Two-goal Tom Knowles has been named in the National League Team of the Day for his performance in the 3-1 home win over King’s Lynn Town.
The forward is listed in a front three alongside Rhys Oates of Hartlepool United and W*ymouth’s Andrew Dallas, who scored twice in their 2-1 home win over Altrincham.
Oates got one in Hartlepool’s 3-1 win at Aldershot Town.
Darren Sarll was pleased with his side’s performance this afternoon against Kings Lynn Town. He reserved praise for star-man Tom Knowles, Emmanuel Sonupe and the players who returned to the lineup after injury.
Speaking to BBC Somerset following the 3-1 victory, Sarll said: “I thought we were really going to put on a show at one point after Tom (Knowles) scored that second goal and I thought this could be a good day for us. We got a bit careless when players started coming out of shape a little too often and it left us a bit open. Adam (Smith) made some good saves in the second half from the header and when (Luke Wilkinson) cleared one off the line. Other than those two moments I thought we were pretty comfortable defensively and everyone can see the different the players we had coming back makes.”
The effect of the returning Lawson D’Ath, Carl Dickinson and Luke Wilkinson was clear for all to see, although the manager did say he felt Wilkinson shouldn’t have been playing, especially after a first half injury.
“Wilkinson should never have been playing, he is putting himself in harm’s way. He took a bang on his knee and he could be done for (the home game with Maidenhead United on) Tuesday. We wanted to take it one game at a time and we thought that after not scoring in three games, we had a positive response today and we will worry about Tuesday on Tuesday.”
Wilko did tweet the following after the game:
Bit of a swollen knee but should be good for Tuesday ??
— Luke Wilkinson (@lukewilko90) May 15, 2021
The manager was full of praise for D’Ath, who completed 85 minutes after three months out through injury.
“I had forgotten that Lawson had been out for three months and then I saw him stretching in the 80-something minute and I thought I better get Lawson off rather than (Tom) Knowles who I was thinking about bringing off. What Lawson does is bring calm to the chaos and we have missed that a lot this year. He puts his foot on the ball and if he can’t turn out naturally, he creates a way of turning out anyway.
“That can turn the game in your favour because you know if the ball lands with Lawson, you know he is going to retain the first ball and allow the team to change shape. His set plays were (excellent), how much have we missed that kind of delivery (this season)? I thought he was our best player today for his performance and what he has done for the club coming back after such a long period out with injury.”
Knowles has been in superb form of late for the Glovers and the second of his first-half strikes were of real quality. Sarll reiterated a point he made during Thursday’s pre match press conference: “I did say on Thursday that he would be one of the most exciting players outside the EFL. When I first started working with Tom, I thought as he got older he would become a centre forward like (Chris) Dagnall. He’s got those little, quick legs, he’s got good technique and he gets wonderful power in his strikes, which you can really see when you see it live. He is always capable of working the goalie and I like that about him. He struck the ball beautifully (for his second goal) at the end of a decent move for us, but it did open our shape up a bit and that is when we got a bit careless.”
Emmanuel Sonupe enjoyed a cameo from the bench and scored Yeovil’s third after being put through on goal by Joe Quigley. Speaking about Sonupe, the Yeovil boss said how excited he was about the ex-Tottenham academy player.
“It was pleasing for Emmanuel because he has been injured a lot since he signed. We know (his quality) is there and sometimes the hardest thing is to pull that (quality) regularly out of him. We saw it even after he scored his goal, the run where we went down the far side was really bright and exciting. Those really positive wide players are the players I really love watching. I thought he had a good influence going forward when he came on and he was good defensively as well. I am critical of his defensive willingness sometimes, but I thought he was good at that today. He is a clever footballer, he has a wonderful background (having started at Tottenham Hotspur academy) and if he can continue to play in that vain, he can finish the season very strongly. When he opens up he is quick, but sometimes he has so many touches he actually brings his speed down and I like it when he has less touches and covers more ground quicker. When you bring subs on, you want them to have a big influence and he had a big influence today.”
Yeovil Town midfielder Tom Knowles spoke to BBC Somerset following his brace in the 3-1 win over King’s Lynn Town, but insisted it was a return to winning ways after three consecutive defeats that mattered more.
“It is always nice to get a goal, but the main thing is getting three points. It is why you play football, to get three points and win games . It has been a tough spell and things like this do happen in football and it is all about how you bounce back. You have got to go on to the next one and we have been lucky this season that when it has been tough there is always another game right around the corner. It has not gone our way the past couple of games, we have been working hard and you can see today it has come off for us and we have got the three points.”
