Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 81)

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Frustration was the word of the day at Huish Park as Woking came from behind to salvage a point from a scrappy and bitty game.

The Glovers took the lead in first half stoppage time, but an impressive second half performance from the visitors saw them claim a goal to take a share of the spoils. Here’s how it went down.

First half

Ciaran McGuckin returned to the starting line up at the first time of asking on his second loan spell in place of Kofi Shaw with Chris Todd in the dugout and Mark Cooper in the stands.
 
The first half was an even affair with both sides enjoying spells of possession. There was an early booking for Charlie Cooper who collided with Dale Gorman in the 3rd minute.
 
Gorman was in the thick of the action again in the 15th minute with a low shot from the edge of the box helped wide by Ollie Wright via a Jake Wannell deflection.
 
The Glovers had moments in the attacking areas with Frank Nouble and Josh Sims finding space out wide to get crosses into the box. Sean McGurk was inches away from getting on the end of a Nouble cross before Dion Kelly-Evans’ diving header directed it out for a corner.
 
Woking enjoyed a spell of possession without doing as great deal with the ball and lacked quality with their deliveries into the box with Wright enjoying some catching practice.
 
Throughout the first half, Yeovil looked likely to get something from a cross or set piece, with the deliveries from open play causing Woking problems.
 
Eventually into first half stoppage time, the opener came. Charlie Cooper’s wonderfully flighted cross from deep was matched by an equally wonderful looping header from Aaron JARVIS. The route to goal was only over the top of Jaaskelainen to the back post and Yeovil’s number 9 met it with precision. 1-0.
 
Jarvis was in the wars moments later following a collision with Gorman which went unnoticed by the referee although it drew a fierce reaction from Chris Todd in the dugout. 
 

Half time: Yeovil Town 1 Woking 0

Second half

With neither side making any changes, the game restarted in brisk conditions.
 
The visitors had the first half chance has Harry Beautyman and Inih Effiong combined to give Jermaine Anderson an opening, but the Glovers defence smothered out the chance.
 
Adam Chicksen gave Ollie Wright some catching practice on 48 minutes, and it wasn’t until the clock ticked 50 did the Glovers make their first foray into the Woking half, but Aaron Jarvis couldn’t latch onto a through ball originally aimed for Frank Nouble, but the Guvnor was in an offside position.
 
Charlie Cooper and Brett McGavin were linking up nicely and with the latter winning a free kick, nothing came of it though and the sides began a short exchange of giving the possession back to one another.
It was Frank Nouble who put his foot on the ball, despite nearly losing the ball, he got himself free and was brought down by Harry Beautyman, who found his name taken.
 
The set piece was dealt with by a Woking side defending on the edge of their box, Sean McGurk twisted and turned but couldn’t quite find a green and white head with a well placed cross.
 
A short break in play as Dion Kelly-Evans needed treatment, with Woking in the ascendancy it was possibly not at the best time for the visitors, the appropriately named Ben Wynter coming on his place.
 
The game was edging towards the scrappy nature, Finn Cousin-Dawson went down off the ball, and got booked on 51 minutes, when the football did get going again, the Glovers tried to get forward again, Josh Sims couldn’t find a cross, Dom Bernard’s effort was claimed by the Finnish Keeper, Will Jaaskelainen.
 
Sims was next to have his name taken, a challenge on Beautyman deemed worthy of more than just a ticking off.
 
With the hour mark coming and going, the game was still yet to really settle down; Woking sub Wynter tried a cross which came to nothing and Charlie Cooper managed a heart-in-mouth moment well with a calm clearance… (can you tell I’m struggling to really make a lot of this game!?)
 
What this game needed was an explosion of quality, and it almost came from Aaron Jarvis who was within touching distance of getting to a through-ball ahead of the keeper, what followed was a good free kick set up as McGavin laid the ball into the path of Nouble, but the Glovers number 10 could only offer a pea-roller towards goal.
 
Two changes for Woking with 65 minutes on the clock, Anderson and Francis taken off and Aiden O’Brien and Lewis Walker entering the fray.
 
They both were involved in the action fairly quickly, Walker’s shot forced behind for a corner. 
Gorman’s set piece was headed away, but another shot came in, this time from Beautyman was deflected over by the head of Jake Wannell, another corner, another chance to get the ball into the area for Woking. But this time, Effiong could only put it wide.
 
