Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 69)

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Mike Hudson was at Huish Park for the much-needed 1-0 win against AFC Fylde and here are his Five Conclusions.

It was a game that needed a moment. And boy did we get one! It wasn’t the most flowing of performances to say the least, and while we had large spells of possessions we struggled to impose ourselves on AFC Fylde, or create any moments of quality in the final third. Throughout the 90 minutes it felt like one of those games that just needed a moment of magic, a lucky bounce, or a controversial decision. But as the clock ticked into added time, it didn’t really feel like anything was coming. However, the boys didn’t give up and Mark Cooper in the technical area was encouraging them to keep going and speed things up during stoppages. A long ball from Aiden Stone was brilliantly controlled by McGuckin who played a lovely ball to the feet of Harvey Greenslade who finished superbly to send the Huish Park crowd into a moment of ecstasy. After the week we have all just lived through, it was a beautiful reminder of what football is all about and why we love this game so much.

McGuckin, Kite, Terry, Greenslade and McLean. Pic Gary Brown

Fair play to the team. Despite what anyone might say, Yeovil fans know all too well how matters off the pitch can affect performances on it. Mark Cooper said at the Fans Forum earlier in the season that players are hyper aware of what happens on social media, so no doubt they’ve seen it all this week too. However, the team showed a level of professionalism that has been painfully lacking from other areas of our club of late. It wasn’t the prettiest of performances, but the effort was there, and the result was deserved. It’s probably the points target we were all looking for at the start of the season, and we’ve achieved it with games to spare.

Ferguson deserved man of the match. AFC Fylde set up not to lose and to frustrate. After a shock win at home last time out against Forest Green, they looked every bit a team that have won only three times away from home this season and are fighting for survival. But credit to our defensive unit for ensuring they didn’t have a sniff. Ferguson, Terry and FCD were all superb for me, but I think the sponsors were correct in choosing Ferguson above the rest. With the instability of the club being advertised as for sale on Facebook a few hours before kick off, it seems pointless to talk about plans for next season just yet, but… if there’s any chance we can keep Ferguson. It would make me very happy.

Kyle Ferguson
Pic Gary Brown

The Yeovil Town fans showed up. I think that there has been an unfair amount of criticism and deflection towards the supporters of late. There is not a single person who walks through the turnstiles of Huish Park wanting the team to lose. No-one supports Yeovil Town for the glory, or expects us to win every week. I thought the fans that wanted to come, and were allowed to come, backed the lads to the end. The players and staff deserved that moment at the end absolutely, but so did the fans. We’ve only seen six wins at home all season, and after the previous seven days, drink up that moment you Glovers. You deserve it.

Something has to change. Just when you think you’ve hit rock bottom hey?! It’s been a rough week, which all began with some pointless comments in last weeks post match presser, and some completely unnecessary (and since deleted) social media activity. Since then we have had the financial accounts for last year released (eek), and then a number of fans being given two year bans for their social media activity (oh the irony!). Usually what happens in Yeovil stays in Yeovil, because let’s face it, no one else cares. However, we have made national news this week for all the wrong reasons. Martin Hellier has supposedly said he will be selling the club (again). Taking him at his word, hopefully this happens quickly. There is a growing and possibly irreparable disconnect. None of this will help to fill empty advertising hoardings or sale season tickets in a few weeks time. The next 12 months will be so important and we need someone at the helm with a vision to unite the land and the club, and just as importantly, the fans and the club.

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Late goals at Huish Park and a fair few goals in the games involving our loanees out and about.

Firstly, no Will Buse for that lot down by the seaside, they beat Slough to keep their slim hopes of staying up alive.

At the other end of the table, Torquay left it late to grab all three points in a 1-0 win over Aveley. The result relegated the part-timers, but kept the Gulls right in the mix at the top.

Jordan Thomas was on for the final ten minutes

Right, into the lower leagues and we start with a goal for young defender Jacob Shore, he got the third for Wellington in a 3-1 win over Welton Rovers.

Can I be honest with you? I’m starting to lose track of how many Young Glovers are in the Sherborne ranks these days, across their first and reserve teams, there are a lot,.

Looking at the image below, I see a Corey Koerner, Jaydon Biss, Blake Watts, Joe Crisp, Morgan Alexander, Ollie Hughes and Josh Haskett. 

They lost 2-0 to AFC Stoneham, but that’s an incredible effort. 

A reminder that Sherborne are offering YTFC season ticket holders £5 entry into their game on Saturday 5th April as the Glovers are away at Altrincham.

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Please credit Gary Brown for any pictures.

