Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 5)

Midfielder Brett McGavin and striker Aaron Jarvis are named among the substitutes as Yeovil Town take on Altrincham at Huish Park this afternoon (3pm kick-off).

The pair both missed the midweek win at Aldershot Town through injury, but are considered fit enough to return on the bench with Glovers’ boss naming an unchanged side from win on Wednesday night.

Young midfielder Ollie Hughes, who has been named among the substitutes in recent matches, misses out.

After the week that was at Huish Park, Yeovil Town return to home soil with semi-permanent interim manager Richard Dryden in charge to face Altrincham this weekend.


FORM…

YEOVIL TOWN

Well, it’s been a week, hasn’t it folks? The shock exit of manager Danny Webb on Monday morning followed by the shock of assistant manager Chris Todd‘s departure to take up a role at Eastleigh on Tuesday – and then a more pleasant surprise in the form of a 4-1 away win at Aldershot Town on Wednesday night.

A brace from Tahvon Campbell, his first goals since returning to Somerset in the summer, and strikes from Junior Morias and Luke McCormick earned the victory in Hampshire and the Glovers will be looking to carry on their attacking intent in front of the home crowd.

Prior to that the Glovers went down 1-0 at Tamworth in Webb’s only game in charge seven days ago, but they were winners last time out at Huish Park with a late McCormick goal snatching a victory over Woking.

Altrincham

It’s been a difficult few weeks at Altrincham as well. The Robins have lost their last three matches with a defeat at home to Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday night, giving them them a 24 hour head start on recovery over Yeovil.

The game saw Alty’s Tyler Golden red carded for two yellow cards in quick succession meaning he will sit out the match in Somerset as will winger Kahrel Reddin, who equalised against Forest Green, having collected a red for a fracas after the final whistle.

Prior to that there was a 2-1 home loss to Carlisle United, with former Moss Lane favourite Regan Linney on the scoresheet, and a 3-1 loss at in-form Boreham Wood the weekend before that. 

The dismissals in midweek mean that Altrincham have had four players sent off in their last three matches. Midfielder Tom Crawford was dismissed against Carlisle and winger Lucas Weaver saw red at Boreham Wood.

To say that manager Phil Parkinson was unhappy with the referees’ performance against Forest Green would be an understatement but he was happy that his team has been taking the game to their opponents.

 


KEY PLAYERS…

Yeovil Town – Andrew Oluwabori

It is early in the second chapter of on loan winger Oluwabori’s story at Yeovil, but against Aldershot in midweek he showed exactly what he was all about.

The light-weight youngster we had from Peterborough United a few seasons ago has been upgraded with a more robust version on loan from Exeter City and on Wednesday night he showed his ability to change the game with driving runs, tackles and great link-up play.

Andrew Oluwabori during his first loan spell at Yeovil in 2022-23. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Altrincham – Jimmy Knowles

Summer signing Knowles has made an impressive start to life at Altrincham with five goals in his first 11 appearances and will be the main goal threat for the visitors.

Prior to the midweek defeat to Forest Green Rovers, the former Accrington Stanley player had three goals in his previous three matches. 

The loss of Golden and Reddin through suspension will be a blow for the visitors and they will need their new talisman to do something special to get a result they feel their recent performances deserve.


THE GAFFER…

Since arriving at Alty at the end of the 2016-17 campaign as a relative unknown, Phil Parkinson (no, not the one from the Wrexham fairytale) has become one of the most impressive managers in then non-League game.

He took over after the Alty had been relegated to the Northern Premier League and got them promote back to the National League North as champions at the first attempt before reaching the play-offs in his second season and then winning promotion via the play-offs in 2020.

Altrincham manager Phil Parkinson was distinctly unimpressed with the refereeing performance against Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday night.

LAST TIME WE MET…

The two sides last met in April when Alty ran out 2-1 winners at Moss Lane thanks to a late Lewis Baines strike. Full-back Tyler Golden, who will be missing through suspension this time around, opened the scoring on the half-hour mark before Yeovil loanee defender Frankie Terry equalised quickly.

The time the two sides met at Huish Park they played out a fairly forgettable goalless draw last September.


