Three (more) goals, three (more) points, a double from Nouble and Josh “thank goodness he’s” Owers with the goals.
The club’s extended highlights went live on Saturday evening, you can watch them here.
As the sun shone down on local football on Saturday, the fortune of our loanees wasn’t quite so beaming.
Let’s start at Tiverton Town, where goalkeeper Lewis Williams found himself picking the ball out of his net three times as his side lost 3-0 away at Bracknell Town.
It didn’t get much better at Shepton Mallet, either who lost 5-1 at home to Helston AFC in the Western League Premier Division.
Charlie Bateson did get the goal for the Mallet, a 42nd minute free kick curled expertly into the far corner.
But… having been reduced to 10 men in the 3rd minute with the Goalkeeper sent off, it was always going to be difficult. They also had forward Jake Sloggett taken off with a suspected fractured arm… when it rains… it pours… well, metaphorically.
Finally down at Dorchester Town, they did get a vital three points.
A 2-1 win over Swindon Supermarine.
Defender Ollie Haste played the full 90 as the Magpies came from behind for the win. Glovers‘ striker Benjani Junior was an unused sub.
Two-goal hero Frank Nouble admitted his Yeovil Town team-mates had to win “ugly” to get three points from an impressive Eastbourne Borough side at Huish Park today.
The big frontman took his tally to four for the season after heading a 13th minute opener from a corner before a quickfire brace from the visitors’ Jack Paxman saw them take a deserved lead which silenced a previously boisterous home crowd.
But, with the half-time break getting closer, Nouble took advantage of a rush of blood to the head from keeper Ben Dudzinski to lob the keeper from long range and take the game in level at the interval.
He told BBC Somerset’s Tom Seymour: “I scored on similar to that last season during a loan spell at our bitter rivals [he’s talking about Torquay United] down the road. It was just instinctive, the keeper came out and I saw the goal there and the most important thing was hitting the ball as well as I could.
“Looking back on it now, it was really important. At the time I was very frustrated because they were playing well and they scored two quickfire goals.For us it was just about staying in the game and going in at half-time level.
“A few harsh words were said at half-time and then we regroup and go again because we have to win the game.
“You can’t win every game pretty, I think we have won more ugly games than pretty games, but we have won and that is the most important thing.”
He added: “We want to make sure we want to keep at a level of about two points a game and we are just behind that at the moment.
“As long as we keep close to that we will be nearer the top and that is where we should be at this level. It is a harder league that people think, teams are coming here and playing very freely.
“We have got to be better and I am just happy we can win whilst we are improving.”
The 31-year-old, who arrived in the summer having been released by Torquay at the end of last season, said he was pleased to score the opener from a Jordan Young corner, admitting the team had been working on set-pieces in the days leading up to the match.
He said: “We work hard on set pieces in training and I am just trying to be in the right areas. I think earlier in the season we had quite a few corners coming in and we were not getting the first contact in there.
“I think we are quite a big side and you have to want to head the ball, it was in a good connection and so close to goal the keeper couldn’t do anything about it.”
The striker also had praise for fellow scorer midfielder Josh Owers whose 69th-minute strike earned all three points. The former Bristol City player was starting his second successive match having not featured in the National League South season up until this point.
Nouble said: “He is one of the boys in the changing room who people want to do well. He’s such a great kid and he’s really humble. He works really hard as well and the Gaffer gave him the chance to play today and he’s taken it really well.
It’s a great finish and he’s scored the winning goal, so I am buzzing for him.”
As is the case this season, Nouble was also interviewed by club press officer Dan Howell after the match and you can also watch that interview on the club’s official YouTube channel.
Mark Cooper said he felt the better team lost as his Yeovil Town side came from behind to pick up a 3-2 home win over Eastbourne Borough at Huish Park today.
The manager described the sweltering conditions the match was played in as “dangerous” and said his players had to stop him having to make personnel and tactical switches to win games.
Having gone ahead early through striker Frank Nouble‘s second goal in as many games, the Glovers were rocked by a quickfire double from the visitors’ Jack Paxman before Nouble pulled them level with an audacious chip just before half-time.
