National League Wrap Up – Matchday 38
It was a narrow 1-0 defeat on Saturday for Yeovil, as they hosted playoff locks York City. Let’s see what else went on across the league on a sunny Saturday…
We begin in London, where a dream comeback went down, a “Wealdston-bul” if you will… Wealdstone came from 3-0 down at half time to tie 3-3 with Eastleigh. A double from Ludwig Francillette and a Tyrese Shade goal gave the Spitfires the lead, before a spirited comeback featuring a Tyler Walker opener and two Alex Reid goals meant the two sides shared the points.
Things went from bad to worse for Dagenham & Redbridge, as despite taking the lead in the first half, they went on to have a man sent off, and lose the game 3-1 to Tamworth, as Dan Creaney scored his 100th goal for the visiting Rams. FC Halifax Town scored three without reply as they strengthened their grip on a playoff spot with a win away to Sutton United. Southend United continued their good form with a 2-2 draw at Forest Green Rovers, the Shrimpers twice coming from behind to take their point.
Aldershot Town continued their recent uptick in form with a massive 2-1 win at Altrincham, lifting the visitors to 16th while the hosts drifted further from the playoff spots. In perhaps the upset of the day, Gateshead were defeated 2-0 at home by relegation-threatened Maidenhead United, the win lifted the Magpies out of the drop zone.
Both 1-1 results came in televised affairs, as the lunchtime kickoff saw two playoff hunters share the points in a derby day, as a late Vimal Yoganathan equaliser saw Oldham Athletic spare their blushes at home to Rochdale, while Manny Duku made it three goals in two games for Solihull Moors, grabbing a point away at Hartlepool United, former Glover Tom Parkes getting the goal for the hosts.
It took them 34 games (yes I went and counted), but it’s finally over… Ebbsfleet United won a football match. They defeated AFC Fylde at home in a 1-0 win, which prevented what feels like an inevitable relegation until next week. Boston United continued to stage their great escape with a 1-0 win away at Braintree Town, moving the Pilgrims to within three points of safety, with games in hand, while Barnet continued their title charge with a 1-0 win away at Woking, former Glover Rhys Browne finding himself on the scoresheet.
National League results – in full
Oldham Athletic 1-1 Rochdale
Altrincham 1-2 Aldershot Town
Braintree Town 0-1 Boston United
Dagenham & Redbridge 1-3 Tamworth
Ebbsfleet United 1-0 AFC Fylde
Forest Green Rovers 2-2 Southend United
Gateshead 0-2 Maidenhead United
Sutton United 0-3 FC Halifax Town
Wealdstone 3-3 Eastleigh
Woking 0-1 Barnet
Yeovil Town 0-1 York City
Hartlepool United 1-1 Solihull Moors
Five Conclusions: Yeovil 0 York City 1
Ian was at Huish Park for Yeovil’s narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of York City. Here are his conclusions.
It was a tight game. The two sides, neither of which is particularly in form didn’t make much of a spectacle in Somerset. Many Glovers feared a bloodbath after Boston, but it was far from that. Yeovil set their stall out early and allowed York to dominate the ball while holding their nerve to try and repel them. For all York’s possession, they didn’t stretch Aidan Stone that much. Doesn’t that sound familiar? There were crosses into the box that we dealt with well but it wasn’t surprising that it was settled with a set piece. It was a massive improvement from the midweek defeat to Boston United in the week and the challenge now is to maintain it and ensure it’s not a false dawn.
Kyle Ferguson added some fight. I thought our latest loanee had nastiness and a bit of bite that we’ve been lacking recently. He won his headers and gave Josh Stones a rough afternoon. The son of Rangers legend Barry Ferguson certainly looks like he’s up for a scrap and if were looking over our shoulder, someone of that character is what we need. He was at fault for the penalty which Ollie Pearce converted, but I thought we looked stronger with him in the back line.
Another Sonny shout out. I love watching Sonny play football. When he’s on the pitch and given the freedom he’s great to watch. He’s the type of intelligent player who can get you out of a hole. I think our biggest chance fell to him on the edge of the box after he set Kyrell Wilson away before receiving the ball back but he lost his footing at a pivotal moment. With Sonny (and a lot of our players) it’s always been the case of finding that final product, but keeping him further forward in behind the striker is key in my mind. The extent of the injury to Brett McGavin will probably dictate how that goes.