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Match winner Harvey Greenslade described the feeling as “the best I have had” after he bagged  a late winner to earn a 1-0 win for  Yeovil Town against AFC Fylde today.

The striker rifled home his third goal of the season in the sixth minute of second half stoppage time having come off the substitutes’ bench.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah after the match, he said: “That is probably the best feeling I have had, certainly in men’s football. To do it in front of the home fans just topped it off, unbelievable.

“Ciaran (McGuckin) did really well (to set up the opportunity), normally I think he would shoot, but we work together well in training so it has paid off. But I thought the boys played well, we were the better team for the whole game, it was hard to break them down but if any of the boys had scored it, it would have been just as electric so I am really happy for the team as well.”

It was another great moment for the hard-working frontman who has had to fulfil the role of impact sub since coming back from a shoulder injury which disrupted his start to life at Huish Park having joined following his release by Bristol Rovers in the summer.

All his three goals in green-and-white have come from the substitutes’ bench with the winner at home to Ebbsfleet United in August and a stunning second in the 2-0 win at Maidenhead United last month.

Harvey Greenslade celebrates his late, late winner in front of the Thatcher’s Stand. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

Asked about his performance today, Greenslade said: “Hopefully it shows the fans that I am on board with the project the Gaffer (manager Mark Cooper) has got going. It has been a frustrating season with injuries, but to score the winner and show the value I can bring to the team is tops. 

“Players come and go and there is always going to be a lot of turnover, but the core of the group has remained quite strong. We have had some rough patches, but I think we have always bounced back from them. It is good to get the win today but we want to be higher up the table and push for more wins and be in the play-offs, that may be a tall ask being our first season back in the National League Premier but there is no reason why we can’t push on next season.

“We just want to win as many games as we can between now and the end of the season and if we get nearer the play-offs we are buzzing with that, but now are not focused on getting relegated, we want to put that to bed. A club as big as Yeovil should not have to worry about (relegation) so we want to look forwards and upwards.”

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There was praise for Yeovil Town’s substitutes from manager Mark Cooper as his side grabbed a late, late winner to earn a 1-0 win at home to AFC Fylde today.

Striker Harvey Greenslade grabbed the game’s only goal in the sixth minute of second half stoppage time having come off the bench alongside on loan winger Ryan McLean, new signing midfielder Harry Kite and defender Marcel Lavinier.

The boss was full of praise for the players’ commitment in an otherwise uninspiring match against a visiting side desperate for points to boost their battle against the drop from the National League Premier.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah after the game, Cooper said: “We had a chat (on Friday) and the boys who came on at Solihull last weekend came on and made a real impact, and we said it was probably going to be the case again today. All the subs came on and were really good.

“I think the players deserved that for their effort, it was not a classic, but we showed real spirit in a difficult moment. It was a nothing game, Fylde fighting for their lives and us make sure we can get our heads above the water. I never felt we were going to lose the game, I thought we defended well, but at the top end of the pitch we did not spark today. 

“(Fylde) probably read the room and understood what was going to happen today in terms of fan reaction and they wanted to stay in the game and hope that near the end it turned a bit nasty and they could pounce, but I thought the players gave a performance which showed real spirit which the fans got behind. I think you saw the reaction at the end, that’s what football is about, players and supporters celebrating together.”

Harvey Greenslade celebrates his late, late winner. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

The match began hours after chairman Martin Hellier had posted on his social media that he intends to sell the club “as soon as a suitable buyer is found” – read more about that here – following the decision to ban a number of supporters for “negative comments and remarks regarding Yeovil Town Football Club and the club’s chairman.”

Cooper said that the owner had been supportive of him during their time working together, but reiterated pre-match comments that he could only impact on-the-field matters.

He said: “I understand the politics, but for me it is just football. The players showed today they are having a right go for the cause, we are trying to take the (off-the-field) noise away from them and all of that is what it is going to be. We were not by any stretch of the imagination slick today, but the boys put an amazing shift in and got the result on the pitch.

“I am not sure how that stuff is resolved. All I can speak about is that the owner has been really good with me. As a football person he has been really good with me and that is all I can deal with. Whatever else will happen, will happen, and I think it is important that we just talk about how committed the players have been in the last few weeks. They went to Solihull (last weekend) and put a brilliant performance on and they have come here today, been really committed, and got three points.”

Alex Whittle went off injured late in the game following a thunderous 50-50 challenge for the ball, but the manager said he expected the full-back to be available for next weekend’s trip to Altrincham.

He added: “He will be okay, we have a couple that are pushing through it. We’ve got Whitts, Ciaran (McGuckin), Coops (Charlie Cooper), they are just grinding games out because we need them and probably could do with not playing at the minute. But they are the ones putting their hands up and saying they want to play, so fair play to them.