The boss made changes bringing on midfielder Charlie Cooper and striker Jake Hyde at the break and it was a 69th minute strike from Josh Owers which saw them maintain their unbeaten home start.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Tom Seymour after the game, the boss said: “We started the game well and scored and we just made so many bad decisions. I did not think we played well today, I felt we got the job done but I thought Eastbourne were better than us today.
“They looked like they had more energy than us and they played on Wednesday night, but what I can say about this team is that they keep going and always look like they have a goal in them.
“We have scored so many late goals now and that is becoming a habit and a good one. We keep going, we know we have got work to do and we know we have got to be better.
“I should not have had to make so many changes to the team at half time and the shape of the team which made us miles better in the second half, but the positives are it was three points and we move on.”
On his changes which included the introduction of midfielder Jordan Stevens, who is making his way back from an injury sustained in pre-season, Cooper added: “We looked more solid, we didn’t look like we’d get played through and we had more calmness with the ball. When you put Hydey and Frank together or Hydey and Murph or Frank and Murph, they can ask questions of the defence. Then when you can bring Jordan Stevens on, his pace is electric and it contributed to us getting the winner.”
He was full of praise for goal-scorers Nouble, who took his tally to four for the season with his brace today, and Owers, who started ahead of Charlie Cooper having impressed in the midweek win at Weston-super-Mare.
On Nouble, the manager said: “He’s been brilliant the last two games playing as a number nine. He can play anywhere across the front, but the last two games he has been a leader, a warrior and scored his goals so really happy with him. He has big respect in the changing room and he led the team today.
On Owers, he added: “Josh has got a good engine. We have four midfield players who could be Olympic athletes with the amount of distance they cover and the pace they cover the ground in. That is a big thing for us and Josh has been great, scored a great goal and he will sleep well tonight.”
The result moved Yeovil up to sixth in the National League South table after nine games, three points behind early season leaders, Bath City, and means they go in to next weekend’s FA Cup second qualifying round tie with AFC Stoneham with back-to-back league wins under their belts.
After the Cup tie, the Glovers travel to Hampton & Richmond, who sit fourth from bottom of the table, and then welcome newly-promoted Aveley, who have had a bright start despite losing 2-0 at Slough Town today, to Huish Park.
Cooper said: “I don’t like looking at the table, someone just showed me it and we are three points off the top, so we are in good shape. But we have some work to do before the next league game.”
As is the case this season, the manager also gave an interview to the club’s press officer, Dan Howell, which was broadcast on the club’s official YouTube channel.
Two goals from Frank Nouble. A stunning strike from Josh Owers. Crucial saves from Joe Day. There was plenty to think about from a 3-2 home win over Eastbourne Borough at Huish Park on Saturday.
But who was your Man of Match?
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A second half strike from midfielder Josh Owers saw Yeovil Town keep their unbeaten home run intact with a 3-2 win over Eastbourne Borough at a sweltering Huish Park.
The Glovers took the lead when Frank Nouble rose unmarked inside the box to power home a 13th minute header.
But, the visitors, led by winger Leone Gravata stunned the home crowd with a quickfire double from Jack Paxman.
Nouble added his second with an audacious goal two minutes in to first half stoppage time, lifting a ball over Eastbourne keeper Ben Dudzinski after he had come racing off his line.
The conditions took their toll in a scrappy second half but it was a moment of quality which won it when Owers lashed an unstoppable winner in on 69 minutes.
A slip from Morgan Williams gave Decarrey Sheriff the opportunity to come forward and Josh Staunton committed what referee Neil Pratt considered a foul. A lot of the rest of Huish Park disagreed.
Two unbelievable saves from Joe Day, at first when he had to get down at the feet of the visitors’ Fletcher Holman to clear it before pulling off a super save to turn an effort from Leone Gravata aside moments later. Absolutely world class saves from the on loan Newport County man.
