On the road again, this time to the outskirts of the capital as Yeovil take on Wealdstone on Saturday afternoon.
FORM…
YEOVIL TOWN
The Glovers’ form has them among the best in the league, with three wins and two draws from their last five fixtures. And it could be a case of missing those home comforts for the Somerset side, after dismantling Boston United 6-0 in their most recent outing.
It’s a far cry from where we were this time last year, when we were in the midst of searching for our fourth manager just two months into the campaign. This term, however, things are settled, and there is blue sky above Huish Park.
The football being played is second to none. The whole team seems to be chipping in with goals, while the defence has looked extremely solid, having gone three games without conceding.
Long may this continue for the Glovers.
WEALDSTONE
Wealdstone have had a difficult start to the new season punctuated by some impressive results in their opening 12 matches including a 2-0 win at Sutton United on August Bank Holiday Monday and taking a point off both Carlisle United and Forest Green Rovers.
The Jekyll & Hyde start followed a dysfunctional summer which saw key players defender Deon Woodman (Bromley), midfielder Nathan Tshikuna (Tamworth) and winger Dominic Hutchinson (Worthing) all departing in the summer, whilst many new arrivals did not arrive until much closer to the start of the new season. In the Stones’ final pre-season friendly of the summer, they fielded seven trialists.
This was compounded by injuries to a number of key players notably defender Mason Barrett who suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury in the 1-1 draw with Forest Green Rovers ten days ago. The 27-year-old had been an almost ever-present for Wealdstone this season, but is expected to be missing for the rest of the season.
Having picked up just two wins in their first nine games, the Stones’ form has picked up a little in recent matches with a 4-0 home win over struggling Gateshead in their last outing at Grosvenor Vale, followed by the draw at Forest Green and then a defeat at Barrow in their last outing. However, that loss in Cumbria came courtesy of a winner deep in second half stoppage time last Saturday.
KEY PLAYERS…
YEOVIL TOWN – JOS BARKER
The young goalkeeper has been unstoppable over the last three games. His defence has certainly played its part in securing three consecutive clean sheets, but ultimately, the buck stops with the keeper. When you concede too many goals, it’s the goalkeeper who often gets the pelters from the fans, so it’s only fair that they get praise when the clean sheets start coming.
Pic C/o Andy Preston AP Photography
To go three games without conceding is some feat, and it has built a foundation of trust throughout the team. The midfielders and forwards can go out and express themselves knowing they can rely on their teammates at the back to do a job. Equally, the defenders know they can have a tough afternoon and still have the reassurance that Jos Barker will more than likely be there to bail them out.
He’s a real presence in the area, gets down quickly and is a very good shot-stopper. What more could you want from your number one?
WEALDSTONE – OLUFELA OLOMOLA
Former Yeovil loanee striker Olufela Olomola has been one of the few Stones’ players who has had a relatively fruitful start to the new season.
The 29-year-old, who has had three spells on loan at Huish Park, returned to Wealdstone last season having had a spell in the Football League at Bromley and managed just six goals in 38 appearances, but has already got four in his first 12 appearances this season.
THE GAFFER…
At 64 years old, Gary Waddock has seen most things in football. As a player, he made more than 500 appearances in the Football League, predominantly for QPR at the start of his career and Luton towards the end.
As a manager, he has seen just as much. His career in management began at the same place as his playing career, Loftus Road, although he didn’t see out the 2005/06 season.
A two-year spell at Aldershot followed, before a three-year stint at Wycombe from 2009 to 2012. Since then, the former Republic of Ireland international has bounced around Oxford, Portsmouth and Aldershot, before finishing his time in management as caretaker boss of Southend in 2019.
A seven-year break from management followed before Waddock took up the Wealdstone job earlier this year.
Across the 11 times the two sides have met, the record is remarkably even, with both clubs winning three times and the remaining four games ending in draws.
LAST TIME WE MET…
The last time the two sides locked horns, back in March, the Glovers came away with a 0-2 victory at Grosvenor Vale.
On an early spring afternoon, it was Terrell Works who opened the scoring in the 38th minute. James Daly then doubled Yeovil’s advantage shortly after the break, securing all three points and sending them back to Somerset.
DON’T I KNOW YOU?
There’s only one player in the opposition ranks that travelling fans will recognise this week, and that comes in the shape of forward Olufela Olomola.
The 29-year-old had three spells at Huish Park, with his most recent coming on loan from Hartlepool during the 2021/22 season. He also featured during the 2018/19 campaign, again on loan, this time from Scunthorpe United. His first spell with the Glovers came in 2017/18, when he joined on loan from Southampton.
Across his three spells, Olomola made 57 appearances for Yeovil, finding the net 11 times.
THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE…
Callum Jones is our match official for this one and you can find out more about him Ben’s article – here.
Hope we can take inspiration from what EFL clubs do, and around Christmas time, be looking at getting a third GK. Someone older. That’s not to say, Jos Barker hasn’t done well, he’s been great. But surely we want the outcome to be better than Boreham Wood Champions and Yeovil enter the play offs.. where it’s a lottery.. more likely to be knocked out than win the final.
Who knows what’s going to happen with the Manchester City situation as well, the knock-on impact that could be a second automatic promotion spot is required out of the National League. And City are forced to join lower down at step 6 or 7.