The FA have confirmed that Polish striker Bartosz Tarachulski will be suspended for Yeovil's trip to fifth placed Macclesfield Town on Saturday. Bartosz has been suspended for picking up his fifth booking against Charlton Athletic on Saturday and will miss one game.
The FA have also clarified the suspension of Dale Williams for his red card against Everton in the FA Youth Cup, and if the exact wording is to be believed, Dale will unfortunately miss TWO matches and not one as first thought. The wording on the FA's website states that Williams will be "Suspended from NON FIRST TEAM football until the Club have completed 1 YOUTH TEAM match for a Sending Off in a match played on 19/01/2005. Start date: 02/02/2005".
If this wording is to be interpreted correctly, then it means that Dale will not only miss Wednesday's Reserve Team fixture against Cardiff City but will also not play in the Youth Team's final league match of the season against Swindon Town on Saturday. The ridiculous nature of the suspension means that should the Swindon game get postponed, then Dale would continue to be suspended from all Reserve fixtures until the Youth game got rearranged - rough justice for what was a harsh refereeing decision! The FA certainly need to re-review their policy here.
Speaking to the Yeovil Town Official Site Yeovil Town manager Gary Johnson has expressed his thanks to the club's fans for the level and quality of their support at The Valley.
I'd like to personally thank every supporter that gave their all at Charlton on Saturday.
The effort and support they put in over that 90 minutes was unbelievable and the boys were enormously encouraged, and hopefully put on a performance that you as supporters of Yeovil Town Football Club can be proud of.
I was certainly proud of their achievements in the game and judging by the comments I have received since the match our club is being seen as a very progressive football club and that's a credit to everybody connected with it.
The game itself didn't quite go our way and the boys were a bit depressed in the dressing room. I tried to pick them up after the match by telling we were all proud of them and what a fantastic display they had put on at a Premiership ground where incidentally, only Arsenal and Chelsea have scored more goals than us.
So if they can now carry that belief into the remaining League matches then the Charlton game will have been a great spur to us for the remainder of the season.
There were a couple of "if only's" but they happen all the time in football. We must just try and reflect on being a part of a great football match.
At this point in the season with the boys doing so well, you may hear rumours. Some of them may be true, some of them may not and some may be half true. We've had this conversation before but please trust me that whilst I may not be able to explain things the moment they occur, I'm sure you know me well enough to know that all will become clear in time.
Of course the very best news that Yeovil fans could hear in the coming month would be that of Sir Gary signing a new contract.
AC: I think we were playing a side that was full of confidence and at the top of their game - and I'm talking about Yeovil - who came here today and enjoyed themselves immensely. I think that getting themselves back in the game just before half time set it all up. But we had a bit of a scare there near the end. I am really disappointed that it got that far, but great credit to Yeovil. I think they came here and I think they showed everybody here today that they can play.
Qu: You knew beforehand that they were a decent side and they are sitting at the top of League Two. But did the level of their performance exceed your expectations?
AC: No, because obviously we'd had them watched and we got a couple of tapes of them and we knew exactly what was going to happen. But you can prepare your players as much as you can but there is a little bit of that unexpected. One or two of them caught us by surprise and certainly I've got a couple of players that are going to have a look again at their first goal because he (Kevin Gall) definitely took them by surprise. He's gone past so many players and too many players for my liking. But it was a great goal for them and it was game on in the second half.
Qu: What were your thoughts at half time because it was 1-1, they'd just equalised and they'd hit the post as well.
AC: Well I was disappointed that we didn't close the half out to get in at 1-0 up and I ripped into them at half time. To be fair they responded and it was a great second goal for us and we got stronger. But then I think we took our foot off the pedal at 3-1 and you can't do that. I think that Yeovil enjoyed another 15 minute spell and it was another poor goal from our side of things and as I've said we had it all to do in the last 15 minutes.
Qu: We usually get an idea from you as to how things are going with you and Charlton as to where you are watching the match from. Sometimes you are upstairs when you are a bit more relaxed and sometimes downstairs when things need sorting out. You were up and down once or twice today!
AC: Like a yo-yo! We wanted to win today and it is just as important to us as a Premiership game. We prepared like that, but we've had too many exits at the hands of teams below us in the league and we were desperate to win. That probably showed in the end, where we had a bit of panic stations for us. But we got through and that's the most important thing. Now we've just got to look forward to the draw and I hope it is a favourable one, and we will start thinking about Liverpool.
Qu: You're into the fifth round. Are you happy or primarily relieved after a game like that?
AC: Well to be honest I think that with Rochdale at home and now Yeovil at home, I am certainly relieved. We've had too many exits before, but now we are through let's just see who we get. I have always maintained that a Premiership side is going to win the FA Cup so why not us?
Kevin Gall is one of the five nominees in the Football Association's Player Of The Round for his Fourth Round performance against Premiership Charlton Athletic.
The nominations are made by a media panel of Mark Clemmit (BBC Five Live), Ricky George (Daily Telegraph), Stuart Robertson (The Independent) and Non League Paper editor David Watters.
Of Gall the nomination says : ".....the right-sided attacking midfielder whose tireless running starred in League Two leaders Yeovil's narrow 3 - 2 defeat against Premiership side Charlton, earning rave reviews from fans and football commentators alike."
The player who secures the most votes will be crowned F.A. Cup 'Player of the Round' and will win £1,000 worth of UMBRO football kit and equipment for a local school, club or organisation of his choice, plus an engraved silver salver. The successful player will join Bishop's Cleeve FC's Kevin Slack, AFC Wimbledon's Rob Ursell, Bath City's Scott Partridge, Halifax Town's Craig Midgley, Slough Town's Alex Haddow and the Exeter City pair of Dean Moxey and Paul Jones in The F.A.'s Team of The FA Cup. The players will enjoy VIP status at The F.A. Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday May 21, 2005 and will be introduced to the crowd at half time. The Team of The F.A. Cup will comprise Player of the Round winners from the First Qualifying Round to the Semi-Final stage.
This is the second nomination of a Yeovil Town player in this season's competition, though Kezie Ibe was playing on loan for Tiverton Town in the Fourth Qualifying Round when he hit a hat-trick in a 4-1 victory over Newport County.
Voting is until 9.00 a.m. on Monday 7th February on TheFA.com Homepage.
Glovers right-back and midfielder Paul Terry praised his team-mates for running Premiership side Charlton Athletic so close in a 3-2 defeat at The Valley on Saturday.
Paul spoke to Sky Sports after the game saying that "I'd like to think we had them worried. We put in a good performance for the 90 minutes really. We thoroughly deserved to go in at 1-1 at half time."
Read the full transcript of the interview with Paul by clicking here or go via the Ciderspace Interviews Section.
Qu: It was a fantastic goal for the equaliser, and Paul Terry scored it but he even started it.
GJ: Yes he started it and Kevin Gall showed a clean pair of heels and we'd asked him to do that. He is a quick lad and we've got good pace in our side. We've got that bit of belief that they can pass to each other. I like to enjoy watching my team play and that's why I am so proud of them today because we did play and we showed some very good football combinations and we had chances. I'm not sure how many Premiership sides come to The Valley and have as many chances as we did on occasions. Obviously Charlton don't let in two goals here every week otherwise they wouldn't be seventh in the Premiership. Obviously we're very proud to compete against a team near the top of the Premiership.
Qu: Have you enjoyed the experience of the whole weekend, including the time that you had at Chelsea?
GJ: Yes, we've had a great weekend. I think it boosts everybody because it is part of the experience. We've got a relatively young group of lads who are all ambitious for themselves and for the football club which is the same as the manager. Every single thing we think we can do to help, we do things professionally and we do prepare 100 percent properly. We haven't prepared any differently than the way that we prepare for our league games, except that we had the opportunity to go to Chelsea's new training ground because of the link between Paul Terry and John Terry. With John Terry doing so well that means that Mr Mourinho is listening to him at the moment and he asked if we could train there and we did. That certainly helped us because it meant that we could work on our patterns on a very very good training surface.
Qu: What's the status of Paul Terry's injury?
GJ: He has just opened up the ligaments of his knee. That's disappointing as he has been a great player for us and we need him in the league. Unfortunately we may have lost him for a week or two, but we will just have to wait and see.
Qu: Did John Terry come down and have a word with anyone?
GJ: Yes, he might have done - I haven't seen him as I've been in the dressing room. But John was with us. He was a great ambassador for Chelsea. He stayed with us during our training. He was there observing, despite the rain. He made us feel very comfortable. He's a friend of our club and we respect him a lot because he is a great ambassador.
Qu: Just a word about your fans today?
GJ: Magnificent. To be honest all of the fans here were magnificent, whether it was our fans or Charlton's fans. We've come here and tried to play and we've had them all standing up and clapping. The Charlton fans were doing that and that means a lot to us. For the Charlton fans to stay behind and clap our fans off is a terrific experience for us and very humbling.
Qu: It shows the FA Cup is still very special and it was a real cup tie.
GJ: Yes, it does. As I've said, I always enjoy being in an exciting game. And if it is an exciting FA Cup game then we are giving people value for money.
Qu: Do you think you gave them a fright as well?
GJ: I hope so. I think we did. Alan Curbishley wasn't that long in the stands. He came down after a pretty short time. I thought we created some good opportunities and we got into the final third whilst in possession. We were getting shots in and we must have frightened them a little bit I'm sure.