?Super joe day in goal? @YTFC #YTFC pic.twitter.com/66A1luvfnc
— Kevin Salisbury (@KevinSa33877068) September 9, 2023
But immediately at the other end, it was the home side were ahead. A corner from Jordan Young, who did superbly to win the flag kick, found the head of Frank NOUBLE who powered home his second in as many matches.
The first of an anticipated many drinks breaks on the UK’s hottest day of the year so far came after 15 minutes when Eastbourne defender Freddie Carter went down injured. He was replaced by ex-Swindon Town man Yaser Kasim four minutes later.
The first of an anticipated many drinks breaks on the UK’s hottest day of the year so far came after 15 minutes when Eastbourne defender Freddie Carter went down injured. He was replaced by ex-Swindon Town man Yaser Kasim four minutes later.
Nouble and Young combined superbly on 23 minutes for the big frontman to power forward by a great last ditch tackle saw his effort blocked. Matt Worthington lifted his effort over the bar from the rebound. Great bit of play from Yeovil.
Another slip by Williams saw Gravata find Holman whose angled effort went wide. The offside flag was up but it was a great opportunity.
Moments later, Holman had another great opportunity as Bell lost possession and Gravata’s ball in from the left found Holman who was denied by a superb block from Josh Staunton.
Following another drinks break (told you there would be a few), Eastbourne exploited space down the left again and this time they got the equaliser their dominance had threatened.
It was Gravata again who had a low drive blocked and it landed to the feet of Jack PAXMAN whose shot from the edge of the area flew past Joe Day after 36 minutes.
And two minutes later he was at it again. Paxman found Holam inside the area, the young striker had an effort blocked and again it was PAXMAN who hammered his second.
The threat down the left was clear with Gravata targeting Bell to good effect and Eastbourne overloaded down that side.
Yeovil were shell-shocked but responded with three minutes of normal time remaining when Nouble fed Young and his effort was saved well by Dudzinski in the visitors’ goal.
But the keeper was beaten when he came racing off his line to try and win the ball ahead of NOUBLE who superbly lifted the ball over him from fully 30 yards out and it bounced in to the net. Big Frank looks a man reborn playing through the centre.
Wow. What a first half.
Manager Mark Cooper introduced midfielder Charlie Cooper and striker Jake Hyde at the start of the second half with Bell, who had been given a torrid time by Gravata, and Lo-Everton making way.
That meant a back three of Wannell, Staunton and Williams with Alex Whittle and Matt Worthington given licence to press forward on the left and right respectively.
It was a scrappy opening to the second half, the first chance came for Yeovil as Cooper’s free-kick in from the left found Staunton whose header was superbly turned away by Dudzinski. The flag was up.
The next opportunity fell to the visitors and it was no surprise it was Gravata whose 56th-minute effort was blocked by the face (Eastbourne argued hand) of Staunton.
With neither side dominating possession, Mark Cooper made his third change (he did say pre-match that he expected to use them all) as Jordan Stevens replaced Young during another drinks’ break on 63 minutes.
With his first touch, Worthington and Stevens linked up down the right. The substitute jinked away from his man, but Worthington’s cross was not good enough to find Hyde inside the box.
But the hosts took the lead for a second time on 69 minutes with a goal that was all about Josh Owers.
The midfielder did superbly to pick up a sloppy pass from Hyde, fed Worthington who got away down the right, the ball was cleared as far as OWERS whose shot screamed in to the net. The second the ball left his foot it was going nowhere other than past Dudzinski.
The pace of Stevens was tangible when the ball broke down and the substitute was impacting in all the places we wanted him to be.
The visitors spurned a gilt-edged chance on 83 minutes. Good play between substitutes Emmerson and Vigar found Sheriff in acres of space on the edge of the box, but the forward put his shot wide. A big opportunity.
Eastbourne, a full-time outfit themselves, were not giving up and when seven minutes of stoppage time were put up the temperature rose at a time when it really did not need rising.
Players from both sides dropped to the floor at the final whistle and the Glovers will be pleased not to have a midweek match coming up after a draining performance.