Knowles now seven goals for the Glovers since his arrival from Cambridge in December with Saturday’s game marking his 30th game for Darren Sarll’s side.
Speaking about his goals, Knowles said: “The first one Reuben (Reid) and Josh (Neufville) set a really good press and I was just behind it and luckily they found me and not the defender and I went through and scored. The second one was something I like to do, get on the half turn and shoot from a little bit further out, I do like to score good goals, so two different goals but I was very happy with both of them.”
Turning his attention to Tuesday night’s home game with Maidenhead United with supporters back inside Huish Park, the attacker said he is looking forward to making his first appearance in front of the fans.
He said: “I have not been fortunate enough to play in front of them yet, but I can’t wait, I am really looking forward to playing in front of them on Tuesday… I have heard really good things (about the fans) talking to the lads. They can really get behind us and drive us on and hopefully we can reward them with another three points. Everything we do is for the fans because they pay their hard-earned money to come and watch us, so we need to put in the performances because that is what we get paid to do.”
Knowles added that he had loved his first season with the Glovers, but was excited at the prospect of what the club could achieve next year.
He added: “I am really looking forward to next season, we have got a good base and if we can finish this year strongly, who says we can’t get promoted next season? We are a big club, a big team and we all want to play League football, so that is definitely going to be the aim for next year.”
The Glovers weren’t the only team to score three today. More than half of the teams playing today scored three goals.
Last Tuesday’s opponents Aldershot went down 3-1 at home against Hartlepool. Hollywood heroes Wrexham came from two down at Boreham Wood (Kabongo Tshimanga was on the score sheet) to win 3-2 with an 88th minute winner. Dagenham and Redbridge continued their good form to upset Halifax 3-0, including a goal from Angelo Balanta. Ex-Yeovil youth player Joe Tomlinson scored a penalty in Eastleigh’s 3-0 triumph over Barnet. Top of the table Sutton retained control of the League with a 3-0 victory against Maidenhead.
Chesterfield, with manager James Rowe serving a four-match ban, conspired to draw 0-0 against Wealdstone. Notts County and Bromley played out a 2-2 draw. Former loanee Adam Rooney scored early on to help Solihull Moors to a 2-1 win against Woking. W*ymouth beat Altrincham 2-1, too.
Torquay and Stockport play tomorrow at 12:15 on BT Sport.
A brace from Tom Knowles and a late goal from Emmanuel Sonupe ended a run of three defeats for a patched up Yeovil Town against struggling King’s Lynn.
It was a miserable day at Huish Park with the wet weather assisting Knowles with his opening goal after the ball held up on pitch after eight minutes.
But, the midfielder’s second three minutes later owed everything to his amazing ability to connect with a ball as he bent the ball in.
The visitors pulled one back from the spot soon after before a second half which was as dismal as weather.
The only bright spot for the home side came three minutes from time when substitutes Joe Quigley and Sonupe combined for the midfielder to open his account.
Here’s how I saw it…..
If you made it to the live stream in time to watch the highlights of the 2-2 draw between the two sides on the opening day of the season, refer to Gloverscast Rule 1 when watching the handball and offside for King’s Lynn’s first goal. Horrendous, just horrendous.
The team news saw returns to the starting line up for centre-half Luke Wilkinson, making his first appearance since limping off after 26 minutes in the 5-1 defeat at Solihull Moors, and full-back Carl Dickinson who missed the midweek trip to Aldershot Town.
Lawson D’Ath, who appeared as a substitute in midweek, got his first start since the 3-0 win at Weymouth in January, and there were just four substitutes for the Glovers.
A pre-match downpour left the Huish Park pitch sodden and the ball was clearly holding up in some parts, but it was a bright start for Yeovil with Billy Sass-Davies turning an early D’Ath corner over the bar.
The conditions played a part in Yeovil’s opening goal when an underhit back pass to King’s Lynn keeper Theo Richardson held up on the surface, gifting Tom KNOWLES a gilt-edged chance to break through, stepped round the keeper and fired the opener.
Then just three minutes later, a nicely-worked move down the left, found KNOWLES on the edge of the box and he bent a beautiful strike passed the helpless Richardson.
At that point, it looked like a case of how many for the home side, but that seemed to spur King’s Lynn.
They found a way back in to the game on 23 minutes when winger Michael Gyasi was felled inside the box by a clumsy Wilkinson tackle.
The penalty was awarded and experienced striker Simeon JACKSON sent Adam Smith the wrong way from the spot.
Shortly after there was another definite call for the Gloverscast Rule 1 (NB: Don’t complain about National League refs, they’re rubbish, just live with it) when Wilkinson appeared to win the ball with a heavy tackle on Michael Gash.
