Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 45)

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Mark Cooper speaks to the club's social media following the 3-1 pre-season friendly win at Bath City.

Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper has said that he’s had to adapt his side for the rigours of two games in three days, with his team selection for Braintree.

The Glovers have made a number of changes with Harvey Greenslade [Groin] dropping to the bench and Charlie Cooper [Achilles] missing out altogether to ensure they can play a part on Bank Holiday Monday. 

Speaking to the BBC’s Josh Perkins, the gaffer said;

“We’ve got Wannell back and Plant back, so they come straight in the team, 

[Charlie Cooper] is really sore, the other night, he wanted to keep playing to make sure we got the three points, he’s going to rest today and hopefully be OK for Monday.”

On the busy schedule, which will see the Glovers do Wednesday – Saturday – Monday, before back to back midweek fixtures at the start of September, Cooper said that it puts sides like his at a disadvantage.

“It punishes the clubs with smaller squads, because we can’t change, where as Forest Green have got 26 players, good for them, but if there’s a salary cap, there’s a certain amount of money, you’ve got to either have 22 average players or 15/16 good ones.

But then, if you’ve got to play two games in three days or four games in nine days, it’s virtually impossible, we need a bit of luck, we’re going to have to try and manage the situation, but it’s about trying to win the game.”

As for the game today, Cooper hopes the changes can still give his side the best chance of taking the points from a traditionally tough place to play, so long as his side have their running boots on!

“Aaron Jarvis comes in today, Harvey had a bit of a tight groin, but we’ve got Monday in mind, so as well as Harvey did the other night, by not starting him today, he should be flying for Monday.

They should be expecting to be strong at home and try and win your home games so, it’s a tough place to come, you can see the pitch is rock hard, you see the surroundings, but you have to deal with that, you have to be committed, you have to be diligent and you have to run.

The message to the players in all of our work, is that when we have really high speed, long distance running in good numbers, we win games. It’s about getting that mentality through the group that we have to run.”

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Yeovil Town make four changes from the 2-1 home win over Brackley on Wednesday.

James Plant returns for his third debut for the Glovers after joining on loan from Port Vale, whilst Jake Wannell returns from suspension to skipper the side – Aaron Jarvis starts up top. 

Alex Whittle and Junior Morias drop to the bench as does Harvey Greenslade, whilst there’s no place at all in the squad for Charlie Cooper, his place in the starting eleven is taken by Finn Cousin-Dawson.

 

 

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Yeovil Town kick off the August Bank Holiday double header on Saturday with a trip to Essex to face Braintree Town.

Form…

Yeovil Town

Three games into the season and teams are starting to see where they are in terms of quality against other teams in the league. For Yeovil it has been a mixed start to the National League Premier Division season, which is shown in the form as they have drawn, lost and won their opening three fixtures.

Last time out the Glovers faced newly-promoted Brackley Town beating the Saints 2-1 at Huish Park on Wednesday night. Goals from Josh Sims and Ben Wodskou secured the first three points of the season for the team. A late goal from Brackley’s Tyler Lyttle gave the Glovers a scare but they got to the final whistle.

On loan Birmingham City striker Ben Wodskou was Yeovil’s hero on Wednesday night.

Braintree Town

The Iron start to the season hasn’t been to dissimilar to that of Yeovil’s. The Essex club have won one game and lost two and they sit just below the Glovers in the table.

Having started the campaign with an impressive 3-0 win at home to FC Halifax Town, followed by another win at the Rare Breeds Meat Company Stadium over Leicester City’s kids in the National League Cup, they have lost their last two matches.

A defeat at Hartlepool United last weekend was followed by a 2-1 loss at Boreham Wood in midweek. Probably more worryingly than the results is the fact they have had a player sent off in both fixtures. In their last game, it was former Glovers’ loanee Frankie Terry who was shown red, ruling him out from facing his former team-mates at the weekend.

The game will be big for both sides as each team could use it as a platform to kick on for the season.