Venue: Huish Park
Saturday 9th September – 3pm kick-off
Pitch: Slippy (from watering)
Conditions: Scorching
Attendance: 2,728 (62 away supporters)
Scorers: Frank Nouble 13 (1-0), Jack Paxman 36 (1-1), Jack Paxman 38 (1-2), Frank Nouble 45+2 (2-2), Josh Owers 69 (3-2)
Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Charlie Cooper 88
Eastbourne Borough: Scott Leslie 57
Referee: Neil Pratt
Yeovil Town (4-3-3)
Substitutes: Charlie Cooper (for Zac Bell, 46), Jack Hyde (for Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, 46), Jordan Stevens (for Jordan Young, 63) Jordan Maguire-Drew (not used), Rhys Murphy (not used)
Eastbourne Borough: Ben Dudzinski, Scott Leslie, Archie Proctor, Brad Barry, Jack Paxman, Decarrey Sheriff, Imran Uche (for Billy Vigar, 73), Freddie Carter (for Yaser Kasim, 19) , Fletcher Holman (for Zak Emmerson, 46), Leone Gravata, Sam Beard.
Substitutes (not used): Daniel Quick, Jay Beckford.
Yeovil Town boss Mark Cooper is expecting to use a strong substitutes’ bench as his side prepare to take on Eastbourne Borough at a sweltering Huish Park this afternoon (3pm kick-off).
He has named Charlie Cooper, Jordan Maguire-Drew, Jordan Stevens and strikers Rhys Murphy and Jake Hyde on the bench with temperatures expecting to be pushing 30 degrees Celsius by kick-off.
Speaking to BBC Somerset commentator Tom Seymour ahead of kick-off, the manager said: “If you look at our bench, it is a strong bench, we have not got a lot after that. We have quality rather than quantity, which was always the intention.
“I’m sure I will be using three of those five. The game will be about the weather and who deals with that the best will probably prevail, so we have to make sure we are good, energetic and have good legs in the team as well.
“It is too hot for football, it is not conducive but they are going to make us play. In my opinion, it should be pushed back to an evening kick-off when it is that hot.
“But hopefully we can get a couple of drinks breaks in each half. What we don’t want is for it to become dangerous, so we will try and push for those drinks breaks.”
Defender Jamie Sendles-White has “a sore Achilles tendon” which he felt during the first half of the midweek win at Weston-super-Mare when he was substituted at half-time having scored his first goal for the club.
He was replaced in that match by the on loan Zac Bell and the Bristol City youngster returns to the starting line-up against Eastbourne today with the Glovers looking to maintain their unbeaten home start to the National League South season.
Yeovil Town make two changes from the midweek win at Weston-super-Mare as they look to maintain their unbeaten home start to the season against Eastbourne Borough at Huish Park (3pm kick-off).
Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, who was not involved on Tuesday night, comes in for striker Rhys Murphy whilst on-loan Bristol City full-back Zac Bell comes in for Jamie Sendles-White on the right side of defence.
Murphy is on the substitutes’ bench alongside Charlie Cooper who returns after a one-match suspension which saw him miss the all-Somerset clash.
For the visitors, teenage striker Zak Emmerson, who joined on loan during the week from League One Blackpool during the week, is named on the bench alongside ex-Swindon Town midfielder Yaser Kasim, who played under Glovers’ boss Mark Cooper at the County Ground.
Substitutes: Charlie Cooper, Jordan Maguire-Drew, Jordan Stevens, Rhys Murphy, Jake Hyde.
Eastbourne Borough: Ben Dudzinski, Scott Leslie, Archie Proctor, Brad Barry, Jack Paxman, Decarrey Sheriff, Imran Uche, Freddie Carter, Fletcher Holman, Leone Gravata, Sam Beard. Substitutes: Daniel Quick, Jay Beckford, Yaser Kasim, Zak Emmerson, Billy Vigar.
Our opponents today are Eastbourne Borough. Ben had a chat with Trevor Fuggle to find out more about the visitors. Thanks to the Eastbourne Borough Supporters Club for putting us in touch!
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Yeovil Town welcome Eastbourne Borough to Huish Park this weekend looking to make it six matches unbeaten on home soil in National League South.