Qu: That double chance at the end, you must have put your mortgage on one of those going in?
GJ: The second one was a great chance. But as I've said the most important thing for us was win, lose or draw it was so important that we were part of an exciting FA Cup tie. That's what we said we wanted to do before the game. People had said to us in previous years that you can't expect to play football against Liverpool and expect to come out of it OK, but we have got that belief in the way that we play and our boys are getting more experienced every time we have these big games. Our supporters are obviously enjoying it. We are top of the league within our division and our crowds are going up, so we must be doing something right to entertain people.
Qu: Do you think that skill-wise and football-wise that you matched Charlton?
GJ: I think that we did on the day. I thought there were individual bits of brilliance from both sides. Danny Murphy made a clever little run for the second goal. He pulled my full-back in and then got behind him and then just managed to find Jeffers. But I thought there were bits of Premiership football from both sides. Especially in the last 10 or 15 minutes our boys could have laid down and died, or at 3-2 been happy with that but our boys weren't. They kept attacking and we had our chances at the end and we played some great football. It takes a lot of character and a lot of belief to keep the ball against a Premiership team.
Qu: I thought you had more possession than Charlton did.
GJ: Well that would be nice. I don't know if that is true or not. All I know is that I was stood on the line feeling that the boys were giving as good as they were getting and that was important to me. I think we had as many chances as them, which was good. If we had more possession than them - and I don't know how people work that kind of thing out - then I would be very very happy. I'm proud of the boys because it was a fantastic performance by our football club - both our fans and our football team. But also the Charlton fans, for the great ovation they gave us - that was very humbling.
Qu: What was that like for your players - were they talking about it when they walked off?
GJ: Yes they were and they respect that side of it. We try and be humble in everything we do. We try not to be arrogant or cocky. When other teams appreciate you, that is terrific.
Qu: So it's been good here?
GJ: Yes, it's been great. Charlton have looked after us very well and it's been a great experience all-round. Everyone is saying to us to focus on the league and we'll do that because we desperately want promotion to the next division. We have got to focus 100 percent now on getting promotion and that is important to us, because we do not want to blow our season now at a point when we are top of the league. We have just gone out of the FA Cup to a Premiership team but we have enhanced our reputation. We have got to keep our football going and keep trying to climb up those leagues for our football club.
Qu: I know the lads are disappointed, but they shouldn't be.
GJ: The lads are disappointed but that is the nature of the beast in my dressing room. If you really do feel like you have got a chance then obviously you are going to feel disappointed at the end of the game. It's not a case of a non-league team being beaten 6-0 and the lads just having a happy day. We have got past that stage, and we have progressed enough to believe that we have got a chance in every game that we play.
Qu: I know you said about being humble but Charlton have got a bit of a reputation for messing it up against lower league sides. Did you fancy your chances a little bit because of that?
GJ: Yes we did. But at the same time you do have to respect the team that you are playing otherwise they will walk all over you. You can't say to them that this is a team that hasn't got past the Fourth Round for so many years or this that and the other. They are seventh in the Premiership and I respect Alan Curbishley as a coach along with his staff. As long as we respected them we were going to give a good account of ourselves. If we didn't respect them then we would have got stuffed.
Qu: And what about that goalscoring record - it keeps on going.
GJ: Yes, our goalscoring record is good but our goals against record keeps on going as well! But normally we score one or two more than the opposition and that's how we play. That is what makes for entertaining games. You have to come out and play and that is what we did today. In our league, if we had played like we did today then it would have probably been one less scored by them and one more scored by us, in which case you win the game.
Qu: People have said that when you take on a Premiership team you can't play football against them. You pretty much proved that wrong, apart from the result. They also say that you can't get out of the league you are in by passing the ball.
GJ: Yes, you're right and they've been saying that to us for a little while now. They've also said that we couldn't get out of the Conference or do well in the league with the two little midfielders that we've got. Once again they were terrific. We'll carry on playing football and if people believe in that, we'll be the exception to the rule. That's what I like watching every week and that's the kind of standard and beyond that I want to play as far as football is concerned. That's why I like to do it and the boys like to do it.
Qu: And you must be proud at Lee's performance.
GJ: Yes, it's fair enough for you to say that. I try not to pick individuals out because I thought they were all terrific and I was proud of all of our performances. If other people feel that Lee has had a fine performance then that's fantastic.
30 January 2005 : How Much Is Gary Johnson Worth To Yeovil Town?
"Priceless", would be the opinion of most fans for the man who has turned the fortunes of a big but often underachieving Non-league club into a string of successes on the field. And successes gained through a quality of football the like of which none of those fans has seen from a Yeovil team before.
However a chairman has to be more hard headed, and it is one of the jobs of John Fry to decide what "priceless" actually translates into in terms of pounds, shillings and pence.
We're confident he'll be happy with what we put in front of him. We'll talk to him soon.
We believe Johnson's current contract takes him to the end of the 2005-06 season, so all Yeovil fans will be hoping the great man will be accepting terms that keeps him at Huish Park well beyond that.
Glovers midfielder Lee Johnson believes that Yeovil Town have plenty to be proud of despite losing out narrowly in a 3-2 defeat against Charlton Athletic at The Valley yesterday.
Lee told the press after the game that "we made a game of it. Our fans came down and they've had a great day. We've given them a lot to cheer about and we've not disgraced anyone."
Read the full transcript of the interview with Lee by clicking here or go via the Ciderspace Interviews Section.
In a scintillating match Yeovil Town may have bowed out of the F.A. Cup for 2004-05, but every aspect of the day other than the final score was a victory for the West Country club.
With one end and a corner of The Valley a sea of green and white the visiting fans were in fine form, form maintained from first to last as they worked through the full repertoire of songs and chants. Club chairman John Fry walked round the pitch at the away end to applaud the fans just before the off, then away we went.
Charlton Athletic started with purpose and it seemed to take Yeovil around ten minutes to pick up the pace of the play from the Premiership side. Once they did the match became first even, and then increasingly dominated by the visitors. Phil Jevons curled one wide before a surging run from Paul Terry, playing like a man possessed against the club that released him at eighteen, finished with him smashing a shot against the left-hand upright on 21 minutes.
The Addicks fought back, and it was a five minute spell of greater control and pressure that ended with a Bryan Hughes strike putting them one up on 37 minutes. Yeovil needed to hit back fast with half-time closing in, and did exactly that. A marvellous run at full tilt by Kevin Gall went on and on and on, ripping through the heart of the Charlton defence, until the ball broke for Terry again. No woodwork this time as he rifled the ball home. 1-1 as the referee blew for the break seconds later, and no one could deny The Glovers were worthy of parity over the forty-five minutes.
As in the first half Athletic came out of the traps a little quicker on the resumption, and this time converted some quality play into two more goals. First a tantalising low cross was whipped into the danger area from the byline by Danny Murphy. Yeovil keeper Chris Weale did well even to get down for a touch, but not enough of one, as the ball came through to Francis Jeffers for the simplest of tap ins on 51 minutes. Paul Terry lay face down in the goalmouth for some time after his despairing attempt to block, and had to go off shortly after, replaced by Michael Rose in his first game back from injury. In the meantime six minutes after the second Charlton goal Shaun Bartlett picked up a pass from Jerome Thomas and struck it home for a third. It was surely all over.
3-1 up at home to a League Two side - just play out time and possibly pick up a couple more. Trouble was Yeovil had not read the Charlton script and would not lie down. Just after the hour Bartosz Tarachulski, already on a yellow card, was given his final finger wagging warning by Rob Styles for a clumsy challenge, and Gary Johnson read the signs and immediately hauled him off. On came Arron Davies, and the visitors picked the pace up yet another gear, a gear one suspects Charlton didn't think the Glovers could produce at that stage. Within four minutes a Davies shot from the edge of the box had beaten Dean Kiely in the far corner for 3-2.
Belief surged back into the visitors and for a pulsating fifteen minutes they pressed and passed and chased and passed, and Charlton were rocking. Arron Davies broke through, Kiely half smothered half beat out his shot, it fell to Jevons in space and with the goal seemingly gaping.........his shot hit the one defender, Talal El Karkouri, on the line.
The moment had gone, and as the clock ticked down the Yeovil players began to look tired for the first time. The fresh legs of Adrian Caceres came on for Andrejs Stolcers but it was not to be.
As the final whistle blew the Yeovil fans cheered and applauded their team to the rafters, and from the home areas there was a standing ovation.
It was a very entertaining FA Cup tie. What a game. I'm very, very proud of our team. We gave as good as we were getting and I think we had almost as many goal chances as Charlton. Their two quick goals after half-time were disappointing but we kept playing and showed how strong we could be. I hope we've enhanced our reputation.
We can't believe a single Yeovil fan came away from The Valley not bursting with pride for that performance. Defeated in the record books, but a wonderful effort from every single man in the green and white hoops.
Jeremy Gear's match report can be found here.
As was always on cards the Football League has finally lost its three year rearguard action to prevent transfer windows being inflicted on clubs below the Premier League in the English game.
The usual simple-solutions-bollox-talked-by-blokes-at-the-bar that dominates the er, 'thinking' of F.I.F.A. president Sepp Blatter will impose two windows on all transfers in the same pattern that has operated for the Premiership since 2001-02.