The first change for the Glovers saw Frank Nouble replaced by Michael Smith, Jacob Wannell taking the armband.
 
The change seemed to just give the Glovers a chance to get going again and with 72 minutes gone, Sean McGurk picked up a lovely pass from Charlie Cooper only to see his curled effort clip the post.
 
Up the other end, quick movement between Lewis Walker took the ball down and his shot seemed to flick in off the other sub Aiden O’BRIEN.
 
That evened the game up at one a piece. Both sides were now looking for a second goal with 15 minutes left.
 
A few minutes later, Ciaran McGuckin went down under a challenge from Cian Harries – nothing doing from the referee, the Rotherham loanee hobbling back to his feet.
 
With ten minutes to go, Woking were once again in the ascendancy, earning a corner after Effiong’s shot was skewed wide off Jake Wannell.
The resulting set piece, taken by the pantomime villain, Gorman, dropped kindly for a Woking fan only for some combination of Michael Smith and Dom Bernard, just about, doing enough to keep the ball out.
 

Momentum was well and truly with the away side now, Chris Todd choosing to bring on a Glovers’ debutant – Jacob Maddox in play of Sean McGurk for the final eight or nine minutes.

This brought a slight chance of formation, Bernard switching to left back and a flat back four for the Glovers.

 
Michael Smith won an 84th minute corner, which was only half cleared by the visitors, the hosts came back though and tried to create another chance through Josh Sims, but his one-on-one with Chicksen only trickling out for a harmless goal kick.
 
The clock ticked past 90 minutes and it’s fair to say that the possession was very much in favour of Woking, five minutes added on.
 
Could either side find a final chance? Yeovil held possession in and around the final third but without a final ball to really give someone, anyone a sight at goal.
 
One final change for Yeovil as McGuckin was replaced by Harvey Greenslade to try and squeeze something out of the final seconds.
 
Yeovil were still using the ball nicely, but when Jacob Maddox went down there were some half hearted cries for action from the official, nothing doing. When Josh Sims when down late on there were some half hearted cries for action from the official. Nothing doing again.
 
That, was, that. One all. Point each. 
 

Full time: Yeovil Town 1 Woking 1

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Date: Saturday 11th January- 3pm kick-off 

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Aaron Jarvis 45+1 (1-0), Aiden O’Brien 74  (1-1)

Pitch: You wouldn’t have thought it had snowed on and barely above 0 this week.
Conditions: Dry and cold

Attendance: 3188 (213 Woking fans)

Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Charlie Cooper 3, Brett McGavin 37, Finn Cousin-Dawson 59
Woking:  Harry Beautyman 54

Referee: Paul Johnson

Yeovil Town (3-4-2-1)

Substitutes: Michael Smith (for Finn Cousin-Dawson 71), Jacob Maddox (for Sean McGurk, 83), Harvey Greenslade (for Ciaran McGuckin, 90+4), Matt Worthington (not used), Pedro Borges (not used), Ollie Hughes (not used), Matt Gould (not used). 

Woking: Will Jaaskelainen, Cian Harries, Jamie Andrews, Harry Beautyman, Dale Gorman, Inih Effiong, Adam Chicksen, Tunji Akinola, Jermaine Anderson (for Aiden O’Brien, 67), Dion Kelly-Evans (for Ben Wynter, 58), Frank Vincent (for Lewis Walker, 67).

Substitutes (not used):  Jacob Jones, Dennon Lewis,  Rohan Ince, Oliver Webber

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Ciaran McGuckin makes his second Yeovil Town debut this afternoon in the home game against Woking replacing the suspended Kofi Shaw.

Matt Worthington also drops to the bench and is replaced by Frank Nouble who takes the captain’s armband.

The other headline is that Morgan Williams is missing through a ‘slight hamstring niggle’, with Finn Cousin-Dawson coming into the back line.

New signing Jacob Maddox and the returning Harvey Greenslade are both on the bench.

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Yeovil Town will be back at home for the first time since a Boxing Day draw, as they take on Woking at Huish Park.

Form Guide…

The Glovers form was shaky to say the best over the festive period, two losses and the previously mentioned draw. However, after a week and a half off, boss Mark Cooper will be hoping the rest will put his side in good stead against an inform Cards side. 

Last time out, Yeovil let slip a 0-1 lead to Forest Green in the closing minutes to end up losing 2-1. After a frustrating result the players will be hoping to put things right in front of a home crowd.

