option for Darren Sarll. He came on for Adi Yussuf which meant a reshuffle tactically, but we need some bodies in the squad… and quickly.

Right, OK, onto the good stuff.

Morgan Williams, a bit like Alex Bradley has had to wait for his chance, but he got it last night… albeit out of position at left back… and grabbed it with both hands.

Nothing phased him, with Reece Hall-Johnson a constant threat, the ever dangerous Paul Mullin drifting onto his side to avoid Josh Staunton’s back pocket he dealt with everything brilliantly.

Not just defensively either, he took chances to move forward, to play brave passes, to try and start attacks and get involved with Barnett and Wakefield further forward.

This was the best I’ve seen from him, and to have him pushing Wilko, Hunt and co for positions can only be a good thing. 

I think it’s time to add Paul Mullin to the long list of highly influential players Yeovil have kept quiet.

Let’s get this right, he’s a League One striker, he’s better than this division by at least 24 places, but arguably so is Paddy Madden, so is Jordan Slew, so is Matt Warbuton, so is Tavhon Campbell, so is Michael Cheek, so is Joe Sbarra, so is Paul McCallum, you get the picture.

What is it about the league’s best that just cannot get the job done against Yeovil?
The only common denominators are Messrs Wilkinson, Hunt, Staunton, Worthington and Gorman.

At this level, maybe teams have a few stars with everyone else at a similar level, maybe Darren Sarll has cottoned on to that it can be just as simple as keeping those players quiet.

Wrexham fans sung Paul Mullins’ name time and time again almost as if to ask when he was going to do what he ALWAYS does.

But that didn’t happen, and opposition players will know that.

It’s Elliot List of Stevenage on Saturday, Adam Marriott at Barnet followed by… someone… maybe… at W*ymouth. Bring ’em on.

Loan signing Dan Moss in action
Pic: Mike Kunz.

A special word for Dan Moss.

With an elbow to his head, followed a target on his back, the 21-year old Millwall loanee had to play like a 31-year old YTFC veteran for 60 something minutes.

Not only was he in something of a makeshift defence, but he was an attacking outlet with Tom Knowles missing from that right hand side.

He was kicked, pushed, tackled late, shoved over and each and every time, he just got up and kept his cool.

That might have been a new experience for the young lad to be booed by nearly 8000 people and we’ve seen plenty crumble under that pressure.

On a yellow card himself, Darren Sarll could have pulled the trigger and taken him off, but he trusted his man to see the game out.

Dan Moss will have learned more in one night than maybe the rest of his short career combined, he passed every test with flying colours and is quickly rising up the loan-hero ranking at YTFC, he’s got Connor Roberts and Remeo Hutton ahead of him in that right back spot… but he’s closing fast.

Good luck to Mark Little who has to try and get him out the team.

Finally, a look at the table and maybe the future.

Darren Sarll said that as long as his Yeovil side were within touching distance of the play-offs come the turn of the year, we maybe have a chance.

Injuries permitting, we could give it a go in the second half of the season.

At the time of writing, we’re 10th on 28 points. Wrexham occupy the final play off spot in 7th on 30 points having played a game more.

We’ve played EVERY ONE of the top 14 sides so far this season, with Barnet (15th), Torquay twice (17th), Weymouth (19th) and Wealdstone (16th) coming up between now and the turn of the year…

This is an opportunity, none of those games are a guaranteed three points, but…

I’d say with a fair chunk of those next 15 points comes a great chance to be more than just within ‘touching distance’.

I enjoyed that one, I hope you did too.

Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll admitted he was nervous about putting out a reconfigured defence in the 2-0 win at big-spending Wrexham on Tuesday night.

The Glovers’ boss took out club captain Luke Wilkinson due to illness and replaced him with stand-in skipper Josh Staunton and brought centre half Morgan Williams for only his second league start – at left-back!

Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Speaking with BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the match in North Wales, he said the addition of Williams in place of Jordan Barnett, who played further forward, was to deal with the dangerous long throws of former Glovers midfielder Ben Tozer.

Sarll said: “I was a little worried about how it would look playing Jordan  in midfield and and a centre half at left back (in Williams).

“I thought can that be explained and maybe excused if it doesn’t go right?

“I thought with the ball coming (from Tozer’s long throws) to the back post, Morgan would deal with it better than Jordan, but I thought Jordan would collect the ball far higher up the pitch

“And I didn’t want two young ones at the back, I wanted Staunton’s voice, and we got away without playing Wilkinson.