Football League chairman Sir Brian Mawhinney wrote to all the clubs under his jurisdiction yesterday to inform them the change would come into effect from 2005-06.
The transfer window will be open between 1st and 31st January during each season, although if the 31st falls on a Saturday transfers can still go ahead up until 5.00 p.m. the following Monday.
In the case of signings from abroad international clearance has to be requested by 5.00 p.m. on 31st January, although formal permission can then be granted at a later date.
The transfer window will then reopen on the last day of the season.
Clubs can bring players in outside the window with special dispensation, which is generally reserved only for goalkeepers in the event of an injury crisis. However no permanent signings are allowed before the end of the season when the transfer window reopens once more, unless a player is not playing for any club at the time, and so is a free agent.
The loan system as currently constituted will no longer be able to function.
Further clarification on transfer windows will be communicated to clubs over the next few months by the Football League, but it's not envisaged there will be any significant differences to the system currently operating elsewhere.
Player movement between Yeovil Town and Weymouth used to be an occurrence that could engender heated emotions amongst fans, in the days when the two clubs were bitter rivals. We can think of one occasion when the outrage at least partially contributed to the demise of a Yeovil manager.
Nowadays of course Weymouth is very much Yeovil's Junior Club. Since the arrival of Gary Johnson they've been used as a convenient nursery to keep squad players fit, and when his brother Steve Johnson arrived at the Wessex Stadium as manager these ties became closer.
Today it emerged that Roy O'Brien will be treading the A37 / A354 route down to the seaside. He is expected to sign an eighteen month contract as player/coach.
Roy was brought to Huish Park from Dorchester Town during the short managerial spell of Dave Webb, on a two year contract on 28th July 2000. Acquired as a midfielder he made his debut in the opening fixture of the 2000-01 season, a 2-0 victory against Kettering Town. However thereafter he virtually disappeared from Webb's plans, and didn't emerge until Colin Addison took over after Webb walked out on the club. Still mainly a midfielder it was Addison who first tried him out for Yeovil as a defender. Roy's only ever goal for the First Team in 126 appearances came in this first season - a stab home from short range off a corner in a mudbath at Hilton Park, part of a 3-2 victory over Leigh R.M.I. on April 24th 2001. If you can claim to have seen it you are one of a few. Of the 565 not a vast number were Glovers on that Tuesday night.
The following campaign, just as Roy looked as if he was forcing his way into new manager Gary Johnson's attention, he fractured a leg in the home fixture against Scarborough on September 15th, and that was his season pretty much over.
Given how little Johnson had seen of O'Brien on the pitch he might have been concerned that his time at Yeovil was up as his contract ran out. However the manager is big on positive attitudes and application, of which Roy has an abundance, and when the released and retained lists were announced on May 28th 2002 he was on the right one.
Johnson's judgement and faith were rewarded as in 2002-03 O'Brien delivered his best season for the Glovers. Beginning the season on the bench he forced his way into the side by October, and then pretty much held one of the centreback positions for the remainder of the season as Yeovil stormed their way to the Conference Championship.
As Yeovil headed into the Football League O'Brien was one of those Johnson decided could make the transition, and he was retained again. The quiet Irishman was now a firm favourite amongst the more observant fans, never showy but never flustered, always dependable whatever was asked of him. Now an ever present he made the step up look easy. However luck was not with him, and a seemingly innocuous incident at the Kassam Stadium just before half-time on October 11th 2003 saw knee damage that finished his season once again.
Through long months he battled back to fitness, and in the summer of 2004 was offered a monthly rolling contract. The standing ovation he received on taking the field just after the half hour mark as a substitute in a pre-season friendly against Cardiff City showed in how much affection Roy is held by Yeovil fans.
As the season unfolded in became clear O'Brien had dropped a little down the 'pecking order', and he was in and out of the side depending on the availability of others. However Johnson felt sure enough of him at the beginning of December to make his contract permanent until the end of the season, at the same time sending him out on a loan spell to Weymouth.
Weymouth soon saw the merits in O'Brien and the loan was extended. An injury crisis at Huish Park saw an emergency recall, but Steve Johnson had presumably seen enough to know this was a man he wanted to work with.
We wish Roy all the personal luck possible in his career move, he deserves plenty, whilst unable to offer similar goodwill to his new club. But for two cruel amd major injuries we'd be celebrating having seen a player with more like 200 appearances for the green and whites, and maybe one with more still to come.
Yeovil Town Independent Supporters Association stalwarts Mark Kelly and Stewart Bratherton have been giving their views and opinions on tomorrow's Fourth Round F.A. Cup tie against Charlton Athletic to Square Football. Their thoughts, plus a little counter balance from Sharron Sherress, co-ordinator for the Charlton Athletic Supporters Club, can be read here.
Doubtless we are preaching to the converted amongst the Ciderspace readership, but in the excitement of the day it's all too easy to be lured into an impulse purchase of that extra scarf, flag or badge. Both at the motorway services on route and around the stadium there'll be hawkers touting their wares. PLEASE DON'T BUY. Reserve your cash for those who will invest it back in the club.
As the coaches load in the morning we would hope the club shop will be open; we know Y.T.I.S.A. are taking supplies of merchandise with them, and expect that the G&WSC are too. All the profits from these outlets go to YEOVIL TOWN F.C., which is why we're all going to face a Premiership club in the Fourth Round of the F.A. Cup in the first place.
SUPPORT YOUR CLUB, NOT DODGY TRADERS INC.
So the coach is booked, car fuelled with petrol, you have train tickets in hand or you are one of the lucky few able to walk to this Saturday's match at 'The Valley', with nearing 40 coaches booked and set to travel up the A303 en masse. The Green and White Army shall certainly be out in force with many set to take flags, wigs and you may even see the occasional smock! It shall certainly be an interesting experience travelling by coach with the possibility of 2000 fans all converging on Fleet Services baffling those with little football knowledge. Yes such people do exist!
So what's all the fuss about I hear you cry? Or possibly not as unless you have been living under a rock for the past few weeks. Most people will know that Yeovil have done rather well in the FA Cup this year. OK, they've done bloody brilliantly and find themselves in the 4th Round Proper facing Charlton Athletic. Charlton are an impressive outfit currently lying 7th in the Premiership and if you were to take a peek inside their dressing room on match days you would find an array of international stars such as Dean Kiely and Matt Holland of the Republic of Ireland, El Karhouri of Morocco, Hermann Hreidarsson of Iceland, Shaun Bartlett of South Africa and last but by no means least Paul Koncheskey and Danny Murphy both of whom have featured for England.
As I'm sure you'll agree on paper Charlton look like a very strong squad however there's something about the FA Cup that brings out the best in both Yeovil and teams nationwide. It generates an air of magic and a feeling that anything is possible even if realistically the inevitable will entail. Example number one would be the 3rd Round match between non-league Exeter City and arguably the biggest club in the world Manchester United. Whilst on paper the side United fielded in the first leg looked to contain enough class to out-perform Exeter in reality the magic of the cup kicked in and an upset was almost had. Following the departure of Exeter, Yeading, Boston, Swansea, Rochdale, Scunthorpe, Northampton and Notts County in the 3rd Round, Yeovil are now the lowest ranked team left in the competition and may feel a certain amount of pressure on their shoulders to keep flying the flag for lower league teams. That's not suggesting they're expected to win, however to give a good account of League Two football which I have every confidence Yeovil will do.
Qu: What are you looking forward to most, the day out or the match?
Qu: Obviously last year you played Liverpool in the 3rd Round, have your preparations from last year stood you in good stead for this time?
Qu: Is there any aspect of the Charlton team you are particularly nervous about facing on Saturday?
Qu: And with you being taken to the Chelsea training ground before hand do you think that will help your training or is it more for a break away?
So confidence appears to be high, at least that's how it felt whilst talking to the ever impressive Darren Way about the task that lay ahead. Following my chat with Darren I felt it only right to talk to Skipper Terry Skiverton about his thoughts on the upcoming match and if he felt his team would need any motivation from their captain before the big match or if their preparations will do the talking for him.
TS: "Yes, I think our preparations and the way the lads look after themselves will be fine. As the manager said earlier the lads are so competitive sometimes they don't need to be wound up too much because they will be kicking lumps out of each other before the game. We've got some very good talkers in the team. We have Lee, Darren Way and even the likes of Kevin Gall and Jevvo, everybody goes round and gee's each other up before the game. Even the people that have not been involved like Adam Lockwood who has been out with an injury come in and give the lads a boost. Everybody's clapping hands and patting on the back so it will take care of itself for a big game like this but we've been doing it every game and its been working well for us.
Qu: And what do you feel is most important too you, the result of the game or giving a good account of yourselves?
TS: "Giving a good account of ourselves. I think the most important thing for us is to put a good footballing performance in and let the people know that Yeovil are a good team. Obviously I want to win the game but I don't want to win the game playing long ball. That's not what the manager has instilled into us and that's not the mentality of the team. The mentality of the team is to play attractive football, to get the ball passing, create opportunities and to score. The way that we've been playing this year its always been a case of us winning 4-1 or 5-1. We've not been too good at keeping clean sheets but our strength is going forward so it's just a case of us having to use that strength that we have and make sure we keep it out the other end.