Key Players…

Yeovil Town – Josh Sims

Sims has had an odd start to life in Somerset. Joining around this time last year on free, the former Southampton man was seen as a big coup for the Glovers, however his performances last term led many to believe he would be leaving over the summer having seemingly fallen out of Yeovil boss Mark Cooper’s plans towards the end of the campaign.

Josh Sims breaks away.
Josh Sims breaks away. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

However, this season has seen a rejuvenated Sims. He has starting all three games and playing two full 90 minutes and one 81 minutes so far. Against Brackley, the 28-year-old found the net for Yeovil’s first goal of the season and bagging a sack of spuds in the process.

If Sims can maintain this form he could be just what Yeovil need to improve on last year’s position.

Braintree Town – John Akinde

The forward is very much a nomadic character in the lower echelons of English football, playing for no more than 17 clubs in his 19 year career. Playing the majority of his career as a centre forward Akinde has bagged 182 goals and set up 70 goals for his team mates.

Although he hasn’t found the net yet this season, the 36-year-old did captain his side last time out and will looking to break his duck this season. He scored ten for The Iron in the National League last season – including the opening goal at Huish Park back in December.

John Akinde puts Braintree Town ahead. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

The Gaffer….

Steve Pitt is the man faced with out witting Mark Cooper on Saturday as he takes charge of his second match against Yeovil.  Pitt’s only previous game against the Glovers, he lost 3-1 at Huish Park.

In his career the 64-year-old hasn’t left Essex with a spells as manager of Clacton and then Leighton before moving into the role of Director of Football at Heybridge Swift in 2016. Then in 2020, he joined Chelmsford in the same role before leaving Billericay’s Director of Football a year later.

He moved on again after just a year in that role to become Angelo Harrop‘s number two at Braintree, where he enjoyed early success with Harrop. After the young manager’s sacking in November last year, Pitt took over in the December for his first managerial role in 14 years and he did it with some success finishing 17th, one place about Yeovil and three points adrift of the relegation places.

Two of those wins came against eventual champions Barnet and promotion-chasing York City, so let’s put some respect on those.

Last Time We Met…

These two sides last faced each other just before Christmas last year. The game finished 3-1 to the Glovers, with goals from Aaron Jarvis, on loan defender Ed James, and a late strike from Brett McGavin.

When the two sides last met in Essex, it finished 0-1 to Yeovil with Morgan Williams bagging the only goal.

Morgan Williams wheels away as the ball nestles in to the Braintree net.

Don’t I Know You?

Just the one this week for ex-Glovers to look out for, in the shape of centre-back Frankie Terry – but you’ll need to look in the stands for him.

Frankie Terry – The Colchester United defender spent time on loan at Huish Park last season, making 10 appearances for the club. Terry is also the son of former Glovers midfielder, Paul. As mentioned above, he’ll be unavailable through suspension following his red card at Boreham Wood on Wednesday.

Man In The Middle…

The man in charge of the officials is Peter Wright who last took charge of a Yeovil game six years ago. Read here more information on the officials. 

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Jed Ward during his pre-match warm up.

We all thought the addition of Jed Ward was going to be a fairly positive one this season, but, did we expect he would win the first THREE Man of the Match votes?

I’m not sure I did, but he has, and in fairly convincing fashion as you can see below.

The Bristol Rovers loanee made a number of match defining saves and picks up the three-peat.

Spudman Sims and Tahvon Campbell complete the top three, both taking their first spot on the mythical podium for the season.

