Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 418)

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Dale Gorman scores his penalty vs Weymouth
Credit: Weymouth Flickr

Yeovil Town midfielder Dale Gorman will be absent from the Glovers’ midfield on Tuesday night after he picked up his 5th booking of the league campaign.

The Northern Irishman has seen yellow against, Halifax, Stockport, Grimsby, Woking and against Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday.

He has also been booked in the FA Cup against Weymouth, but suspensions for the accumulation of bookings is competition specific.

Gorman, has started all 14 league games for the Glovers since joining from Glentoran in the summer, scoring twice, once against Boreham Wood and once in the FA Cup against Yate Town.

Gorman will be back for the weekend when Huish Park welcomes Dover for a 3pm kick off on Saturday.

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Darren Sarll is beginning to see a trend from his ‘settled’ team. Following the win at Dagenham, he told the BBC that the first half performance was one of the best in his time at the club.

“I thought first half in particular, we were really, really good. It’s right up there, that first half performance, in my time here. That’s how good I thought we were. I thought it was a really good performance (in the) first half, we looked controlled, we look settled at the moment which is nice,” he said.

He praised the incredible spirit of last year’s squad after the ordeal they went through, but added that the current group of Glovers are building a close bond.

“They’ve got a real togetherness, and a tightness in their relationships. It does help that they’re all pretty much 21 – 24, minus a couple. And, those seniors players are really really leading them well at the minute.”

“The best thing about the group, their kind of USP, is that they have a unique work ethic and it endears them to people and that’s lovely to see again, a nice moment again with the supporters (at the end).” 

Yeovil are now six unbeaten (don’t let anyone tell you the SPC doesn’t count) and Sarll sees that consistency coming from being able to name unchanged personnel. He said: “We’re starting to see a little bit of a trend and a pattern. It’s nice to see that consistency, but it does get easier when you can consistently roll out the same side.”

Yeovil have another tough test on Tuesday night as they head to 4th-place Bromley. 

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

Darren Sarll was full of praise for the defensive efforts of his Yeovil Town side after the Glovers picked up three points at Dagenham & Redbridge this afternoon.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins following the match Sarll said: “Regardless of 10 v 11, I thought we always had to be concentrating and focused. Again, you see the quality of (Luke) Wilkinson in these minutes, in these moments. The back four and the goalkeeper were excellent and to still have the same amount of goals conceded after coming away to Dagenham, I think they should be very proud of themselves.”

The manager also reserved special mentions for his two fullbacks, Jordan Barnett and Dan Moss, who worked hard to keep the Dagger’s wide players at bay.

“I thought Jordan Barnett and [Dan] Moss at full backs were out best players by a mile. Their defending 1v1 against some good players, in isolation, on their own, no support, I thought it was just magnificent.”

Sarll also praised the work ethic of his side, noting their determination to get back when countered.

“They run so hard, and they work so hard and even when there were some counter attacking moments from our attacking set plays today, the work-ethic of Worthington, Knowles, Wakefield, Gorman, Barnett to get back, I mean poor old Wilko they leave him on the goal line and they all just run back really quickly,” he added.

Dagenham were reduced to ten-men in before half time, with Elliott Johnson given a straight red card for a tackle on Moss, and Sarll indicated there was room for improvement from his team in those situations.

“I think you can see what type of side we are, because, I find, when we do play against ten men, we do struggle to retain the ball for periods that need to be a little bit longer.

What it does, especially when you’re in the lead, it takes the sting out of the game. It means you can breath, it means you can get control, it means you can get territory. Those things are really important, so I was a bit disappointed with our ball retention in the second half,” he said.

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Glovers’ ‘keeper Grant Smith

Yeovil Town Goalkeeper Grant Smith says confidence is high after the Glovers extended their unbeaten run to six with a 1-0 win over Dagenham and Redbridge.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins he said the most pleasing part of the win was restricting a free scoring Dagenham side.

