Taunton Town (Page 3)

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Yeovil Town midfielder Matt Worthington says his side need to ‘up their game’ in the replay against Taunton on Tuesday after the Glovers were held to a 0-0 draw in the FA Cup.

Matt Worthington. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the stalemate, he used a word we’ve banned on the Gloverscast, so we’ve used some asterisks…

“A replay on Tuesday is not ideal, I don’t think we hurt them enough today, it was difficult at times as they put a lot of bodies behind the ball and we had a lot of possession, we needed to open them up a bit more and drag them out a try to hurt them which we didn’t do.

“We’re very fr*str*t*d, but we can go and win the game on Tuesday.

“We started slow in the first 20 minutes… they had a couple of chances but we improved in the second bit of the first half, we had a lot of ball and I feel we should have capitalised, so yeah, very fr*str*t*d.”

“Us midfielders were getting the ball deep and us midfielders were struggling to break them down, but yeah… fr*str*t*ng”

Thankfully, that was the last of Matt’s use of ‘that’ word. He gave Taunton some credit, but admitted that the replay would require more from the squad.

“Fair play to them, they had a game plan of staying in the game as long as they could putting bodies behind the ball trying to make it as hard as possible for us as they could and they did that, so credit to them.

But we need to be better opening them up and scoring goals.”

“We need to up our game on Tuesday, 100%, it’s going to be a difficult game again at their place so, we need to be on it.”

Worthington said that he hoped the fitness of the Glovers would help with the quick turnaround and said how much he was enjoying playing with ‘freedom’ in this Chris Hargreaves side.

The Glovers will find out their potential first round opposition on Monday evening before heading across the county on Tuesday evening for the replay.

 

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Venue: Huish Park
Saturday October 15th, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Dry but blustery wind
Pitch: Heavily watered, but held up okay

Attendance: 3,093 (964 away supporters)

Scorers: None

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town:  None
Taunton Town: Lee Lucas 78, Zac Smith 80

Referee: Daniel Middleton

 

Yeovil Town : (3-5-2)

Grant Smith

Owen Bevan  Josh Staunton Ben Richards-Everton

                                 Morgan Williams                                                          Chiori Johnson

Sam Pearson Sam Perry Matt Worthington

Charlie Wakefield (for Jake Scrimshaw, 79) Malachi Linton (for Alex Fisher, 61)

Substitutes: Will Buse, Max Hunt, Callum Rowe, Ollie Haste, Will Dawes.

Taunton Town: Bycroft, Foulston, Grimes, Ball, Chamberlain, James, Jarvis, McCootie (for Guest, 87), Stearn (for Morgan, 66), Smith, Lucas (for Budd, 87). Substitutes: Warwick, Staley, Sims-Burgess, Staley. 

 

Match Report

Yeovil Town face an FA Cup replay at Somerset rivals Taunton Town on Tuesday night after being held to a stalemate at Huish Park.

The National League South side, who sit 17th in their division as the Glovers do one tier higher up the pyramid, dominated the opening 45 minutes but could not turn their dominance in to a goal.

In the second half, the Glovers at least created a couple of opportunities to test the visiting keeper with Matt Worthington and Charlie Wakefield both going close.

But, the final whistle was met by boos from the Yeovil Town supporters in the biggest crowd of the season at Huish Park and raucous celebrations from the visiting supporters who will welcome their Somerset rivals to Wordsworth Drive in 72 hours time.

First half

It was the visitors who started the stronger with Nat Jarvis heading a Lloyd James free-kick over after just five minutes, but on 16 minutes Taunton’s best chance fell to Ross Stearn. The midfielder was found five yards by  Jarvis’ nod down from an Ollie Chamberlain cross, but inexplicably his effort came off the post and away.

Grant Smith turns a shot over the bar. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

The Peacocks’ bright start was exacerbated by a sluggish one from Yeovil as they grew in to the game a little with Sam Pearson’s ball almost finding Morgan Williams. Not quite though.