The Cards have been in decent form since last playing the Glovers in late November. With only one loss in the five matches since.

That loss was against the ever impressive Gateshead. With victories against Altrincham and Maidenhead and a 2-2 draw vs Aldershot, new manager Neal Ardley will be pleased.

Key Players…

Yeovil – Matt Worthington

It could only be Worthy for this weekend. With the game marking his 250th game for the Glovers it’s hard not to love the ‘Ginger Pirlo’. The 27-year old may not got the praise of his midfield counterparts but he does the not so glamorous side of the game for the team.

Matt Worthington fires a shot off
Pic Gary Brown

 Worthington deserves credit not only for this season but for sticking out was has been a tough six years at the club. No matter what has happened on or off the pitch he has been with the club through thick and thin and is a modern day great for the club. Well done on 250 Worthy.

Woking – Innih Effiong

Effiong is now 33-years old but that hasn’t stopped him finding the net for his new club.

The striker joined Woking in December from fellow National League team Braintree Town. Since then the big man has bagged three goals in four games with two coming in their last game against Maidenhead. 

In truth, since Ardley was appointed not long after we played them in the reverse fixture Woking have been one of the inform sides, so a host of players could turn up at Huish Park at the weekend and make the difference.

Thats what he said…

Yeovil Town boss Mark Cooper gave his thoughts on what he expects from Woking on Saturday. He said: “He’s gone into Woking, he’s changed a little bit about the way that they play, he’s tried some rotations and from what I’ve seen, they’re trying to play a lot more football and they’ve had some good results, so it’s going to be a tough game.

But we’re playing really well at the minute and our last few games we’ve performed really well and we’ve not got the points total that we’ve deserved.”

Woking gaffer Neal Ardley shared his thoughts with Woking club media earlier in the week. He said: “Coops has done a great job at Yeovil and it’s always a tough place to go and get a result. We’re enjoying the fact we have won games and we’re scoring goals which hopefully gives us confidence…but we expect tough games every week.”

 We’ve met before…

The two sides have played 34 times with Yeovil running out winners 17 times previously, with Woking taking 12 wins and there being five draws.

When the teams last met in November, the Glovers won 0-2 with a spectacular goal from Brett McGavin and a back post tap in for Finn Cousin-Dawson.

Finn Cousin-Dawson. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

Don’t I know you…

There are more than a few players who have been inside the Huish Park home dressing room now lacing up for Woking. Dale Gorman,Jamie Andrews, Dan Moss and Rohan Ince have all had spells in Somerset. 

Dan Moss. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Gorman made 42 appearances during his year long spell in Somerset, contributing with five goals before leaving for Barnet.

22-year-old, Andrews, was on loan at Yeovil from West Bromwich Albion for a short period between November 2022 and January 2nd 2023. During that time he played a total of eight games.

Full back, Moss made a name for himself at Yeovil  whilst on loan from Millwall. During that loan spell the English man played 23 time for Darren Sarll’s side.

Lastly is Ince, who will be name less familiar with newer Glovers fans. As a Chelsea academy prospect the midfielder can to Somerset on loan back in 2012, going o to make two appearances for Yeovil.

Who’s been naughty then…

It is just Kofi Shaw suspended for Yeovil.

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Yeovil Town’s Under-18s side has withdrawn from the Western Counties Floodlight Youth League in a bid to protect the pitch at Huish Park.

The young Glovers had made an unbeaten start to life in the division having opted for a midweek league over the Saturday matches of the South West Counties Youth League which they competed in last season.

In a statement on Friday, the club said that the league had rejected a proposed change of venue for home fixtures which it “deemed essential to help protect Huish Park following a period of severe weather conditions.”

The Under-18s had played all their home matches this season at Huish Park, attracting hundreds of supporters to watch the midweek matches, putting added pressure on the pitch which has felt the full force of the bad weather inflicted upon the South West.

The club’s statement said that it remained committed to developing young players remained “unwavering” and said it was “actively seeking alternative league options“.

When they played in daylight hours in previous seasons, the Under-18s had played at the club’s training pitches at Alvington, Gassons’ Lane in Somerton and Hardings Lane, Gillingham in recent years. 

The club statement in full reads:

We regret to announce that Yeovil Town Under 18s will no longer compete in the Western Counties Floodlight Youth League.

This decision comes after the league rejected our proposed change of venue for home fixtures, a measure we deemed essential to help protect Huish Park following a period of severe weather conditions.

