Matt Worthington (Page 3)

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Midfielder Matt Worthington and goalkeeper Will Buse have both signed two-year contracts with Yeovil Town.

Worthington, 25, has extended his stay at Huish Park which began in January 2019 when he signed permanently with the Glovers from AFC Bournemouth, whilst Buse spent last season on loan from Bristol City.

The Yeovil-born keeper was released by the Championship side earlier this week. Following the departure of last season’s number one, Grant Smith, Buse was widely expected to make the move to his hometown club.

Manager Mark Cooper has spoken of his delight at the two signings which were announced by the club on Wednesday.

On Worthington, he said: “I’m delighted we have persuaded to get Matt to stay with us, especially as there were numerous clubs after him. I think like the existing core group of players, he feels a duty to try to get us back up. Matt possess great athleticism and experience in the attacking midfield area.”

Will Buse. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

On the signing of Buse, the boss added: “Will is a local boy and has the club at heart so I’m really pleased to have him on board. He showed towards the end of the season what a competent and aggressive goalkeeper he can be. We are working towards to seeing him develop as our number one goalkeeper.”

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Matt Worthington has said how pleased he was with the response of the Yeovil side after coming from 1-0 down to salvage a point against fellow strugglers, Aldershot.

After the 1-1 draw he spoke with BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins and starting by comparing the game with the 4-0 defeat to Gateshead on Tuesday.

“We did play much better than Tuesday night, it was excellent, people coming off the bench but it wasn’t enough unfortunately.”

“But we’re still in the fight and hopefully the traveling fans can can see that. We need to take it on to Monday.”

“I thought we had a lot of possession in the final third like you said it’s the history of season, unfortunately we didn’t take our chances in the first half, we didn’t really test keeper enough which is probably the only the only bad thing about about our performance, but we reacted well to going one nil down, it was a very soft goal, it’s pretty inexcusable to allow the biggest player on the pitch to get a free header in their in our box so that was really disappointing but we reacted really well.”

The result still leaves the side adrift at the bottom, five points from safety with five games to go, but Worthy, much like the manager, isn’t throwing in the towel just yet,

“We’ve got a lot of lads in there with a lot of fight especially me, I’ll fight until it’s impossible to that we can’t stay up and I still believe that we have a chance and we want to have that belief and I’ll keep fighting.

“(the goal) was brilliant, like I said we reacted really well (to going 1-0 down) we had a lot of those chances in the first half but, I was just really happy that we got that goal back.” 

“I’ve got a lot of fight and that is for them (the supporters) and the club, this club means a lot to me so it’s yeah it’s it’s hard at the moment but you know we’ll keep on fighting.”

Attention turns to another huge game against Dorking on Easter Monday, a game the side are looking forward to.

“Everyone can be frustrated at times but ultimately it’s we had to stay together without a Unity it’s this point of stuff’s going up the pitch we have high standards in there and a lot of things are said after games but we put it to one side as soon as we get back and we have to roll our seats up and go again Monday.”

“Monday is a big game, I said to the lads you’ve got to enjoy that sort of pressure going to a game you have to win I think today showed that if we perform like that there’s no reason why we can’t win the majority of the games, so we have to keep believing.” 

“The gaffer is brilliant, I have nothing but good things to say about him he’s a great manager for this level and he’s constantly encouraging us, picking us up no matter what sort of criticism he gets he’s given us players a lot of belief and like I said we fight for the gaffer, we fight for the club, the fans, the backroom staff.”

 

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The Football Association’s disciplinary portal has updated to confirm Matt Worthington’s two match ban.

Worthy picked up his 10th yellow card in the (very) latter stages of Saturday’s game against Halifax, a game which represented the ‘cut off’ for such bans.

As it stands he will miss both home games against Bromley (Sat 25th March) and the TV game against Southend on 1st April, his next appearance will likely be the crunch clash away at Gateshead the following Tuesday.

For what it’s worth, now that the 10 yellow card cut off has passed, the next significant booking-based milestone surrounds Jamie Reckord who sits on 12, three more between now and the end of the season would lead to a three-match ban.

 

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Paul Fairclough, England C manager, has named his final 16 for the England C game against their Welsh counterparts next Tuesday and unfortunately, Matt Worthington hasn’t made the cut.

Initially named in the squad last week, Worthy was hoping to make his International debut next week at Altrincham, but with the squad now trimmed to just 11 starting players and the five subs, he will instead have a well earned rest next midweek.

Sorry, Worthy, we still think you’re our Ginger Pirlo…

Full Squad Below
Pic: Non League Paper

 

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Yeovil Town’s goal-scoring hero Matt Worthington has said that Huish Park was “brilliant, like old times” after his second half header secured the Glovers a 1-0 home win over Eastleigh.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the game on Tuesday night, the longest serving member of the squad recognised just how big of a win it was:

“It was brilliant, the bounce in the stadium all night was excellent, back to old times which I can remember being really good, it’s a massive three points for us.