Qu: Taking into consideration the amount of coaches and supporters going to the match the atmosphere should be a good one from the Yeovil fans.
TS: "I think it's a lot better that we're playing this game away. I think when we played Liverpool at home it was very nice for everybody but it's too close isn't it? This way fans that have been magnificent for us all season, get a nice treat for them, a nice away day, go to London, see the sights and go and watch a very good game of football. Half of the hotels around there will be booked up with Yeovil people going out and having a drink afterwards in London so it's a reward to them for all their support and everything they give us. They are very vocal and they get behind us and it's a case now of us hopefully putting in a performance to reward the fans to let them know that we do appreciate them and we're going to try and win the game for them.
Having spoken to Terry Skiverton it came across just how important the part the fans play is and potentially how important the part we play will become this Saturday. When facing a team lying 7th in the Premiership its always going to be a tough battle and Yeovil need every bit of help and support they can get to give themselves the best chance possible of producing what would be the shock of the round, a big shock at that however certainly not an impossible task. After speaking to two cogs of the Yeovil wheel our attentions turn to arguable the most important cog of the wheel Sir Gary Johnson, I caught up with him after the press conference on Wednesday to have a chat about his feelings about Saturday's match starting off with is thoughts on how the game between two passing sides could unfold.
GJ: "If we're not on song and Charlton are then we will see why Charlton are the 7th best team in the Premiership. If Charlton have a little bit of an off day and we have a good day then that's going to be interesting because I think we've got players of the quality to show in that type of game. I genuinely believe that and I hope the boys can prove that.
Qu: Do you think that Charlton are a side Yeovil could be looking to emulate?
GJ: "Charlton like to claim they've come from humble beginnings but didn't they have 80,000 people down at the Valley when they used to play so I don't know how that's humble beginnings! They like to claim they are the small club but maybe what they mean is it's a small club as far as the Premiership is concerned and on finances. Alan Curbishley has really done a magnificent job on the finances at that level to be in the position that they are in and you have to respect that and give him credit for it and be aware that they got into that position through hard work, good tactics and good players, good football and their work rate which we pride ourselves on. We have to match both the work rate and the football.
Qu: You've mentioned that you've been scouting Charlton for a few weeks so has the emphasis been on how they will play against you or still on your own game?
Qu: Having spoken to a few of the players earlier there's a real sense that if it all goes right there's a chance you can do this and an upset could be on the cards.
After speaking to a few more of the players then it seems that they aren't failing to anticipate how much of a task lays before them however as long as they have the fight and spirit that Yeovil have always showed previously in the FA Cup then I'm sure they will do us proud.
My prediction is a close game and I'm hoping for a replay although realistically that maybe a bit too much to ask, however one things for sure and that's it will be a great day out and that I will see you there.
Another set of action photos have been added to the Ciderspace Photo Galleries. A set of 42 photos have been put on-line to cover Tuesday night's 2-2 draw against Rochdale.
Find the full photo gallery by heading here.
As expected Youth Team winger/striker and first-year pro Dale Williams has been suspended for a single match for the red card he picked up in the dying minutes of the FA Youth Cup Fourth Round match against Everton.
Dale's suspension covers one "non first team" game and commences on February 2nd 2005. At present that will rule him out for the Reserve Team's Football Combination home fixture against Cardiff City, scheduled for 7.00pm that night at Huish Park.
Today's edition of the Western Morning News claims that Championship club Plymouth Argyle have made an offer to buy the Glovers Polish striker Bartosz Tarachulski. The paper says that 'Home Park sources' say the offer made was for £100,000 and was immediately rejected by Yeovil. Argyle manager Bobby Williamson was in the crowd at Huish Park for Tuesday night's 2-2 draw with Rochdale and left immediately after the striker was substituted on 77 minutes.
Tarachulski signed for Yeovil last summer on an initial one-year deal. The Pole has proved very popular with the Huish Park crowd and has scored 11 goals so far this season in all competitions.
The WMN goes on to claim that Argyle have also made a £200,000 offer for Steve Lovell, a striker currently with Scottish Premier League side Dundee, and are also looking at some other foreign options before the transfer window for non-English FA registered players closes at the end of the month. The paper also suggests that Plymouth could decide to come back to Yeovil with an improved offer for Tarachulski, who of course as an FA-registered player is not bound by the transfer window.
Conversations between Plymouth and myself have been very brief and to the point, and at this moment in time Bartosz Tarachulski is 100% a Yeovil Town player and will be until the end of the season at least.
I find it very irritating that a newspaper can publish an unsubstantiated story before one of the biggest games of our season without any reference to me.
Fortunately for us Bartosz will be professional enough to deal with the situation and give Yeovil Town 100% commitment despite this story circulating now.
The Yeovil Town allocation of the South Stand and Blocks A and B in the East Stand SOLD OUT first thing this morning.
Any fans still seeking tickets will need to make some other arrangement.
Tickets in other areas of the stadium can be purchased on-line through the Charlton Official Site and picked up at The Valley on the day, but be aware that an away fan in a home area is almost certainly breaking ground regulations and risks ejection if discovered.
Former Glover Gavin Williams has been called up to the full Welsh international squad for the first time. The 24-year-old West Ham United player has been picked by new manager John Toshack in a squad of 20 for the friendly international v Hungary, due to be played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on February 9th.
Congratulations to Super Gav from us all at Ciderspace, very well deserved and probably coming a year or so late in truth. It's very satisfying to see an ex-Glover go on to do well at his new club and receive genuine international recognition. Well done Gav!
This week's Western Gazette is claiming that the forthcoming March 1st fixture against Northampton Town at Sixfields has been made an all-ticket game.
Arrangements for the sale of tickets for this match have yet to be publicised by either club, but it appears that tickets will go on sale at the Huish Park Ticket Office from Monday January 31st. It is not clear at this stage whether season-ticket holders will be given an initial priority but this seems unlikely.
Ticket prices for Northampton's South Stand are £14.00 for adults with £9.50 charged for concessions. Those that qualify for concessions are children under 16, Over 60's and students in full time education who can produce a valid NUS card. Disabled supporters and their carers are charged £7.00 each, whilst junior disabled supporters and carers are charged £2.00 each. Special arrangements for disabled supporters should be made to Norman Howells or Nick Ancel at Northampton Town on 01604-757773.
More information on ticketing arrangements will be publicised as it is known.
Meanwhile the last few remaining tickets for Saturday's FA Cup Fourth Round match against Charlton Athletic are expected to be snapped up early tomorrow morning when they go on general sale from 9.00am. Only small numbers of restricted-view seats are believed to be available. Thereafter there will be no tickets available in the away areas of the ground.
Gary on Saturday allegedly you kicked a box at half-time. What were you kicking this time?
"My foot was still bruised so I couldn't kick anything, but at half-time I certainly felt like kicking something... I left it to Thommo for the first 5 minutes and I walked out of the dressing room because I knew we had to find a different shape and possibly different personnel. Miles and Jevvo were unlucky because I felt I needed to change the shape to get us back in the game. We did get back in the game pretty quickly and unfortunately we then got caught on the break again and it wasn't until late on that we got the penalty. But we had certainly 10 very good chances in the second half and if we'd have come out 3-2 winners you'd have all been dancing and singing."
A point gained or 2 lost?
"It's definitely 2 lost isn't it? We're at home and we've got great form at home but hopefully we can gain a couple of points where we've been under the cosh ourselves and won 1-0 somewhere along the line. But we're 4 points clear at the top which is nice, no-one can overtake us now on Saturday. It would have been nice to have been 6 points clear but that's football and I will have them all buzzing again by tomorrow."
It was a difficult game though because having gone behind to that early goal the way they played it was always going to be difficult to break them down?
"It was yes, that's what I said to you earlier, getting the first goal was going to be very important. It was more power to their elbow that they got the first goal because then they haven't got to come out at all, and if we'd have got it they'd have had to have come out to attack us. But teams are going to do that to us and we've got to have a little bit more quality early on in games. We didn't show enough quality in the first half, second half we were terrific and I was very proud of them in the second half but we'd lost the winning formula in the first half."
If you didn't know it before, you certainly saw the resilience and fighting spirit the players have because they didn't lay down and that's a bonus to take out of the game?
"That's something they will never do, my players will never lie down. The subs that come on are desperate to come on and they all affected the game again and we've brought them on a bit earlier this time because I felt we needed to, so I'm happy with the boys. They can't play aesthetically beautiful games and win each week so we just remind them when they've dropped below standard as I said, but I'll pick them up by tomorrow."
Obviously now it's a question of concentrating on the cup rather than on the league?
"That's good, we all look forward to this particular point. We have a press day tomorrow so obviously we will be talking about the Charlton game now and that takes on our full focus for the rest of the week so by the time Saturday comes we'll be ready."
Your counter-part [Rochdale manager Steve Parkin] says you've probably got the game to give them [Charlton] a good game?
"Well that's nice, he's played them so he knows. I think they probably felt they did better than the 4-1 score line suggests [Charlton beat Rochdale 4-1 at The Valley in the 3rd Round], but we're talking about a Premiership team so we've got to be right on song to give a good performance."
