Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 7)

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It’s Wednesday night in Aldershot for the Glovers this week and we are being looked after on the night, by a referee more at home on the EFL circuit than in the National League.

Stephen Parkinson has been in Leagues One and Two as well as the EFL Trophy.

He officiated a feisty game between Bristol Rovers and Spurs’ kids, which ended with a lengthy penalty shootout, with a red card thrown in for good measure.

His only game in charge at our level though, was Carlisle United’s 3-0 win away at Wealdstone, where he dished out three yellows including to former Glover, Bevis Mugabi.

Oddly though, for a referee of his experience level, and considering he’s taken plenty of games involving South West sides, we can find no evidence of him ever taking charge of a Yeovil game. 

Mr Parkinson has refereed in Germany before, having been a German language teacher in a former career. 

Michael Hayden and Ciaran Fidler are going to be on assistant duties with Coleman O’Meara looking after the dugouts.

Wed 24th Sep 2025
Aldershot Town (First Team) v Yeovil Town FC (First Team)
National League – Premier    
Referee: Parkinson, Stephen
Assistant Referee: Hayden, Michael
Assistant Referee: Fidler, Ciaran
Fourth Official: Mathieson, Alex

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Josh Sims breaks away.

Josh Sims said the 1-0 defeat at Tamworth was ‘disappointing’ and it was a tough result to take.

The midfielder spoke to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins after the defeat saying: “It was a tough, tough old match. Disappointing result in the end, to be honest, I think you know the way we played in the end, we can’t just hang on for a 0-0 like that. We defended really well as a team for virtually the whole game. So things like that are always going to drop in. You can’t defend like that for 90 minutes, unfortunately. But, yeah, disappointing result.”

Josh Sims on the charge
Pic – Gary Brown

Sims gave credit to Tamworth and their long throw. “Tamworth are good at what they do. Obviously, they’ve got the long throw, they just put pressure in the box, put numbers in there, and then that’s how they get their goal. So it was nothing that we weren’t expecting. It’s just disappointing that we gave him so many opportunities to do it, whether that was corners, crosses, you know, long throws and that kind of thing. So, yeah, really tough, tough one to take in the end.”

With Danny Webb completing his first full week as manager, Sims said training had been positive, but had an eye on the trip to Aldershot on Wednesday.

“It’s been really positive. You know, it’s been a good training week, but we’re just saying in there, it’s all good doing it in training. I know this is where it matters, the 90 minutes on a Saturday. So listen, we’ve got to go again on Wednesday. We’ve got another tough, tough match. So, yeah, we go again.”

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New Yeovil boss Danny Webb will be getting on with recruitment following his side’s 1-0 loss at Tamworth.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins, Webb said the squad was lacking pace and physicality, but that it was ‘great for him to see’.

“I knew the magnitude of the job when I came in, and, yeah, seeing it with me own eyes in terms of, you’re thinking at half time, you’ve rode the storm and I thought the boys defended the box and the long throws and the corners tremendously well. But sadly, we were missing actually, first half that little bit of quality when we won the ball back, and a real lack of pace and physicality in our team. So yeah, I think we’re down to work straight away to recruit, get some players in. The boys, fair play, kept going right to the end, worked their socks off, it certainly wasn’t a lack of effort.

“It’s a shame that the goal that wins it is a corner, where for most of the game, we’ve defended them really well, but you can’t concede, I would say probably over 20-25 corners and long throws combined. You can’t. And, eventually one of our lads is going to get overpowered, one’s going to lose their marker, it’s going to happen. So after that, it just becomes a bit of a free for all, because you’re throwing people up front, you’re trying to get back in the game, whereas if you keep it at 0-0 and gradually go up the gears, then you’ve got a chance.”

When asked about what he said to the team in the second half, Webb said there was a mixture of tactical and set piece feedback, but conceded that the better team won on the day.

On his words at half time, he said: “Let’s think we’ve rode the storm. You can’t concede see that many corners again. We probably conceded more in the second half, and really couldn’t, really couldn’t get going. Loads of things to tactically to look at for the first half, two centre forwards too far apart. When we had good possession of the ball, we had no one running beyond Tamworth. Everything was in front of them. Going against, we’re having duels with players who were quicker and making poor decisions. As I say, it’s really, it’s a really disappointing result, and the best team definitely won.”

