Yeovil Town boss Mark Cooper was pleased with what he saw from the experienced arrivals he brought on to complete a comprehensive 5-0 win at Dorchester Town on Tuesday night.
Having led 1-0 at half-time through a goal from trialist Walter Figueira, the boss made wholesale changes around the hour mark with Jordan Maguire-Drew (2), Rhys Murphy and Frank Nouble completing the rout.
Speaking after the game, the manager said he had started with a youthful side due to the artificial surface at the Avenue Stadium but was happy with the impact his wiser heads made.
He said: “We chose quite a young side in the first half with the idea of bringing on a more experienced side on for the last half-an-hour.
“I wanted to try and protect some of the older boys that are not too fond of the 3G (surface), but we know we are going to have to get used to them.
“That was the plan to limit their chances of injury, so it was a good work all round. The first half with that young team, we were comfortable but in the second half we brought on more firepower and they did well.”
On his forward players, he added: “We have got some patterns of play we have worked on. Frank’s goal was pretty similar to the one we scored at Buckland (Athletic in the first pre-season friendly) with little dummies, round the corner and a good finish.
“So the forward play is coming together, there is still plenty of work to do but it is looking strong.”
He said he thought the three trialists who saw action in Dorset “acquitted themselves well.” Cooper started with striker Figueira, who last saw action at Isthmian League Premier side Bognor Regis Town last season, alongside play-maker Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, who was at Huish Park in the 2021-22 season, and a young defender believed to be Torquay United youngster Brandon Quinn.
Congratulations to Brandon Quinn last night in the starting line up representing @YTFC in their 5-0 win over @dorchestertownfc
A player with a lot of potential⚽️ pic.twitter.com/FauAn75mvw
— Pro:Direct Academy Devon (@pda_Devon) July 19, 2023
The Glovers were without a number of players with minor injuries which the manager described as “nothing too concerning.” Defender Jamie Sendles-White has tendonitis in his Achilles whilst midfielder Jordan Stevens (hamstring) and Jake Hyde (back) both missed out with minor injuries.
Wing-back Will Dawes went off at half-time with cramp in his thigh, but Cooper said he expected him to get treatment when the side trained on Wednesday.