Yeovil Town had to come from behind twice to earn a point against a gritty Rochdale side at Huish Park this evening, Bartosz Tarachulski and Lee Johnson the Glovers scorers in an eventful 2-2 draw.
It was a disjointed performance from the home side over the 90 minutes with too many players perhaps having one eye on this coming weekend's FA Cup clash with Charlton. Rochdale took the lead on 8 minutes, Alan Goodall taking advantage of some dithering between Scott Guyett and Terry Skiverton to nip in between the defenders to get on the end of what should have been an innocuous long ball and shoot past a furious Chris Weale in the Yeovil goal. The Glovers huffed and puffed for the rest of the half and hit the woodwork twice but without ever really looking as convincing as we know they can. Bartosz Tarachulski made it 1-1 on 54 minutes with a trademark header but the visitors were always looking dangerous on the break and with the Yeovil defence in kamikaze mode for much of the game it was no real surprise when an unmarked Leo Bertos made it 2-1 to Dale on 77 minutes with a right-footed shot into the opposite corner of the net. At last the home side began to play with purpose and for the first time all evening a little passion, and wave upon wave of attacks swept upon the Rochdale goal until Arron Davies was brought down in the box for a clear penalty on 84 minutes, Lee Johnson converting to make it 2-2. The Glovers went on to hit the woodwork for the 3rd time in the evening and Darren Way had a shot cleared off the line in the time remaining, but it was just too little too late, and Yeovil had to be content with a share of the points - a result which in truth Rochdale thoroughly deserved.
Final score: Yeovil Town 2 - 2 Rochdale.
There are no new injury worries for the Glovers after tonight's game, all substitutions made being tactical. Only 2 games were played in League 2 tonight so the Glovers extend their lead at the top of the table to 56 points, 4 ahead of 2nd placed Scunthorpe. In the other match played Macclesfield enjoyed an impressive 0-5 win at struggling Notts County to move up to 5th place in the table on 45 points.
Yeovil Town are planning to prepare for their F.A. Cup clash with Charlton Athletic by spending an afternoon at Chelsea's training ground, reports the Western Daily Press.
The Glovers will travel to London on Friday and train at the Premiership leaders' base ahead of the tie at The Valley the following day. The move came about partly because Yeovil's Paul Terry is the brother of John Terry. Chelsea themselves only moved into the new £20 million complex at Cobham (well the nearby village of Stoke D'Abernon in fact), with its large dome covering an indoor pitch, in December.
It looks very much like Chelsea have allowed us to train at their state of the art training ground. Obviously Jose Mourinho had the final say but we did have an in with John Terry. It will be nice and we are looking forward to it. It breaks up the journey and if we can emulate how well Chelsea have been doing that would be fantastic.
We're due there in the afternoon so I would have thought they would have finished training by then. But we are going there to prepare for Charlton rather than to get Chelsea's autographs.
The Yeovil Town Independent Supporters Association is still accepting bookings for the F.A. Cup Fourth Round match against Charlton Athletic. They are currently on Coach 5 and moving on to Coach 6. There will be new merchandise for sale on the coaches including badges, T-shirts and scarves.
Departure from Huish Park is at 9.00 a.m. Deposits are required when booking and no alcohol or smoking is permitted on their transport.
Prices are £12.00 for members and £14.00 for non-members.
The club has contacted South West Trains with regard to train travel to London for the Charlton F.A.Cup Fourth Round tie on Saturday 29th January.
Reproduced on the Yeovil Town Official Site is a press release from South West Trains, but what South West Trains have not mentioned is that there are no plans for any extra coaches on the trains to or from Waterloo.
Supporters are therefore warned that seats will be at a premium, and it appears that many will have to stand for the whole journey. A SWT representative did say that they were trying to obtain some extra rolling stock but he was pretty doubtful that any would materialise.
On Saturday 29 January, Yeovil Town will be playing Charlton Athletic in the fourth round of the FA Cup. The match is to be held at Charlton Athletic's Valley stadium in south London.
Due to an expected increase in the number of passengers travelling from Yeovil Junction, South West Trains would like to strongly advise passengers to purchase tickets and reserve a seat in advance.
Reservations can be made at staffed South West Trains' stations and you can also buy tickets and make reservations by calling the Customer Service Centre on 0845 6000 650. Alternative journeys with other train operators may also be available.
Passengers travelling to Waterloo should also be aware of increased journey times on the line due to essential engineering work between Weybridge and Surbiton. All services will be diverted via Chertsey, which will mean a 40 minute increase in journey times.
For more information on train times and fares, please contact National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950.
Stuart Housley's Youth Team overcame the disappointment of last week's FA Youth Cup exit in the best way possible by inflicting a 4-1 thrashing of Plymouth Argyle's Under 18 side.
Despite falling behind to an early Argyle goal, the Glovers scored two in each half from four different scorers to end the game as easy winners. Robin Evans has supplied another excellent report on the game that can be read here whilst we hope to have action photos from the game on-line later in the week.
Youth team goalkeeper Danny Barker received a welcome boost this week to his career prospects. He has been chosen as part of an English Schools side that will visit Jamaica next month. Congratulations to Danny, for what is a fantastic tribute to the excellent season he is having.
A whole host of new action photos from Saturday's 2-1 win over Cambridge United are now on-line. There are 74 photos to view, including both goals and the subsequent celebrations.
Head to the gallery by clicking here or via the Ciderspace Photo Galleries Index page.
Tomorrow Rochdale visit Huish Park. The reverse fixture at Spotland back in October saw a 2-1 win for The Dale.
Grant Holt, probably the difference between the two sides that night, scoring one and making the other, will be serving the second of his two match suspension for reaching ten yellow cards. Rochdale also lose the services of Taiwo Atieno, with the forwards's three month loan spell from Walsall having come to an end. Paul Tait looks likely to be cast into the role of the lone striker. Goalkeeper Neil Edwards has had surgery on a groin injury and is unavailable. Matthew Gilks will take the gloves, with 17-year-old YTS Danny Woodhall getting the slot of back-up on the bench.
For Yeovil Town both Colin Miles and Andy Lindegaard return from suspension. One or other could replace Steven Reed, but that's the only change we see as likely in the starting line-up from Saturday's win over Cambridge United.
Rochdale have a fairly good away record of 5-4-5, 6th best in the division. However although they have only lost once in their last twelve league games they are currently on a run of five draws in the last six. It's not meant to be insulting to suggest that without Holt their first thought tomorrow will be to secure another one.
Can't say we have much confidence in a minimum of two of those three.
Tomorrow afternoon's Reserve Team match at Swindon Town has been postponed due to Yeovil Town's first team being in action against Rochdale at Huish Park tomorrow night.
The Reserves will now travel to Swindon on Tuesday 15th March, kick-off 2.00pm.
Yeovil Town's Easter Saturday match against Boston United will be screened live on Sky Sports. The match on March 26th will now kick off at 12.15pm. The match timing also gives Glovers fans a chance to watch England, who take on Northern Ireland in an International Match later that day.
The match will see the irresistible force meet the immovable object - Yeovil's excellent record on Sky Sports TV, versus their slightly less than 100 percent record at York Street!
Boston, as the home side, will receive £30,000 from Sky TV for televising the match, the standard rate for League 2 home sides. Yeovil, as the away side, will receive the standard rate of £10,000.
"It's nice, it's not the game I would have picked, but it's always nice to be on the box. It's a prelude to the England game I think," Glovers boss Gary Johnson said to the Western Morning News today.
"We are going to be up there anyway, so 12.15 or 3pm doesn't really matter and we'll be able to sit back and watch the other results come in. We've got a good record on the box and it's a good game in that Boston have only lost one at home, which was Swansea this week and hopefully we will still be top of the League at that point, but it's a decent game for them outside of the Premiership and Championship. We are very flattered to be on the box and Sky think it's going to be a good game, so that's fine by us. Steve Evans has got them going again and they look a decent team and that is going to be a very good match to pick up points."
Right-back and midfielder Paul Terry spoke to the press having helped Yeovil Town go three points clear at the top of League Two, by scoring his sixth goal of the season, in a 2-1 win over Cambridge United at Huish Park yesterday. The 25-year-old described his appreciation he has for his manager, having turned down the chance to manage Championship side Coventry City.
Read the full interview with Paul Terry (transcript by George Murray) by heading here or head to the Ciderspace Interviews Section.
Yeovil Town player Kezie Ibe, who is just coming to the end of a loan spell at Exeter City, will appear at Guildford Crown Court on January 31st 2005 charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The case goes back nearly a year, to February 12th 2004. Ibe's then club Staines Town were playing a F.A. Trophy Fourth Round replay against Halifax Town at Wheatsheaf Park, which the visiting side eventually won 2-3 in a tense finale in extra-time. A fracas broke out during which Halifax manager Chris Wilder is alleged to have been knocked unconscious.
Kezie had an exemplary record while he was with us and we will back the player 100 per cent.
What did you make of your side's performance today?
