After the week that was at Huish Park, Yeovil Town return to home soil with semi-permanent interim manager Richard Dryden in charge to face Altrincham this weekend.
FORM…
YEOVIL TOWN
Well, it’s been a week, hasn’t it folks? The shock exit of manager Danny Webb on Monday morning followed by the shock of assistant manager Chris Todd‘s departure to take up a role at Eastleigh on Tuesday – and then a more pleasant surprise in the form of a 4-1 away win at Aldershot Town on Wednesday night.
A brace from Tahvon Campbell, his first goals since returning to Somerset in the summer, and strikes from Junior Morias and Luke McCormick earned the victory in Hampshire and the Glovers will be looking to carry on their attacking intent in front of the home crowd.
Prior to that the Glovers went down 1-0 at Tamworth in Webb’s only game in charge seven days ago, but they were winners last time out at Huish Park with a late McCormick goal snatching a victory over Woking.
Altrincham
It’s been a difficult few weeks at Altrincham as well. The Robins have lost their last three matches with a defeat at home to Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday night, giving them them a 24 hour head start on recovery over Yeovil.
The game saw Alty’s Tyler Golden red carded for two yellow cards in quick succession meaning he will sit out the match in Somerset as will winger Kahrel Reddin, who equalised against Forest Green, having collected a red for a fracas after the final whistle.
Prior to that there was a 2-1 home loss to Carlisle United, with former Moss Lane favourite Regan Linney on the scoresheet, and a 3-1 loss at in-form Boreham Wood the weekend before that.
The dismissals in midweek mean that Altrincham have had four players sent off in their last three matches. Midfielder Tom Crawford was dismissed against Carlisle and winger Lucas Weaver saw red at Boreham Wood.
To say that manager Phil Parkinson was unhappy with the referees’ performance against Forest Green would be an understatement but he was happy that his team has been taking the game to their opponents.
KEY PLAYERS…
Yeovil Town – Andrew Oluwabori
It is early in the second chapter of on loan winger Oluwabori’s story at Yeovil, but against Aldershot in midweek he showed exactly what he was all about.
The light-weight youngster we had from Peterborough United a few seasons ago has been upgraded with a more robust version on loan from Exeter City and on Wednesday night he showed his ability to change the game with driving runs, tackles and great link-up play.
Altrincham – Jimmy Knowles
Summer signing Knowles has made an impressive start to life at Altrincham with five goals in his first 11 appearances and will be the main goal threat for the visitors.
Prior to the midweek defeat to Forest Green Rovers, the former Accrington Stanley player had three goals in his previous three matches.
The loss of Golden and Reddin through suspension will be a blow for the visitors and they will need their new talisman to do something special to get a result they feel their recent performances deserve.
THE GAFFER…
Since arriving at Alty at the end of the 2016-17 campaign as a relative unknown, Phil Parkinson (no, not the one from the Wrexham fairytale) has become one of the most impressive managers in then non-League game.
He took over after the Alty had been relegated to the Northern Premier League and got them promote back to the National League North as champions at the first attempt before reaching the play-offs in his second season and then winning promotion via the play-offs in 2020.
LAST TIME WE MET…
The two sides last met in April when Alty ran out 2-1 winners at Moss Lane thanks to a late Lewis Baines strike. Full-back Tyler Golden, who will be missing through suspension this time around, opened the scoring on the half-hour mark before Yeovil loanee defender Frankie Terry equalised quickly.
The time the two sides met at Huish Park they played out a fairly forgettable goalless draw last September.
DON’T I KNOW YOU…
Altrincham defender Billy Sass-Davies made the move to Cheshire in the summer having left Hartlepool United. The Welshman impressed during a spell with Yeovil on loan from Crewe Alexandra in the COVID-hit 2020-21 campaign, playing 22 times and scoring once.
He is unlikely to feature against his former club having not yet made an appearance since his return to Alty due to injury.
THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE…
Wayne Cartmel will be the man in the middle for today’s game. You can read more about him – HERE.