Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 455)

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Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll talks to BBC Radio Somerset

Yeovil Town manager  Darren Sarll admitted his “didn’t know” if he would be able to strengthen his squad as his side crashed out of the FA Trophy at the hands of Needham Market on Saturday.

Speaking to BBC Somerset following the game, he admitted he would like to add more players, but that it wasn’t up to him.

The interview showed clear signs of the boss’ frustration at not being able to bolster a side which remains eight points off the National League play-off places with games in hand over teams above him.

He said: “I have tried to conduct myself with dignity because I am not an excuse maker.

“We showed Needham respect with the team we put out, the only one I rested was Tom (Knowles) having been out for a while.

“At this time of year, you usually get that nice influx of new bodies and new characters in the changing rooms, and today is probably the first time I have looked at it and thought we could do with some experience and character.

“I don’t think Mark (Little) will feel like he’s fit enough to really impose himself and Reuben (Reid) is probably the same.

“It’s been a horrible week professionally  and personally and it didn’t get any easier today.”

The Glovers were without (deep breath): 

  • Luke Wilkinson – hamstring injury which the manager said today meant he was “two or three weeks away” from returning;
  • Dan Moss – recalled from his loan spell by parent club Millwall;
  • Joe Quigley – illness;
  • Charlie Wakefield – had not trained this week;
  • Jaheim Headley – loan expired today and (we assume) he is back with Huddersfield Town;
  • Dillon Barnes – missing from the last two squad and presumably returned to QPR after his loan.

Then there is also youth team players Ollie Haste, who played – and scored – for the Under 18s, and Toby Stephens who absence was unexplained, but who hasn’t featured since his loan spell at Hemel Hempstead.

The absentees meant Sarll could only panne four substitutes against Needham Market, one of whom was defender Mark Little who was making his competitive debut for the club having been missing since pre-season.

Sarll admitted he wanted to add players of a certain calibre, but didn’t know if he could.

He said: “These young people are going to have peaks and troughs, I never got too carried away on a winning run because I know how football can change quickly.

”The biggest disappointment in today’s performance  was the lack of personality, we have to keep working.

“It does need a freshen up with some new bodies and I’m sure if we can do that, I’m sure we will and, if we can’t, we will carry on trying to improve what we have.

“I have not got the answers, I wish I did. It’s something that will always go to board level. My job is to always ask for more and keep asking and reminding because no supporter wants to come and watch that standard of performance.

“When I can’t be on the training pitch with them, there’s been a continuum of poor performances when I have not been hands on and that is something I need to look at.

“I need to look at if there’s an impact needs to be made in the backroom staff like (now departed assistant manager) Terry (Skiverton) made and whether we can punch it, it’s just such a shame we have performed so badly after building some credit, we have thrown all that away unfortunately.

“Bringing in another young one is not what we need right now, we need someone who will leave a little bit of a mark in the dressing room where the players look each other in the eye.

“By next week, we will not have Luke (Wilkinson) back but we will have (Charlie) Wakefield back. We lack a real thrust when Knowles and Wakefield aren’t out there and I’ve learnt that the hard way today.”

It is also hoped that full confirmation of Sonny Blu Lo-Everton’s loan extension will be confirmed this week as this FA Trophy tie represented the last of his current spell at Huish Park.

 

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Sarll watches on

Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll struck a visibly frustrated figure when speaking to Sheridan Robins following the Glovers’ shock FA Trophy exit at the hands of Needham Market.

He said that his side had done enough to progress, but that ultimately too many errors and too many wasted moments led to his side’s exit.

“I thought we did enough to win it. I know Grant (Smith) makes a brilliant save at the end and his was our best player including the penalties – but we should never have allowed it to get to penalties.”

“I want to give great respect and credit to Needham and Kevin (Horlock, the manager), I thought they conducted themselves unbelievably well, I thought technically at times they looked better than us.”

“Physically was the only thing we edged, which we should being a full-time team, and it was a very poor performance…It was personality-less and that is a worrying trait whether you are young or old.”