"Mediocre really. We played some decent football, we just didn't have our finishing today. We made some great moves and had a couple of great chances but their 6' 5" keeper kept getting his hands, feet or head in the way, whatever it was it kept touching the ball and it kept going away from goal, but really we should have been in 1 or 2 nil up. We knew at half time that it was going to take a scrappy goal maybe so we had to compete a little bit more. Then from a corner one of our set plays worked a treat, Scott Guyett attacked the ball very well like he did at Oxford and Paul Terry was where he needs to be tucking it in the back of the net from close range. It was very disappointing to go to 1-1 - it came from nowhere, there was no real danger although we had got a little bit sloppy and lost a little bit of momentum and it looked like something might be happening so I made one substitution just to keep the ball a little bit more. Unfortunately they got the goal but I had Yemi up my sleeve knowing that if he came on we were going to have to put him in and use that little bit of pace he has to get in behind. He did that to very good effect very quickly and I thank him for that."
So often with Yeovil we say the second half performance was much improved over the first but it seemed the other way round to me today?
"Yes it probably did, you know Cambridge are obviously fighting for their lives so its not going to be easy beating any team yet alone a team fighting for their lives. They had a big strong team and I thought they competed quite well for the whole game but we opened them up a lot more than they opened us up and anything less than victory would have been a poor result for us."
It's a measure of the standard you have set here at Yeovil that it was a frustrating afternoon in a way, the penalty went in and then 3 points were secure.
"You've just got to be careful that you don't expect top football and 5 goals every week. Sometimes you have to scrap a bit and so long as the boys are concentrating and you score one more than the opposition as they say then it's a result and people go home happy, because we're still top of the league and there were some very good results elsewhere."
Conditions play a part today? Upset your rhythm a bit maybe?
"No, because we quite like these conditions and you've just got to be extra committed - sometimes you've got to slide and have an extra quick touch on the ball, do all those things that quality players do in adversity and I thought our quality players came out, and what a pressure penalty that was for Jevvo! You've got a big lad, 6' 5" running up and down the line who's saved everything up until the 89th minute or whatever it was and Jevvo put him the wrong way and stuck it away lovely, and credit to his mentality."
Was it me or did the referee keep him waiting for ages as well? He just went on and on and on didn't he?
It was unbelievable wasn't it? I was going to say something about it but I won't because I will end up at the FA; but yes, he seemed to take a long time, you're right, you said it."
Yemi whose run got you the penalty that's his strength isn't it, his speed and he wriggles past defenders and gets into dangerous positions?
"He's direct, he's quick and strong. I look round at the bench and I've got a strong bench and we try and do the right things. We did what we did and fortunately it came off for us and it won us the game."
"The beauty of it is that teams outside the automatic promotion places slipped up, and we'd like to create a little bit of a gap each week between the top 3 and from 4 downward. I'd like to go up as champions but there's a long way to go yet and if we can go up in 3rd spot that's just as good as well, so you're always looking at the 4th team to see how many points they've got."
With a game midweek any injuries as you start planning for that one?
"No, no injuries apart from me when I kicked a box at half time! The box broke and I couldn't get my foot out of it and I just heard Lee - he's the only one whose allowed to say it as he's family! - but he just asked me if they were allowed to laugh yet about me getting my foot stuck in the box and I said no, another week and you can start laughing. I kicked the box because I was a bit angry and I couldn't get my foot out the box so I was walking around the changing room with a box on me. Who's laughing now?!"
Overall pleased with the 3 points and the performance from your side?
"Yes, really pleased, we've got two big games and we've got to make sure we win them and today the lads put it in. We did enough to win the game, got a great result and we take that into Rochdale and every game we win it's less to do at the end of the season."
Phil Jevons struck a late penalty four minutes from time to give Yeovil Town all three points and a return to winning ways against bottom club Cambridge United at Huish Park this afternoon (writes George Murray).
Yeovil should have been a goal up inside ten minutes but Kevin Gall's close range effort smacked against the keeper and remarkably bounced over the crossbar. The visitors had an even better chance to break the deadlock when a defensive error by Steve Reed fed Daniel Chillingworth whose chip over the stranded Chris Weale fell inches wide of the post. The U's twice had to rely on keeper John Ruddy to keep the scores level when he first acrobatically denied a powerful Bartosz Tarachulski effort and moments later the shot-stopper blocked Andrejs Stolcers' shot with his feet. Chances for Yeovil continued to go begging towards the end of the first half when both Paul Terry and Phil Jevons fired wide.
It took Paul Terry just a minute after the break to put the Somerset outfit ahead. Scott Guyett nodded down a Stolcers corner, and Terry was on hand to score his sixth of the season. Yeovil were determined to add to their lead but Lee Johnson, Darren Way and substitute Arron Davies all failed to find a gap past the highly-rated Ruddy in the Cambridge goal. Shane Tudor made no mistake in drawing the scores level with a right-footed drive inside the box with just keeper Chris Weale to beat after some slipshod defending, but Yeovil were not to be denied: Substitute Yemi Odubade was brought down by Ruddy chasing a through ball to hand Yeovil a late penalty. Phil Jevons kept his nerve and sent the keeper the wrong way to maintain the Glovers' position at the top of the table.
Final score: Yeovil Town 2 - 1 Cambridge United.
The Glovers stay top of the league on 55 points after today's results, extending the gap between themselves and 2nd placed Scunthorpe by 3 points after the Iron went down 2-0 at Notts County to remain on 52 points. Third-placed Swansea became the first League 2 team to win at Boston this season, a 90th minute Lee Trundle penalty giving the Swans the points to bring them level with Scunthorpe on 52 points. Southend drew 1-1 at Mansfield to stay in 4th place on 46 points, 9 behind Yeovil. Tuesday evening's opponents Rochdale drew 0-0 at Chester to go to 12th position with 38 points.
Action photos from Wednesday night's FA Youth Cup Fourth Round match against Everton are now on-line. There are 56 photos to browse through from a game that the Toffees won 6-0, but in which the young Glovers made history by being the first Yeovil Town side to be still in the competition at Fourth Round stage. Browse the action photos from the game by clicking here or head to the Main Gallery Index.
Er, hold those horses! We've all been watching football long enough to know this is just the sort of game one goes into expecting a walk-over only to fall - SPLAT - on one's face.
Be in no doubt this game's a big one. Cambridge have had a little turn of form and although they haven't scored many they haven't conceded many either. I always say beware of the team that has nothing to lose. Nobody is expecting anything other than a home win and we will be the firm favourites on the pools coupons, but we mustn't see it like that. Cambridge are desperate not to drop out of the league and have only got so many games left to avoid that drop. We hope they come to Huish Park and play for the three points, because that's what they need, but if they decide to try for one point then we are going to have to be patient again and that's when your quality has to come out.
Yeovil have Colin Miles unavailable, serving the last game in his three match ban. Andy Lindegaard is also suspended. Coming back from suspension are Lee Johnson and Stephen Reed. Long term injury Adam Lockwood as well as Michael Rose are still a week or two away. Apart from that, and the two players out on loan, Johnson should have a fully fit remainder of the squad to select from.
We are looking to put the Oxford game well behind us when we play Cambridge tomorrow. We've had what we would call a bit of an angry week on the training ground where we have all had to focus on getting back to winning ways. Sometimes that's an arm around the shoulder sometimes it's a kick up the backside but the lads have responded very well, as they always do. They know my management style and everybody is absolutely certain of what is expected of them and they just need to transfer that from the training ground to the game.
Cambridge have their own suspension and injury problems. Jermaine Easter is out after picking up five yellow cards, whilst Luke Gutteridge has only just come back into training and is unlikely to be fit enough to start. Matt Somner is out for another week with a badly broken nose sustained against Mansfield Town. Loanee Simon Rea has been under treatment back at Peterborough United for a knee problem and is a doubt. Greg Reid still has a groin problem which has kept him on the sidelines recently. Adam Tann made his comeback from a troublesome groin problem as a second half substitute against Chester City and has continued in training this week, but was due to see a hip specialist today before the team travelled down.
French midfielder Cedric Anselin is looking to move, and is away on trial in Greece. Amadou Konte has been placed on the transfer list. Coming straight into the squad is left winger Tom Newey just acquired for a second loan spell from Leyton Orient.
Tom Newey is left-footed, technically he's very good, he gets up and down the pitch, he's experienced at this level, and in our position we've got to get the lads with the right attitude. He will give us some balance on that side. Justin [Walker]'s been playing there and he's done a good job, but it gives me more options and more balance to have a left-footer on that side, and he's a tigerish player, he's up for the battle. We've got to win the battle before we can start winning the war, so they've got to be the right temperament and the right ilk.
As far as we know ex-Yeovil cult figure Abdelhalim El Kholti, unavailable for the reverse fixture at the Abbey, should be in the frame for tomorrow.
Ciderspace regular Reserve and Youth Team reporter Robin Evans has given his views on Wednesday night's FA Youth Cup Fourth Round match against Everton's Premiership Academy side in which the Toffees won 6-0. Robin's match report on the game can be found here.
Qu: 6-0 but was that a little bit harsh?
SH: Yes, that was very disappointing. We didn't perform. I said to the boys before the game that win, lose or draw, I just wanted them to put themselves in the picture and show everyone that they could play football. They didn't do that tonight. We did OK in the first half, went 1-0 down, had a couple of half-chances, and got the crowd going a little bit with a couple of shots. But I can't remember their keeper making a save. In the second half we just lost to Everton's superior play. They are a class side and they've got one of the top academies in the country. They have a big choice of all of the best players in the country whilst we are just hopefully the best players in Somerset, Dorset and Devon - that's as far as we go. But I'm disappointed that the boys didn't create some really good chances and get the crowd going. We had a great crowd here tonight and I know that some of them came here to watch the Everton stars of the future but I am sure that some of them came to watch our boys as well. Unfortunately we didn't really play as well as we can.
