Match Report: Altrincham 2 Yeovil Town 2
2022-08-20
Venue: Moss Lane
Saturday August 20th, 3pm kick-off
Conditions: Bright and sunny with a strong cross wind
Pitch: As you would expect on the second home game or the season.
Attendance: 1,621 (142 away supporters)
Scorers: Malachi Linton 8 (1-0), Toby Mullarkey 39 (1-1), Gime Toure 70 (2-1), Egli Kaja 90 (2-2).
Bookings:
Yeovil Town: None
Altrincham: Cooper 60
Referee: Gareth Rhodes
Yeovil Town : (4-4-2)
Grant Smith
Morgan Williams, Max Hunt, Josh Staunton, Jamie Reckord
Charlie Wakefield, Matt Worthington, Lawson D’Ath (for Sam Perry 89), Chiori Johnson (for Matt Grivosti 73)
Alex Fisher (for Gime Toure, 61) Malachi Linton
Substitutes (not used): Will Buse, Alfie Pond.
Altrincham: Mee, Jones, Baines, Osborne, Cooper, Mullarkey, Lundstram, Bennett (for Kaja, 68), Conn-Clarke (for Pringle, 68), Colclough, Hulme (for Dinanga, 79). Substitutes (not used): Brockbank, Samizadeh.
Match Report
An injury time equaliser from Altrincham substitute Egli Kaja saw Yeovil Town’s search for their first win of the season go on.
Having taken the lead early on through Malachi Linton, the visitors were pegged back by a goal from Toby Mullarkey late in the first half and then forced to soak up a great deal of pressure early in the second half.
The ‘Hargreaves-ball’ style which had been evident in the previous two matches was in short supply, but the introduction of forward Gime Toure midway through the second half provided a spark.
The Frenchman drew Yeovil level on 72 minutes before Kaja struck at the death. In fairness, it was a game we have probably did not deserve to win, but it was a sickening way to be denied it.
Here’s how Dave saw it from the sun-soaked away end at Moss Lane…..
First half
The game opened with the visitors attacking the home end with a strong left-to-right wind causing issues with balls floated over the top.
Jordan Hulme and Ryan Colclough both forces Grant Smith in to early action, but it was Yeovil who took the lead after just nine minutes.
Matt Worthington dispossessed his man and fed the ball to Malachi LINTON (aka ‘Mal’ to our listeners) who turned and slammed home an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box.
But Altrincham kept up the pressure seeing more or the ball with Colclough a threat down the left flank without causing too much to trouble Grant Smith. However, if there was to be any joy for the home side, it was going to come from a wide position
Having earned a corner shortly before the half-hour mark, Glovers’ defender Max Hunt directed a corner in to the hands of Dermot Mee in the hosts’ goal.
Moments later a great through ball from D’Ath set Wakefield away, he was clattered just outside the box but the referee Gareth Rhodes was unmoved.
With the game closing towards half-time, Altrincham found their way through the visitors’ defence and on 40 minutes they pulled level.
Chris Conn-Clarke brought the ball forward without much resistance and his effort deflected to Colclough whose smashed a shot across the face of goal. The chance looked to have gone wide, only for Toby MULLARKEY to burst in from right back at the far post to tuck it home from an acute angle.
It was nothing more than Altrincham deserved having carved out a couple of opportunities as the half wore on, however, the half-hearted nature of the efforts to stop the move will have frustrated boss Chris Hargreaves.
I firmly suspect the possession stats would show Alty bossing the ball in the first half and there was not a great deal of the free-flowing ‘Hargreaves-ball’ which had been seen in the previous two outings.
Half time: Altrincham 1 Yeovil Town 1
Second half
The second half started as the first one finished with the visitors affording their hosts too much time on the ball. Altrincham responded by testing Grant Smith before Max Hunt was forced to clear a goalbound effort off the line.
For the opening 15 minutes of the second half, it was the home side in the ascendancy, but again they were not able to turn their dominance in to many clear-cut opportunities.