DATEOPPONENTRESPONSES1ST
(Votes / Percent)		2ND
(Votes / Percent)		3RD
(Votes / Percent)
August
09.08.2025HARTLEPOOL
(Home, 0-0 draw)		172JED WARD
(52 / 32.4%)
Morgan Williams
(44 / 25.6%)		Jake Wannell
(22 / 12.8%)
16.08.2025FOREST GREEN
(Away, 2-0 loss)		87JED WARD
(39 / 44.8%)
Byron Pendleton
(16 / 18.4%)		Morgan Williams
(11 / 12.6%)
20.08.2025BRACKLEY TOWN
(Home, 2-1 win)		153JED WARD
(89 / 58.2%)
Josh Sims
(23 / 15%)		Tahvon Campbell
(14 / 9.2%)
23.08.2025BRAINTREE TOWN
(Away, 1-0 loss)		71JED WARD
(29 / 40.8%)
Josh Sims
(15 / 21.1%)		James Plant
(7 / 9.9%)
25.08.2025GATESHEAD
(Home, 4-3 loss)		174HARVEY GREENSLADE
(65 / 37.4%)
Junior Morias
(59 / 33.9%)		Josh Sims
(23 / 13.2%)
30.08.2025HALIFAX
(Away, 3-2 loss)		93JOSH SIMS
(36 / 38.7%)		Harvey Greenslade
(29 / 31.2%)		Junior Morias
(13 / 14%)
AUGUST PLAYER OF THE MONTH 🥇 JED WARD
(12 PTS, 3 MOTM)
🥈 JOSH SIMS
(8 PTS, 1 MOTM)		🥉 HARVEY GREENSLADE
(5 PTS, 1 MOTM)
02.09.2025SOLIHULL M
(Away, 1-0 win)		98 JUNIOR MORIAS
(28 / 28.3%)		Luke McCormick
(24 / 24.2%)		Jed Ward
(15 / 15.2%)
06.09.2025YORK CITY
(Home, 3-1 loss)		108JOSH SIMS
(48 / 44.4%)		Luke McCormick
(33 / 30.6%)		Jed Ward
(7 / 6.5%)
13.09.2025WOKING
(Home, 1-0 win)		127 LUKE MCCORMICK
(47 / 37%)		Kyle Ferguson
(37 / 29.1%)		Harvey Greenslade
(11 / 8.7%)
20.09.2025TAMWORTH
(Away, 1-0 loss)		62JED WARD
(17 / 27.4%)		Kyle Ferguson
(10 / 16.1%)		Josh Sims
(7 / 11.3%)
24.09.2025ALDERSHOT
(Away, 4-1 win)		94ANDREW OLUWABORI
(36 / 38.3%)
Tahvon Campbell
(25 / 26.6%)		Luke McCormick
(10 / 10.6%)
27.09.2025ALTRINCHAM
(Home, 1-0 win)		154ANDREW OLUWABORI
(51 / 33.1%)
Jed Ward
(37 / 24%)		Morgan Williams
(18 / 11.7%)
30.09.2025SUTTON UTD
(Away 2-1 win)		119JOSH SIMS
(88 / 73.9%)		Andrew Oluwabori
(20 / 16.8%)		Jed Ward
(6 / 5%)
SEPTEMBER PLAYER OF THE MONTH 🥇 ANDREW OLUWABORI
(8 PTS / 2 MOTM)

🥈 JED WARD
(8 PTS / 1 MOTM)		🥉 JOSH SIMS
(7 PTS / 2 MOTM)
04.10.2025BOREHAM WOOD
(Home - 0-3 loss)		87JED WARD
(61 / 70.1%)		Harvey Greenslade
(10 / 11.5%)		Kyle Ferguson
(5 / 5.7%)
11.10.2025HEMEL HEMPSTEAD
(Away 2-1 loss)		44HARVEY GREENSLADE
(18 / 40.9%)		Jed Ward
(10 / 22%)		Byron Pendleton
(6 / 13.6%)
18.10.2025ROCHDALE
(Away 3-0 loss)		49JED WARD
(17 / 34.7%)		Harvey Greenslade
(10 / 20.4%)		Kyle Ferguson
(5 / 10.2%)
25.10.2025CARLISLE
(Home 1-1 draw)		140Max Jolliffe
(60 / 42.9%		Harvey Greenslade
(16 / 11.4%)		George Nurse
(13 / 9.3%)
OCTOBER PLAYER OF THE MONTH 🥇 HARVEY GREENSLADE
(9 PTS / 1 MOTM)