Whilst this outcome is disappointing, our commitment to the development of our young players remains unwavering. To ensure their progress continues, we are working to arrange high quality matches against top local league clubs. These fixtures will provide competitive challenges and invaluable experience to support their growth as future stars of the game.

In addition to these fixtures, we are actively seeking alternative league options and are in the process of shortlisting suitable competitions that will provide the best opportunities for our players’ development. Many of our young talents have already trained and been included within the first team, and we are determined to build a strong, well-rounded group of players capable of achieving great success.

We appreciate the understanding and support of parents, players, and fans during this time.

The Gloverscast has approached the Western Counties Youth League for a comment, however, at the time of writing, no response has been received. 

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Bristol Rovers midfielder Kofi Shaw has extended his loan spell at Yeovil Town until the end of the season.

The club confirmed on Friday night that the 18-year-old will remain at Huish Park having impressed since joining from the League One strugglers at the end of October.

He will not be available for tomorrow’s home match with Woking due to suspension following his dismissal for two bookable offences in the New Year’s Day defeat at Forest Green Rovers.

There had been a question mark over whether new Rovers’ manager Íñigo Calderón would want to take a closer look at the players on loan from the Memorial Stadium, but they have confirmed that both Shaw and defender Dan Ellison, who is at National League Premier side Aldershot Town, will spend the rest of the campaign at their respective loan clubs.

 

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Yeovil Town loan signing striker Ciaran McGuckin has said the lure of being developed by manager Mark Cooper was a major part in his decision to return to Somerset.

The 21-year-old has rejoined from League One Rotherham United until the end of the season having impressed during a one-month spell which ended prematurely when he was recalled by his parent club in October.

He scored twice in six appearances during his previous stint and said he wants to pick up where he left off with the Glovers taking on Woking at Huish Park this weekend.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah, McGuckin said: “There was quite a few decent clubs interested in me, but the way that Mark showed his interest last time and his willingness to develop me as a player and a person was unmatched to what I could get elsewhere. He showed a lot of faith and loyalty in me last time by playing me in games when I hadn’t played in five or six months and it was only right I repaid him for that. But also I want to develop and learn and he is the right man to do that.”

Talking about his recall to Rotherham, he added: “I looked at it positively, the reason I got called back was because I was doing the things I should have been doing. I managed to play in a league I had not played in before under a manager that I only just met when I walked back in the door, and I learnt a lot from some high calibre players whose careers have been what I can only dream of. It was nice to learn from them and see what they have to say about my game and what I could learn from them.”

Ciaran McGuckin celebrates his second goal in green-and-white against Dagenham & Redbridge at the start of October. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

McGuckin returns to a Yeovil side sat in 12th place in the National League Premier table having not won in their last three matches over the Christmas-New Year period, but believes the squad is more than capable of pushing of the play-off places, which they currently sit four points off.

He said: “When I left we were in a good position and, looking at the results since I have been away, they went toe-to-toe with Forest Green Rovers (in the 2-1 away defeat on New Year’s Day), who are meant to be one of the best teams in the league. I have only managed to train with the boys once but the standard is up there and the boys are ready to go and wanting to fight. I want to be in that environment, in a team that is looking to push to the top and I think that is exactly what we will do.”

The Northern Ireland Under-21s international made three League One appearances for Rotherham following his return, including starting the South Yorkshire derby with Barnsley in his first match back, and admits he wants to get back in to the rhythm he was in before his abrupt departure.

He said: “I always set targets wherever I go and I had plenty of targets when I first came here and my time was cut short, so those targets continue and they include fighting for the play-offs and scoring more goals. I just have to get back playing and find that rhythm again.

“People would be surprised at the standard of the non-League game. There may be a slight change in tempo, but I look at some of the boys here and ask ‘how are you not playing higher?’ It is not as big a gap between League One and non-League as some may think.”

McGuckin’s first opportunity to impress in front of the Huish Park faithful comes this weekend when a rejuvenated Woking side arrive in Somerset. The Cards are unbeaten in their last four matches in all competitions since appointing Neal Ardley as manager following the sacking of Michael Doyle, who was in charge when the Glovers ran out 2-0 winners in Surrey at the end of November.