“The first half was pretty controlled. We are not a great team when we have to have the ball, quality is at a premium and technically we were awful – we allowed that game to get to penalties, even in that penalty shoot-out we had four chances to win it in our ground with our fans, so we well and truly got what we deserved today.”

Sarll made a number of enforced changes, but still played what he called his ‘strongest eleven”, and admitted his hands were tied with just four subs named.

“We know when Luke (Wilkinson) is back he is a massive player, I think when we don’t have Staunton in midfield we lose control, Dale (Gorman) does a brilliant job but around him we have a lot of athleticism but we don’t have a lot of control and composure, Jordan (Barnett) and Matthew (Worthington) run so hard but there are times when we need to breathe.”

The Glovers host Hollywood’s Wrexham next Saturday a match which Sarll said would be “nice and easy” with his tongue firmly pressed into his cheek.

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Yeovil Town legend Terry Skiverton has left Huish Park ending more than two decades with the club and is believed to be on his way to League One Charlton Athletic.

The club confirmed the exit in a statement following after a  penalty shoot-out defeat against Needham Market in the FA Trophy at Huish Park on Saturday and manager Darren Sarll spoke about his now former (*sob*) assistant in his post-match interview.

The statement said the former defensive giant, captain, player-manager, manager, assistant manager, Academy manager was departing to take up “a new role in the Football League” – but did not name a club.

We understand that Skiverton is on his way to The Valley who have had former striker Jason Euell as caretaker assistant manager to boss Johnnie Jackson since the end of last season.

It would appear Skivo and Jackson may have taken their coaching badges together at the same time.

If the move is confirmed, it would mean the 46-year-old follows in the footsteps of fellow former Glovers Nathan Jones and Ben Roberts who have both held coaching roles.

There’s a lot you can read between the lines of what Darren Sarll said in his post-match interview, where he repeatedly talks about wanting “to retain some kind of professionalism.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins, Darren Sarll said: “Terry has left the club and decided to take up an opportunity in the EFL which is very sad.

“As his friend, I will miss him greatly. Professionally he is excellent, he’s done so well for me, he’s a brilliant character and a very good coach.

“All the other stuff of why and where are for him to speak about, he’s a grown man and he needs to answer those questions himself.

“I want to retain some kind of professionalism and dignity out of a pretty crappy day.”

The club’s statement included a quote from Chairman Scott Priestnall – who made a rare visit to Huish Park for last week’s televised FA Cup defeat to AFC Bournemouth – saying: “I’d like to thank Terry for everything he has done for Yeovil Town. He is undoubtedly a club legend, both for his service on and off the pitch. He will always be welcome at Huish Park.”

The statement went on to add: “Skiverton, departs as he moves into a new role in the Football League. All at Yeovil Town would like to extend our gratitude to Terry for his stellar service to the football club, and wish him all the best in his new role. “

Skiverton’s joined Yeovil Town in the summer of 1999 when he was signed from Welling United in the Football Conference by then-manager Colin Lippiatt, as part of a trio of signings alongside strikers Adrian Foster and Jason Eaton and midfielder Dave Norton.

His debut came in far from memorable circumstances with a 5-0 thrashing at Scarborough on the opening day of the 1999-2000 season, but the career which followed was memorable in just about every way.

Under Lippiatt, David Webb and Colin Addison he was a rock in the heart of defence, but it was the arrival of Gary Johnson in 2001 that truly elevated Skivo to legend status.

He lifted the FA Trophy as captain in Gary’s first season, skippered us to the end of 108 years of non-League football with the Conference title in the second season, and then the League Two championship in 2004-05.

In 2007 he was named in the League One Team of the Year having been at the heart of Yeovil’s charge to the play-off final.

Following the sacking of Russell Slade midway through the 2008-09 season, Skiverton answered the call of his club to take over as player-manager and guided us to safety in League One, calling an end to his playing days at the end of season. His final appearance saw him last just 36 minutes of a goalless draw at home to MK Dons – but we at least kept a clean sheet.

Having kept us up for the 2009-10 campaign in League One, his loyalty reached new levels when with the side struggling in early 2011, he stepped aside for the return of Gary Johnson becoming his number two.