Webb spoke highly of the returning Andrew Oluwabori, who had a good chance to get a point for the Glovers.

“Andrew is a great spark. I can see the calibre of player I want to bring in, and he’s certainly done himself no harm at all today. He’s a League One player, you know, and the Yeovil Town should be getting players in of that calibre, and we will start doing that now. It wasn’t a wake up call for me, so to speak. But you talk about training, because the lads have been excellent away in terms of their attitude and approach to everything. They’re very committed, definitely. But yeah, need a bit more quality going forward.”

Webb added: “Yeah, and it’s a chance for these lads to keep showcasing what they what they can do and what they want to do for the club. Because obviously the owners and stakeholders are very keen to to bring players in as well. So it’s about bringing the right player in. I think you saw of Andrew, he is the right player, or the first of many I think, that’ll be hopefully improving the squad. But yeah, in the meantime, supporting the lads and maintaining their attitude and professionalism, because they have been, they have been good. But today, I just felt that every time we had maybe a simple decision, we had a silly shot from 30 yards, where we could dribble we come back inside, when we should have passed we dribbled. Lots of poor decisions, so great for me to see, really good for me to see going forward.

With players coming in, Webb was asked about departures: “I think that happens as a consequence and I think that that will naturally happen. Obviously, in terms of the budget to work within, etc. So, yeah, it’s the same, if players aren’t really part my plans, I don’t really want to waste anyone’s time. It won’t happen overnight. It won’t be a couple of games. It’d be quite a few games to really see how this squad takes shape. So as I say, it’s it’s frustrating, because a great reaction last Saturday, I just felt today it was it was probably needed to fair. Tamworth won fair and square and loads of lessons to be learned.

“There has to be an element of patience, which I know there is from everyone, because Rome weren’t built in a day, and this will certainly take more than a day. I urge our supporters to stick with us, because I thought they were fantastic today.”

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Danny Webb’s start as Yeovil Town manager ended with a scrappy defeat at Tamworth on Saturday.

The Glovers struggled to cope against a physical opponent on an unstable artificial surface in the first half and had to ride the storm with a barrage from their hosts who won the physical battle.

The introduction of new loan signing Andrew Oluwabori and striker Junior Morias brought some added impetus, but in the 75th minute Tamworth found a breakthrough when defender Kennedy Digie bundled home the winner.

Oluwabori had a great opportunity to get a leveller in second half injury time after a fantastic run, but his shot was wide.

First half

There was no midfielder Brett McGavin in the Glovers’ squad having jarred his back in training. Finn Cousin-Dawson replaced him in the middle of the park with Aaron Jarvis brought in to provide a physical presence up front alongside Harvey Greenslade.

The first chance of the game fell to the home side after nine minutes when Yeovil switched off from a Tom Tonks’ quick throw-in towards Tyler Roberts before the winger crosses the ball for Kennedy Digie whose effort was denied by a smart save from Jed Ward.

Five minutes later, Beck-Ray Enoru volleyed just wide before firing in a cross after doing superbly to beat Byron Pendleton. All the pressure was coming room the home side, but the Yeovil defence was standing firm against a barrage of attacks and several cannon ball throw-ins from the human rocket launcher in Tonks.

The first meaningful chance of goal for Yeovil did not come until half-an-hour in when Tonks fouled McCormick on the edge of the box. In the absence of Brett McGavin, the former Bristol Rovers man lifted the resulting free-kick just over the bar.

With three minutes of the half remaining, Yeovil were indebted to Ward once again after the dangerous Tyler Roberts caused issues down the right side before feeding Kwaku Donkor who effort was well saved by the feet of the keeper.

There was dogged defending from the visitors, but also a lack of creativity going forwards with nothing for hosts’ goalkeeper Jas Singh to deal with.

Half time: Tamworth 0 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

The start of the second half saw Andrew Oluwabori replace James Plant and within seconds of the restart Finn Cousin-Dawson was in referees’ book for an aerial tussle with Manny Duku.