“I think the big thing we took out of that is that we got a clean sheet against the best attacking goal scorers in the league, to come on to their patch, to keep a clean sheet and to really minimise them to not many chances, is very pleasing”

 

Yeovil won the game through a single goal late in the second half, which has been credited to Dagenham’s Paul McCallum as an own goal, but in a crazy few minutes, the Daggers were also reduced to ten-men with Elliot Johnson sent off for the hosts… Smith said, he didn’t see, but that the right decision was made. (Straight out of the Arsene Wenger guide to big moments, there, Grant)

Dagenham did their best to create pressure in the second half, and Smith had plenty of praise for the defensive unit in front of him.

“That back four, (Max) Hunty – some of them headers he had – (Luke) Wilko and then the two full backs (Jordan) Barnett and (Dan) Mossy they were unbelievable.”

“We want to win games, we want to score goals, but at the end of the day, we also want clean sheets, and personally for me, that’s what I want”

Attention turned to another tricky away game at Bromley on Tuesday, but Smith says the Glovers are ready and full of confidence.

“We’re on – I think that’s six unbeaten now – we are starting to really gel together now, we’re keeping them out the back of the net and scoring now also, so yeah, full confidence going into Tuesday”

 

 

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Venue: 
Saturday, November 20th, 15:00, Victoria Park

Conditions: Dry but gloomy
Pitch: Wide

Scorers: Yeovil 1-0 McCallum OG ’46

Attendance:1642(227 Away Fans)

Referee: Adrian Quelch

Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Gorman ’46, Quigley ’82, Barnett ’88
Dagenham: Vilhete ’37, Rance ’41, Clark ’59

Sendings off:
Yeovil Town: None
Dagenham: Johnson ’46


Yeovil Town : (4-3-3)

Grant Smith
Dan Moss, Max Hunt, Luke Wilkinson, Jordan Barnett
Matt Worthington, Josh Staunton, Dale Gorman
Tom Knowles, Adi Yussuf, Charlie Wakefield

Substitutes: Sonny Blu Lo-Everton (For Knowles, ’74) , Joe Quigley (For Yussuf ’60), Morgan Williams (For Worthington ’93), Alex Bradley, Max Evans(GK)

Dagenham & Redbridge: Justham, Reynolds, Clark, Johnson, Ling, Rance, Sagaf, Robinson, Vilhete, Balanta (c), McCallum

Substitutes:  Lawlor (GK), Weston (for Rance ’46), Saunders (for Vilhete ’56), Scott, Akanbi

 

Match Report

A dramatic final two minutes of the first half, saw Yeovil benefit from the only goal of the game as the Glovers beat high flying Dagenham & Redbridge 1-0.

A solid defensive display ensured that the first half own goal from Paul McCallum was all that separated the sides in a feisty encounter, this is how the Gloverscast’s Dave Coates saw the game…

 

First half

After an even opening exchanges, Charlie Wakefield broke down the left and went shoulder-to-shoulder with Callum Reynolds in the box, going down under pressure.

Put that one in the ‘you’ve seen them given, but you’d be annoyed if they were given against you’ box.

That lifted Yeovil and on 17 minutes, Wakefield was through again, but this time his shot was weak in to the arms of keeper Elliot Justham.

Tom Knowles has shot well held by keeper shortly after before Reynolds was gifted a free header but it only went in to the hands of Grant Smith.

The attacking threats of Paul McCallum, back after a five-match suspension, and ex-Yeovil man Angelo Balanta were there in flashes of quality but  without creating too much to trouble Smith.

Balanta put effort wide on 25 minutes and the Colombian came close with a header shortly after, but the first half was dominated by the visitors who looked in control and threatening against an opponent with undoubted quality in their ranks.

It took until the closing stages of the half for the game to break in to life. Knowles and the outstanding Dan Moss linking up well down the left, feeding the ball in to the box where Matt Worthington was lurking, only for Justham to intervene at the vital moment.