Skivo then became a key part of the coaching staff which guided the club to its highest-ever level with promotion to the Championship in 2013, and even had a further spell in caretaker charge between the sacking of Johnson in February 2015 and the appointment of Paul Sturrock two months later, returning to the coaching staff.

Since then he’s been a coach, run the club’s Academy, been assistant manager and even got one of his sons, striker Finlay, playing for the club’s Under-18s.

Quite simply, he is Mr Yeovil. Skivo – thanks for everything, we’ll miss you!

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Venue: Huish Park
Saturday, January 15th, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Cold and cloudy
Pitch: Okay, getting a bit bobbly in areas.

Attendance: 1649 (58 away)

Scorers: Williams 29, Fowkes 45.

Referee: James Durkin

Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Bradley 85
Needham Market: Some! 


Yeovil Town : (4-3-3)

Grant Smith
Morgan Williams, Josh Staunton, Max Hunt (Little 79), Jack Robinson
Dale Gorman,
Matt Worthington (Bradley, 70), Jordan Barnett
Sonny Blu Lo-Everton
Adi Yussuf (Knowles 63), Reuben Reid

Substitutes: Max Evans

Needham Market: Garnham, Dye, Sayer, Hammond, K. Morphew, D. Morphew, Page, Collard, Ingram, Clark (Marshall Miranda), Fowkes

Substitutes: Mpongo, Cullum, Sturgess, Santa De La Paz, Northwood, Fitzgerald

Match Report

Yeovil Town were knocked out of the FA Trophy on penalties at the hands of Needham Market in a disappointing affair at Huish Park.

The Southern League side more than held their own against an out of form Yeovil team who never stretched their opponents.

Morgan Williams opened the scoring after half an hour but poor defending before the break allowed Needham Market to go in on level terms.

It took penalty shootout drama to decide the match and the part-timers clinched it with Marcus Garnham the hero, saving Morgan Williams sudden death penalty and launching scenes of jubilation amongst their 58 travelling supporters.

Here’s how Ian saw the game…

First half

What a difference seven days makes in football. The electric atmosphere generated by 8,000 supporters for the FA Cup tie against Bournemouth was replaced by a rather muted atmosphere of 1649 at Huish Park for the visit of Needham Market in the FA Trophy.

Diamonds aren’t forever, but Darren Sarll returned to most-used formation since becoming manager in 2019, with Adi Yussuf partnering Reuben Reid up front and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton in the hole, as they say. Josh Staunton dropped to back line in place of the injured Luke Wilkinson with Matt Worthington returning to midfield and Jack Robinson and Morgan Williams at fullback.

The subdued atmosphere contributed to an equally subdued start by the Glovers and the Needham Market had the first half-opening through their left-winger Ben Fowkes, who cut inside had his shot deflected over Grant Smith’s goal.

The towering Max Hunt could have opened the scoring in the 11th minute when he met Dale Gorman’s corner emphatically. He glanced his header wide of the left post after out-jumping the entire defence.

As Glovers adjusted to their new shape, they didn’t keep hold of the ball as well as the gulf might suggest they should.  Lo-Everton had a sight of goal from distance and attempted a speculative lob over Garnham which went wide.

As the half wore on, Yeovil held onto possession more comfortably and started pressuring Needham Market into mistakes, with the goalkeeper looking particularly uncomfortable with the ball at his feet.

Adi Yussuf had a decent, if not awkward, chance to put Yeovil in front in the 26th minute. The striker found a chunk of space in the 18 yard box as the ball looped over his head, he swung his left foot at it but his connection wasn’t on point.

Just before the half an hour mark, the club’s music man got his moment to bring some samba music to the ‘masses’ as MORGAN WILLIAMS found himself in the unusual position of the opponents penalty box. The fullback strode onto Yussuf’s drilled cross and put past the keeper to open the scoring. 1-0

Seemingly content with 1-0, Yeovil took their foot off the pedal and allowed their opponents to have a bit of the ball. Just before half time, Yussuf had a good opportunity to double the Glovers’ lead but he dragged his left-footed shot wide.