“It’s been difficult in recent weeks for us, to get that win really takes the pressure off us.

“The gaffer spoke to us before the game and said that attacking this end (away end), we need to be better, and believe in ourselves and enjoy it, we did brilliantly in that half and this half, and it’s always nice to attack the home fans in the second half, it was brilliant.”

Manager Mark Cooper mentioned it was an all-round team performance with plenty of credit due to both the defence for yet another ‘cleano’ as well as a dynamic midfield performance, something Worthington backed up.

“They’re (Stevens and JM-D) are two attacking players, two great players who will do very well for the club and I think it’s an all round great performance from everyone. We’ve given away too many easy chances recently, so we wanted to shore things up at the back and I thought the lads at the back were brilliant, like they have been all season”

A great leap (definitely not a push, ref!) by Matt Worthington for the opener.

As for the winning goal itself, a header at the far post was all it took to separate the sides,

‘I haven’t scored too many headers, it was a great cross and I rose first and luckily it went in the back of the net, it was nice to celebrate in front of the Thatchers end, 

“The gaffer said at half-time that someone needed to step up and put the ball in the back of the net, I’m just thankful it was me today, 

“I think we should have scored more, if I was going to be harsh, I think we should have put a few more past the keeper and tested him a bit more, but we will take three points however it comes.”

The full time scenes at Huish Park a joyful release of emotion as the pressure lifted after a run of poor form and the win that marks the start of the Uggla-Sackey era…

“It feels brilliant, it’s back to old times and long may it continue.”, we couldn’t have said it better ourselves, Matty!

 

 

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Yeovil Town midfielder Matt Worthington has been named in the provisional England C squad which will take on Wales later this month.

The 25-year-old is included in the 25-man squad managed by national team manager Paul Fairclough which is expected to be cut down to a final 16-man squad after next weekend’s National League fixtures.

The fourth International Challenge Match with Wales takes place at Altrincham’s J.Davidson Stadium on Tuesday, March 21 (7.45pm kick-off).

Tickets are priced at £7 for adults and £2 for under-18s and available to buy on the Altrincham website – here.

Squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Sam Howes (Wealdstone), Magnus Norman (Oldham Athletic), Harrison Male (Worthing).

Defenders: Tyler Cordner (Aldershot Town), Vince Harper (Eastleigh), Harry Phipps (Dagenham & Redbridge), Kenton Richardson (Gateshead), Dan Gallagher (Dorking Wanderers), Jesse Debrah (FC Halifax Town).

Midfielders: John Lundstram (Altrincham), Darren Oldaker (Chesterfield), James Daly (Woking), Ryan de Havilland (Barnet), Regan Booty (Maidstone United), Matt Worthington (Yeovil Town), Gus Scott-Moriss (Southend United), Olly Dyson (York City).

Strikers: Dennon Lewis (Boreham Wood), Cameron Wilson (Scunthorpe United), Sam Dalby (Wrexham), Emile Acquah (Maidenhead United), Joe Sbarra (Solihull Moors), Macauley Langstaff (Notts County), Aaron Jarvis (Torquay United).

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Goalscorer Matt Worthington is aiming to continue his rich vein of scoring form after netting his third in five games to seal a 2-0 win at Dagenham & Redbridge at the weekend.

The Yeovil Town midfielder found the net just once last season and drew a blank in the 2020-21 campaign but has been playing in a more advanced position since the arrival of Mark Cooper as manager.

It was his forward run which won the penalty after half-an-hour which was put away by Jordan Maguire-Drew to give the Glovers the lead in Essex.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the match, Worthington said: “(Scoring goals) is something that I wanted to add to my game, especially this season.

“I need to get more goals, especially in the position I’m playing – an advanced role in midfield- the gaffer has given me licence to get forward and long may it continue.”

Matt Worthington. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Worthington was part of a three-man midfield alongside Charlie Cooper and loanee Jack Clarke who were handed their first starts and impressed in the first half, linking up well with the front three of Jordan Young, Andrew Oluwabori and Maguire-Drew.

He added: “I think they’re (the new additions) brilliant, with Coops at the bottom of the three, we were solid in the first half, we felt more secure, it allowed me and Clarkey to push forward. It was a good performance.

“Second half, they were definitely throwing bodies forward and it was just nice to get that second goal and secure the 3 points.

“Paul McCallum (who came on for Dagenham at the start of the second half) is a good player, he’s effective, when we came out I said to the lads that they’d be looking to hit him, he’s effective, he gets the flicks on so we need to track the runners.

“I think the defence were brilliant, they dealt with all the threats all game. Morgs was brilliant, Bevs, Staunts and Recks were brilliant all game.“

The win keeps Yeovil five points off the National League’s relegation places, and nine points adrift of Dagenham who still occupy the final play-off place – and the win must have lifted Worthy who used ‘the p word’ quite explicitly.