“I said to Terry (Skiverton, assistant manager) ‘we got away with that one’ and he said ‘we haven’t got away with anything, we’ve been very good’ and he was quite right.”

Of Wilkinson, the boss added: “He was a little bit poorly and under the weather last night and normally when these things happen with Luke, that is when he normally breaks and I didn’t want to do that with such an important game coming up on Saturday.

The other change saw Sonny Blu Lo-Everton come in as part of the visitors’ front three in place on Tom Knowles, who dropped out having been dazed by being slammed to the floor by Dover’s Danny Collinge in a 1-1 draw at the weekend.

The Watford loanee got the second with seven minutes to go and was praised by his manager.

He said: “(Sonny) only came out of the side because he got his injury (in the 2-0 defeat) at Grimsby and then we’ve gone on this run, so he’s had to wait which is what you have to do as a young footballer.

“He has great character, very low maintenance and he has good quality, my only criticism of him at the moment would have been his return with goals.

“But, in that moment, he’s got the slowest brain on the pitch – I don’t mean ‘thick’, I mean calmness and composure – and that is why he looks so graceful and balanced all the time.

“He took it very well, but we had two misses before that so it was good technique from Sonny.”

The win moves Yeovil up to tenth in the National League table, two points off the play-off places and 14 away from the relegation zone, and means they have taken 17 points from the last possible 21.

Sarll again praised the character of his side saying: “October was not a particularly great month for us, but (these players) are great.

“They know what we are doing with them, we know their characters and the uniqueness of the team is that they are willing to sacrifice for everyone and the management team are willing to sacrifice for them.

“When you get that nice dynamic, it can be a powerful tool to use, but we are what we are and we’ve got what we’ve got (in terms of players) and they are all performing at their optimum and they should be very proud of themselves.

“There’s no quality better than being a trier and they are certainly doing that.”

This is the first in our brand new feature, Glovers Past on the Gloverscast.

You asked for Howard Forinton and Micky Engwell, and Dave just about managed to keep the squeals in during a half an hour chat.

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Yeovil Town stand-in skipper Josh Staunton has hailed the spirit of the team after a 2-0 win at big-spending Wrexham.

He scored his first goal for the club after 64 minutes at a wet and windy Racecourse Ground and put in another solid performance against one of the division’s promotion favourites.

The win stretches the unbeaten run to nine games and sees the Glovers unbeaten throughout January with 10 points from their last 12.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins, Staunton said: “Money buys you certain things, but we are here for Yeovil (Town) Football Club and the spirit and heart we have that is priceless.

“We have been showing that this last month with some results where we have dug in, tonight we stood up where we needed to and we have come out with a result regardless of resources.

I have been in teams where there has been a lot more experience, but the heart in some of those young lads, especially key players like Mossy who are not Yeovil players like Mossy (Dan Moss) who is not (a contracted player).

“You can’t ask for much more, they have been giving everything and when we have been tested with a small squad, every player has stood up and you can’t ask much more.”

Staunton was full of praise for his defensive team-mates who were excellent against a star-studded Wrexham frontline including big money summer signings Paul Mullin and Jake Hyde.

He added: “I thought the back four were excellent today, young Hunty alongside me and the two full-backs.

“Morgan Williams stepping in at left-back was a different class, some of the headers he won at the back stick and even just coming inside on his right foot was excellent.

“It is not easy stepping in when you have been out in the cold, coming back from injury.”

 

 

Yeovil Town have been handed a home draw against Woking in the Third Round of the FA Trophy.

The draw was made at 1pm on Monday and all ties will be played the weekend of the 18th of December.

The two sides met earlier this season at Huish Park, the Glovers winning 2-0 thanks to goals from Tom Knowles and Charlie Wakefield.

Last season Yeovil forfeited their FA Trophy tie against Boreham Wood after a COVID break meant the game couldn’t be rescheduled within the appropriate time frame.

Should the Glovers be successful in this third round tie they will receive £4500 in prize money, whilst teams exiting the competition at this stage will take home just £1250.

A reminder that no ties in this season’s competitions will be subject to a replay if ending in a draw and as such the game will be decided on the day.

Ticket [and if applicable travel] details will be announced in due course.

In the last six games there is no side in better form in the National League.

The Dragons from the Hollywood hills of…err…North Wales have won four and drawn two of their league encounters and you have to go back to the end of October to find their last defeat.

But, looking on the positive side, Yeovil Town have the same record in their past six matches surpassed by their hosts on Tuesday night by virtue of their goal difference.

Wrexham have a goal difference of plus 12 with the Glovers having one of plus five for their respective 14 points tallies.