What a week Frank’s had. To go from being on your way out of the club to being back in the starting line up and captaining within less than seven days is some story. We’ll probably never know the full picture of what’s happened here, but, in my opinion, I don’t think you can blame a 33-year-old for wanting to secure his future when he’s been transfer-listed earlier in the season. Nouble is a popular figure with supporters and for Mark Cooper to put him back in as skipper shows that, right now, Nouble is needed. Clearly, it was mutually beneficial to get over this hurdle.
It was another slow afternoon. Since the powers that be have decided the Gloverscast are no longer allowed to do media at Huish Park I’ve been able to watch Yeovil as a supporter rather than having to think about what I’m going to say and I totally understand the grumbles. Yes we have injuries, yes we’ve got had a lot of player turnover and the rest of this season will be an exercise in self-preservation. But it can’t continue like this at home next season. I’ve had conversations with plenty of rational, reasonable and real supporters who are so disenchanted with the football that they’ll do other things with their weekends if this is the status quo.
Loan Watch: Koerner scores for Sherborne
Another Saturday rolls around and another chance to catch up on how our loanees are getting on out and about.
We start, as we always do, in the National League South.
Will Buse was in goal for W*ymouth as they pulled off an almighty shock beating promotion-chasing Boreham Wood 2-1. The seagull botherers remaining 13 points adrift of safety from relegation, but credit where it’s due for that result.
Torquay United also won. They picked up huge three points in the promotion race with an 1-0 win away at promotion rivals Dorking Wanderers. Full-back Jordan Thomas played the final five or so minutes, replacing former Glover Jay Foulston.
⏱️84′ A second sub.
⬅️ OFF: Foulston
➡️ ON: Thomas— Torquay United FC (@TUFC1899) March 15, 2025
Now to our headline game, Sherborne Town picked up a 2-0 win over United Sports Portsmouth FC in the Wessex League Premier Division.
Glovers’ defender Corey Koerner, who has featured on the substitutes’ bench for the first-team recently, scored the decisive second, but we should also mention the three other members of the young YTFC cohort also going well for the Zebras.
Jaydon Biss is a regular in their starting line up at the moment and is a first year Yeovil youngster, Joe Crisp was also used from the bench with Morgan Alexander also a familiar name on their substitutes bench.
This afternoons #Zebras and @usportsmouthfc line ups for our @WessexLeague clash #COYZ @swsportsnews @Abbey_104 @sherbornetimes @NonLeagueCrowd @SherborneTownCl pic.twitter.com/u9P34GXkQy
— Sherborne Town FC (@SherborneTownFC) March 15, 2025
Now, down at Shaftesbury, there’s a 16-year old by the name of Moss Jackson, who is currently attached to our youth set-up, he scored his first Southern League Division One South goal today in a 5-2 win over Westbury.
Not many 16 year olds have scored in the @SouthernLeague1 but Moss Jackson-Collis can now say he has 👏#uptherockies pic.twitter.com/GWrnY4C7WI
— Shaftesbury F.C (@SFC1888) March 15, 2025
Bridport just keep on winning, George Geraghty was once again with them, Sol Padmore has been missing the last few games due to suspension.
Wellington lost 6-1 to high flying Portishead Town, Jacob Shore was on the bench and used towards the end with the game already long gone, he did play the full 90 in a 4-3 win midweek over Oldland Abbotonians, though.
76 – Jacob Shore replaces Alex Cherry. 5-1
— Wellington AFC (@Wellington_AFC) March 15, 2025
Match Gallery: Yeovil Town 0 York City 1
All photos credited to Mr Gary Brown – Please contact him for permission to use any of the images below.
Cooper: We should have scored
Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper was pleased with the response of his players despite seeing them go down to a fourth straight defeat.
The Glovers were edged out 1-0 by promotion chasing York City with an Ollie Pearce penalty early in the second half the difference at Huish Park.
The manager told BBC Somerset’s Ian Randall that he was pleased with the reaction of his side after the 3-0 home defeat to relegation battlers Boston United in midweek.