Seeking a spark, Hargreaves threw on forward Gime Toure in place of Alex Fisher around the four mark. For all his running around, Fisher never looked like threatening the goal.
Toure’s arrival had the desired impact with the Glovers having a flurry of opportunities around the 66 minutes mark. Johnson’s tame header could not threaten, but a sumptuous ball in from D’Ath moments later almost found the head of Toure. From the resulting corner, Josh Staunton nodded over Worthington’s corner.
The arrival of Toure seemed to give the home side something to think about and on 72 minutes he grabbed the lead. A mistake from the home side saw him gifted possession, he broke forward in to the box and, having had his first efforts blocked by on-rushing defenders, the ball broke to him again and TOURE slammed home his first goal for the club.
The lead was probably harsh on Altrincham who had dominated up to the Frenchman’s arrival, but there was always the fear of a mistake in Yeovil. With ten minutes to go, Jordan Hulme twisted and turned in the box and fired in a shot that Smith had to save with his feet.
If the Hargreaves-ball was missing, there is always the class of D’Ath to enjoy. The playmaker was taken off in the 89th minute, replaced by Sam Perry to well-earned applause from the away end.
But remember how I said there was a mistake in the visitors? Just moments after the fourth official’s board went up to display five minutes of added time, a ball from a wide position (where have we heard that before?) got a glancing header from substitute Egli KAJA to draw the game level.
Full time: Altrincham 2 Yeovil Town 2
Team News: Altrincham (away)
2022-08-20
Lawson D’Ath and Chiori Johnson have been handed their first starts of the season at Altrincham (3pm kick-off).
They replace on loan winger Sam Pearson, who was suffering a back injury following the midweek defeat to Barnet, and Sam Perry, who drops to the bench.
Charlie Wakefield is set to start in a more advanced position with Johnson taking over at right wing-back.
On loan Bolton Wanderers striker Matt Grivosti is on the bench.
Yeovil Town: Grant Smith, Chiori Johnson, Morgan Williams, Max Hunt, Josh Staunton, Jamie Reckord, Charlie Wakefield, Matt Worthington, Lawson D’Ath, Alex Fisher, Malachi Linton. Substitutes: Buse, Pond, Perry, Toure, Grivosti.
Gloverscast #186 – Get a bum on a seat, it’s going to be fun
2022-08-19
⚠️Please Note, the audio quality and editing isn’t up to its usual standards in this episode and for that, Ben is sorry. The transitions between jingles and chat is a little longer than planned and Ben’s mic has its moments… sorry, usual service will be resumed ASAP ⚠️
Ben and Dave are the deadly duo attacking the ‘oh what might have been’ against Barnet and the ‘what might well be’ of Altrincham.
We chat to Erin from Golf Road Goals as well, an Alty fan for her view on Saturday’s game.
As ever, we really do appreciate your continued support. Like, share, subscribe if you can please. ?
Hargreaves: I want our defensive resilience back
2022-08-18
Chris Hargreaves has said his Yeovil Town side need to regain the defensive resilience they showed in pre-season if they are to progress up the National League table.
The Glovers’ boss was frustrated after two defensive lapses saw Barnet striker Nicke Kabamba gifted two goals in the 2-1 home defeat on Tuesday night after errors cost goals in their previous games against Scunthorpe United and Wrexham.
The boss’ frustration was compounded by his side’s struggle to finish a number of chances they created in midweek with the only goal coming from left wing-back Jamie Reckord with his side already 2-0 down.
Talking ahead of the weekend’s trip to Altrincham, Hargreaves said: “It’s the chances we aren’t taking and the small lapses in concentration (defensively), but small lapses at any level kill you.
“If you don’t score, you have to come out with boring 0-0s and the teams I have done well with, that is what we have done.
“In pre-season, we had that resilience and weren’t creating as many, now we can’t stop creating chances, but I want that resilience back.”
The Glovers’ boss will give on loan winger Sam Pearson until the weekend to prove his fitness after he was forced off following a physical encounter against Barnet.
The Bristol City player went off after 72 minutes, replaced by Lawson D’Ath, with the manager saying afterwards that he was suffering with a back injury.