DON’T I KNOW YOU…

Altrincham defender Billy Sass-Davies made the move to Cheshire in the summer having left Hartlepool United. The Welshman impressed during a spell with Yeovil on loan from Crewe Alexandra in the COVID-hit 2020-21 campaign, playing 22 times and scoring once.

He is unlikely to feature against his former club having not yet made an appearance since his return to Alty due to injury.


THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE…

Wayne Cartmel will be the man in the middle for today’s game. You can read more about him – HERE.

Tahvon Campbell was at the double on Wednesday night netting two of the Glovers’ four goals against Aldershot.

His second, a cooly slotted home penalty.

Those goals, and his overall performance land him a spot in the Enterprise Team of the Midweek. 

Great stuff, Tahv! 

New interim Yeovil Town manager Richard Dryden praised his players for “playing for the club” as they overcame a tumultous 48 hours in the club’s history to win 4-1 at Aldershot Town on Wednesday night.

The Glovers raced in to a 3-0 lead in Hampshire courtesy of goals from Tahvon Campbell, Junior Morias and Luke McCormick before Campbell added a fourth from the penalty spot in the second half.

It followed the exit of former boss Danny Webb after just 11 days in charge on Monday morning and the departure of assistant manager Chris Todd to take up a job at league rivals Eastleigh yesterday. Dryden was joined on the touchline in Hampshire by his new number two, former Glovers’ player Jerry Gill.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins after the game, the boss said: “It is hard to explain, I know a lot about Aldershot, they have a great team, a fantastic manager and coaching staff so coming here and winning like that is just a massive boost for this club.

The belief in there with these players, they know they are a good team. We are going to lose games, we are going to lose games and we are not going to play well at times, but that is the league we are in.

It took just 11 minutes for Yeovil to go in to a surprise lead against the run of play when Campbell bundled the ball home before Morias doubled the advantage ten minutes later and then McCormick added a third after 26 minutes with a cool finish.

Yeovil Town celebrate Tahvon Campbell’s second half penalty. Picture courtesy of Mitch Clarke.

Around the hour mark, James Plant was felled inside the box and Campbell stepped up to fire home the penalty before Aldershot substitute James Henry pulled a goal back in the first half of second half stoppage time.

Dryden said: “Everybody did well as an attacking unit. We had a plan which we maybe did not execute very well for the first ten minutes but after that the shape looked good, the team unity looked good and they are playing for the club. It is good to see. There are different ways to win a game and come Saturday (against Altrincham at home) we may be set up differently tactically, I will look with the analyst. 

They were a credit to themselves defensively as well as an attacking unit. We talked (in the dressing room after the game) about the last ten minutes when we could have stopped a little bit more space when we could push out a bit more. They have worked hard, they are going to get tired, but Aldershot had nothing to lose and they could have nicked another goal as well. We have to work on that, it is another lesson learned.

The win came without first-teamers striker Aaron Jarvis, who limped off with a knee injury in the 1-0 defeat at Tamworth in Webb’s only game in charge on Saturday, and midfielder Brett McGavin who is suffering a back injury. Dryden said after the match he expected Jarvis to train on Friday ahead of the weekend’s home match with Altrincham, and added the McGavin had been “really close” to featuring on Wednesday night.

Dryden was handed the top job until the end of the season following the exit of Webb and given the backing of the club’s ownership and was asked whether he could recruit new players before the weekend.

He replied: “I don’t know, I could maybe do with one more member of staff after the mass exodus. The lads have worked so hard, as they have to when there are only 15 or 16 of them, so they need help but they have the shirts at the moment. We will try and bring one or two more in, but we want to make sure we get the right ones. We will see.

Ref, Referee, Match Official

Yeovil Town are back at Huish Park this Saturday and taking charge of the game will be Wayne Cartmel.

Cartmel is no stranger to the Home of football (in Somerset, at least), he was in charge for a disastrous 3-0 home defeat to Boston last season and took charge of a 1-0 home win over Dagenham here back in the 2022/23 season.

Cartmel, booked both Finn Cousin-Dawson and Jahmari Clarke (remember him) in that Boston defeat.

This season, he’s taken charge of just two National League games, a couple mid mannered affairs, but also reffed a spicy affair between Ipswich U21s and Derby U21s, seven goals and seven yellows. 

Niall Felton and Adam Ricketts are his assistants and Jack Clench will be on fourth official duties.