From the next move, a long throw by Knowles looped over the defence and skimmed off the head of Daggers’ frontman Paul McCallum for an OWN GOAL as the game entered injury time.

There were numerous bodies in the box and although the goal went down as the hosts’ mistake, it was due in no small part to the Yeovil presence in the box.

But the half was not finished there, and moments later Elliott Johnson flew in for a tackle on Dan Moss, sparking a melee which ended up with Johnson getting a straight red card.

Never leave early for half time.

Half time: Dagenham & Redbridge 0 Yeovil Town 1

If anyone thought going down to ten was going to stop Dagenham from pressing for an equaliser after the break, they were mistaken.

However, the first clear-cut chance came after 55 minutes when Moss’ ball in from the right fizzed through the box where Yussuf was the most obvious target but the ball was cleared.

But, at the other end it was half-time substitute Myles Weston was causing problems down the left hand side, enjoying a running battle with Jordan Barnett, who can feel hard done by to be edged out of contention for my man of the match by Moss, either player could deservedly have claimed it.

But, having soaked up that pressure, it was time for Yeovil to attack. On 63 minutes Wakefield ball found Knowles in space on the edge of the box , his shot was well turned aside by Justham.

To give Dagenham credit for the bulk of the second half, it was not obvious that Yeovil were playing with a one-man advantage.

Dagenham continued to press with Weston at the heart of their threat going forward.

When winger who drew a foul from Barnett with 15 minutes remaining, a fine Josh Staunton header cleared the danger for a corner from which McCallum sent a header goal bound only to be nodded off the line by Wakefield on the post.

Yeovil celebrate following the win over Dagenham – Pic Elliot Watts

From then on there was wave after wave of attacks from the hosts, Weston causing havoc to the extent he was eventually given the sponsors’ man of the match despite playing just the second 45 minutes.

But, aside from a George Saunders’ shot cleared away by Dale Gorman, there were no real threats to Grant Smith in the visitors’ goal.

The exhalation at the final whistle was ecstasy and relief – six unbeaten, we travel to Bromley on Tuesday night with no fear.

 

Full time: Dagenham & Redbridge 0 Yeovil Town 1

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Yeovil Town take on Dagenham & Redbridge this Saturday and have named the exact same squad that played against Eastleigh last week.

The Glovers line up in their now familiar 4-3-3 formation, with Skipper Luke Wilkinson back in the centre of defence once more.

Toby Stephens joined Hemel Hempstead on loan this week, whilst Reuben Reid could be back involved in from next week.

One word of note, Dale Gorman is a single Yellow Card away from a one match league ban having notched up four so far this season.

For Dagenham, former Glover and Wembley Hero (…kind of) Angelo Balanta leads their line and Captains the side.

Yeovil Town: Grant Smith, Dan Moss,  Luke Wilkinson, Max Hunt , Jordan Barnett, Matt Worthington, Dale Gorman, Josh Staunton, Tom Knowles, Adi Yussuf, Charlie Wakefield.

Substitutes: Max Evans, Morgan Williams, Alex Bradley, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, Joe Quigley.

Dagenham & Redbridge: Justham, Reynolds, Clark, Johnson, Ling, Rance, Sagaf, Robinson, Vilhete, Balanta (c), McCallum

Substitutes:  Lawlor (GK), Weston, Saunders, Scott, Akanbi

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Tickets are now on sale for next week’s trip to Wrexham and the Boxing Day trip to Gary Johnson’s Torquay United.

The details are as follows:

Wrexham (away) – Tuesday, November 30 (7.45pm kick-off)

 

As is standard practice these days, there are no sales at The Racecourse stadium on matchday and slightly less usually, tickets are on sale from Huish Park rather than directly from Wrexham.
They are available to buy – HERE.