Asked what he had said to his team after the match, he said: “I told them ‘well done’, it was a good performance against a good team, we limited them to just a few opportunities. I thought we made it difficult for them with the shape we worked on and we controlled them for large parts of the game. Of course now and again they are going to wriggle through and get half an opportunity, but I do not think we deserved to lose the game. I am more pleased with the performance because we showed a hunger, energy and physicality.
“We should score towards the end, young McGuckin has a free header, Ryan McLean has a shot blocked on the line and then there were some great balls going across the face of goal at the end which we should score from.
“We had a lot more physicality in the team. We had Frank (Nouble) who keeps the ball for us at the top of the pitch because of his size, we had Kyle Ferguson who won most of his headers, who gave us that added bit of know-how and physicality. We are devastated we have lost, but it was a good performance. If we play with that endeavour and spirit, we will win plenty of games in our last eight games.”
The only goal of a match of few opportunities came in the 56th minute after young defender Kyle Ferguson, signed from National League Premier Division rivals Rochdale on loan for the remainder of the season during the week, brought down York’s speedy Joe Felix inside the box. Pearce, the division’s top scorer, stepped up to tap in his 22nd goal of the season.
On the goal, Cooper said: “It was poor from us out on the touchline. We let their player wriggle inside when our preparation is about always showing the player down the line because if you do that they have to cross it, but as soon as you let them inside you open the whole goal up. That was the mistake and Kyle has tried to make an attempt to stop Felix getting through and brings him down.
“We set up to be tough to beat today and play as much football as we usually do. We wanted to make it ugly and fight, run and scrap. I thought that is what happens when you are (near) the top of the league, every little half decision, although that was not why we did not win.”
In the second half, Yeovil introduced loanees Ciaran McGuckin, Ryan McLean and Kyrell Wilson, who were all dropped to the bench following the midweek defeat. McGuckin almost drew his side level with a header and McLean had a good opportunity.
Cooper said: “It helped the loan boys coming off the bench in to a positive environment rather than a toxic one. I think the fans responded to the pace we put on the pitch and I thought we took the game to them. It is not often this season you cannot say our boys do not give all they have got, they just been thrown off course with a horrendous injury list. That happens sometimes and we have had to react to that and now we have to recover, prepare for Solihull (Moors next weekend) and finish the season off properly.
“You would not think our boys were lacking confidence today, I thought they stood up and competed well against York physically. It was real dominant display by their captain Callum Howe who headed every ball out of the box and if he was not playing I think we would have scored from some of those crosses. He was a magnet to the ball and credit to him for that. If we show that spirit, we will have a good end to the season.
“If we can get our more experienced players in from the start of it, it gives us the ability to bring the pace we have off the bench. That is what having those players available to us again will do for us. None of Wannell, Williams, Jarvis, Maddox (will be back for Solihull), Michael Smith may have an outside chance.”
There was another injury worry for the Glovers when midfielder Brett McGavin had to be helped to the bench during the second half. Asked how the former Torquay United man was, Cooper said: “Sore, very sore. He has a big stud mark and swelling on his ankle. I thought it was his knee to start with but it is on his shin and his ankle.”
Nouble returned to the starting line-up and was returned to the captain’s role despite telling the club in the week that he wanted to leave to take up an offer from National League Premier Division side Gateshead.
His manager added: “I expected nothing less from Frank than for him to go to war today and put in a proper performance. He has been really good for the last month. We made it clear we did not want him to go, but his wish was to secure his family’s future and we completely understand that. For one reason or another that did not happen.”
Match Report: Yeovil Town 0 York City 1
An Ollie Pearce tap in penalty saw Yeovil Town fall to a fourth straight defeat at the hands of promotion-chasing York City at Huish Park.
It was a game with few opportunities for either side which was decided by a 56th minute spot kick after debutant Kyle Ferguson felled the speedy Joe Felix inside the box and Pearce stepped up to fire it home.
Substitute Ciaran McGuckin headed Yeovil’s best opportunity over the bar late in the game, but it was another defeat.
Here’s how Ian saw it under the H at HP…..
First half
Both sides exchanged possession in the opening ten minutes with neither gaining much control.
