Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 83)

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Rotherham United manager Steve Evans has confirmed that young forward Ciaran McGuckin will be returning to Yeovil Town on loan next week.

The Northern Ireland Under-21s international impressed during a month on loan when he scored twice in six appearances before being recalled by his League One parent club in late October where he has since made one start and two substitute appearances.

The Millers’ boss told the Rotherham Advertiser that the 21-year-old had been unable to make a more immediate return to Somerset until his original loan period had expired.

Evans said: “I’ve helped him negotiate his deal,. I’ve been saying: ‘You need a bit of this, you need a bit of that.’ I’ve become like a father figure to the kid.

“He had a really good spell there and got some goals. It’s important that he goes out and gets three months of football education.”

Ciaran McGuckin. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.
The report says other clubs in the National League were keen to acquire McGuckin, but his preference was to swap South Yorkshire for South Somerset for a second spell due to “the affinity he already has” with the Glovers.
 
He was an unused substitute for Rotherham in this weekend’s goalless draw at Huddersfield Town.
 
Evans added: “I’d have liked to have put him on late on (against Huddersfield) but we’d used our three rounds of substitutions. The way it works is that he can go there for 96 days.“
 

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No game for the Glovers, but some Yeovil Town players did get a run out on Saturday.

Starting with Weston-super-Mare who lost 2-0 away at Tonbridge Angels.

But, whilst that’s a negative, it did see the return of Harvey Greenslade who may have missed their New Year’s Day clash through illness, but was back in the squad, making an appearance from the bench.

Will Buse and his W*ymouth side are out of the FA Trophy, Boreham Wood getting the better of that clash, 2-1.

The only cup they’ll have to worry about are those commemorative ones from the last round.

Torquay are now also “focusing on the league” after dropping out of the Trophy.

Jordan Thomas played the full 90 of their 5-1 defeat to Worthing.

Corey Koerner’s Sherborne had their game called off, but he still got a run out in their reserves.

Scoring one of their two goals in a 4-2 defeat.

Down at Bridport, Sol Padmore (from the start) and George Geraghty (from the bench) got game time in their 4-2 win over Bovey Tracey.

 

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Yeovil Town’s home league clash with Boston United, originally scheduled for Saturday 1st February, has been postponed.

Boston have progressed to the next round of the FA Trophy with a 3-1 win over Gateshead this weekend and as a result their next game in that competition takes precedent.

There’s no confirmed rescheduled date as yet, as soon as it’s confirmed, we’ll let you know.

 

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Yeovil’s 2025 was kicked off with a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat at Forest Green Rovers, let’s see how the rest of the division got on in chilly conditions…

We start back in 2024, where a New Years Eve derby took place – it was Solihull Moors who ended up victorious, in a 2-0 win over Tamworth to further their playoff push. Back to 2025, and we begin with Woking, who continued their 100% record under Neal Ardley, as they won 3-1 at home to Maidenhead United. Hartlepool United registered another home victory to continue their climb up the table, as they defeated a blunt Oldham Athletic 2-1, while at the other end of the table, Dagenham & Redbridge won the “Manager-less” derby in a 2-0 win away to Ebbsfleet United.

A 94th minute equaliser by Cameron Hargreaves salvaged a point for Aldershot Town away at Sutton United, and it was a point apiece for Eastleigh and Barnet. In front of a sellout crowd, York City retained their place at the top of the table with a narrow 1-0 win over Gateshead, while in the evening kickoff, Southend United won on their travels to Braintree Town in a 1-0 win.

There were postponements for Rochdale and Altrincham, and Wealdstone and Boston United due to waterlogged pitches, and the final game of the matchweek takes place on Saturday, as FC Halifax Town host AFC Fylde during the FA Trophy fixtures.

 

National League results – in full

Solihull Moors 2-0 Tamworth
Eastleigh 1-1 Barnet
Ebbsfleet United 0-2 Dagenham & Redbridge
Forest Green Rovers 2-1 Yeovil Town
Hartlepool United 2-1 Oldham Athletic
Rochdale P-P Altrincham
Sutton United 1-1 Aldershot Town
Wealdstone P-P Boston United
Woking 3-1 Maidenhead United
York City 1-0 Gateshead
Braintree Town 0-1 Southend United
FC Halifax Town v AFC Fylde (Sat 4th Jan)

National League table

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Football going on all over the shop over the festive period and plenty of the loanee Glovers were involved.