Josh Sims had a shot off target in the 55th minute before Junior Morias came on around the hour mark replacing Greenslade. The arrival of Oluwabori and Morias certainly gave the Glovers’ more cutting edge, but the quality going forwards which was lacking in the first half was still absent after the break.

On 65 minutes, a big chance came when McCormick’s free kick met by Morgan Williams at the back post but he was superbly stopped by Singh. That was the first action the Tamworth keeper was called in to.

The home side had a very loud shout for a penalty on 67 minutes for what looked like a hand ball before substitute Oliver Lynch had a shot which was deflected on to Jed Ward’s crossbar.

You just got the feeling a breakthrough was coming for Tamworth and in the 75th minute it arrived. Having not dealt with a corner, Ben Milnes was able to put a ball in to the box and Kennedy DIGIE bundled it home.

It seemed that it was not until the fourth official put his board up for seven minutes of stoppage time that Yeovil’s attackers snapped in to gear. The best chance came from Oluwabori who picked the ball up inside his own half four minutes in to stoppage time and drove forwards but pulled his shot wide.

Full time: Tamworth 1 Yeovil Town 0

Match Details

Venue: The Lamb Ground
Date: Saturday 20th September, 3pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Kennedy Digie 75 (0-1)

Pitch: An appalling patchwork of plastic 
Conditions: Persistent drizzle 

Attendance: 1,199

Bookings: 
Yeovil Town: Finn Cousin-Dawson 47
Tamworth: Tom Tonks 30, Alfie Bates 90

Referee: Dale Baines

Yeovil Town (3-4-2-1)

Substitutes: Andrew Oluwabori (for James Plant, 46), Junior Morias (for Harvey Greenslade, 61), Tahvon Campbell (for Aaron Jarvis, 79), Alex Whittle (not used), Ben Wodskou (not used), Ollie Hughes (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

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New signing Andrew Oluwabori is named on the substitutes’ bench for Danny Webb’s first game as Yeovil Town manager at Tamworth today (3pm kick-off).

The winger, signed on loan from Exeter City until January, is joined by Junior Morias and Alex Whittle among the substitutes.

Striker Aaron Jarvis in the starting XI alongside Harvey Greenslade, Finn Cousin-Dawson starts in midfield with Byron Pendleton at wing-back.

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Captain Jake Wannell has said Yeovil Town’s players have got their “bite” back after the first week under new manager Danny Webb.

The defender said the intensity of training sessions had increased ahead of Saturday’s trip to Tamworth which will be followed by a a visit to Aldershot Town four days later.

Speaking to BBC Somerset reporter Jack Killah on Friday, Wannell said: “It has been a new phase, new view on everything, he wants us to be fitter so early in the week we have had a few tough sessions. We had a session called ‘Murder Ball’ which was hell. I hope we never do that again! Then towards the back end of the week it has been more tactical, so we have seen that side of him as well. If there was a midweek game this week I think that would have slowed us down, so it has probably been good for the Gaffer to have a full week with the team.

“He has not flooded us with too much information, but the intensity has gone up and everyone has gone up a gear which is good with tackles flying in in training, people sulking when they lose, so we have got that bite back. I think he is the kind of manager who will talk to players individually, he has put his arm around a few people already and put his arm around the club which is most important and I think he will bring the best out of the players individually as well. I think we just need to be calm as an attacking unit and a defensive unit, I don’t think we have been miles off it this season, I just think if we tidy up in all departments as we did (against Woking) we will be okay.”

The return of Kyle Ferguson to the defensive unit alongside Wannell and Morgan Williams for the past three games has brought greater solidity to the Yeovil backline.  Having conceded seven goals in two matches against Gateshead and FC Halifax Town, the Glovers kept clean sheets in last Saturday’s 1-0 home win over Woking and the 1-0 victory at Solihull Moors, with a 3-1 loss to York City sandwiched in between.

With Alex Whittle’s fitness seemingly ruling him out of a start at Tamworth this weekend, it seems likely the Glovers’ defence will be unchanged and Wannell believes that will help.

He said: “It is important because the more you play alongside the same person, the more consistent you are going to be. We had a blip where we conceded seven goals in two games, but that is behind us now, we have got a new unit and hopefully we can build on that. Kyle had a slow start to pre-season, but he has looked really solid in the last few games so long may that continue.”