“We had Michael Smith on the bench today, so he can get another good week of training in and hopefully Jake Wannell can take part in a couple of sessions.”

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A Harvey Greenslade goal in the sixth minute of second half stoppage time earned Yeovil Town a dramatic late victory at Huish Park.

The striker, on as a second half substitute, smashed home the winner in front of the Thatcher’s End to snatch the three points after the Glovers struggled to break down a resilient AFC Fylde side desperate for points in their relegation battle.

First half

Glovers’ boss Mark Cooper named an unchanged starting XI from the 3-0 win at Solihull Moors last weekend with new signing midfielder Harry Kite and returning defender Michael Smith named on the substitutes’ bench.

Yeovil started the first half quickly with Sonny Blu Lo-Everton’s free-kick after just two minutes taking a deflection off the defensive wall and forcing Ben Winterbottom in to a save to turn it around the post. From the resulting corner from Otis Khan, Kyle Ferguson won a header inside a crowded area which looked like it was heading in only to be cleared off the line.

On ten minutes, Fylde had their first chance when good work from Will Hugill found Ethan Mitchel arriving late in to the box and a good block from Frankie Terry denied him. Two minutes later they were threatening the Yeovil goal again when a great run from former Glovers’ loanee Gavin Massey fed the ball in to Tyler Roberts who went down under a challenge from Dom Bernard inside the box. Referee Ross Martin decided, assisted by his assistant, that the visiting player had dived and showed him a yellow card.

Dom Bernard goes long. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

The next opportunity came after 30 minutes from another quality ball from Otis Khan , who saw a lot of the ball in the opening half-an-hour, was flicked on by Ciaran McGuckin whose effort went just over the bar. Almost immediately, another good break by the visitors saw top scorer Nick Haughton have a shot well blocked out for a corner. Fylde’s threat is definitely on the break with Yeovil having dominated possession for the last ten minutes.

Massey is causing a lot of problems down the left side with ten minutes of the first half remaining it was the winger’s ball which found Will Hugill whose flicked header went wide.
 
After a frantic first half of the first half, the game settled with Yeovil dominating possession with Fylde only threatening on the break, but the home side could not quite find the quality needed to get a breakthrough.
 

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 AFC Fylde 0

Second half

The appearance of former Glovers’ manager Gary Johnson, who was a late call-up to the BBC Somerset commentary team, entertained supporters for the opening 15 minutes of the second half. Hey Gary Johnson, etc.
 
Heyyyy, Gary Johnson, ooh ahh, I wanna knooooow if you love the Town…?
Picture courtesy of Gary Brown
 
On the hour mark, Terry put one wide before AFC Wimbledon loanee Ryan McLean was introduced to replace Josh Sims on 63 minutes and then Harvey Greenslade replaced Dom Bernard after 69 minutes in a bid to break the battle of the lowest scoring home sides against one of the lowest scoring away sides. The latter change necessitated a change of shape with Cousin-Dawson dropping back and Greenslade taking a more advanced position.
 
With ten minutes remaining – no, honestly nothing has happened since the last substitute – Harry Kite replaced Otis Khan, who had looked the biggest attacking threat for Yeovil. 
 
It took until four minutes from the end for the home side to have an opportunity on goal. Good play by McLean saw him attack and get a shot away which was blocked, McGuckin’s follow-up also blocked. The Thatcher’s End having a great time 
 
A minute from end, Yeovil decided it was time to start turning the screw and a long range effort from Charlie Cooper almost found a breakthrough but Winterbottom was level to it. Gary Johnson on the radio: “Why do people wait until the last five minutes to play like that?“
 
But the best opportunity of the game fell to Fylde three minutes in to second half injury time when Haughton’s corner found the head of substitute Ashley Boatswain, just off the bench for the visitors, but his connection was not good enough and the ball flashed across the face of goal. 
 
Then just when you thought this was going to be the most 0-0 of all 0-0s, Yeovil’s late pressure told in the sixth minute of injury time. A long free-kick from goalkeeper Aidan Stone found its way to McGuckin on the edge of the box, he did brilliantly it bring it under control and lay it off to Harvey GREENSLADE who drilled it home. Scenes!
 