One that wasn’t involved was Harvey Greenslade, who missed Weston-super-Mare’s 3-1 defeat to Chippenham through illness.

There was a cleano for Will Buse in W*ymouth’s 0-0 draw with Salisbury.

… and as the headline suggests, Jordan Thomas got in a spot of bother with the officials in Torquay’s game with Truro.

Thankfully, his 83rd minute minute sending off didn’t prevent them from getting all three points to keep them top of the National League South.

Some chap called Jordan Young scored their winner.

Into the regional leagues and Sherborne didn’t play on New Year’s Day, but they did pick up a 1-0 win on December 29th, Josh Haskett was used from the bench in that one, but Corey Koerner didn’t play as he was involved for the U18s.

 

Down at Tavistock, Jacob Shore ended his time with the Lambs with a lovely ending, a goal!

A towering header at the back post against Falmouth, we thank Dave Crawford, the Tavistock Photographer for the use of these photos.

PHOTO: Dave Crawford
PHOTO: Dave Crawford

 

 

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Josh Sims has said his Yeovil Town team-mates were frustrated to come away from the New Year’s Day visit to big-spending Forest Green Rovers with nothing to show for it.

The Glovers led at The New Lawn going in to the 75th minute when Bristol Rovers loanee Kofi Shaw was sent-off for a second bookable offence and the home side were awarded a penalty which swung the game back in their favour.

Former Yeovil loan defender Ryan Inniss then grabbed a winner deep in to second half injury time to deny the visitors a point which Sims felt they deserved.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah after the game, he said: “It was similar to the Eastleigh game (on Boxing Day) when we were playing well for large parts of the game, it is just a shame. The sending off does not help and them they get momentum from the penalty but when you play so well and get nothing out of it, it is really disappointing.

“At half-time we were comfortable, we had them locked up with the way we were plying. They had one chance from a counter attack which (Kyle McAllister) puts past the post, but for the most part we were brilliant. That is what makes it so frustrating that we have come away from this game with nothing to show for it. That is football though, you do not get rewarded for good performances unless you get a point or three points. We have to build on the good things which we have done in the last few games, but we really have to cut out those mistakes which are costing us.”

Josh Sims. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

The game swung on the decision of referee James Oldham who adjudged a foul by Shaw to be inside the penalty area and awarded Forest Green a penalty and the teenage attacker a second yellow card. The incident saw the Bristol Rovers player raise his boot as former Glovers’ favourite Tom Knowles stooped to head it.

Sims said:  “It is a 50-50 ball, the guy puts his head down and Kofi puts his head up, but you do see those get given. It is hard because (Kofi) does get the ball but the refs always seem to give those in favour of the guy putting their head down. It is a shame with the second yellow which really gives them momentum.”

Sims has been utilised as a left-sided wing-back in the past two games with Alex Whittle still absent and the former Southampton man says he has enjoyed the new defensive responsibility.

With no FA Trophy tie this weekend, the Glovers have a rare break in the fixture calendar meaning they are not in action again until Woking visit Huish Park on January 11th.

On his new position, Sims said: “I played there against Eastleigh. Whitts (Alex Whittle) has been out for a bit and we have not really got a left wing-back, so the Gaffer (manager Mark Cooper) has put me there in the last few games and I have really enjoyed it. It is obviously something different, you have more defensive responsibility but I have good people around me to talk me through the game which makes life a lot easier.”

On the nine-day break, he added: “Having a break at this time of the season is quite rare, but we have to be fresh and ready when the next game comes and build on the good things we have done. The break will be good for the boys who are coming back from injury and we will be ready for the next game.”

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2025 didn’t quite kick off how Yeovil would have hoped with defeat at Forest Green Rovers. Here are my Five Conclusions from the 2-1 loss at The New Lawn.