The tie was evened up in first half stoppage time, after some dismal defending from a set piece and a couple of fortunate ricochets, BEN FOWKES smashed the ball past Smith. 1-1

Half time: Yeovil Town 1 Needham Market 1

Second half

The Glovers came out with more of a purpose in the second half, with Dale Gorman determined to get the shots in early.

Needham Market had a great opportunity to take the lead in the 52nd minute, but were denied by a determined, last ditch tackle from Josh Staunton.

And it was last-ditch defending at the other end of the pitch moments later. Barnett’s out-swinging corner was headed towards goal but blocked by Yussuf in front of the keeper who scrambled to clear the ball away from goal.

Needham Market had penalty appeals turned down by the referee on the hour, as their striker Luke Ingram went down with Josh Staunton nearby.

To liven up the attack, Sarll withdrew Yussuf for Tom Knowles, prompting a change of shape to the more familiar 4-3-3 with Reuben Reid the central striker.

The Glovers opponents weren’t fazed by the arrival of Knowles (#DWILWF) and carved out a good chance through Callum Page cutting inside from the right. His Bergkamp-esque effort wasn’t Bergkamp-esque in execution and it glided high and wide.

Buoyed by Yeovil’s lack of impetus and the increase in unforced errors, the Southern League side grew into the half and had Ingram’s header been a bit lower they would have been in-front. The striker beat Max Hunt to the ball and his attempt had green tinted supporters holding their breath.

As the clock ticked closer towards the 90th minute and a potential penalty shootout, Sarll urged his players forward and introduced our marquee summer signing, Mark Little, for his first competitive appearance in a Yeovil shirt.

There was a handful of hopeful crosses, but truthfully, Yeovil didn’t stretch their part time opponents who defended resolutely and nearly nicked it in stoppage time but for Smith’s heroics in goal. Fowkes, who was lively all game caused havoc in the box before his charged down shot rebounded to Ingram who should have clinched the tie.

In normal time, it finished 1-1 and the game went straight to a penalty shootout.

Full time: Yeovil Town 1 Needham Market 1

Penalties:

Needham Market:
Ingram – scored
Hammond – scored
Marshall-Miranda – saved
Page – scored
Fowkes – saved
Collard – scored
K. Morphew – scored
Dye – scored
D. Morphew – scored
Sayer – Saved
Garnham – scored

Yeovil Town:
Barnet – scored
Reid – saved
Gorman – scored
Bradley – scored
Lo-Everton – saved
Knowles – scored
Robinson – scored
Staunton – scored
Smith – scored
Little – saved
Williams – saved

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Yeovil Town have named just four substitutes for the FA Trophy tie at home to Needham Market (3pm kick-off).

However, defender Mark Little, a summer signing who has not played since picking up an injury in pre-season, is among those on the bench alongside back-up goalkeeper Max Evans, forward Tom Knowles and Alex Bradley, who presumably needs to pick six numbers, two lucky stars and own a field of four-leaf clovers to get a start.

It is centre half-turned-full back Morgan Williams who appears to be plugging the gap left by the departure of Dan Moss on the right side, with Josh Staunton pushed back out of midfield to replace injured captain Luke Wilkinson alongside Max Hunt in the centre of defence. Jack Robinson comes in on the left.

Matt Worthington returns to midfield after missing the midweek defeat at Southend United with Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and Reuben Reid promoted to the starting line-up having been on the bench in the last match.

There is no place in the squad for forwards Charlie Wakefield or Joe Quigley with the club reporting he is missing through illness, while boss Darren Sarll said yesterday that Wakefield had not trained this week.

Yeovil Town (4-3-1-2): Grant Smith, Morgan Williams, Max Hunt, Josh Staunton, Jack Robinson, Dale Gorman, Matt Worthington, Jordan Barnett, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, Reuben Reid, Adi Yussuf. Substitutes:  Max Evans, Mark Little, Alex Bradley, Tom Knowles.