🥈 JED WARD
(8 PTS / 1 MOTM)		🥉 MAX JOLLIFFE
(3 PTS / 1 MOTM)
04.11.2025WEALDSTONE
(Home 0-2 loss)		67 LUKE MCCORMICK
(13 / 19.4%)		Jed Ward
(12 / 17.9%)		Aaron Jarvis
(9 / 13.4%)
08.11.2025SCUNTHORPE
(Away 1-0 loss)		46JAMES PLANT
(15 / 32.6%)		Jed Ward
(12 / 26.1%)		Harvey Greenslade
(10 / 21.7%)
15.11.2025SOUTHEND
(Home 0-1 loss)		89JED WARD
(74 / 83.1%)		Max Jolliffe
(5 / 5.6%)		Junior Morias
(3 / 3.4%)
22.11.2025MORECAMBE
(Away 0-0 draw)		49JED WARD
(22 / 44.9%)		Harvey Greenslade
(12 / 24.5%)		Finn Cousin-Dawson
4 (8.2%)
29.11.2025BOSTON UNITED
(Home 2-1 win)		108 LUKE MCCORMICK
(68 / 63%)		Brett McGavin
(10 / 9.3%)		James Plant
(6 / 5.6%)
NOVEMBER PLAYER OF THE MONTH 🥇 JED WARD
(10 PTS, 2 MOTM)
🥈 LUKE MCCORMICK
(6 PTS / 2 MOTM)		🥉 JAMES PLANT
(4 PTS / 1 MOTM)
06.12.2025HARTLEPOOL UTD
(Away, 2-0 win)		106 LUKE MCCORMICK
(78 / 73.6%)		Jed Ward
(11 / 10.4%)		Harvey Greenslade
(7 / 6.6%)
13.12.2025MAIDSTONE UTD
(Home, 1-1 [4-2 on pens])		125JED WARD
(83 / 66.4%)		Brett McGavin
(10 / 8%)		Harvey Greenslade
(9 / 7.2%)
20.12.2025FOREST GEEEN
(Home, 0-2 loss)		94 LUKE MCCORMICK
(22 / 23.4%)		Harvey Greenslade
(20 / 21.3%)		Jed Ward
(17 / 18.1%)
26.12.2025TRURO CITY
(Away 0-1 loss)		67JED WARD
(55 / 82.1%)		Jake Wannell
(3 / 4.5%)		Josh Tobin / Aaron Jarvis
(2 / 3%)
30.12.2025EASTLEIGH
(Home 1-1 draw)		113 LUKE MCCORMICK
(46 / 40.7%)		Jed Ward
(29 / 25.7%)		Jake Wannell
(10 / 8.8%)
DECEMBER PLAYER OF THE MONTH 🥇 JED WARD
(10 PTS, 2 MOTM)
🥈 LUKE MCCORMICK
(9 PTS / 3 MOTM)		🥉 HARVEY GREENSLADE
(4 PTS / 0 MOTM)
03.01.2026BRAINTREE
(Home 3-1 win)		164 LUKE MCCORMICK
(44 / 26.8%)		Aaron Jarvis
(27 / 16.5%)		James Daly/Brett McGavin
(20 / 12.2%)
10.01.2026ALVECHURCH
(Home 0-0 [3-1 on pens])		172DAKARAI MAFICO
(86 / 50%)
Jed Ward
(55 / 32%)		Josh Sims
(9 / 5.2%)
17.01.2026BRACKLEY TOWN
(Away, 2-1 loss)		81DAKARAI MAFICO
(19 / 23.5%)
Harvey Greenslade
(15 / 18.5%)		Kyle Ferguson
(12 / 14.8%)

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Yeovil Town fans can now purchase tickets for the away day at Solihull Moors on Tuesday September 2nd (19:45 Kick off).

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

It’s a fairly simple process, which is nice, there are a few categories to choose from.