Prices:
Adult: £20
Concession: (65+ and Under 21): £15
Under 18: £8
Under 11: £5
Torquay (away) – Sunday, December 26 (3pm kick-off)

Away fans have been allocated 237 seats in the Bristow’s Bench Stand and the whole of the Wollens Terrace which has a theoretical 1,100 standing capacity (assuming Health & Safety is still allowing this).

There will be no sales on matchday and therefore all tickets must be bought in advance – CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS.

Prices – seated
Adult: £18
Concession (65+): £16
Under 18: £10
Under 7 (with paying adult): FREE

Prices – Standing
Adult: £16
Concession (65+): £14
Under 18: £10

Under 7 (with paying adult): FREE

 

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Did you want to be in with a chance of winning a 2nd Generation Google Nest Mini to listen to the Gloverscast on?

All you need to do is subscribe to our new weekly email by filling in your details below and you’ll be in with a chance.

Our new Gloversmail will be sent out every Friday at 7pm with the main stories of the week, the latest episode of the podcast and more great Yeovil Town FC content. 

We’ll announce the winner in the Gloversmail on Friday 10th December! 

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Toby Stephens claps the Yeovil fans

Young Yeovil Town midfielder Toby Stephens has joined National League South side Hemel Hempstead Town on a one-month loan deal.

The 18-year-old, who came through the Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust set up and captained its Under-18s side, will link up ahead of The Tudors’ home match with Dartford on Saturday.

Glovers’ manager Darren Sarll had said on Thursday that he expected Stephens to go out on loan to get more first-team experience.

Confirming the move, he said: “Despite our small squad size, I believe it’s fundamental for Toby’s development, that the young man gets some minutes within a first team environment.

“He’s going to be playing one league below us, so it’s a good standard and learning experience for him which we will both reap the rewards from.”

Stephens has made two substitute appearances for the Glovers this season having come off the bench five times in the last National League campaign.

The only first-team fixtures he has started have been the Somerset Premier Cup against Bridgwater United and Larkhall United.

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It’s been a difficult past couple of months for Dagenham & Redbridge who began the National League season like a house on fire.

They were the talk of the opening day after spoiling the party at big-spending Stockport County with a 3-1 win having gone a goal down after just nine minutes.

From there they did not look back with five wins and a draw in their opening six matches, a run which came to an end with a 1-0 defeat at Wrexham on September 18.

A run of three straight league defeats in early October set them back even further and they lie in the final play-off spot in seventh going in to the weekend.

But, at Victoria Road the Daggers have lost only once with conceding two late goals in a 3-2 defeat against Altrincham in the first of at three-game run of defeats.

Last time out, a hat-trick from Angelo Balanta, who played seven times in Yeovil’s League One promotion season in 2013, and another from strike partner Ibby Akbani gave them a 4-1 win at Maidenhead in the FA Cup.

Akbani has already faced the Glovers this season having played for Aldershot Town on August Bank Holiday Monday. The 24-year-old joined on loan for the season at the end of last month.

With top-scorer Paul McCallum out for the past five matches through suspension – he is available again at the weekend – and Josh Walker missing through injury, Dagenham splash out a “five-figure fee” to bring striker Junior Morias in from King’s Lynn Town.

The Jamaican remained on the bench for the FA Cup at Maidenhead  but will be looking to start against the Glovers.

Also, catch our chat with Dagenham & Redbridge fan Terry @CockneyByRites on our latest podcast – here.

FROM (OUR) MANAGER

Speaking ahead of the weekend, Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll was asked about the Daggers, he said: “Dagenham are strong, last year they and Stockport were the strongest recruiters in the division, they had enormous bad luck with availability.

“They have pretty much the same group and they are still adding players, they took Morias from King’s Lynn and Akanbi from Aldershot, so they are still adding to their group.

“That is a great problem for Daryl (McMahon, the Dagenham manager) to have.”

