Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 88)

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Yeovil picked up an important three points to keep pace with the playoff pack yesterday. Here are five conclusions from my view from the Huish Park press box.

Matt Worthington and the team celebrate Aaron Jarvis’ goal.
(Pic C/O Gary Brown)

It was the result we needed after Tuesday. It was important that Yeovil reacted off the back of the disappointment of W*ymouth and pick up three points. While the performance over the entire 90 minutes wasn’t rip-roaring, three goals after lots of change before and during the match (on and off the the pitch) shows the resilience in this group of players. 

The initial changes didn’t quite work. It was quite a radical adjustment following W*ymouth with the five changes, albeit enforced with injuries to Plant and Whittle, and it didn’t properly click. Yeovil didn’t enjoy the usual control of the game that we’ve become accustomed to. I thought we were quite compact centrally with Cooper, Worthington and McGavin all treading on eachothers’ toes and Braintree were able to control the first half.

The second half changes worked. The switch to the more familiar 3-4-3 was more comfortable for the players and they gained more of a foothold in the match. Ed James header forced Braintree to chase the game and when we switched to a 4-2-3-1 we were able to make the most of the space. Sims, Nouble and Morgan all made a difference from the bench, with Morgan being absolutely pivotal for Brett McGavin’s clincher. 

Kofi Shaw (Pic C/O Gary Brown)

Keep mavericks in football. Kofi Shaw enjoyed another afternoon at Huish Park (much like against Maidenhead) where he had a free role and covered every blade of grass. He’s brave on the ball and is happy to put himself about against bigger lads too. He’s the kind of player who thrives when given license to roam and pull strings. Consistency is the challenge here. Can he do it week in week out and will he get the opportunity to do it?

We’re keeping pace and in the playoffs. The reaction from Tuesday was justified and warranted. It should never have happened. But, in the league we are in the playoff positions again and I think we’re absolutely punching above our weight right now. I understand that the style isn’t to everyone’s taste and there is a split among supporters, but to be 7th with this group at this stage of the season is an achievement. Keep the faith!

It’s mine! Ed James celebrates his first Yeovil goal! Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

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A busy week for the Glovers and those associated to Yeovil Town out and about on loan.

We start in the National League South and Harvey Greenslade has his first two appearances for Weston-super-Mare in the books.

The forward made his debut appearance in a 0-0 draw at Hampton & Richmond on Tuesday night and started for the Seagulls in their 1-1 draw at home to third-from-bottom Enfield Town on Saturday.

If the aim of moving to North Somerset was for the ex-Bristol Rovers’ youngster to get minutes, he’s had 180 of them in the first two appearances. Weston’s next match is a rearranged Somerset Men’s Premier Cup second round tie at Huish Park on Wednesday night.

Harvey Greenslade in action for Weston-super-Mare
Picture courtesy of Mark Stainer Photography

Defender Jordan Thomas is top of the National League South with his Torquay side, the defender played the full 90 minutes for the Gulls on Saturday in their 2-0 win over sixth-placed Farnborough Town.

At the other end of the league. W*ymouth had a quick turnaround from their cup final in midweek.

They were beaten 3-0 by Hemel Hempstead Town. Glovers’ goalkeeper Will Buse was back between the sticks. 

They probably won’t make a commemorative mug about this one.

Into the local divisions and Corey Koerner was in the Sherborne Town starting line-up in midweek.

They were beaten fairly soundly by AFC Stoneham, but were in far better form on Saturday winning 3-0 – sadly, team-sheets are tough to come by, we cannot tell you if Koerner was involved. 

Down at Tavistock, young defender Jacob Shore was used from the bench in a 1-0 away loss to Evesham Utd. 

He was carded not long after coming on.

At Bridport, Under-18s’ player Sol Padmore was in the starting line up for their 6-3 win over Elburton Villa, young striker George Geraghty is also with the ‘Port now and was used from the bench.

Mason Alden started for Welton Rovers in their defeat by Saltash United.

 

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All photos credited to Mr Gary Brown – Please contact him for permission to use any of the images below.

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Captain Matt Worthington paid tribute to Yeovil Town’s substitutes for helping them secure three points with a 3-1 home win over Braintree Town today.

The Glovers made five changes to their starting XI from the FA Trophy exit at the hands of local rivals W*ymouth in midweek, but made five changes in the second half when they scored two goals to seal victory.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah, the skipper said: “The season is going to take everyone in the squad and (the substitutes) all made a massive difference. Dylan Morgan did well to set up Brett’s (McGavin) goal at the end, Frank (Nouble) was a threat when he came on, but it is going to take all of us to achieve with what we want to this season.”

The Glovers had to come from 1-0 down when John Akinde put the visitors ahead after 15 minutes before Aaron Jarvis levelled just before the half-hour mark to go in level at the break.