Once you’ve clicked through to the next step, you’re presented with the pitch map. Simply select a standing block or a seating block and continue through with your purchase, as you can see, at time of writing, only the Block N “Away Uncovered Seating” block is available to select – this is in a change to last year, where you could also select some standing behind the goal.

All prices are subject to £1 booking fee per ticket

Restrictions

– No Children aged 14 and under are allowed into the stadium without a full paying adult.

Car Parking

That’s extra, and it’s not cheap and it IS advised to buy in advance. – CLICK HERE for that.

Wheelchair Spaces

Whilst I cannot find specific details on site about the purchase of disabled tickets – and what that means for carers etc, there are some Wheelchair spots available at the front of the Seating Area for Away fans.

We would strongly advise taking time to contact the club if you have any additional accessibility requirements – 0121 705 6770 or lease email info@solihullmoorsfc.co.uk ahead of time. 

At time of writing, the following tickets are available for Glovers fans to purchase.

Aldershot Away – (Weds 24th Sept) – https://gloverscast.co.uk/aldershot-away-tickets-on-sale/

Sutton United – (Tues 30th Sept) – https://gloverscast.co.uk/sutton-united-tickets-on-sale/

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Mark Cooper speaks to the media.

Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper believes the return of winger James Plant will bring added depth to his squad as they prepare for a busy Bank Holiday weekend.

The Port Vale youngster made his second return to Huish Park this week and was unavailable for the 2-1 home win over Brackley Town on Wednesday night, but will be available for the trip to Braintree Town tomorrow and the visit of Gateshead on Monday.

Cooper also confirmed that captain Jake Wannell will be available again for selection having served a one-match suspension for his red card in the defeat at Forest Green Rovers.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins from the club’s training facility in Bristol, the manager said he was not expecting to be without any other players for the weekend journey to Essex.

He said: “We do not know yet, we have got to train yet (on Friday). We have one or two bumps and bruises, but it will be the same squad as the other night with the additions of Jake Wannell and James Plant. We spoke in the summer that our recruitment would be late and maybe in to the season, we have to wait to get players like James Plant in, and it gives us a bit more depth to the squad. It is great to have (James) back and it is great to have Wanns available because he is a key part of what we do.”

James Plant has made his second return to Huish Park. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

The midweek win pushed Yeovil up to tenth in the early season standings whilst their opponents at the weekend went down 2-1 at Boreham Wood, a match which saw former Glovers’ loan defender Frankie Terry sent off, meaning he will be unavailable to face his old team-mates.

The Iron picked up an impressive 3-0 win over FC Halifax Town in their only other match at home so far this season on the opening day, before losing 3-0 at Hartlepool United last weekend.

Cooper said: “It is a great feeling to wake up with three points and in the top ten, so we want to win another game but there is an opposition to think about who I watched and have some good players. They played really well the other night at Boreham Wood, they have some good players, so it will be a tough game but we are looking forward to.

“Frankie Terry, who was obviously here last season, got sent off, so he will not be able to play, they have the big man up front, John Akinde, who is always a handful, so they have got some really good players throughout their team. 

“Flippantly I am talking about being in the top ten, there are only three games gone. It is about keeping things in context, you have to wait until you have had ten games before you start to look too heavily at the league table. Braintree will be confident of having a good season because they have some good players, but so will we.”

The manager was also asked about the status of midfielder Jacob Maddox, who has barely featured since suffering a toe injury shortly after his arrival. It was pretty much the same update we got back in July when the manager was last asked. 

Cooper said: “He had an injury last season when he came and then he did not have an operation on it until the end of June, which was strange, a couple of days before pre-season started, so he is still in a boot. I don’t think we will be seeing him for a couple of months yet.“

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Loanee James Plant is looking forward to picking up where he left off at Yeovil Town having rejoined the club from Port Vale until January.

The 20-year-old starred during two previous loan spells at Huish Park last season scoring twice in 13 appearances before sustaining a hamstring injury in mid-February.