Qu: About the half hour mark, I thought you were getting on top.
SH: We had a good little spell and had a couple of little half chances where we just shot wide. Dale broke through and Gavin McCallum had a shot that went for a corner but after that second goal, Everton just took over the game and showed their class. But I hope the crowd enjoyed the game and you never know in a couple of years time one of these guys might be playing in Everton's first team and you'll be able to say that you watched them play against Yeovil two years ago when they beat them 6-0!
Qu: For 50 minutes it probably was an even game, but that second goal seemed to turn it.
SH: Yes, the early second goal was a big killer because it was a soft goal as well and it came from nothing. There were two little passes and I could visibly see the boys heads go down straight away, with them thinking here we go - 2-0. Then they scored the third goal and we dug in a little bit and were just starting to get back into the game a bit, but then obviously Dale Williams got sent off which killed us. Dale is really disappointed in himself and feels he let himself down by getting sent off. But I said to the boys - I've played in two semi-finals of the FA Trophy and sometimes with these big games - I don't know what it is - you just lose it. Tonight, we just didn't show any real skill. I am disappointed to say that because the boys have got some skill, and we have we have got some quality and we've proved that because we beat Swindon, Brentford and Luton. But today was possibly one step too far. Gary is disappointed as well because he felt we didn't play very well at all. I wanted Gary to come here and say that we've got some good kids here and well done and to keep it going. But make no mistake, that other team won't be that far away from winning that FA Youth Cup. They've got movement, they've got skill and pace and power throught the side and maybe it was one step too far for the boys. But I'm proud of them. I'm proud that we got to the Fourth Round of the FA Youth Cup and we've still got something to play for. We've still got a number of them in the South-West Counties (Reserves) and we are about midway in the Youth league. So it's not a dead season for us. But it showed those boys out there today how far they have got to go to get to the standard you'd need to get in the Premiership.
Qu: Dales's sending off happened with just five minutes to go and he just seemed to clip their player. Do you think the referee could have done more to keep him on the pitch?
SH: Was it only five minutes to go when he got sent off? They must have scored three goals in the last ten minutes which I think just shows the fitness of the Everton boys. It's hard enough playing with eleven players against a Premiership club's academy side but to play 10 minutes with 10 players makes that even harder. But I will keep trying to keep the boys chins up and like I just said to you it's a great achievement to get to the Fourth Round. It would have been an unbelievable achievement to have beaten Everton but good luck to them in the next round. But we didn't really get into them and we didn't have enough movement and it was as if we were in awe of them.
Qu: Most of the crowds in the round so far have been three figure crowds yet tonight we hit four figures.
SH: Was it really? That's fantastic. I just want to say to everyone who came to the game, thank you very much for coming and I'm sorry we didn't put on a better performance for you but the lads gave it their all to get us this far, but I think we came just one step too far.
The Coca-Cola League Two match against Northampton Town, postponed from January 29th because Yeovil Town will be otherwise engaged at The Valley has now been rearranged for Tuesday March 1st. Kick-off is at 7.45 p.m.
The club's official site have this morning announced that manager Gary Johnson has turned down an approach from Coventry City chairman Mike McGinnity to discuss the manager's position at Highfield Road, vacant since previous boss Peter Reid resigned last month.
Gary was one of three names recommended to the Coventry board by the Sky Blues Trust, who organised a poll of Coventry supporters by various means to create a short-list of potential managers for the Championship club. The other two names on the short-list were Mickey Adams and Eric Black.
Coventry chairman McGinnity contacted his Yeovil counterpart John Fry early yesterday evening to ask permission to speak to Gary, and the Yeovil board immediately discussed the situation with the Glovers boss.
Gary Johnson said today: "I am flattered and honoured to be associated with a Championship Club like Coventry City but I feel that I have an important job to finish at Yeovil Town and my priority at this moment in time is to try and lead the club into League One.
"I have been informed that many Coventry fans voted for me in a local Poll and I would like to thank them for their support but I am sure they can understand the reasons behind my decision.
"Over the past three years we have worked very hard to get Yeovil Town into this position and I feel that I have an obligation to the board, the players, the staff and the supporters to complete the job that we have all started here at Huish Park."
Chairman John Fry commented: "I gave Mike McGinnity a call this morning and informed him of Gary Johnson's decision. We are all absolutely delighted and applaud the loyalty that Gary Johnson has shown to our football club."
19 January 2005 : Glovers boys hit for six in FA Youth Cup - but what a run it was!
It was a match too far for Yeovil Town's Youth team at Huish Park tonight as they crashed out of the FA Youth Cup, beaten 6-0 by an Everton side who had too much skill and strength for the Glovers youngsters.
The Blues boys did themselves no favours with their attitude tonight however, in a performance characterized by petulance, intimidation and gamesmanship, all aided and abetted by a weak refereeing performance from Premiership referee Mr Bennett, who allowed himself to be bullied from pillar to post by both the Everton side and management. It was no disgrace for the young Glovers to be beaten by this calibre of opposition, but the manner of Everton's win left a great deal to be desired and a sour taste in the mouth.
Yeovil were always up against it against fitter and stronger opponents but matched the visitors throughout the first half and had three or four decent chances to score themselves before the Blues opened the scoring on 39 minutes to lead 1-0 at half-time. It was 2-0 on 49 minutes which in effect was game over and as Yeovil tired chances were coming more and more regularly for the visitors. Everton made it 3-0 on 70 minutes and when Dale Williams was very harshly dismissed for a 2nd bookable offence with around 10 minutes left the floodgates opened to leave the final score 0-6. A full match report will be online tomorrow.
Despite today's loss the Yeovil lads and manager Stuart Housley should feel very proud of what they've achieved this season. To reach the 4th round of the FA Youth Cup for the first time was a magnificent achievement as was beating clubs such as Brentford, Swindon and Luton along the way. Congratulations to all concerned with the youth team, you've done the club and supporters proud!
Yeovil Town manager Gary Johnson will be appearing with Claire Tomlinson on an hour long F.A. Cup Special to be broadcast on Thursday 20th January. The programme goes out on Sky Sports One at 6.00 p.m., repeated at 11.00 p.m. and 1.30 a.m. Friday morning. Highlights of all the week's Third Round replays will be shown.
Nicolas Mirza will join Weymouth on a month's loan starting tomorrow, 20th January. The deal was presumably arranged at last night's friendly at the Wessex Stadium.
My brother Steve enquired about Nicolas and as he needed some games I was happy to help him out. As Nicolas has been unable to get a regular place in the first team I wanted to see more of his ability and regular games at Weymouth will help us to do that.
Mirza has only achieved three starts in the League Cup and Somerset Premier Cup and three substitute appearances in the League since signing in the summer, though the Yeovil central midfield is probably the hardest area in the team for anyone to break into.
A selection of 66 action photos from Saturday's 2-1 defeat against Oxford United is now on-line. To view the photo gallery head here or alternatively find the full gallery index here.
A Yeovil Town Reserves XI, built up mainly of trialists, drew 2-2 at the Wessex Stadium tonight against non-league minnows Weymouth. Yeovil's squad included six trialists, most of whom appeared to be overseas players from the Middle-East and Africa, with football agent Chris Adedeji in attendance at the game - the man who brought Abdoulai Demba, Olivier Brassart and Francis Kumbur to the club.
The Glovers went 2-0 down in the first half, with the first goal being scored direct from a free kick by Danny Byrne. Weymouth's second goal was a candidate for a 'what happened next?' video clip - Stephen Reed managing to toe-poke the ball past Stephen Collis allowing Byrne to race through and score his second of the evening.
Yeovil Town: Stephen Collis, Andy Lindegaard, L Kuye, A Theroux, Stephen Reed, M Hamza, L Kadima, L Yashin, Arron Davies, Adrian Caceres, Nicolas Mirza. Subs: Yemi Odubade, Steve Thompson, Danny Barker, B Ward.
Weymouth: 1. Jason Matthews, 2. Tulley, 3. Browne, 4. Thomas, 5. Bound (c), 6. Cariata, 7. Danny Byrne, 8. Phelps, 9. Kirk Jackson, 10. Hutchinson, 11. Lee Phillips. Subs: 12. Hill, 14. Kieren Keene, 15. Mark Boyce, 16. John Waldock, 17. Simon Evans, 18. Gary Borthwick.
Yeovil Town's Under 18s side take on Premiership side Everton's academy side in the Fourth Round of the FA Youth Cup at Huish Park tomorrow (Wednesday) kick-off 7.00pm. Ticket prices have not been publicised but previous rounds of the competition saw admission pegged at £4.00 for adults and £2.00 for concessions.
The carrot for the winners is a Fifth Round away tie at either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur and speaking to the Western Gazette, Youth Team manager said of the prospect of playing on a Premiership ground: "The draw could not have been better for us. Some teams like Arsenal, Manchester City and Newcastle United do not let their youth teams play on their home pitch but both Liverpool and Tottenham do, so it is a great incentive for the lads going into next week's Everton game which is a huge obstacle in itself. But before we can look at anything else, we have to concentrate on Everton and if we can raise our game and play like we did against Brentford in the second round then there is a chance that we could get through. I hope there will be another good-sized crowd there to support the lads who are really looking forward to it."