Chamberlain’s effort forced a stop out of Grant Smith on 27 minutes, turning the half-volley over the bar and a goal would have been nothing more than the National League South side, separated by 24 league places from the Glovers, deserved having dominated the first half to this point.

As so often has been the case this season, on loan Bristol City winger Sam Pearson was the catalyst for Yeovil’s best chance on 34 minutes when his cross was headed over by captain Josh Staunton, and four minutes later fellow loanee Sam Perry had a great opportunity having been found by a ball from Charlie Wakefield.

But, half chances were as good as it got for the home side whilst Taunton will have gone in the more frustrated to be goalless at the half-time interval.

Half time:  Yeovil Town 0 Taunton Town 0

Second half

Yeovil came out for the second half stronger than the finished the first half and carved out their first meaningful chance when Williams beat his marker to get on to a pass from Matt Worthington to force visiting keeper Jack Bycroft in to action.

Sam Perry had a shot blocked on 52 minutes after impressive play by Pearson and two minutes later a speculative effort by Wakefield tried to catch Bycroft off his lead – speculatively, it is fair to say.

Chiori Johnson tussles for a ball. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

In the middle of the park, there was more impetus from Worthington and just before the hour mark his strike took a deflection and went just wide.

Stearn had another good opportunity on 63 minutes which was palmed wide by Grant Smith who needed Williams to clear for a corner with Zac Smith closing in.

With the wind in their favour in the second half, the visitors had a string of corners which Yeovil had to defend before Wakefield, still looking to get off the mark having had a prolific Cup campaign last season, had a gilt-edged chance. On 67 minutes, Pearson found him within six yards but the frontman’s effort went tamely wide.

Taunton striker Jarvis had a great opportunity with 78 minutes on the clock, but a combination of Ben Richards-Everton and Smith were enough to deny him. Another good opportunity for the visitors.

Worthington headed over with seven minutes remaining and Williams put a tame header wide as the game crept in to injury time.

But, the game finished goalless, deservedly for the visitors who were more than good enough to deserve a replay at Wordsworth Drive on Tuesday night.

The result was a repeat of the last time the two sides met in a competitive fixture back in September 1996 – with a goalless draw at Huish Park followed by a 5-3 win in the county town in that second qualifying round tie.

Full time:  Yeovil Town 0 Taunton Town 0

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Yeovil Town have made just one change with Morgan Williams replacing Lawson D’Ath as they prepare to take on Taunton Town in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round this afternoon (3pm).

Boss Chris Hargreaves spoke before the match about taking precautions with D’Ath who was replaced by Williams early in the second half of last weekend’s 1-0 home win over Solihull Moors.

That switch saw Williams go to right wing-back in place of Sam Pearson who moved further forward in to midfield, so we’re guessing that is how the Glovers will set-up today.

On the bench, Callum Rowe is back a month after he was ruled out for six weeks for his third appearance in the Glovers’ squad and his first since the goalless draw at Wealdstone on August Bank Holiday Monday.

Goalkeeper Will Buse, who spent last season on loan at Taunton, is also on the bench.

Speak to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins ahead of the match, Hargreaves said: “Lawson was very sore after the last game and I had to bring him off to stop him doing further damage on an Achilles’ problem, so he’s definitely there in spirit and has been working his socks off to get himself fit.

“It would be good to see some of the other lads in the squad, but I have to stay strong and consistent because those lads (who are starting) have put in a real shift in recent weeks.”

Yeovil Town : (3-4-3)

Grant Smith

Owen Bevan  Josh Staunton Ben Richards-Everton

                                 Morgan Williams                                                          Chiori Johnson

Sam Pearson Sam Perry Matt Worthington

Charlie Wakefield Malachi Linton

Substitutes: Will Buse, Max Hunt, Callum Rowe, Ollie Haste, Will Dawes,  Jake Scrimshaw, Alex Fisher.

Taunton Town: Bycroft, Foulston, Grimes, Ball, Chamberlain, James, Jarvis, McCootie, Stearn, Smith, Lucas. Substitutes: Budd, Guest, Warwick, Staley, Sims-Burgess, Staley, Morgan.