He has featured for Vale in pre-season and came off the bench for them in an EFL Cup win at Blackpool earlier this month.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins on Friday, he said: “I am really happy to be back and I am really excited to get started now. I had to get that injury sorted, I spent time working on at (Port) Vale with the physios which is the worst thing for a footballer, to be injured. But now I am back and feeling strong so I can’t wait to get back going.”

James Plant whips a ball in to the box.
James Plant in action for Yeovil Town last season. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

The winger did not re-sign in time for Yeovil’s 2-1 win over newly-promoted Brackley Town at Huish Park on Wednesday, but will be available for Saturday’s trip to Braintree Town followed by the visit of Gateshead to Somerset on Bank Holiday Monday.

He provides much needed cover down the left side and is able to play as either a wing-back or winger,  a position currently only filled by Alex Whittle in the Glovers’ squad.

Plant added: “I spoke to the manager (Mark Cooper) on Monday and he spoke about getting me back in and I just said ‘let’s get it done’, it took a couple of days and I could not quite get it done before the game on Wednesday, but I am ready at the weekend.

“I want to play as many games as possible and help the team in any way I am called upon, wherever I am playing I will be aiming to help the team. I am usually out wide, but wherever I am playing I will do my best to help the team.”

Having picked up their first win of the National League Premier Division season in midweek, Yeovil make the trip to Braintree looking for more points ahead of a return to home soil when Gateshead – including ex-Glovers’ favourite Frank Nouble – make the long journey south 48 hours later.

Plant said: “I have heard (Braintree) is always a tough game, as every team is in this league, they will be up for it and their fans will be – but so will we and our fans, so we will be going there to get three points. I can’t wait for Saturday, but even more I can’t wait to be back at Huish Park on Monday, it should be a good weekend.“

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The first taste of midweek National League action has been a sizzler, with Yeovil Town enjoying their first night under the lights with a 2-1 win at home to Brackley Town, kick-starting their season (you can read more about it here!) – let’s see what else went on across the division.

We’ll run through Tuesday night’s action first, saves us bouncing back and forth – Wealdstone continued their 100% start to the campaign, with an impressive 2-1 win away from home to Woking, who remain pointless this season. Max Kretzschmar opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a penalty against his former club, Oli Sanderson equalised for Woking ten minutes into the second half, before summer addition Nathan Tshikuna secured the win for the Stones in the 84th minute.

Things were slightly more routine for Hartlepool United, as they recorded a second 2-0 win in a row, this time at Altrincham; Alex Reid and Reiss McNally scoring the goals before half-time. A quick fire pair of goals from Manny Duku and Beck-Ray Enoru did the job for Tamworth, as they downed Truro City, while Solihull Moors were forced to share the points with Carlisle United. The Moors took the lead through summer signing Dan Creaney, but with ten minutes remaining, Terell Thomas rescued a point for the former EFL outfit.

FC Halifax Town got their first points of the season courtesy of a Josh Hmami goal just eight minutes into their visit to Boston United, while Scunthorpe United had the night off due to Morecambe’s off-field issues, which have since been sorted out!

Wednesday night’s action was even better, with the best of the games coming at The Recreation Ground as Eastleigh clung onto the three points at Aldershot Town. The visitors went into the break 1-0 up, thanks to an Aaron Blair goal; Aaron Pierre and Temi Eweka both added goals shortly into the second half. Aldershot weren’t beaten just yet though as a Ryan Hill double gave them belief, but it wasn’t enough for the Shots; even with the late red card for Eastleigh striker Paul McCallum, the defeat left the hosts pointless after their opening three games, while the Spitfires recorded their first points of the season.

There were two 4-0 drubbings for title hunters, as Rochdale hammered Gateshead thanks to two goals either side of the half-time whistle; Ethan Ebanks-Landell and Mani Dieseruvwe getting the first half spoils, and Devante Rodney and Connor McBride adding the second half goals. Forest Green Rovers dominated Sutton United at home, with a double from Kyle McAllister, captain Jordan Moore-Taylor and loanee Harry Whitwell completing the route for the Gloucestershire side.