They brought on striker Frank Nouble and defender Finn-Cousin Dawson before on loan Exeter City defender Ed James put them ahead on the hour. Dylan Morgan and Josh Sims then came on with Morgan’s surging run setting up Brett McGavin’s third goal in second half injury time.

On the performance, Worthy added: “We had to dig in, I thought they played well. It was tough, the pitch was chewed up a little bit  and it was tough to get our momentum with the ball. We knew that whatever it took to get a result after Tuesday, so overall we were just pleased to get the win.

“It was a tough week after Tuesday, a few people said some things that needed to be said. It was a massive game and we were really disappointed with it. We looked back at it and and saw the reasons why we lost, so today was about putting on a gritty, tough performance.”

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It was a return to winning ways for Yeovil, as they defeated Braintree Town to return to the playoff spots in a 3-1 win. Let’s see what else went on around the grounds…

We begin in Hampshire, where FC Halifax Town left the south as victors in a 4-3 thriller against Aldershot Town; former Glover Andrew Oluwabori found himself on the scoresheet for the Shaymen. A first half annihilation was all it took for Barnet to dispose of managerless Ebbsfleet United, another former Glover scoring as Rhys Browne bagged the third in a 4-1 win. Gateshead returned to winning ways in a 4-0 drubbing of Woking, putting further pressure on Woking boss Michael Doyle.

Oldham Athletic came from two behind to secure a 3-2 victory over Wealdstone, Josh Stones bagging a double in the process, while AFC Fylde and Eastleigh had to share the spoils in a 2-2 tie thanks to a 95th minute equaliser from young Danny Ormerod. There was late drama in both of the 1-1 draws today, as a 90th minute goal from Jordan Cullinane-Liburd rescued a point for Tamworth against York City, while a 96th minute equaliser from Alex Whitmore spared Solihull Moors a point away at 10-man Maidenhead United.

There were three 1-0 wins, as Dagenham & Redbridge, Forest Green Rovers and Altrincham defeated Rochdale, Boston United and Sutton United respectively, and finally, Southend United and Hartlepool United played out a 0-0 draw.

 

National League results – in full

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

National League table

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Yeovil Town assistant manager Chris Todd said the team’s performance in today’s 3-1 home win over Braintree Town showed how much they wanted to right the wrong of their FA Trophy exit to local rivals W*ymouth.

He was on post-match media duties after the victory after manager Mark Cooper was sent off by today’s referee Elliot Swallow as the second half was just about the get underway.

From the Huish Park stands, the boss saw his side score twice to pick up three points which move them in to the National League Premier Division play-off places and start the healing process after the derby disaster.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah after the game, Todd said: “I can promise everybody that (on Tuesday night against W*ymouth) was not us. We had to get the lads together and discuss it and the Gaffer (manager Mark Cooper) was brilliant with them. You can have off games, but it was a bad time to have it against your local rivals, so that was very disappointing. So, to turn up today and perform like the boys did, they showed a lot of heart and I thought it was a very good performance.

“I was really pleased for the players because they went through hard times this week. It is very easy to say ‘no-one really cares’ but I  promise you that group were really hurt, everyone down to the kitman. It was not a nice feeling and to show the character they did today shows what they are all about.”

The number two was asked about the performance of Bristol Rovers’ youngster Kofi Shaw, who was given the sponsors’ Man of the Match after an all-action display, but said the performance showed the character of the playing squad.

Kofi Shaw in action. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

He said: “Kofi’s a great lad and he worked really hard today. He’s been out of the team a bit and had his disappointment, but come back from that and done really well. Today is not about an individual, it is about the group. There was some really big performances and for me the Man of the Match could have gone to any number of them, I thought Coops (midfielder Charlie Cooper) was outstanding, Jarv (striker Aaron Jarvis) led the line and got his goal, but it was about everybody. The fans were outstanding as well, they could have very easily turned on us when we lost that goal and both they and the players showed character to come back from that.”

Having made five changes from the starting XI which crashed out of the FA Trophy on Tuesday night, the Glovers made a flurry of second half changes with Frank Nouble, Finn Cousin-Dawson, Dylan Morgan, Dom Bernard and Josh Sims all making an impact having come on.

Todd said: “It is a team game, it is about the squad. There has been some tough conversations this week, but those lads stepped up, came off the bench and made a real impact. It was so important, we have had occasions where (substitutions have not changed the game) but today, fair play to the lads.

“We have really intelligent footballers and the Gaffer wanted to bring in players that understand the game and play it in the way he wants to play. So they click on to the changes we make very quickly, there were a few occasions when we were a bit out of shape, but they adjusted to it.”