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Chris Hargreaves has suggested there will be “a few tweaks” to his starting line-up as Yeovil Town start their FA Cup campaign this weekend.

The Glovers’ boss will get seven substitutes to select for the Somerset derby with Taunton Town at Huish Park which will give him the chance to give a few opportunities to those who have not made the squad.

The likes of striker Jake Scrimshaw and on-loan goalkeeper Will Buse, who are both yet to start a game for the club, and young defender Ollie Haste, recently returned from a successful spell at Truro City, will be hoping to get a chance to shine.

Chris Hargreaves. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Asked by BBC Somerset reporter Sheridan Robins, the manager said: “It’s difficult picking the bench because you see a lot of players working their socks off in training.

“Seven substitutes gives a couple of players an opportunity to get on the pitch and show what they are all about.”

He added: “We have to show consistency. There might be a few tweaks, but consistent teams are usually successful. It’s all about players knowing their jobs and playing week in and week out.”

The manager was asked specifically about Buse, who was part of the Taunton side which won promotion to National League South last season, who is yet to feature since joining on loan from Bristol City in the summer.

He added: “It might seem like he hasn’t been close, but it’s like that as a keeper, it’s not like the outfield positions where there’s rotation.

“With a keeper you will sometimes have long periods where you are not in the squad, but he can’t do any more in training, he has a fantastic attitude and has been brilliant with the players and the staff.”

Hargreaves added he still had to speak to managers from parent clubs about whether they will allow players to feature and be Cup-tied.

As well as Buse, the Glovers’ boss has defender Owen Bevan (AFC Bournemouth), midfielders Sam Perry (Walsall) and Finley Craske (Plymouth Argyle) and forward Sam Pearson (Bristol City) on loan.

Injury victims left wing-back Jamie Reckord and playmaker Lawson D’Ath will both be “touch and go” for the weekend.

Reckord has not featured in the club’s past two matches whilst D’Ath limped off of last weekend’s 1-0 home win over Solihull Moors after 54 minutes.

The boss said he believed that any money raised by the club’s progress through the FA Cup would be able to be reinvested in the playing staff.

However, he pointed out the importance of the incoming citing the examples of rugby union sides Worcester Warriors and Wasps, who have been wound up and placed in to administration respectively after running in to major financial issues.

The winners of the weekend’s tie will receive £9,375 in prize money with the losers picking up £3,125, but reaching the competition’s third round will bring in more than £100,000 in prize money.

Hargreaves said: “There’s no doubt that the money will come back to the playing squad if it’s right at that point and the management of the club’s (finances) is vital.

“I know I am talking about rugby now, but you look at Worcester and Wasps, these are massive clubs which are going under.

“If that money at that time is used for the club to survive on a day to day basis, that is what it should be used for, but if there’s a surplus and that money can be spent on players that is brilliant.

“I am conscious that in football we need to make sure we are sustainable and we are trying to create that model here whilst being hugely competitive.”

Hargreaves revealed he had recently missed out on bringing in players ahead of last weekend’s 1-0 home win over Solihull Moors and again this week.

He said he had no ambitions of having “a huge squad” but said he was “one or two injuries” away from needing to add to his ranks.

Gime Toure. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

The manager said: “We are trying to look at quality. So if you are bringing in players they have to be as good as our current players or better, otherwise you are just making up the numbers.

“The balance is fine between having strength in depth and selection headaches. At the moment we are okay, but we are probably one or two injuries away from needing back up.

“We lost out on two before last weekend and this weekend, who were needed to stay in and around their own squads either playing or being on the bench.

“They were to come and strengthen our squad and anyone who comes here has to fight for their place in training.”

Forward Gime Toure serves the final match of his three-game suspension for a red card at Southend United at the weekend whilst Matt Worthington will be missing for next weekend’s visit to Oldham Athletic after picking up five yellow cards in National League action.