A Luke Norris double helped Boreham Wood defeat Saturday’s hosts Braintree Town – Norris scored a penalty just after the half hour mark to give the hosts the lead, before Marley Marshall-Miranda equalised just before half-time for the Iron. Norris’ second goal put the hosts ahead once again, before a late red card for former Glover Frankie Terry ended any hopes of a Braintree comeback. Finally, Southend United and York City played out a 0-0 draw in front of over 8,500 people, an impressive turnout for a Wednesday night!

National League results – in full

Altrincham 0-2 Hartlepool United
Boston United 0-1 FC Halifax Town
Carlisle United 1-1 Boreham Wood
Scunthorpe United P-P Morecambe
Tamworth 2-0 Truro City
Woking 1-2 Wealdstone

Aldershot Town 2-3 Eastleigh
Boreham Wood 2-1 Braintree Town
Forest Green Rovers 4-0 Sutton United
Rochdale 4-0 Gateshead
Southend United 0-0 York City
Yeovil Town 2-1 Brackley Town

National League table

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The Glovers got their first three points of the season with the 2-1 victory over Brackley Town at Huish Park last night. Ian was back at Huish Park and here are his first five conclusions of the season.

It was important to get off the mark. The pressure was really on last night following the opening two matches and ultimately, the Glovers responded. A confidence-boosting goal for Josh Sims and a memorable first for Ben Wodskou in-front of the Thatchers was exactly what the supporters, players and manager needed to ease the pressure. With a weekend trip to Braintree, who got an impressive 3-0 win over Halifax at home on the opening day, but have since lost two on the bounce with red cards in both of those defeats, Yeovil have a chance to build a bit of momentum now.

Jed Ward during his pre-match warm up.
Jed Ward. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

We have Jed Ward to thank. The goalkeeper was certainly the busier of the two over the course of the evening, making a series of saves as Brackley Town peppered the glovers goal. Three matches in and Ward is proving to be an impressive bit of recruitment. Aside from the ropey short goal kicks, he didn’t put a foot wrong in between the sticks last night and without him, it probably would have been a different story.

Credit to Brackley. Pre-match, I wondered if we’d see the visitors dig in and frustrate but the opposite was true. They got on the ball and played some nice football, carving Yeovil apart at times. In the first half in particular, we struggled to deal with their direct running. I was really impressed with Morgan Roberts (their number 10) in the attacking midfield. He only had one thing on his mind every time he picked up the ball, get forward and cause problems, and he did from the first minute. Maybe it was the pressure, but in that first half, they looked like the team playing at home.

Harvey Greenslade. Picture by Gary Brown

Rotation paid off. There were four changes from Saturday’s dismal day at Forest Green and it showed. Harvey Greenslade was given the nod up front and his relentless running meant he was constantly putting pressure on the Brackley defenders. It was a shame he put his one chance over the bar when it fell to him, but I’d love to see more of Harvey. Kyle Ferguson stepped in for Jake Wannell and put in the type of performance we saw from him last season. The return of Brett McGavin from the start also meant we had a progressive midfielder with the ability to get us forward rather than the defensively-minded pairing of Charlie Cooper and Finn Cousin-Dawson. With games on Saturday and Bank Holiday Monday, we’re sure to see most of the squad this weekend.

We have to talk about the style. As brilliant as it was to get the three points (and stop talking about those cursed potatoes), it wasn’t the most inspiring night of football. That opening thirty minutes or so was dire. That is not a criticism of the players either, and clearly when Jed Ward realised it was working, he took responsibility on the pitch and sacked off the short goal kicks to cheers from the supporters. I don’t think we’re particularly dynamic in midfield and find it so frustrating when a visiting team comes to town and plays through us easily while we knock it about and struggle to make any meaningful openings. We’ve gone through change and brought in new players so some of that lack of cohesion is understandable, but we’re not an anomaly for that in the league. After all, what is pre-season for? I struggle to see an identity or attractive style of play, but hopefully the win will give us that confidence boost to play with a bit more freedom.