The defender limped away and unfathomably got a yellow card. Suffice to say, captain Carl Dickinson was less than impressed and, to add injury to insult, Wilkinson was left struggling.
The slippy conditions and a lack of quality in both boxes made for plenty of action, but very little to test either Smith or Richardson.
Dickinson had a long range free-kick held and that was about that for the remainder opening 45 minutes.
Half time: Yeovil Town 2 (Knowles (2) King’s Lynn Town 1(Jackson, pen)
The rain continued to fall during the half-time break making the pitch even heavier and you just knew it was not going to be pretty.
Wilkinson did return for the second half, but it was King’s Lynn who started the half the brighter. On 50 minutes, full-back Tyler Denton whistled a shot just wide from 30 yards with Smith at full stretch.
If you did spend £9.99 to watch the stream, I would try and get a discount for the first 25 minutes of the second half which was one you could easily have made a drink during and not missed anything.
It was not until the 70th minute that King’s Lynn pressure saw midfielder Sonny Carey have an effort cleared off the line by Wilkinson, presumably kicking with the one fit and healthy leg he had left.
Two minutes later, a cross from Josh Neufville seemed to be heading towards Knowles on the back post, dreaming of his hat-trick, the script was written……..but Knowles slipped. Yeah, that kind of game.
It took until the 84th minute to cheer up when Yeovil’s substitutes Joe Quigley, on for Reuben Reid, played a well-weighted ball through to Emmanuel SONUPE who ran through and coolly slotted home his first goal.
That was pleasing for both players. Quigley again showing that he is more than a targetman and Sonupe, one of the few bright spots when he came on against Wrexham seven days earlier, getting off the mark with a nice finish.
A minute from the end, a great ball in by Payne and Michael Gash got a header which looped over and (I think) Smith got a touch on it to turn it on to the crossbar.
Three points, three goals and a nice fillip going in to Tuesday night’s home match with Maidenhead United with fans back inside Huish Park for the first time in a long time.
From this exiled Yeovil Town supporter, if you are lucky enough to be there – give the boys a cheer from me!
Full time: Yeovil Town 3 (Knowles (2), Sonupe) King’s Lynn Town 1 (Jackson, pen).
Yeovil Town: Smith, Kelly, Wilkinson, Sass-Davies, Dickinson (c), Lee, Knowles, D’Ath (D’Ath, 87), Neufville (for Sonupe, 78) , Reid (for Quigley, 70), Dagnall.
Substitues (not used): Evans (GK).
Bookings: Wilkinson,
King’s Lynn: Richardson, Howard, Callan-McFadden, Fleming, Denton, Clunan (c), Gyasi (Babos, 65), Kiwomya (Payne, 65), Carey, Jackson, Gash.
Substitutes (not used): Bastock.
Bookings: Callan-McFadden, Denton.
There are returns to the Yeovil Town side for defenders Luke Wilkinson and Carl Dickinson for the visit of King’s Lynn to Huish Park on a damp Saturday afternoon.
Lawson D’Ath, who appeared as a substitute in the midweek feature at Aldershot Town, also starts with only four players on the bench.
Our opponents have just three substitutes, one of whom is 50-year-old assistant manager, Paul Bastock, who some Glovers’ fans may recall playing in goal for Boston United against us many moons ago.
Yeovil Town: Adam Smith, Michael Kelly, Luke Wilkinson, Billy Sass-Davies, Carl Dickinson, Charlie Lee, Tom Knowles, Lawson D’Ath, Josh Neufville, Reuben Reid, Chris Dagnall.
Substitues: Max Evans (GK), Emmanual Sonupe, Toby Stephens, Joe Quigley.
King’s Lynn:Richardson, Howard, Callan-McFadden, Fleming, Denton, Clunan, Gyasi, Kiwomya, Carey, Jackson, Gash.
Substitutes: Payne, Babos, Bastock.
The whereabouts of exiled winger Gabby Rogers appears to have been cleared up.
A player by the same name turned out for Willand Rovers, a Southern League Division One South club based in Cullompton, near Exeter, in a friendly match at Clevedon Town on Friday night.
The team-sheet posted by Clevedon Town shows Gabby appearing as a number 10 for the visiting side.
Clevedon won 3-0 in the friendly fixture.
The Torquay-born winger has not featured since coming off the bench in the 3-2 FA Cup defeat at Stockport County in late Stockport.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Yeovil Town’s National League fixture with King’s Lynn, Glovers’ boss Darren Sarll was asked about the whereabouts of Rogers.
He said: “Nothing has changed from the first time around. I will only play players who want to play for the football club, it does not matter who it is. We want to produce a group of people that are highly committed to the club. Gabby was (committed to the club) but things change.”