With bookings being competition specific, the midfielder is available to face Taunton this weekend.

Of Worthington, Hargreaves said: “If you are an on the edge player, you are going to run the risk of getting booked, so I have some sympathy but discipline has to be a key factor.

“He will be loss because he wears his heart of his sleeve but it gives someone an opportunity for someone else to show.”

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Yeovil Town have been drawn at home to Taunton Town again!

This time in the Somerset FA Men’s Premier Cup as Yeovil begin the defence of their trophy.

The Peacocks are aready due to visit Huish Park in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round next weekend and no doubt we will probably draw them in the FA Trophy too.

The National League South side beat Bath-based Odd Down 7-0 in the first round of the competition, the Glovers got a bye through to the second round.

Ties will he played week commencing 7th November.

The full draw is below.

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The Screwfix Stand at Huish Park will not be open to home supporters for the Somerset derby against Taunton Town next weekend, the club has confirmed.

Announcing ticketing arrangements, the club said that it will only be opening the Main Stand and Thatcher’s Gold Stand for the fourth qualifying round tie and would not be able to guarantee season ticket holders their nornmal seats.

The club said: “For this fixture, we will only be opening the Hellier Group Main Stand & the Thatcher’s Gold Stand. Home fans will be seated in Hellier Group Main Stand blocks B – GG and standing on Terrace.

“As the full stadium wont be open, we unfortunately wont be able to reserve season ticket spaces for this particular cup fixture. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Slightly confusingly, the club’s ticketing portal highlights that away fans can buy a ticket in the Screwfix Stand, but instead will be seated in the Main Stand, Block AA-B.

Speaking about the tie on Thursday, Yeovil manager Chris Hargreaves said he expected there to be a large following from the Peacocks who sit mid-table in 14th place in the National League South with ten games gone.

He said: “It’s a brilliant draw for the fans. I am guessing Taunton will bring 1,200 or 1,500 fans which would be excellent. Our supporters will look forward to and its great for the area.“

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Yeovil Town manager Chris Hargreaves is hoping to have more players in before the first home pre-season friendly against Exeter City at the weekend.

Speaking after the 0-0 draw at National League South newcomers Taunton Town on Tuesday night, the boss said he hoped to have “a couple of bodies” in by the time the League One new boys arrive at Huish Park.

Chris Hargreaves talks to the club’s YouTube channel.

He also revealed that some of the trialists who featured in the game in the county town last night could return for that fixture, and that he is looking to get midfielder Lawson D’Ath and forwards Charlie Wakefield and Ollie Hulbert back after they missed the first friendly through injury.

The manager said: “I have so much admiration for the way Exeter do their business, the way they recruit and coached, so it will be another really good test.

“I am hoping to have another couple of bodies in the building before that game and hopefully some injuries back.”

Full-back Chiori Johnson, released by Torquay United at the end of last season, played most of the game at Wordsworth Drive with a midfielder, believed to be former AFC Telford man Dominic McHale, playing the first half before being replaced by Bristol-born striker Scott Wilson, who had a brief spell at Aldershot Town last season.

There were a large number of other trialists who took to the pitch in the second half as Hargreaves rang the changes – but we’re not certain on their identities.

Dominic McHale…..probably. Picture courtesy of Will Jones.

On the trialists, the manager added: “It’s so difficult for these lads, they are giving everything for a short amount of time and we’ve got to make quick decisions.

“I think a couple showed glimpses of what they can do and one or two will be invited back because we have got to build this squad and we need to unearth some gems and this is the way to do it in pre-season.”

Hargreaves described the injuries to D’Ath, Wakefield and Hulbert was “not long-term worries” but said he left them out of the fixture as a precaution.

The game ended goalless with Tom Knowles seeing a second half penalty saved by Taunton keeper Will Buse, who is born and lives in Yeovil.

On the match, the manager said: “It was a good test. They are in the league below us now, they have a lot of ex-pros, a lot of lads released from pro clubs.

“First half I think we probably rushed things and then in the second half we had a lot more chances, especially when they tired.