Speaking on Thursday, Hargreaves said: “We are taking it day by day. He took a few bumps on Tuesday, but he’s resilient lad and robust, so we are hopeful he comes through.
“He to learn on the job very quickly and Sam, because of the type of player he is, he will get that type of aggression against him.
“But he looked like he was able to cope with the physicality but when there are games in quick succession with high tempos and his output, his running stats are high, we don’t want to lose him for weeks on end.
“It is the same with some of the other lads coming back from injury, like Lawson (D’Ath), that is one where we have to make a decision and bed them back in gently.”
Hargreaves reiterated the knee injury sustained by central defender Ben Richards-Everton was “not as bad as first feared“, but did reveal that striker Ollie Hulbert was suffering with an injury.
The 19-year-old has not featured in a squad since pre-season although he was on the pitch ahead of the Barnet game working with Scott Wickens, the club’s strength and conditioning coach.
Hargreaves said: “We have to work out why it is happening and it may be a decision we have to make on that.
“He trains well but has a slight problem in games. He is chomping at the bit, but in certain circumstances his body is letting him down.”
He confirmed that forward Gime Toure, who a week ago following his release by League Two side Carlisle United at the end of last season, was “not far off” from starting a game.
The 28-year-old impressed after coming off the bench against in the 1-1 draw with Wrexham, but had less of an impact having arrived around the hour mark in midweek.
Hargreaves said: “Gime has been looking for EFL clubs and probably lost a bit of fitness and he’s signed for us in a deal which suits both parties.
“If we can get him up to speed, he will be a dangerous player for us. He’s not far off, but for lots of players that have been through the summer as Gime has, they lose fitness.
“He’s shown glimpses of what he can do and we have to make sure we get him to full fitness as quickly as possible.”
He also said teenage defender Alfie Pond, who arrived on loan from Exeter City last Friday had impressed in training, adding that he had given him “a lot to think about” in his team selection.
The 18-year-old was an unused substitute against both Wrexham and Barnet.
Asked whether he was looking to add further to his squad, the manager said he was continuing to speak to “several people” about coming to Huish Park.
The question from BBC Somerset reporter Sheridan Robins related to forward players and Hargreaves added that he felt he had enough players already in his squad to score goals.
He said: “Regardless of who we get in we have enough people to finish chances and the lads are working hard to change that.
“We had eight very good chances (against Barnet on Tuesday) whereas they have three shots on goal and scored two. We had double figures plus and eight on target.
“It is not a case of it just being the strikers, it can be defenders from corners, midfielders going through, wingers, everyone has got to chip in with goals.
“It’s just maybe one more second of calmness in front of goal to make sure and that is what we have been working on this week.”
Throwback Thursday No. 48 – Matt Dolan scores from inside his own half (2016/17)
2022-08-18
Walsall 0 Yeovil Town 2 (AET) – Tuesday 9th August 2016
In August 2016, Matt Dolan scored one of the greatest ever goals for Yeovil, a Beckham-esque 65-yard effort from inside his own half against Walsall in the first round of the League Cup.
Yeovil were in League Two at the time and their opponents in League One, having recently been to Wembley in the Football League Trophy under Dean Smith, so it sort of counts as an upset as well. After a goalless 90 minutes at the Bescot, an Alex Lacey header was deflected in by Bakayoko to give the Glovers the lead in the first half of extra time. Dolan’s spectacular effort sealed the deal in the 111th minute. Yeovil would go on to play Everton at Goodison in the second round, trailing 1-0 to a goal from Aaron Lennon for much of the match, before further goals from Ross Barkley and Kone wrapped up the win. Everton put out a strong line-up in front of just under 25,000 – Lukaku played 90 minutes, but didn’t score.