Gime Toure. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Yeovil Town FC (First Team) v Altrincham FC (First Team)
National League – Premier    
Referee: Cartmel, Wayne
Assistant Referee: Felton, Niall
Assistant Referee: Ricketts, Adam
Fourth Official: Clench, Jack

After three days which have rocked the club, Yeovil Town turned in a scintillating team performance to pick up a huge three points at Aldershot Town.

The Glovers took the lead after 11 minutes when Tahvon Campbell smashed home from close range, ten minutes later the impressive Andrew Oluwabori laid it off to Junior Morias who doubled the advantage and then Luke McCormick fired in a beautiful third. With 26 minutes gone, the Glovers were cruising.

In the 64th minute, Campbell fired home a penalty to make it 4-0 before Aldershot substitute James Henry pulled one back a minute in to second half injury time.

It might not have been a cleano, but after everything which has happened at Huish Park since the news of manager Danny Webb’s shock departure you have to take your hats off to everyone for that performance and this result.

What a reaction. What a club.


First half

The first chance of the game fell to the home side as Archy Taylor hit a half-volley over the bar and it was Aldershot who enjoyed the better of the opening ten minutes with dangerman Josh Barrett an ever-present threat.

Having been on the back foot for the opening 11 minutes, Yeovil did a truly Yeovil thing and took the lead. Junior Morias robbed the Taylor  broke in to the box and hammered in a shot which keeper Marcus Dewhurst blocked with his legs and it fell to Tahvon CAMPBELL whose shot cannoned off Theo Widdrington on the line and into the net.

On the 15 minute mark, James Plant cut in from the left hand side and fired in a shot which Dewhurst parried away and moments later Oluwabori broke forward and fired in a shot which came off an Aldershot defender and wide for a corner. There’s definitely opportunities for Yeovil to get at the home side here.

In the 21st minute, it was 2-0 to Yeovil. A high ball forward was superbly brought down by Oluwabori, who laid it off to his left where Junior MORIAS picked it up, fainted to shoot before smashing a shot past Dewhurst.

Junior Morias celebrates Yeovil Town’s second goal.

Two minutes later it could have been three, a ball in from Plant on the left found Oluwabori on the edge of the box, he turned and fired in a shot which Dewhurst had to get down smartly to keep it out. Oluwabori and Morias are pulling the Aldershot defence all over the place.

On 25 minutes it was 3-0. A long ball forward picked out Luke McCORMICK who was in acres of space down the left side, he tore forward and superbly finished. It has been kamikaze defending from  the Aldershot back three, but ruthlessly exposed by Yeovil. What is going on here?! Every time the ball goal goes forward, Yeovil look like they can score.

Aldershot responded with an immediate change with Ryan Jones replacing Charlie Penmen, but it does not stop the visitors from pushing frorward with Oluwabori breaking forward and fizzing a low shot across the face of goal.

With five minutes remaining until half-time, Aldershot had a shot on goal – it was about time. Barrett picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and fired in a shot which Jed Ward did well to turn away.

Half time: Aldershot Town 0 Yeovil Town 3


Second half

Aldershot came out with a half-time flea in their ear and had some early pressure, but there are green-and-white shirts back fighting to keep the pressure off.

With 56 minutes on the clock, Morias, who looked to have a problem with his knee, was replaced by Byron Pendleton who went in to the right wing-back position with Josh Sims moving further forward in to the berth left by Morias.

There was not a great deal for either side until the 62nd minute when James Plant broke in to the box and was pulled down by the home side’s Ryan Hill, referee Stephen Parkinson pointed to the penalty spot. Tahvon CAMPBELL took the ball and send Dewhurst the wrong way. 

Tahvon Campbell celebrates his penalty in front of the travelling supporters.

Two minutes after adding to their advantage, Yeovil introduced Harvey Greenslade in place of Josh Sims. There hasn’t been much to offer At the other end, Jed Meerholz headed one wide and substitute Jones put one wide, but there was not much on offer from them.

With 12 minutes remaining, Richard Dryden made a couple change with Alex Whittle and Ben Wodskou replacing the excellent Oluwabori and Plant. The closing stages of this game have been wonderfully controlled from Yeovil who have kept Aldershot at arms length with a thoroughly professional performance.