But their opponents, who were the subject of a takeover by travel entrepreneur Simon Leslie, in the summer will be a test having won their last two matches at home to Weston-super-Mare last weekend and then a 2-1 win at Havant & Waterlooville on Wednesday.
Manager Mark Cooper has singled out Eastbourne midfielder Yaser Kasim as one of a number of gifted players who he will be pitting his wits against this weekend.
The Iraq-born player worked alongside Cooper when they were together at Swindon Town around a decade ago and has considerable experience in the EFL.
Speaking about his opponents, the manager said: “They have got a long of young, technically very good players and athletic players.
“They have a wonderful player in midfielder, Yaser Kasim, who I worked with at Swindon, so they have some real ability in their team but they are young.
“The manager (Mark Beard) has gone in there and it is his first job, he’s a terrific young coach and I am sure they will start to climb the table, so it is going to be a tough game for us and we are well aware of that.”
Cooper will have midfielder and son, Charlie, available after missing the midweek 3-2 win at Weston-super-Mare through a one-match suspension, but defender Jamie Sendles-White is an injury doubt having gone off in that match.
The performances of the midfielder Josh Owers, who made his first start since signing permanently in the summer on Tuesday night, and substitute Zac Bell has given the manager “one or two decisions to make” ahead of the weekend.
Read more about Mark Cooper’s pre-match comments – here.
Blackpool striker Zak Emmerson has arrived at Eastbourne Borough on a season-long loan deal as they prepare to make the trip to Huish Park.
The 19-year-old, who has been capped by England at youth team level, played under manager Mark Beard when he was Under-18s coach at Premier League Brighton & Hove Albion were Emmerson’s form earned him a move to the North West last summer.
Speaking of the new arrival, Beard told the club’s website: “In the two seasons we worked together, he scored almost a goal a game and earned a call up to the England youth sides before his move to Blackpool.
“He will add fire to our front line, and has the right character to fit in well with the rest of our squad.
“He’s a different type of forward to what we’ve got, he’s a natural finisher and has that aggression in the air that we’ve perhaps missed so far.”
Since the takeover by Leslie, taking over from a Community Investment Company (CIC) which remains a minority shareholder, there has been a focus on youth.
The arrival of youth specialist Beard, who replaced Danny Bloor who departed and eventually joined National League South rivals Welling United, has seen a fit, strong-running style adopted from the full-time outfit.
One familiar face is Jack Clarke, who had his second spell on loan at Huish Park last season and joined Eastbourne following his release by Chesterfield in the summer. He has been a regular starter this season but missed the midweek win at Havant having picked up a knock against Weston last weekend.
The manager’s son, Sam Beard, is playing in midfield (sounds familiar as well) after joining on loan from Barnet. But one player definitely missing for the visitors is forward Stefan Vukoje, who suffered an anterior crucial ligament injury last month which has ruled him out for the season.
Beard Senior, who was a midfielder for Millwall and Sheffield United in his playing days, praised goal-scorers Fletcher Holman and Decarrey Sherriff in his post-match comments after they made won 2-1 at Havant & Waterlooville on Wednesday night.
Holman came off the bench to give them an 80th minute lead against a Havant side which had been reduced to ten men six minutes earlier, only for the home side to equalise through a penalty in the 90th minute – before Sherriff struck deep in to injury time.
About last night @FletcherHolman9 ?#EBFC pic.twitter.com/sPxZx8RJD5
— Eastbourne Borough FC (@ebfc_official) September 7, 2023
Beard said: “ I was a little bit disappointed that once we scored that goal and they are down to ten men as well, we start trying to play like the Harlem Globetrotters, doing stepovers and all sorts.
“I would have been so disappointed if we had lost or drawn that game because they then got a penalty, but the character of the boys was a different class.
“They kept going and again and, as much as I am pleased for Fletch, it is the same for Decarrey who has worked so hard.”
If you want to find out more about Eastbourne, listen to Ben’s chat with supporter Trevor Fuggle on our latest ‘A foot in the opposition camp’ edition – listen here.