Webb’s focus on set pieces, a role he took on with defensive and attacking players during his time as assistant manager at Chesterfield, has been apparent in his first week training with his new players.

He was watching from the Huish Park stands as he saw his side scoring from a corner to grab the win over Woking in second half stoppage time. It was Wannell’s header from Brett McGavin’s corner which gave Luke McCormick the chance to lash home that winner and the Glovers’ captain knows set pieces will be vital if they are to get any success against a physical Tamworth side.

He added: “We had said as a unit that we want to score more goals as a defensive unit which we did in injury time against Woking which was nice. We did set pieces in training on Thursday and Friday, so hopefully we can take that in to the game on Saturday. Everyone knows that on an artificial pitch with the long throws (from midfielder Tom Tonks) and the directness of their game will be a challenge, we drew there last year, so we will go there with a game plan and hopefully get three points. We have four games in two weeks, so hopefully we can get a good understanding of what the manager wants us to do in the away games and then get back to Huish Park.”

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A new era starts on Saturday for Yeovil, as new boss Danny Webb is set to take charge of his first match against Tamworth – and the National League Premier Division’s only artificial pitch.

FORM…

YEOVIL TOWN

A last gasp winner from midfielder Luke McCormick deep in to second half stoppage time earned the Glovers their third win of the season last time out. The three points at home to Woking last weekend moved us up to 15th in the National League Premier Division table after nine matches.

This Saturday however will see a new name in the Yeovil dug-out with new boss Danny Webb taking charge of his first game. Webb will be looking to use last weekend’s victory at Huish Park as a spring board to push up the table in the Midlands.

Tamworth

Tamworth’s form has spiked in recent weeks with three victories in their last four games, a record on blotted by a defeat at big-spending York City. They picked a 3-2 win away at Sutton United last weekend, a result which spelt the end of Steve Morison’s time in charge at Sutton.

The Lambs operate on a part-time model with players days jobs ranging from a bricklayer to a plumber, and have some dangerous players notably striker Manny Duku who has three goals in his last four games and midfielder Tom Tonks, who became a national star for his long throw-ins during Tamworth’s FA Cup run last season.

Manager Andy Peaks rested a number of his first-team players for their 2-1 win over Everton Under-21s in the National League Trophy, making three substitutions in the first four minutes to underline the ridiculousness of that competition.

KEY PLAYERS…

Yeovil Town – Kyle Ferguson

Having sat out much of the start the season, summer signing centre half Kyle Ferguson has turned in some commanding performances in recent weeks, none more so than in the Glovers’ two most recent wins at Solihull Moors and at home to Woking.

Against a Tamworth side who are guaranteed to be physical on an artificial surface, the strength and heading ability of the Scotsman will be key to Yeovil’s chances of taking anything home from The Lamb Ground.

Kyle Ferguson. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

Tamworth – Manny Duku

With four goals from his first nine appearances this season, it is hard to look beyond the 6’2″ frame of striker Duku as Tamworth’s danger man.

The Dutchman was released by Solihull Moors at the end of last season and ended up swapping places with fellow beanpole Dan Creaney, who moved to Solihull in the summer having scored 19 times for Tamworth last season.

In keeping with the team ethic on this Lambs’ side, Duku’s recent goal-scoring form is complimented by an ability to bring the side’s wide players in to the game.

THE GAFFER…

Tamworth manager Andy Peaks may not be a household name but he has proven himself to be a canny operator at National League level.

Having guided the Lambs to the National League North title in the 2023-24 season he led them to a tenth place finish in the Premier Division last season and added a run to the third round of the FA Cup where they faced Premier League Tottenham Hotspur.

Ahead of that tie, which followed League scalps in the form of Huddersfield Town and Burton Albion, Peaks was handed a full-time contract and quit his job as a college support worker to do so.

It was a fitting reward for a remarkable performance since taking over in February 2022.

He saved the club from the drop in his first season in charge after leading the relegation-threatened Lambs to a 13-game unbeaten run, and then guided them to back-to-back promotions – first from the Southern League Premier Division – and then as the surprise winners of the National League North and last season’s impressive tenth place finish.