Just as I say that, Aldershot have pulled a goal back. As the fourth official’s board goes up for six minutes of injury time, Jones had space down the left side and the ball landed to the feet of James HENRY who coolly struck it in past Ward from the edge of the box.

That goal has given Aldershot a bit of a lift and with five minutes of injury time played, Archy Taylor fires in a shot which Ward does superbly to tip over the bar.

Honestly, this football club, right? After the three days we have had since the shock departure of Danny Webb on Monday morning it would have been easy for the players to fold, for the supporters to not turn up and for us to tumble further in to despair. Instead, we are 4-0 ahead in front of over 200 people who have made the journey to Hampshire on Wednesday night. We’re some club.

Full time: Aldershot Town 1 Yeovil Town 4


Match Details

Venue: The Recreation Ground
Date: Wednesday 24th September, 7.45pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Tahvon Campbell 13 (1-0), Junior Morias 21 (2-0), Luke McCormick 26 (3-0), Tahvon Campbell pen 64 (4-0), James Henry 90+1 (4-1)

Pitch: Text
Conditions: Text

Attendance: 1,931 (203 away supporters)

Bookings: 
Yeovil Town: Harvey Greenslade 67, Kyle Ferguson 82
Aldershot Town: Dejan Tetek  62

Referee: Stephen Parkinson 

Yeovil Town (3-4-1-2)

Substitutes: Byron Pendleton (for Junior Morias, 56), Harvey Greenslade (for Josh Sims, 65), Alex Whittle (for James Plant, 78),  Ben Wodskou (for Andrew Oluwabori, 78), Ollie Hughes (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Aldershot Town: Marcus Dewhurst, Josh Barrett (for James Henry, 73), James Claridge, Cameron Hargreaves (for Tristan Abrahams, 61), Ryan Hill (for Kiban Rai, 73), Jed Meerholz, Charlie Penman (for Ryan Jones, 26), Archy Taylor, Dejan Tetek (for Hady Ghandour, 73), Kwame Thomas, Theo Widdrington.

Substitutes (not used): Ben Jackson, Patrick Nash.

Yeovil Town’s new manager Richard Dryden has called on the club’s supporters to unite behind the team as they prepare to start life after Danny Webb’s short-lived reign as manager.

The experienced coach was handed the job following the departure of Webb on Monday after just 11 days in charge and he takes charge of his first match tonight at Aldershot Town, the club he left in the summer to come to Huish Park.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins ahead of kick-off, he said: “It is a very big challenge, we have all got to come together as a group and that is everyone. I am telling you now, it has to be the fans and the social media, we have all got to get together because it is another start, if we are all going in different directions it is going to be bloody hard.

The players on the pitch are having a go and I will play players who want to have a go for Yeovil. If they don’t want to, we will move them on or they will go and sit on the bench. We want players who are going to play for the club, score goals and defend with their lives like they did for the four games I was in charge.”

He has made three changes from the 1-0 defeat at Tamworth on Saturday, which will go down in the club’s record books as Webb’s only one as first-team manager, with forward players Junior Morias, Tahvon Campbell and new loan signing Andrew Oluwabori in the starting XI.

He confirmed that frontman Aaron Jarvis, who came off with ten minutes remaining at Tamworth, was unavailable with a knee injury and that midfielder Brett McGavin had not recovered from the back injury which ruled him out at the weekend.

Andrew Oluwabori and Tahvon Campbell have been brought in to the starting XI for Yeovil Town’s first game after the departure of former boss Danny Webb at Aldershot Town tonight (7.45pm kick-off).

The pair replace Harvey Greenslade and Aaron Jarvis with Jarvis not named in the squad after limping off in Saturday’s defeat at Tamworth.

Junior Morias, who came off the bench at the weekend, also starts with Byron Pendleton on the bench.

Midfielder Brett McGavin, who was also missing at the weekend, is also not named in the squad.

Yeovil Town: Jed Ward, Morgan Williams, Jake Wannell, Kyle Ferguson, Finn Cousin-Dawson, Luke McCormick, James Plant, Josh Sims, Junior Morias, Tahvon Campbell, Andrew Oluwabori.

Substitutes: Matt Gould, Byron Pendleton, Alex Whittle, Ollie Hughes, Harvey Greenslade, Ben Woodskou.