A late challenge from Alex Hunt on Marcel Lavinier earned a deserved booking for the visitors.
The first proper opening came in the 26th minute as Junior Luamba surged forward on the left side but his pass (if that is what it was) was poor, with Josh Stones free on the penalty box.
The next action of note involved a fracas on the edge of the box. A low cross into the Yeovil box was half cleared by about four players before Charlie Cooper was fouled while he had the ball under his legs. Stones was booked for the handbags in the aftermath.
Stones nearly gave the visitors the lead moments later but was denied by the combination of Aidan Stone and Kyle Ferguson, with Yeovil’s latest loan signing enjoying the battle with York’s expensive centre forward.
Yeovil held their nerve at the back while York dominated possession without ever really testing Stone in the Yeovil goal.
Half time: Yeovil Town 0 York City 0
Second half
Full time: Yeovil Town 0 York City 1
Match Details
Venue: Huish Park
Date: Saturday 15th March, 3:00pm kick-off
Competition: National League Premier Division
Scorers: Ollie Pearce pen 56 (0-1)
Pitch: Firm and bobbly in patches
Conditions: Overcast and chilly
Attendance: 2,862 (277 away supporters)
Bookings:
York City: Alex Hunt 9, Josh Stones 35
Yeovil Town: Kyle Ferguson 56
Referee: Aaron Farmer
Yeovil Town (3-5-2)
Substitutes: Ciaran McGuckin (for Marcel Lavinier, 63), Ryan McLean (for Josh Sims, 71), Kyrell Wilson (for Brett McGavin, 77), Harvey Greenslade (for Alex Whittle, 88), Frankie Terry (not used), Jahmari Clarke (not used), Matt Gould (not used).
York City: Harrison Male, Callum Howe, Alex Hunt (for Ryan Fallowfield, 76), Ollie Pearce, Lewis Richardson (for Tyrese Sinclair, 46), Dan Batty, Cameron John (for Adam Crookes, 62), Joe Felix, Josh Stones (for Lennell John-Lewis, 76), Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Junior Luamba (for Billy Chadwick, 84).
Substitutes (not used): Rory Watson, Ashley Nathaniel-George, Billy Chadwick.
Cooper: We didn’t want Frank to go
Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper has said he has spoken to striker Frank Nouble who is back in the starting line-up for today’s match at home to York City.
The frontman was reported to have told the club he wanted to leave before a move to National League Premier Division side Gateshead fell through, and was absent for the 3-0 humbling by relegation battlers Boston United at Huish Park on Tuesday night.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Ian Randall ahead of the match, Cooper said: “We didn’t want Frank to go, he was in the team and playing well. When he puts himself about like he has done in the last few games he is a difficult opposition to play against.”
Asked if he expected the 33-year-old to still be at the club following the National League transfer deadline, the manager said: “I would think so, unless there is some kind of takeover at Gateshead which is what I think was supposed to be happening. I have had a good chat with Frank and he wants to stay now. He is another one that has a lot to play for, he is trying to earn himself a contract here or elsewhere.”
Nouble is one of four changes from the midweek defeat with new loanee Kyle Ferguson and Dom Bernard coming in to defence and midfielder Josh Sims also starting. Dropping to the bench are loan defender Frankie Terry and forwards Ciaran McGuckin and Kyrell Wilson.
The manager said: “If you had stood in the tunnel (against Boston United) and looked at the team, it was very diminutive compared to the opposition and we needed to put some physicality in the team (today). We have done that with Kyle Ferguson and Frank (Nouble), so it gives us a little more physicality and maturity.“
Team News: York City (home)
Striker Frank Nouble is back in the Yeovil Town starting line-up and wearing the captain’s armband as the Glovers prepare to take on big-spending York City at Huish Park today (3pm kick-off).
The 33-year-old, who manager Mark Cooper said had asked to leave the club before Tuesday’s 3-0 home defeat to Boston United, replaces Ciaran McGuckin, who drops to the bench along with forwards Kyrell Wilson and Ryan McLean and Frankie Terry, the defender on loan from Colchester United.
In their place come defenders Kyle Ferguson, signed on loan from Rochdale yesterday, and Dom Bernard and Josh Sims, who appeared as a substitute in the midweek defeat.