Speaking about his re-debut, the loanee added: “(Woking) have picked up a little bit and I watched their game the other day when they won 3-1 (at home to Maidenhead United on New Year’s Day) and they look a decent side, so it will not be an easy game for us. But we are here at Huish Park, so that should help. I think I scored last time on my first full game here, so I will be going for that again. We will prepare properly and ready to take on the game.

“Huish Park is a proper Football League stadium. The first time I saw it I was taken aback by it a little bit, it is a bit different to what I have played in before. It remind me of the games I used to go and watch with my Dad and the fans are just top, the reception they have given me and the boys especially at home are a big part of why I wanted to come back as well.”

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Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper has been chatting to the BBC ahead of the visit of Woking on Saturday and says that he hopes that any frustrations about having a bit of time off can be taken care of at the weekend, even if preparations have themselves, been tricky at times.

Chatting to reporter Jack Killah, the boss said: “You cant get on the grass, we’ll be lucky if we get on grass, we have to train on a icy 3G, but yeah, we’ll get some work done. 

“[Having a break] has it’s pros and cons, you can clear up a few niggles if you’ve got some, but generally, you just want to play, you don’t want to have too many big gaps in between games.”

Yeovil have added not one, but two new bodies to the group this week, firstly, the return of former loanee striker Ciaran McGuckin for another spell borrowed from Rotherham United.

“When somebody comes in and does as well as Ciaran did, he gave us that sort of impetus at the top of the pitch with Jarv, he wants to run in behind, he wants to run towards the goal and he can score so, that was something that we were always trying to do, we’d have loved to do it on a permanent but, not for now, but the next best thing we can get him until the end of the season.

“He really enjoyed his time here and I think he feels like he’s got unfinished business.”

Ciaran McGuckin drives home his equaliser in the 1-1 home draw with Aldershot Town at the end of September. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

The other is midfielder Jacob Maddox, on a permanent deal from Forest Green Rovers, Cooper says that he fits the bill of what he looks for in a Yeovil player. 

“He’s one that fits our – what we try and do – technically, really good. [He] can run, he’s a decent size, he’s got pedigree, he’s one that can definitely add to our group.

“He played at Chelsea, he played in Portugal, he played in League One, League Two. He’ll be frustrated that he’s not played, but sometimes when a manager goes into a club he wants to sign his own players and that’s fair enough.”

Jacob Maddox

The squad has been further boosted by the return from loan of striker Harvey Greenslade who spent a month with Weston-super-Mare in the National League South, but the gaffer did confirm that full-back Alex Whittle remains sidelined.

“[Harvey’s] move [to Weston] didn’t go as well as we hoped, he picked up a niggle with his ankle, and then he was ill, so, he didn’t play the amount of games we hoped, but you know that can happen, so Harvey wants to come back in and fight for a place.”

“Alex Whittle has still got a mysterious niggle in his knee, he’s done some training this week, but he’s not trained with the group because he can’t train on the 3G, so it’ll be too soon for him, this weekend. But the rest are in pretty good shape.”

Alex Whittle

The game on Saturday could mark a milestone appearance for club captain Matt Worthington in green-and-white. The midfielder one of the few players to have represented the Glovers in the EFL, National League and South and as captain could make his 250th club appearance after first signing on August 31st 2017. This Saturday marks 2679 days since his debut, an eight-minute cameo from the bench in a 2-2 vs Morecambe.

Cooper said: “It’s great that in this day and age, people stay at a club for five or six years, it’s rare. Obviously last year, I made him the captain and we had a really good year, it’s great that a player stays at a club for that long and plays that many games, so it’s a big achievement.

“He’s honest, his work rate – he runs – you know what you’re getting from him every week, I think that’s important.”

Matt Worthington. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Looking ahead to Woking, Cooper expects a changed outfit to the one that Yeovil beat 2-0 at the end of November, a change in manager amongst a whole host of differences. Neal Ardley took over at the Kingfield following the sacking of Michael Doyle in mid-December and has won all his four matches in all competitions since his arrival/.

Cooper said: “[Neal Ardley] has done well hasn’t he? He’s gone into Woking, he’s changed a little bit about the way that they play, he’s tried some rotations and from what I’ve seen, they’re trying to play a lot more football and they’ve had some good results, so it’s going to be a tough game, but we’re playing really well at the minute and our last few games we’ve performed really well and we’ve not got the points total that we’ve deserved, we’ve been on the end of a few sticky decisions shall we say? If we keep playing as we are, it might be our time to get a little bit of a rub of the green.”