Needham Market: Garnham, Dye, Sayer, Hammond, K. Morphew, D.Morphew, Page, Collard, Ingram, Clark, Fowles. Substitutes: Mpongo, Cullum, Sturgess, Marshall-Miranda, Santa, Northwood, Fitzgerald.

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Yeovil Town Under-18s are back in South West Counties Youth League action with a home fixture against Wimborne Town.

The match at the Alvington Playing Fields is the young Glovers’ first action since their 3-1 defeat at Bridgwater United in the Gary Else League Cup on December 11.

In that competition, Yeovil have been drawn to face Torquay United Under-18s at the semi-final stage with matches scheduled for March 6.

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Darren Sarll is not looking at tomorrow’s FA Trophy tie with Needham Market as an opportunity to give players who have been out of his Yeovil Town squad game time – he just wants to win.

The manager has a number of players including defender/midfielder Alex Bradley and number two goalkeeper Max Evans who have had limited match minutes this season, while defender Mark Little is heading towards returning from long-term injury.

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

Despite their opponents at Huish Park being two steps below them in the football pyramid, Sarll is not expecting to make changes simply to give players game time.

However, the loss of captain Luke Wilkinson through injury and full-back Dan Moss, whose loan spell has been ended early, means the manager will have to make at least two changes from the midweek defeat at Southend United.

He also revealed winger Charlie Wakefield had not trained this week, but said midfielder Matt Worthington should be available having missed the last match through illness.

Speaking ahead of the fourth round tie, the manager said: “We need to get back to winning ways and experience winning again. It doesn’t always get easier because you are playing a (lower division) team, but we need to put out a team that gives us the best chance of winning the game.

“There might still be a couple of changes, we know (Luke) Wilkinson hobbled off the other night, Josh Staunton is always a player I always worry about not having, especially when Wilkinson is not about, and Mark Little needs to experience the game either from the start or off the bench.

“So there might be a few changes here and there, but I want to make sure I don’t go in to it and assume (any team) can win the game.”

Asked in particular about whether stand-in ‘keeper Evans would get a start having played the third round tie with Woking last month, Sarll said: “I will be considering that overnight, but this is not participation football. In an ideal world we would get those players who need game time (playing games) but we haven’t won in four and my job is to win matches.”

During the press conference on Friday, the manager also said:

  • He was “95% sure” that on-loan Watford forward Sonny Blu Lo-Everton would be staying until the end of the season with his loan stay due to expire after Saturday.
    The boss said he was “delighted” that defender Jack Robinson will be with the club until May after extending his stay and thanked his parent club, Middlesbrough, and Millwall, who loaned us the impressive Dan Moss.
    Sarll said: “The financial outlay of his stay was next to nothing for a player like (Dan Moss), and Millwall along with Middlesbrough are the best club I have ever dealt with for young players and loans.
    “Their understanding of a lack of resources and young players and been incredible.“
  • The manager was full of praise for Moss whose loan stay was cut short to enable him to join League Two side Leyton Orient last week.
    Sarll said: “Dan Moss was exceptional and it was a heart-breaking moment when he told me he was going to go.
    “The loan move was perfect for all parties, the only bit that was missing was the extension (of his stay) with Yeovil.
    “(The move) was Dan’s choice, not Millwall’s choice, it’s his choice to go and put himself in to the EFL and we can’t begrudge him that.
    “He was an outstanding performer us, the most low maintenance player, a brilliant guy.”
  • Sarll questioned the decision to rule out a ‘goal’ from defender Max Hunt for handball in the closing stages of the defeat at Southend, saying: “(Max) was not even looking at the ball, how can that be handball?”
    He also described suggestions from the Southend camp that they had put in a great performance to earn the 2-1 win as “nonsense” saying: “They weren’t great and we weren’t great.”

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Needham Market are not coming to Huish Park for their FA Trophy fourth round with a plan to lie down for Yeovil Town.

The Marketmen, who lie in 13th place in the Southern League Premier Central Division, two steps below their hosts in the  pyramid, put out National League side Wealdstone in the last round with a 2-1 win on their own patch last month.