He said: “I didn’t realise we had not won away this season until a couple of weeks ago and obviously it’s something we have to change, we have to win away if we want to get up to the play-off spots.

“That pressure now is off us that we’ve won our away game and hopefully we can take it into the next couple of games.“

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Matt Worthington has said he is comfortable with switching positions under Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper having played a wing-back in the 2-0 home win over Torquay United on New Year’s Day.

The 25-year-old is perhaps better known as an industrious midfielder but has found himself playing in a more forward role and now at wing-back under the new boss.

Speaking after the game to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins, he said: “Under this Gaffer you need to be versatile and play wherever he needs you to play, today it was right wing-back but as long as I am on the pitch, I don’t mind where I am playing.”

Worthington popped up with the opening goal in the 81st minute at Huish Park following a tough afternoon against a Torquay side who were desperate for points to improve their own league position.

Worthy added: “Playing at wing back is is a real adjustment, the first half was a bit difficult to get my legs going and it is a tough role getting up and down.

“But I knew that come the second half I would be much fitter than the person I was up against, but I am happy to get in the box and get the goal.”

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The Football Association has confirmed that Glovers’ midfielder Matt Worthington will serve a one-match ban following his red card on Saturday.

Worthington was booked twice, with the second caution being given for simulation as Yeovil searched for a second goal.

After the match, Josh Staunton said he didn’t think Worthington was the sort of player to dive, whilst Halifax manager Chris Millington also questioned the officiating, telling the Halifax Courier;

“It’s interesting when a referee’s getting booed off by a team who are desperate for wins and they’ve just had a 1-0 from a penalty he’s given, so it shows what a poor game he’s had.

“I didn’t see the penalty clear enough but the lads tell me it was never a pen.

“And their lad getting sent-off, from what I could see, looked like a strange decision”

Post match, Worthington – who also scored the only goal of the game – tweeted:

Worthington will miss next Saturday’s game against Bromley but be available again for the home game against Scunthorpe.

The FA has also confirmed that manager Mark Cooper was also the recipient of a Yellow Card, which means both he and his predecessor Chris Hargreaves have found their way into the referee’s note book.

For the record, full-back Jamie Reckord is only one yellow card away from a two-match suspension, he picked up his ninth booking of the season in the win over the Shaymen, whilst defender Ben Richards-Everton and playmaker Lawson D’Ath are one yellow card away from a one-game ban. D’Ath has been an unused substitute in the past two matches.

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Yeovil Town midfielder Matt Worthington is enjoying playing in a more advanced position under new manager Mark Cooper.

The 24-year-old impressed playing a role supporting the attack in last weekend’s 3-1 home win over bottom club Gateshead and is hoping to carry on this form when the Glovers travel to top-of-the-table Notts County on Saturday.

Speaking before the game, he said: “Being higher up the pitch suits my attributes, I can press from the position higher up the pitch, win the ball back and I want to start adding goals and assists to my game, so being in that position will help.”

Cooper was again full of praise for the former AFC Bournemouth youngster and suggested he expects him to continue in the new role in the coming weeks.

The manager said: “Matt has tremendous athletic attributes, so we need him to run through the middle of the pitch and create opportunities which he did on Saturday.

“I don’t want him sitting back and not being able to use his athleticism, so it makes sense for us to let him off the leash and let him run.”

Matt Worthington. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Worthington spent half-a-season on loan at Forest Green Rovers working under Cooper in 2018 and said the new manager had given the squad an opportunity to show what they are about since his arrival at Huish Park.

He said: “He’s given everyone a chance to show themselves, it’s a clean slate for everyone. He’s made a big difference in terms of the style he wants to play, eventually he wants to have us playing good, attacking football.

“But, as he has said, that takes time. We need to get back to basics, get points on the board and however we do that, that’s what we need to do.

“From the first day he came in he said the big problem was confidence, he had watched a few games before he took over as manager and he could see that, everyone could see that.

“We needed to strip back to basics and I said before last weekend that the goals would come, and they did.

“When he came in I was excited and over the past couple of games you can see what he has worked with us on – it’s keeping the ball, high intensity and getting after people.”

Worthington spoke about the club’s difficult start to the season which led to the dismissal of Chris Hargreaves, who was only appointed manager in the summer.

He said: “It was hard. For me personally, I struggled with going home and annoying the missus quite a lot by being in a bad mood, Yeovil is a small place and when we are not winning games it seems like the whole town is on a down.

“We have a good group and a good captain in Staunts (Josh Staunton) and we have multiple conversations with just the players to say this is what we need to do.

“We needed to stick together, stick to the game plan and if we kept trying to make chances, things will change and hopefully things have changed now.”