If this does mean Gabby’s time as a Yeovil Town player has come to an end, all of us on the Gloverscast wish him the best for his future career.
Whilst Yeovil Town are looking to end a disappointing season on a high, the visitors to Huish Park this weekend, King’s Lynn Town, are looking back on a good first season in the National League.
The Linnets, whose late equaliser earned a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture on the opening day of the season, will survive in the absence of relegation, but are unlikely to achieve boss Ian Culverhouse‘s aim of not finishing in the bottom three.
Even if you don’t count Dover Athletic, technically rock bottom on zero everything, they are sandwiched between Woking and Barnet and come in to the fixture without a win since the Easter Monday victory over Altrincham.
You have to go back to mid-January and a 1-0 win at Eastleigh to find the last time they won on the road, but they can’t go down which equals success for the Linnets.
Like many clubs, they have players on furlough and therefore unable to play – because, well, they are on furlough – and Culverhouse has had to bring in players from Step 2 and Step 3 clubs looking to make a name for themselves at this level, and a number of loan signings.
Normally, I would try to find you the views of the opposition manager in this pre-match previews, but I cannot find a word from Ian Culverhouse about his side’s trip to South Somerset.
So, here is what Glovers’ manager Darren Sarll had to say about them: “It’s a group of players playing with ridiculous freedom because their sole goal this season was to maintain their status in the league.
“They have done that with no relegation, which translates in to some very good football at times.
“A good game for us is winning and playing good football and my focus is on us rather than King’s Lynn.”
There is more from the manager on the club’s official matchday preview which you can read – here.
According to the Eastern Daily Press, the Linnets’ only fitness concern is over midfielder Ryan Jarvis, who came off at half-time in the 4-1 defeat at Chesterfield in midweek.
That was the former Torquay United man’s first game in two months due to a knee injury.
Central defender Elkan Baggott, who is on loan from Ipswich Town, could return at Huish Park having missed the midweek defeat playing in an FA Youth Cup semi-final for his parent club.
It has been a busy season season for the 18-year-old, who made his senior debut for the Tractor Boys in the League Cup earlier this season, signed a professional contract, got called up by the Indonesian national team and joined King’s Lynn on loan.
The visitors will be without Adam Marriott, the prolific striker who nicked an 87th-minute equaliser against Yeovil on the opening day.
He joined Eastleigh in April with his contract at King’s Lynn up in the summer.
Tai Fleming – an 18-year-old defender who on his personal website describes himself as “a no nonsense defender who takes pride in defending” has made 15 appearances for King’s Lynn this season.
But, up until May 2020, he was on a scholarship with Yeovil Town and captained the youth team with four first-team appearances in pre-season friendly matches.
The youngster appears to have been a regular starter since arriving at The Walks, so expect him to line up against his old club this weekend.
Kwesi Appiah – spent a month on loan with Yeovil from Crystal Palace during the 2012-2013 – which turned out alright for us, as I recall.
He made five appearances for Gary Johnson’s men, coming off the bench for four of them which the Glovers won, and starting one – a 2-0 defeat at Colchester United on a cold February night.
Earlier in his career, whilst with Peterborough United, Appiah had a prolific spell with King’s Lynn FC scoring nine in 10 games for the Northern League Premier side before his loan spell was cut short when the club went bust. I’m not saying he’s unlucky, but….
King’s Lynn FC were eventually wound up in November 2009 with debts of £77,000 and reformed as today’s King’s Lynn Town in January 2010.
For the lowdown on King’s Lynn, listen to the chat with Jamie Heaphey, a volunteer at King’s Lynn Town, talk about loan players playing for expenses for the club on the latest edition of the Gloverscast.
Glovers defender, Billy Sass-Davies has been the subject of much praise from him parent club’s manager David Artell.
The Crewe boss spoke on Friday about the Welshman’s progression since joining on loan in February.
“He has gone down there on loan and held his place and it will be another great learning curve for him. It is one of the reasons why I have allowed Olly to leave us. Billy has got to be given his opportunity and I think he is ready.”
Artell added: “I will talk to him, to reassure him that him going out on to Yeovil is all part of his development. He has been placed on loan for that very reason, much in the same way Owen Dale was. “
At the time of writing, Sass-Davies has played 18 games for Darren Sarll’s side, scoring the one goal – against Barnet, he has also made his Wales Under 21s debut whilst on loan with the club and looks set to be in Crewe’s plans for their first team campaign next season.
More evidence that sending young talent on loan to Huish Park is of benefit to everyone, more of the same next season, please!