 

Full time: Yeovil Town 1 AFC Fylde 0

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Date: Saturday 29th March, 3:00pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Harvey Greenslade 90+6 (1-0)

Pitch: A bit sparse in the goal mouths but looking okay elsewhere
Conditions: Grey and chilly

Attendance: 2,764 (45 away supporters)

Bookings: 
AFC Fylde: Tyler Roberts 12, Nick Haughton 24, Max Bardell 27, Lincoln McFayden 59, Owen Evans 88
Yeovil Town:  

Referee: Ross Martin

Yeovil Town (4-3-3)

Substitutes:  Ryan McLean (for Josh Sims, 64), Harvey Greenslade (for Dom Bernard, 69), Harry Kite (for Otis Khan, 81), Marcel Lavinier (for Alex Whittle, 90+2), Michael Smith (not used), Lewys Twamley (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

AFC Fylde: Ben Winterbottom, Harry Davis, Ethan Mitchell, Nick Haughton, Max Bardell, Will Hugill, Corey Whelan, Lincoln McFayden, Gavin Massey (for Owen Evans, 80), Tyler Roberts (for Jonathan Ustabasi, 74), Joe Riley (for Ashley Boatswain, 90+1).

Substitutes (not used): Charlie Clark, Dan Sassi, Adam Long, Danny Ormerod.

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Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper has said his side will not be distracted by off-the-field noise which has put Huish Park in the headlines in recent days.

In the past 24 hours, the club has made national media headlines for banning supporters from home matches for “negative comments and remarks” regarding the club and chairman Martin Hellier, who has subsequently said he intends to sell the club “as soon as suitable buyer can be found” – read more on that here.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah ahead of today’s match with AFC Fylde, Cooper said: “I don’t do social media so I don’t really get to see it, obviously you hear little bits and pieces, but I am here to run the football bit and that is up to other people.

“When I came here it was <NAME REDACTED> and then it was Matt Uggla and Martin has come in and we have had a bit of success. I just try and concentrate on what is going to happen out (on the pitch) today.”

Michael Smith returns on the substitutes bench. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

On the pitch, Yeovil named an unchanged starting XI from the side which won 3-0 at Solihull Moors seven days ago with new signing midfielder Harry Kite coming in on the substitutes’ bench alongside defender Michael Smith, who returns after suffering a hamstring injury in the 5-0 defeat at Barnet earlier this month.

Cooper said: “It makes sense (to name an unchanged starting XI). We love to have a settled team but that has been difficult with the circumstances and we will see how they go today.”

On Kite, he added: “He is a solid player who knows the game, he is a ball-winning midfield player and he can run about and he is above the level, so he is perfect for us.

“Brett (McGavin) is more of a quarter-back, whereas Harry is more front foot, mobile and gets around the pitch and wins the ball back, so they are totally different players.”

AFC Fylde sit third-from-bottom of the National League Premier Division table, a point from safety, but picked up an impressive 3-0 win of their own last weekend. The Lancashire side triumphed over high-flying Forest Green Rovers on home soil.

Cooper added: “Everyone beats everyone at this stage of the season. Teams are picking up points and we have to be the same, we have to keep the scoreboard ticking and we are expecting a really tough game. 

“I would settle for 1-0, but we just have to try and replicate the energy, mobility and front foot nature of the way we played (at Solihull).”

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Yeovil Town chairman Martin Hellier has said he intends to sell the club “as soon as a suitable buyer can be found.”

The owner has been in open warfare with supporters on social media in recent days culminating in a number of supporters being handed bans from Huish Park for “negative comments and remarks regarding Yeovil Town Football Club and the club’s chairman.”

This has spiralled in to abuse being exchanged from both sides and the chairman has cited this as the reason for his decision to sell in a post on his person Facebook account on Saturday morning ahead of the match with AFC Fylde.

It is not the first time Hellier has threatened to sell the club since he completed his takeover in May 2023 ending the ownership of <NAME REDACTED>, so we will wait and see how this one pans out. But, for the time being, the above post seems to be fairly black and white.

The news comes days after the club announced it lost almost £2.8m during last season’s return to the National League Premier Division.

The accounts for Yeovil Football & Athletic Club Limited show the club is being kept afloat by owner selling “assets from within a property portfolio” and highlight uncertainty about the club’s ability to continue as a going concern.

The decision to ban a number of supporters has caused a lot of conversation – to put it mildly – on social media and even made headlines in some of the national media – see here.

Here is an example of one such letter sent to supporter Jonathan Hooper:

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Yeovil Town have named an unchanged starting XI from last weekend’s 3-0 win at Solihull Moors as they take on AFC Fylde at Huish Park this afternoon.

New signing midfielder Harry Kite is named on the substitutes’ bench alongside defender Michael Smith, who has not featured since suffering a hamstring injury in the 5-0 defeat at Barnet.

Youngster Corey Koerner, who made his professional debut last weekend, drops out of the squad from seven days ago when the Glovers named only six of a possible seven substitutes.