TEAM NEWS

Striker Paul McCallum is available for selection having missed the past five matches through suspension.

The former Barnet frontman, who has six goals this season, was sent off after just two minutes of FA Cup win at Wealdstone last month and then handed a further two match ban for a further charge of improper conduct.

Daggers’ boss Daryl McMahon has said forwards Josh Walker, who has scored five times including four in his first five matches, and Scott Wilson is also missing through injury.

Walker is likely to be out until Christmas with a groin injury whilst Wilson requires surgery of his knee, but is not expected to be back until the middle of January

The form of ex-Glovers’ loanee Angelo Balanta, who has four goals in his last three matches, and strike-partner Ibby Akanbi means McCallum, Walker and Wilson have barely been missed in recent weeks.

Left-back Elliott Johnson and midfielder Joey Jones, who spent the 2013-14 season at Huish Park despite not playing a competitive minute, are also expected to be unavailable.

Jones suffered a stress fracture of his knee in the recent FA Cup defeat to Salford City and will be missing until the start of next year,

Of his absentee, McMahon said: “We’re down some players, but it gives an opportunity for someone else to step in and perform. We know we’ve got a small squad, but it’s a strong squad.”

 

A FOOT IN BOTH CAMPS

 

There’s a good chance that both players wearing the captain’s armband on Saturday will have a foot in both camps.

In the green-and-white corner, Yeovil Town defender Luke Wilkinson played 65 times for the Daggers following his release by Portsmouth in 2010.

He had a couple of spells on loan at Boreham Wood and one at Dartford during his time at Victoria Road before departing for Luton Town in 2014.

For the home side, Angelo Balanta played six times for Gary Johnson’s Glovers whilst on loan from Queens Park Rangers in the 2012-13 season.

The Colombian winger was an unused substitute in the 2-1 play-off final win over Brentford which secured promotion to the Championship.

If you’ve not heard it, check out our podcast with former Yeovil Town press officer Jimmy Healey for a great story about Balanta’s celebration – here.

He had a spell at Bristol Rovers, helping them out of the Football Conference in 2015, before moving to Carlisle United, Boreham Wood and eventually arriving at Dagenham in October 2018.

Also likely to start for the visitors at the weekend are Joe Quigley, dubbed ‘a head of a stick’ by some Dagenham fans, when he arrived at Yeovil just over a year ago.

The London-born striker scored six times in 32 appearances during his time at Victoria Road, but having missed a couple of ‘sitters’ never found a home at the club before moving to South Somerset.

Another Glover who remains well-regarded by the Daggers’ fans is Josh Staunton.

He arrived in Essex following his release by Gillingham in the summer of 2016 and made 37 appearances as they reached the Conference play-offs missing out to eventual winners Forest Green Rovers.

Despite playing in most positions in defence, Staunton was allowed to leave and joined Woking for the following season and then moved to FC Halifax Town from whom he joined Yeovil in summer 2020.

Less likely to be on the pitch at the weekend is Dagenham midfielder Joey Jones, who is a doubt through injury for the weekend.

The midfielder spent his youth career at Arsenal and Leicester but having signed for Yeovil in 2013 after playing in a behind-closed-doors friendly he failed to make an appearance.

In January 2014, he was loaned out to Woking who he eventually joined permanently at the end of the season and when on to play 162 times for the Cards.

He arrived at Victoria Road, via Eastleigh and Salford City, in November 2020.

Other players with connections with both clubs include Paul Terry who joined Yeovil from the Daggers in 2003, going on to play 135 times in green-and-white.

Rhys Murphy, of course top-scorer at Huish Park for the past two seasons, had a decent 18 months at Dagenham between 2013 and 2015, and Mitch Brundle whose career began at Yeovil where he failed to make a start and spent the past two seasons with Dagenham before moving to Barnet this summer.

Another is Jake Howells who had six games on loan from Luton Town – remember him? No, me neither. Played a bit more for