Hero on that night Matt Dolan was not best-known for his scoring exploits, scoring 9 goals in 103 appearances. He first joined us on loan from parent club Middlesbrough in January 2013 as cover for the injured Joe Edwards. He made his league debut for Yeovil just before his 20th birthday in a 2-0 win against Sheffield Utd that was part of our eight-match winning run on the way to the League One play-offs. His first loan spell was cut short by injury but he made a return right at the end of the season, scoring a goal and assist on his first start back, a vital 2-1 win at Notts County which ended a run of one win in eight and took us back into the play-off places. The winner that day came from a direct free kick, his only goal that season. He played in five of the last ten matches, and came on briefly as a substitute for James Hayter in the play-off final.
Over the next few years Matt had spells at home town club Hartlepool as well as Bradford, before making a surprise return to Yeovil in 2015 after the Glovers were relegated to League Two. Over the next two seasons he was ever-present, making 94 appearances and scoring eight times. Many of his goals were penalties, but aside from that highlights were probably the goal that kick-started the fightback that would end with an injury-time 4-3 win at Barnet, and the free kicks he scored both home and away in wins over Crewe in the same season, the second of which in April 2017 was his last goal for the club.
Refusing a new contract at the end of 2016/17, Matt signed for fellow League Two side Newport, where he still plays today, making over 200 appearances to date.
Team that day: Artur Krysiak, Liam Shephard (sub. Bevis Mugabi, 54), Ryan Dickson, Matt Butcher, Alex Lacey, Matt Dolan, Alex Lawless, Kevin Dawson, Otis Khan (sub. Tahvon Campbell, 101), Ryan Hedges, Tom Eaves (sub. Omar Sowunmi, 115). Subs not used: Jonny Maddison, Joe Lea
By coincidence, this day 18th August back in 2009 also saw another long range effort for the Glovers, this time Ryan Mason’s spectacular volley against Exeter, when the 18-year old was on loan from Spurs.
Staunton looking forward to Altrincham return
2022-08-18
Yeovil Town skipper, Josh Staunton is looking forward to returning to Altrincham after guiding the side to a 1-0 win there as Caretaker manager at the end of the 2021-22 season.
Speaking exclusively to the Gloverscast’s Ben Barrett after the game against Barnet he said he has fond memories of his one-game stint as Manager
“We go into Saturday with a clean slate, they’ve gone full time if I’m right, they’ll be a different type of outfit to what they were last year.
Obviously we know what they like, in terms of they like playing football, it’ll be a different test at times to tonight (against Barnet) who were quite direct at times.
I do have fond memories there, it’s a stadium which I’ll never forget, I think if you go into a game with a positive mindset and a visualisation of positivity it can only bode well.”
Staunton said he might have to wait for the dust to settle after the defeat to Barnet before reminding the new manager and players about his 100% win rare as a gaffer, but didn’t rule out making a light hearted comment or two as the week’s training went on.
You’ll be able to listen to the game from Altrincham this Saturday with Sheridan Robins and Ben Barrett on BBC Radio Somerset
Young loanees challenged to add goals
2022-08-17
Young midfielders Sam Pearson and Sam Perry have been challenged to add goals to their performances by Yeovil Town manager Chris Hargreaves.
The pair have featured in all three of the Glovers’ National League fixtures this season having joined on loan from Bristol City and Walsall respectively.
Asked about how they stood up to some of the ‘dark arts’ employed by an experienced Barnet midfield in the 2-1 defeat at Huish Park on Tuesday night, the boss told our man Ben Barrett: “They had the bravery to get on the ball and play and they created and looked forward, I can’t speak highly enough of them.
“They need to add goals or a belief they can score. When we are building up our play, they need to have those one or two touches and get the ball quickly out of their feet and get shots on goal, they have to develop that.
“But as far as contribution of effort and moving the ball, they were fantastic.”
Pearson, who is on loan for an initial month from Championship Bristol City, has been a stand out performer having come off the bench in the opening day defeat at Scunthorpe United and then starting the draw with Wrexham and the Barnet defeat.
Perry has started all three games and only not completed the 90 minutes after taking a heavy knock after an hour at Scunthorpe.
Ben also asked Yeovil skipper Josh Staunton for his opinion on the performance of the pair following the Barnet game.