Asked about the dismissal of Cooper, Todd said: “I do not know the ins and outs of it. The Gaffer has got to go and speak to them at some point, but it was a bit of a strange one because there was no situation at that time. Whether it was before, I am not sure, but it shocked everybody. He is on the phone to Matt Gould and Weso (Head of Football Operations, Ian Weston) because we are all a part of it and we are all giving information, but the Gaffer is the main man.”

The result moved Yeovil up to seventh place ahead of FC Halifax Town on goal difference and they now prepare for a long journey up to Hartlepool United next weekend. Todd said the performance and result would begin to exorcise some demons following the W*ymouth defeat.

He added: “We will sleep tonight! As staff and as players you go home and you reflect on your performances and if they are not good enough you do not sleep, you worry about it because we care. We want this club to move forward and have a successful season. There are a couple of big journeys ahead of us (starting with a trip to Hartlepool United next weekend) but that result will have done us the world of good. We can all go away, reflect, and understand what effort, desire and everything the club deserves they put in there.”

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Two second half goals saw Yeovil Town move back in to the National League Premier Division play-off places with victory over struggling Braintree Town at Huish Park.

The Glovers went behind after 15 minutes when visiting frontman John Akinde ran on to a long ball and lifted the ball over the on-rushing Ollie Wright only for Aaron Jarvis to grab a spectacular leveller on 27 minutes. The visitors had three efforts cleared off the line and undoubtedly were the better side in the first half.

After a slow start to the second half, on loan defender Ed James headed Yeovil in to the lead just after the hour mark before Brett McGavin wrapped it up with a beautiful finish a minute in to second half injury time.

It was not a vintage performance, but we looked better as the game wore on and, most importantly, it was another three points on the board and we sneaked in to seventh place in the table ahead.

 

First half

 
Following the midweek derby defeat against W*ymouth in the FA Trophy, manager Mark Cooper promised to be “ruthless“ with his players and he did not disappoint with five changes from the 2-1 defeat to the seagull botherers.
 
Jake Wannell returned after a four-match ban alongside on loan Exeter City defender Ed James and the experienced Michael Smith in the defence, captain Matt Worthington in the middle of the pitch and Kofi Shaw just behind Aaron Jarvis up front. Dropping out were injured pair Alex Whittle and James Plant and Finn Cousin-Dawson, Josh Sims and Frank Nouble, who were on the bench. 
 
Also on the bench was 16-year-old Ollie Hughes, a product of the club’s Under-18s’ side, who at 16 years, 6 moths and 16 days old is 204 days younger than the club’s current youngest debutant Devon Arnold who was 6247 days old when he made his debut back in 2019.
 
It took four minutes for a shot on target when Kofi Shaw had a long range effort which warmed the hands of visiting keeper Luca Covolan and five minutes later Jarvis almost got on the end of a ball in from Smith.
 
John Akinde puts Braintree Town ahead. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.
 
At the other end, Braintree were trying to play a possession game, but it was a route one ball which led to them taking the lead after 15 minutes. A ball over the top from George Langston picked out John AKINDE who had a great first touch and lifted it over the on-rushing Ollie Wright. Yeovil’s defence complained to the assistant referee, but he was not for turning. A simple goal and a sucker punch after all the early pressure came from the Glovers.
 
There was another opportunity for the visitors to double their advantage five minutes later, a free-kick in to the box saw Wright lose out to Akinde and the ball broke to Kyrell Lisbie whose shot was blocked on the line by Morgan Williams, who glanced a near post header over from a McGavin cross after 23 minutes.
 
Yeovil drew level after 27 minutes when Aaron JARVIS was found by a long ball from Matt Worthington and he hit a first-time shot from probably 20 yards out at an angle, across Covolan and in to the net. There’s something to be said for this route one football, isn’t there?
 
Another ball over the top (theme here, isn’t they?) saw Lisbie sneak in between the Yeovil defence and lift the ball over the out-of-position Wright who needed Wannell to clear it of the line after 31 minutes.
 
On 38 minutes, James failed to clear his lines and no-one took ownership inside the box allowing first Lisbie and then Akinde had efforts blocked with one of them happening on the goal line (yes, again!) by Michael Smith. How Braintree have not scored at least four times I do not know!
 
Two minutes from time, Akinde had another huge chance after he found a hole in the Yeovil defence, but put a free header wide.
 
Two minutes in to injury time, Borges was on the attack and referee Elliot Swallow stopped the game to talk to Akinde about something…..no-one inside the ground except the man in black knows what. Possibly not even him. A free-kick inside our own penalty area, thanks ref.
 
With the final moment of the game, Charlie Cooper and Braintree’s Chay Cooper both went for a ball with the visiting player complained about an elbow from his namesake. Swallow agreed (to an extent) and showed Charlie a yellow card as he went off.
 