Another ray of hope for Darren Sarll’s men will be that their big-spending hosts’ form is largely built on their away form, also the best in the division, with their home form showing three draws and three wins from their past six – still not bad.

Manager Phil Parkinson said he had been drumming the need to stick to their game plan in front of their own fans.

Following Saturday’s 2-0 home win over Bromley, he said: “We have been speaking to the lads about sustaining performances at home and concentrating on what we need to do, sticking to the game plan.

I felt we did that today and we said to the lads at half-time that we owe it to ourselves to make sure we keep doing the right things right until the end.

“It is not just 75 minutes, we have to concentrate and move the ball quickly, make those angles and try and put quality in the box and I felt we stuck to that.

The story of Wrexham’s takeover by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney needs little re-telling and the owners have backed manager Phil Parkinson in the transfer market.

Marquee signings include star striker Paul Mullin, who turned down the chance of League One football with Cambridge United to join the Dragons, and has only failed to find the net four times in 14 appearances this season.

Alongside Mullin in the win over Bromley was Jake Hyde, who was top scorer at FC Halifax Town last season, back from injury and unlucky to have two goals ruled out for offside at the weekend.

Former Yeovil midfielder Ben Tozer followed in Mullin’s footsteps leaving League One Cheltenham Town to join the Hollywood blockbuster – we can only assume the climate of North Wales was the appeal!

Defender Aaron Hayden dropped out of the League at Carlisle United, but may be missing for the visit of Yeovil with a virus.

If you are making the midweek trip to North Wales, don’t miss our Ciderspace Away Travel Guide to the Racecourse Ground – here.


FROM THE MANAGER

Speaking after the weekend’s win over Bromley, Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson said his side were looking to continue their climb up the National League table.

He said: “We are gradually working our way up the league, we are on a decent run and we aim to continue that on Tuesday night.

It was important for us to get a win after the draw at home to Wealdstone in the last match here, and we will go in to the Yeovil game which we know will be tough.

“They went down to Bromley and beat them in the week and we know they are a resilient type of team, but by Tuesday night we will have put a lot of thought in to the team selection and hopefully we pick the right eleven, the right bench and go and get three points.


TEAM NEWS

Playmaker Dan Jarvis is a doubt for the visit of Yeovil having been stretchered off in the weekend’s home win over Bromley.

The former Stoke City youngster, who has featured five this this month including starting the last two matches, was the victim of an full-blooded tackle which saw Bromley’s Liam Trotter see red after just eight minutes.

Defender Aaron Hayden the Bromley match with a virus and is therefore also a doubt.

Hayden, who dropped out of the League at Carlisle to join the Hollywood revolution in North Wales in the summer, was replaced by youngster Tyler French.

According to Wrexham fans, fellow centre half Harry Lennon struggles to play twice in a few days meaning the absence of him and Hayden could be a weakness in the hosts’ armoury.


A FOOT IN BOTH CAMPS

Two players with a foot in both camps could find themselves facing off against each other at the Racecourse Ground.

For Yeovil Town, striker Adi Yussuf scored six times in 16 appearances for the Dragons whilst on loan last season, whilst Ben Tozer played 26 times for Yeovil in the 2015-16 season.

Yussuf could find himself on the wrong end of the home supporters having allegedly got off the team coach en route to a match with Eastleigh to force a move to Chesterfield on transfer deadline day in January.

Tozer, who rejected a new contract offer at Huish Park at the end of his spell and joined Newport County, is likely to get a more neutral response from the travelling supporters.

Top scorer Joe Quigley, out until Christmas with a knee injury, spent four matches on loan at Wrexham in 2015 whilst an AFC Bournemouth player, scoring a late equaliser in a match against Tranmere Rovers in October that year.

Other players with a foot in both camps include:

  • Gold Omotayo (Yeovil Town – 2019-2020, Wrexham – 2021)
  • Iffy Allen (Yeovil Town – 2015-2016, Wrexham – 2017)
  • Mark Beck (Yeovil Town – 2015-16, Wrexham – loan – 2016)
  • Izale McLeod (Yeovil Town – 2015-16, Wrexham – 2017)
  • Chris Dunn (Yeovil Town – 2013-14, Wrexham 2016-18)
  • Daniel Alfei (Wrexham – 2012/2013, Yeovil Town 2017-2018)
  • Andy Bishop (Yeovil Town – loan – 2004, Wrexham – 2013-15)
  • Kevin Gall (Yeovil Town – 2003-2006, Wrexham – 2010-2011)