I hate talking about the officials. At this point it feels like an inevitability that there will be contentious decisions at the heart of a Yeovil game. Interestingly, Steve Cotterill said after the match that Forest Green were due a penalty having had none all season, although I’m not sure that justifies it. Kofi Shaw’s first yellow card, a classic case of six of one, half a dozen of the other was harsh in my opinion. The penalty decision is a close call too, and it’s hard to say with the angles I’ve seen whether it’s inside the box or not. However, once again we’re left complaining about the officiating in a match and I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s bored of it. 

Ref, Referee, Match Official
Pic Gary Brown

I thought we were excellent. The first half performance from the Glovers was what you’d have wanted away at one of the top sides in the division. Only once did the defence get really stretched and Yeovil stuck to their principles and moved the ball calmly and patiently. The opening goal from Kofi Shaw shows some real bravery from Ollie Wright to throw it out to Shaw over the Forest Green midfield and the 18-year-old took it from there. We had a couple of overloads where, on another day, we could have taken advantage of.

The nippy fellas are key. I thought Josh Sims had the best match of his time at Yeovil so far. There was a lot to do on our left both defensively and offensively and but for a couple of misplaced passes in the final third, he did really well. Kofi Shaw continued doing Kofi Shaw things – the kid’s a maverick and we should celebrate and encourage that in football. I was also impressed with Sean McGurk – nippy, technical and not afraid to shoot – it’s early days but he appears to be an upgrade on Dylan Morgan in that part of the pitch. We know we need to do more in the final third and with some help for Aaron Jarvis, I think we can find it.

We are so close. The first half performance showed me that this group are so close to being a team that flirting with the top end of the table. We’ve clearly got the quality in the team and when it clicks we look comfortable defensively and really assured on the ball. Forest Green were always going to be a bit more open than sides we’d play at home as they’re gunning to get out of the league straight away, but until they brought on two giants in Cardwell and Quigley we handled everything they threw at us. Once again though, it was the attacking moments that we didn’t take advantage of.

Kofi Shaw. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

Reinforcements are much-needed. It was reassuring to hear Mark Cooper talk about freshening up the squad in the next ten days. With two youth players on the bench (and two goalkeepers) the depth is sorely lacking at the moment. I thought Aaron Jarvis had another tough task in the second half, especially after the red and substitution of McGurk. The energy that Sims and Worthington brought in the first half wasn’t there in the second, naturally. I actually thought the game could of have done with Frank Nouble from the bench, just to see if something stuck and took the pressure of the back line as Forest Green bombarded the Yeovil box. 

 

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Mark Cooper bemoaned the officiating once again, as a red card for Kofi Shaw in the 75th minute changed the course of the Yeovil’s New Years Day match against Forest Green Rovers. The hosts went on to win 2-1 with a stoppage time winner from Ryan Inniss, but up until the sending off, the Glovers were well worth their 1-0 lead.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah in the aftermath of the match Cooper praised his side’s performance: “First half, we were outstanding. [We] dominated the game with the ball. [We] played through a really good team and caused them untold problems, and we deserved to be winning. The game turns on another contentious decision. I just think when you come to the big boys – deemed big boys in the league – I don’t know what it is, I think if you give a pen for that, you give 10 a game. You could say [Kofi Shaw] doesn’t need to do it, but he clearly kicks the ball. Is it in the box? Very, very debatable. So I’m not sure you can give a penalty for that.”

Cooper also said there was a handball in the passage of play which resulted in the corner than Forest Green Rovers scored their winner from: “Well there was a handball. But, what they’ll say, is ‘it was accidental’. But listen, they’re gonna make it up as they go along, and make sure that Forest Green get a decision.”

With two goalkeepers on the bench and only Finn Cousin-Dawson and Michael Smith used from it, Cooper said he was working on ‘freshening’ up the squad in the next ten days and that the club had agreed a ‘really good one’.

“We played brilliantly well today. The first half, we were amazing,  that’s how we want to play. But when we look at the bench, we didn’t have too much where we could change it and freshen it up. And that’s what we’re going to be working on in the next 10 days. We’ve agreed one –  a really good one, and, [we are] still after a left-sided wing back.”