No question that Braintree will be the more disappointed not to be going in to the half-time break ahead having dominated the possession and had the better chances. No the response to the FA Trophy exit that Mark Cooper would have wanted.

Half time: Yeovil Town 1 Braintree Town 1

 

Second half

Yeovil made two changes at the interval with Finn Cousin-Dawson replacing Morgan Williams and Frank Nouble coming on in place of Pedro Borges. It looks more like the 3-4-3 that we are used to with Worthington on the left side of defence, anyone remember Worthy at left wing-back?
 
Early in the second half, the club posted on social media that manager Mark Cooper had been sent off as the players returned to the pitch presumably for telling referee Swallow what he thought of his efforts in the first half. The official will not have made it any closer to the boss’s Christmas card list when Smith went down inside the box under pressure from Frankie ‘son of Paul’ Terry. The referee adjudged the former Hearts man to have dived and showed him a yellow card.
 
 
McGavin had an effort blocked from the edge of the box by Langston after good work from Shaw on 52 minutes, before Lisbie tried a spectacular overhead effort inside the box two minutes later.
 
Up until that point in the match, Braintree had looked the better side albeit they do not seem to be able to finish their dinner. You know what’s coming don’t you? Yes, Yeovil took the lead after 63 minutes!
 
It’s mine! Ed James celebrates his first Yeovil goal – as FC-D celebrates what he claims is his second! Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.
 
A great corner in from Charlie Cooper was met at the back post by Finn Cousin-Dawson and it was cleared off the line but popped up for Ed JAMES to head home. The stadium announcer gave it to Cousin-Dawson, the club’s social media gave it to James. Either way, it is 2-1 to Yeovil.
 
 
On 68 minutes, Yeovil made two changes with the goal hero James and captain Worthington replaced by Dylan Morgan and Dom Bernard. Morgan moved in behind Jarvis with Bernard slotting in to defence.
 
How’s your luck, Kofi Shaw? The Bristol Rovers’ loanee picked up the ball in space between the Braintree defence and midfield and the youngster leathered one from 30 yards, it hit one post, rolled across the goal line and hit the other on 74 minutes. That proved to be Shaw’s last action of an energetic display as he was replaced by Josh Sims.
 
 
McGavin had a glorious opportunity to extend the advantage having been played through brilliantly by Nouble on 82 minutes. He lifted his shot over the bar and complained he had a push in the back, but referee Swallow disagreed. No closer to the Cooper Christmas card list.
 
Since the arrival of Dom Bernard and the reshuffling of the Yeovil defence, the composure we are used to has returned and, now chasing the game, there has been a lot of space appearing between the Braintree defence and midfield and the Glovers exploited it to add a third a minute in to second half injury time.
 
The goal was created by the strong running of substitute Dylan Morgan who surged forward before feeding the ball in to Brett McGAVIN who dinked it beautifully over the oncoming Covolan to add a third.
 
It could have been four a minute later when superb play by Josh Sims saw him play in Jarvis whose effort came back off the woodwork. A couple of centimetres the other side and that is the striker’s second of the day.
Be under no illusion, if Braintree were more clinical in front of goal this could have been very different, but we are where we are because are getting results against the teams below us and this is another three points.
 
The result was there, the performance towards the end of the game was better. The redemption begins.
 

Full time: Yeovil Town 3 Braintree Town 1

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Date: Saturday 14th December 2024 – 3pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: John Akinde 15 (0-1), Aaron Jarvis 27 (1-1), Ed James 63 (2-1), Brett McGavin 90+1 (3-1)

Pitch: Slippery in places
Conditions: Chilly

Attendance: 2,767 (25 away supporters) 

Bookings:

Yeovil Town: Morgan Williams 34, Charlie Cooper 45, Michael Smith 49, Ed James 56, Brett McGavin 64
Braintree Town: None

Referee: Elliot Swallow

Yeovil Town (3-4-2-1)

Substitutes: Finn Cousin-Dawson (for Morgan Williams, 46), Frank Nouble (for Pedro Borges, 46), Dylan Morgan (for Matt Worthington, 69), Dom Bernard (for Ed James, 69) Josh Sims (for Kofi Shaw, 76), Ollie Hughes (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Braintree Town: Lucas Covolan, Louie Annesley, George Langston, Frankie Terry, Ryan Clampin, Matt Robinson, James Vennings, Tom Blackwell (for Callum Powell, 76), Chay Cooper, Kyrell Lisbie (for Marley Marshall-Miranda, 83), John Akinde.

Substitutes: Jamal Fyfield, Philip Haxthausen-Nielsen, Rio Phipps, Tariq Hinds.