He said: “When you have young lads in their and picking up things. Sam Perry has game time behind him, but for Sam Pearson that is a different type of challenge to what he is used too.
“They will take a lot from games like today and benefit in the long run and it’s important we stay behind them and keep pushing them because the way I see it they are just going to get better and better.“
Five Conclusions: Yeovil Town 1 Barnet 2
2022-08-17
Football can be cruel mistress.
Laurie Walker had a night to remember at Huish Park as the Barnet ‘keeper single handedly kept his side in the game long enough to allow for a couple of late suckerpunches as Barnet took a 2-1 win from Huish Park.
Here’s Ben’s five conclusions, he’s slept on it and it hasn’t really helped.
If that game was played out on Football Manager or FIFA 23, you’d rage quit, without saving your progress, throw the controller at the wall and promise you’d never play the game again ever… until next week.
I cannot truly explain just how dominant Yeovil were for 98% of the game across 98% of the pitch.
Some of the football we played, particularly in and around the midfield was genuinely brilliant. Quick, one-touch, confident football the likes of which we haven’t seen in quite a while.
But… and you knew this was coming.
None of that matters if you don’t put the ball in the onion bag.
I’m not going to have a go at the three chances which led to genuinely brilliant saves from the Barnet ‘keeper, that can happen.
But there were occasions where we’d worked a position but couldn’t convert, Linton fired a shot down the keeper’s throat, Pearson produced a tame effort in the second half when bearing down on the keeper and Fisher did amazingly well to bring a ball down from a free kick only to fire it straight into the waiting arms of the flourescent keeper.
Fine margins, but as the manager spoke about, its time to start being more ruthless… the neanderthalic football fan in me thinks that in some cases that means… just leather the bloody thing.
Sam Pearson is the real deal and needs to stay with us beyond his month.
I think the midfield three of Worthington, Perry and Pearson properly excites me.
Perry was right in this game when I felt he went missing in the game against Scunthorpe, Worthy is a new man, he’s the senior man with a licence to get forward – is this the Worthington Dale Gorman was holding back?
But Pearson has all the attributes to go far in the EFL.
Strong, fearless, attacking, needs to add more nous and experience will help some of his decision making but everything he does is exciting, he battled through an injury and some… agricultural opposition to put on. a very good show.
Now, I’ve mentioned him once, but the it was the Ghost of Christmas Past in Dale Gorman who will be the talking point for many.
Yes, he should have been sent off, yes he could of – and arguably tried to – hurt someone, but I wanted to make a wider point.
The contrast of style of play Gorman and Worthington have shows we are very much in a new era of YTFC.
We are no longer the masters of the dark arts, we are no longer trying to worry more about how we rile up the opposition, or trying to slow and break up the game. That’s moved on… quite literally to Barnet.
We’re a football team now.
I’m not saying either is right or wrong, they can both be equally as effective and both as entertaining to watch.
But this is HargreavesBall starting to take shape. The Poop-house has closed for business at Huish Park.
Now, I’d like to break Rule 1 of the Gloverscast (Rule 1. All refs are rubbish at this level, live with it, don’t moan about it).
But I’m not allowed to tell you it might have been the single most petulant, awful, inconsistent, making the game about himself, loves the sound of his own whistle and gives out more cards than your Grandma at Christmas performance from the worst referee I’ve seen at a Yeovil game in some time…. so I won’t tell you any of that. ?
Instead my final conclusion is this…
Getting the first win is gaining importance quickly.
Not because if we don’t win on Saturday we’re suddenly in a relegation battle, because we’re not – I haven’t even invoked the Green Day clause yet (I’ll judge our position when September ends).
But more because the noise will grow, the same negative voices are already starting to make silly comments, and the best way to shut that up is to win a game, even if we don’t play all that well.
I’m genuinely excited by the football this team is trying to play, when we are heavy in possession 3-5-2 is a real asset of ours and I truly believe we have a squad and team to get behind, but then again, I would, wouldn’t I?
See you at Altrincham
? Photos Courtesy of Mike Kunz unless otherwise stated.