“We had the penalty, but we’ve also hit the post, the keeper has made a really good save and on another day we might have got a couple of goals. I was just pleased with the resilience and organisation when needed.

“The injuries to Lawson D’Ath, Charlie Wakefield and Ollie Hulbert at the moment, so we had to change things a bit and that meant (new signing striker) Malachi (Linton) was a bit isolated at times.

“But pre-season is the time to try things and see what these boys are good at and what they need help with and I also have to manage minutes.

“I don’t want to kill them early on, so I made a lot of changes in the second half and we had a team of trialists and young players, but they still understand their roles and responsibilities.”

Another new signing, midfielder Sam Perry, was put straight in the side following his arrival on a season-long loan from League Two Walsall on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old played played the first hour on a hot night in Somerset and Hargreaves said he saw enough to make him believe he will be a good addition.

He said: “He’s got the right mentality, he’s played League Two football and has the bit between his teeth.

“We saw glimpses of it, he understands the game and he knows when to play and when to dictate the tempo and when to go a bit longer.

“He’s a young lad with a lot to learn, but he’s a really good character and one the lads I am sure will enjoy being around.”

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Venue: Wordsworth Drive
Tuesday July 12th, 7.45pm kick-off

Conditions: Summer’s evening – sticky, but clear
Pitch: Dry and slope-y (if that is a word)

Attendance: 723

Scorers: None

Referee: Craig Scriven


Yeovil Town : (5-4-1)

Grant Smith (for Max Evans, 82)

Chiori Johnson (Trialist) (for Toby Stephens, 82), Max Hunt (for Trialist 75), Josh Staunton (for Trialist, 59), Morgan Williams (for Haste, 75), Jamie Reckord (for Trialist, 80)

Dominic (Trialist) (for Scott Wilson – Trialist, 47), Sam Perry (for Trialist, 59), Matt Worthington (for Trialist, 59), Tom Knowles (for Trialist, 59)

Malachi Linton (for Trialist, 65)

Substitutes (not used):  Benjani Junior

Taunton Town: Will Buse, Will Tunnicliff, Nick Grimes, Jake Wannell, Dan Ball, Lloyd James, Joe Guest, Zac Smith, Ross Stearn, Dave Sims-Burgess, Nat Jarvis.

Substitutes (not used): Lee Lucas, Ollie Chamberlain, Nick McCootie, Jared Lewington, Ioan Richards, Jay Foulston, Joe Budd, Harry Warwick, Ross Staley, Dylan Morgan, Lloyd Irish

 

Match Report

A saved Tom Knowles penalty was the most dramatic moment of Yeovil Town’s opening pre-season friendly which ended in a goalless draw at Taunton Town on Tuesday night.

The Glovers’ forward won the spot kick on 53 minutes and stepped up to see his effort turned aside by Taunton goalkeeper, Will Buse, who lives a stone’s throw from Huish Park and whose brother, Matt, was among the trialists on the bench for Yeovil.

As is the tradition, there were a host of trialists on show for the visitors with two in the starting line-up with a “a number” of others on the substitutes’ bench – to quote the club’s social media accounts directly.

One starting at right-back identified as Chiori Johnson, released by Torquay United at the end of last season, and the other (we think) Dominic McHale, who was last at National League North, AFC Telford, on the opposite wing to Tom Knowles with new signing Malachi Linton through the middle on his own.

By the end of the match the entire starting XI had been replaced with the only recognisable faces coming off the bench being goalkeeper Max Evans, and midfielders Ollie Haste and Toby Stephens – all the others were trialists.

Former Glovers’ youngster Matt Buse, who ended last season at W*ymouth (someone’s got to do it, Matt!) and formerly turned out for Taunton, was among those on the bench alongside quite a number of others who may very well not be about for the next friendly against Exeter City at Huish Park on Saturday.

Here’s how our very own Ian saw it from his vantage point in the county town…..

 

First half

As both sides tried to gain a foothold in the game neither was particularly able to take control. The Glovers had early half chances through long distance efforts.