LAST TIME WE MET…

Yeovil remain unbeaten in all their matches against Tamworth, but before you get too carried away there have only been two games between the sides!

We last met in February when goals from Charlie Cooper and Frank Nouble earned a valuable 2-1 home win over the Lambs, fighting back from a first half goal from the visitors’ Rohan Maher to earn the three points.

The Glovers were held to a goalless draw on a miserable midweek at The Lamb Ground last October. Defender Morgan Williams picked up a red card and we lost midfielder Matt Worthington to an injury picked up before kick-off. Plastic pitches, we need say no more!

DON’T I KNOW YOU…

There are no former Glovers in the Tamworth squad we will face this weekend.

THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE…

Dale Baines, who officiated the home fixture we played against Tamworth last season, will be the man in the middle on Saturday. Read more about him – here.

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New Yeovil Town manager Danny Webb has said the loan signing of winger Andrew Oluwabori shows the calibre of player he is looking to bring to the club.

The 23-year-old, who had a spell on loan in Somerset in the 2022-23 season, has joined until January from League Two Exeter City and will be available for tomorrow’s visit to Tamworth, which will be Webb’s first in charge.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah on Friday, the Glovers’ boss said: “We have got him on loan from Exeter until January initially. I think he is a tremendous signing for the club, he was here before and was a bit of a fans’ favourite. He has pace, power and can play in numerous positions and that is an area we needed, pace. We needed a bit more pace to get people off their seats and hopefully Andrew does that.

“Andrew is the first of my tenure and I think he will be a good addition. You never sign players for the sake of it, you want players who will contribute, who will keep other players on their toes. Signing someone of his calibre will hopefully make the players sit up and take notice. That is the calibre we are looking to bring to the club.”

The manager said that injured duo defender Alex Whittle and midfielder Charlie Cooper have both returned to training this week and, whilst the trip to the Midlands might be too soon for them to start, suggested they could feature on the bench.

He added: “We are getting bodies back. It is important for lads to see a full bench, even if the lads are not quite fully fit, I think it is important for people to see we have a full set of players, good players, with a few more to add.”

Charlie Cooper is back in training for Yeovil Town. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

Webb has been impressed with what he has seen from his players during his first week working with them on the training ground. He said: “There is a lot of positives here. There’s some good lads, characters, staff, good people and very good supporters. We have to stick together and do things as one, but that takes time. It’s a positive week, I’m not one who says how good training has been, what the supporters want to hear is whether the lads are up for it and dedicated and they certainly are that.

“I don’t think it’s about players adapting to a system, at this level it is about whether players are good enough and do they have good enough character to take players to where it wants to be and where it deserves to be? I have seen a lot of positives in their character, in their performance levels and their ability levels. It is early days, but I am not coming in to a car crash of a team. This is a good set of players for whatever reason have underperformed for a while and it is about turning that around, like a big ship it takes a bit of time, but the changes and progression has already started.”

The manager was pleased to see his side score from a set piece in last weekend’s 1-0 home win over Woking, a game he watched from the stands at Huish Park. A Brett McGavin corner headed down by defender Jake Wannell was smashed home by midfielder Luke McCormick in second half stoppage time.

Webb said: “We have got to score a lot more goals from set pieces because we have got some big lads in our team, that is something we need to focus on. Chris Todd has been working tirelessly with them (on set pieces) and it was a big relief to get that one against Woking and what a good set piece it was. We have got some big lads here, but so have Tamworth and so have most National League teams, it is like Land of Giants at times and we have to utilise that in our box and the opposition’s box as well.”

Tamworth will prove a tough opponent for Webb’s side having won three of their last four matches and the boss is aware they have another trip to Aldershot Town four days later.

He said: “Tamworth is a tough place to go, they have worked tirelessly to get to where they are and if they win tomorrow they are in the play-offs. We can’t think about that, we have got to think about our progression, it started on Saturday (against Woking) and it has got to continue. I am obviously ultimately looking for the result, but there’s more than that I am looking for. I want our supporters to leave tomorrow seeing a team that they are proud of.

“I have seen these Yeovil fans before, they travel and they get behind the side. Aldershot is one of our nearer games, as is Tamworth, so hopefully we can take a good few hundred and make some noise.“