That result came about due to them taking the game to their higher division rivals, winning the ball high up the pitch rather than sitting back and hitting them on the break.

Manager and former Manchester City and Swindon Town midfielder Kevin Horlock said: “If we can we are a team that needs to be on the front foot. We’ve got some very good attacking players so you have to use them.

“I’m not one for sitting back too much because if you concede – especially early on – where do you go from there?

“I don’t want to give away too much, but we’ll be looking to play in a similar way to the Wealdstone game.

“I don’t want us to just sit there, play for the draw and penalties. That’s not in me and it’s not in my players either.”

You have to go back to the start of December to find this weekend’s visitors last defeat when they lost 3-1 at home to Stourbridge.

Since then they have picked up three wins and two draws in their following five matches including coming from 2-0 down at half-time to beat fifth-placed Alvechurch on Tuesday night.

Before disposing of Wealdstone in Round Three, Needham Market has made it through a qualifying round and then beaten Margate and Welwyn Garden City to progress to this stage of the competition.

However, the only game they played away from home was the qualifying round tie at St Ives Town.

You can hear more about what to expect from Needham Market – including why their players may be on a sugar high at Huish Park – in the chat with YouTuber and fan, Leo Fraser-Bell, in the latest edition of our podcast – listen here.

FROM THE MANAGER

Needham Market manager Kevin Horlock is coming up to his second anniversary in the top job having spent eight months in charge of the club’s academy before that.

The ex-Northern Ireland international is hoping that some of the products of the academy can show what they are capable of – as they did against Wealdstone in the last round.

He said: “We got the positive result against Wealdstone and that is bound to have done a lot for belief.

“I said as soon as I came back to Needham that we’ve got a lot of players that can play at that level (National League), I’m sure of it.

“Some could do it now, others will be able to do it at a later date as they progress and get more experience. That’s not me feeding them rubbish, I really believe these lads are good enough.

“You’ve got to shoot for the stars. We sold the likes of (midfielder) Callum Page to Ipswich recently so the young lads know there is a pathway here.

“They showed what they’ve got against Wealdstone and there’s another opportunity for them to show it again.

“Yes it’s away from home this time and the journey makes it a bit tougher, but we won’t be looking for or making excuses. It’s a big game and one we’re really looking forward to.”

TEAM NEWS

Needham Market will give late fitness tests to left-back Callum Sturgess (calf) and defender Kyle Hammond (ankle) before the match.

Boss Horlock is hopeful central midfielder Tom Fitzgerald will have recovered from a groin strain to feature, but winger Tom Maycock is cup tied having featured for AFC Sudbury in the competition already.

FOOT IN BOTH CAMPS

Unsurprisingly, there’s not many player connections between us and Needham Market – in fact, we can only find one.

Simon Betts, not a player who will go down in Yeovil Town legend for anything particularly positive, was signed by Colin Addison midway through the 2000-2001 season and left midway through the following campaign after some below par performances, to put it mildly.

In 2005-06 he went on to play for Needham Market and went on to be a manager in the local leagues in East Anglia.

 

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On this episode of the Gloverscast, Sheridan Robins joins Ian and Dave to talk about Tuesday’s loss at Southend and everything that’s happened in between. We’ve got a chat with Needham Market fan, and a bloody load of questions from the lovely Gloverscast listeners!

Thanks for listening!

Remember to add Gloverscast.co.uk to your favourites and check the website daily for the latest news from Huish Park.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook, enjoy some retro content on Instagram. Leave us a review and share the pod with a pal.

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If you want to take part in the quiz, have an idea for the website or just want to send us a message, email ian@gloverscast.co.uk

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Highlights of the 2-1 defeat at Southend United are now available on the club’s website.

If you want to know where the Yeovil Town highlights are, skip to:

  • 02:15 – the ‘handball’ incident involving Max Hunt.
  • 02:36 – Reuben Reid‘s opening goal, just don’t look at Luke Wilkinson in the build up to the goal, you’ll only upset yourself.

We can’t really recommend much of the rest, I am afraid.