Taunton had themselves a half chance 18 minutes in with a headed effort that looped comfortably wide of Grant Smith’s goal.

Dominic McHale…..probably. Picture courtesy of Will Jones.

One of the trialists, Dominic McHale (we’re pretty sure), had a chance to make a good first impression with a free kick in a decent area but his effort was comfortably saved by Will Buse, in the hosts’ goal.

Taunton came close to opening the scoring half an hour in with a low effort that trickled wide of Smith’s post after their striker  got the better of Josh Staunton.

The Peacocks grew into the game as the first half wore on, spending a lot of time on the front foot and putting dangerous crosses into the Yeovil box. The Glovers conceded some needless free kicks, inviting the pressure and a combination of defenders kept another effort out of Smith’s goal.

Max Hunt was denied a 35th minute opener through a fantastic save from Buse in the Taunton goal. Hunt rose highest in the box and his powerful header was low into the ground which was somehow kept out.

Yeovil had a good effort as the first half drew to a close with a trialist Chiori Johnson beat Buse to the ball and put it across the box in front of goal. Taunton dealt with the immediate danger but it fell to Knowles who drove his strike over the bar.

 Half time: Taunton Town 0 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

Scott Wilson, a striker who came on at the start of the second half.

Yeovil swapped one trialist, McHale (pretty certain) for another, Scott Wilson, a Bristol-born forward who had a spell at Aldershot Town last season,  at the break, with the replacement partnering Malachi Linton up front.

Both sides returned from the break with intent and Taunton tested Smith early on.

Hunt hit the post in the 53rd minute with another towering header and as Yeovil peppered the Taunton goal in the ensuing goal mouth scramble the ball fell to Knowles who darted into the box and went down under a challenge to win a penalty.

Knowles stepped up to take the resultant spot kick but his shot was saved by Buse who got down low to his right to keep the score level.

On 59 minutes, four trialists replaced Worthington, Staunton, Knowles and Perry.

Taunton came back up the other end and earned a free kick in a dangerous area which flew wide of the goal.

Midway through the second half both sides made the obligatory preseason friendly changes with five, including Matt Buse, joining the action.

The changes took all the momentum from the game as both sides adjusted to their new personnel, with neither particularly finding a rhythm.

Yeovil had a chance to take the lead five minutes from time after Buse threaded a precise ball to a trialist striker, Lloyd Irish in the Taunton goal charged him down and prevented a late opener.

The Glovers continued to press and the play opened up nicely on the edge of the box for Buse whose curled effort took a deflection on its way towards go to out for a corner.

So, in summary, no goals, loads of trialists most of whom probably won’t be here come the next match, and it was bloody hot.

Full time: Taunton Town 0 Yeovil Town 0

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Glovers Trialist vs Taunton

Yeovil Town are back in pre-season action this Tuesday facing local side Taunton Town.

The Glovers are lining up in a slightly different formation than the one used againt Forest Green Rovers at the weekend – employing a 4-4-1-1 set up with Lewis Simper starting in the role just behind Reuben Reid the sole front man.

There’s a little rotation to the side as other members of the side build up match fitness and notably, just one trialist – a new one as well.

Early reports are that former Wolves and Bradford winger Zeli Ismail is the number 16 hoping to impress – starting the game on the wide left hand side of a midfield four – although this has yet to be confirmed (picture attached – what do you think?)

The full side is below – none of the other trialists we have seen in the other friendlies have been listed as in the squad, suggesting Deshane Dalling, Harlain Mbayo and Jack Bodenham have not been given any futher opportunities to impress.

One new name on the bench is that of attacking midfielder Ollie Haste, a Glovers academy product who has signed a scholarship from Bideford Blues Youth Side as a junior.

A name that some Glovers fans may recognise in the Taunton side is that of former Youth Team ‘keeper Lloyd Irish, a mainstay of the Under 18s set up throughout 2008 and 2009 he did make the first team bench on a couple of occasions in the FA Cup.