The match is likely to produce the Youth Team's biggest crowd of the season and Housley added: "This might be the biggest moment of some of my current players' careers so it is important that they make the most of it. With Gary Johnson likely to be there watching, it is also a chance for the lads to show him their potential. They have their fate in their own hands."
If you spot any banter going on between Housley and first team manager Gary Johnson then it's likely to be because money is at stake! Stuart explained: "Gary has bet my lads a fiver that the first XI will go further in the FA Cup than they will in the FA Youth Cup. He did it after the Brentford game and now we are both in the fourth round of our respective competitions. But knowing Gary, if we get through then they will probably go to Charlton Athletic and win. It is an honour and a pleasure to be working at Yeovil at the moment. The whole club is on a huge high and that is all down to Gary. He has installed so much confidence and belief into everyone since he came here and now we are seeing the benefits of that from the youth team through to the first team."
The tie brings together a couple of cross-club connections. First team leading scorer Phil Jevons was a graduate from Everton's academy side, whilst Chief Scout Frank Leworthy scouted for the Toffees before moving to Somerset.
The Football Association have confirmed the expected news that utility player Andy Lindegaard is suspended for this Saturday's home match against Cambridge United. Lindy sits out one game for accumulating five booking.
Thankfully with Michael Rose still expected to miss a couple more weeks of football and Colin Miles serving the final match of a three game ban, Stephen Reed is finally available for selection having been cup-tied (Rotherham) and suspended (Oxford United). Thus Reed would appear to be a perfect shoe-in for the left-back slot, although Roy O'Brien could still have a second outing in that position. Lee Johnson is another player expected to return to the starting line-up with the midfielder being badly missed during the 2-1 defeat at Oxford United.
Manager Gary Johnson gave the Western Daily Press his views on Lindy's suspension: "It's a blow because Lindy has done particularly well and he's one of our most versatile players. But it is only one game and fortunately we do have cover in that area. We knew we would have bans coming up around this time, but other teams are getting players banned for two games because of ten bookings."
18 January 2005 : On To Victory - The Return!
You may have read that "On to Victory"…Yeovil's finest fanzine was about to hang up it's boots (see Ciderspace news page 6th January), well negotiations in the January transfer window has resulted in the zine being signed up by James Churchill and Jeremy Gear. The regular contributors have agreed to take the reigns from Seb White and Jon Hartley whilst they have a well earned sabbatical. James and Jeremy would like to go on record and thank them both for the effort and time they have spent developing the zine over the years and congratulate them on producing a read that's going to be a very hard act to follow.
The next issue is being planned for release on the weekend of the 12th of February when the Glovers take on Bristol Rovers. All the regular contributors will be contacted via email with new addresses to send in your articles, any new contributors, more than welcome, watch this space for contact number etc.
The club's official site has now confirmed that the reserve team friendly at Weymouth set for tomorrow night (Tuesday) will go ahead. The kick off at the Wessex Stadium has also been confirmed at 7pm, after some confusion from the Dorset end.
The official site confirms that the match has been arranged for both clubs to look at trial players. In addition the Glovers team will include the likes of Steve Collis, Arron Davies, Adrian Caceres, Stephen Reed, Steve Thompson and Nicolas Mirza.
It may well be a fixture that all supporters and players should avoid thinking too much about until our League Two matches against Cambridge United and Rochdale have been done and dusted, but for those sort of people who can't resist a quick peak at their presents on Christmas Eve, the Ciderspace opposition guide to Charlton Athletic - our FA Cup Fourth Round opponents - can be found here.
15 January 2005 : We're still top of the league.... just!
Yeovil Town's 9 game winning run came to an end at the Kassam Stadium this afternoon, hosts Oxford United gaining a measure of revenge for September's 6-1 thrashing with a hard-fought 2-1 win.
Once again the Glovers conceded first but there's only so many times you can do that and come back from it, despite the evidence of the last few weeks! Tommy Mooney put the U's ahead on 20 minutes with a 30-yard screamer, and when Craig Davies made it 2-0 on the break after 57 minutes the writing was on the wall for the Glovers winning run. A Scott Guyett header gave the 1597 travelling fans hope on 82 minutes, but despite huge pressure on the Oxford goal at the end the home side held out for what was a deserved three points. It was a case of too little, too late for Yeovil who will want to put this game behind them as soon as possible.
Final score: Oxford United 2 - 1 Yeovil Town.
Injury/suspension news: Michael Rose and Adam Lockwood are roughly 2/3 weeks away from returning from injury - it's thought that the Charlton match will be just too soon for the pair, but both could be in contention for the more important league matches in February. Yemi Odubade has a minor back injury and should be fit for next Saturday's vital home game v Cambridge. Lee Johnson's and Steve Reed's suspensions are now finished, but Colin Miles has to miss one more match.
The Glovers remain top of the league despite losing today, 2nd place Scunthorpe winning 3-2 at home to Bury with yet another last minute goal to go level on points with Yeovil on 52 with an identical goal difference of +19 - the Glovers stay top on goals scored. Swansea stay 3rd on 49 points, but will be disappointed to draw 2-2 at home to Wycombe. 4th placed Southend also shared the points, drawing 0-0 at home with Notts County to move up to 45 points. None of the chasing pack could make up much ground on the top 3 with all teams in the play-off shake-up drawing, all apart from 7th-placed Macclesfield on 41 points, 2-1 winners over relegation threatened Kidderminster. The Glovers next opponents, bottom club Cambridge, drew 0-0 at home to Chester City.
Yeovil Town Reserves have arranged a friendy match against their Weymouth counterparts at the Wessex Stadium this coming Tuesday 18th January, 7pm kick-off; according to a post on the Weymouth forum by director Tristan Murlass.
The game will feature "many triallists for both clubs". The bar is open from 6pm and admission is £2 with a programme.
Two more interviews have been added to the Ciderspace Interviews Section. Both were conducted after last week's 3-0 win over Rotherham United in the FA Cup.
An interview with Darren Way, who scored the second goal, can be found here whilst the interview with the final goalscorer Andrejs Stolcers can be found here.
Yeovil Town went against their traditional trend for avoiding transfer deals involving agents fees and sign-on fees during 2004 by forking out £11,500 for registered football agents between July and December 2004.
The figures, published by the Football League this week, revealed that although Yeovil paid nothing to football agents during the first half of the year, at least one deal during the second half involved a payment to an agent for arranging the deal.
Despite this unusual step, Glovers manager Gary Johnson feels he has got good value for money, and few will blame him when it is revealed that Polish striker Bartosz Tarachulski appears to be the main reason - if not the sole reason - why the the policy was broken.
Gary told the Western Daily Press: "We take each case on its merits and it really depends on the circumstances. It's up to each individual club at the time, but an agent can help you get the player that you want. I was looking for a big centre forward and an agent came up with Bartosz. He got paid what you could probably call a 'finder's fee' and I think he deserved it."
Gary stressed though that this would not necessarily represent a permanent shift in club policy: "If a player is joining your club and he has an agent then it is up to the player to pay him. If the agent demands a fee from the club then you have a choice and a decision to make. I have lost players when I have refused to pay agents who I did not think warranted a fee. Some agents do a good job, some don't. No individual situation is ever the same."
According to the Football League statistics, Yeovil Town registered 13 new players contracts and updated five existing contracts during the final six months of 2004. One player's contract was cancelled - quite conceivably that of Simon Weatherstone when he left the club for Hornchurch.
The Football League report implies that agent's fees are making a big comeback into the game at present. During the first six months of 2004, only five clubs paid agent's fees with only Swansea City reaching five figures, but during the final six months 15 of the current League Two clubs paid out fees.
The Glovers own fees paid out are dwarfed by several of the division's big-spenders, with Swansea City (£37,080), Southend United (£ 35,530), Bristol Rovers (£33,000) and Oxford United (£32,900) the major spenders. The clubs who avoided paying out agent's fees were Boston United, Bury, Cheltenham Town, Darlington, Kidderminster Harriers, Lincoln City, Rochdale, Rushden and Diamonds and Scunthorpe United.
Godalming and Guildford manager Roger Steer has today explained the decision to allow left-winger Darren Wheeler to go on trial at Yeovil Town. The 19 year old has been at Huish Park all week, and played in the Glovers Reserves 3-2 defeat at Huish Park on Wednesday against Swansea City.
Wheeler joined the Surrey side during the summer and is a former Aldershot Town Youth Team player who has also played for Hartley Wintney and Mytchett Athletic. Since his arrival he has netted 14 times in 26 appearances.
His current boss explained that the link between Wheeler and Huish Park was set up by Forest Green Rovers boss Alan Lewer saying to the Surrey Advertiser: "Yeovil are very interested in Darren as are two or three Conference clubs. It's excellent for the lad, he is a very talented player who has worked hard on his game and we've worked hard with him too. I think he has exceptional ability and pace which is vital these days. He is only 19 so has years in front of him. Alan (Lewer) had very favourable things to say about Gary and Steve Thompson. Yeovil are a very well run club who look to promote youngsters."
Steer himself took Wheeler down for his first day at Huish Park on Monday and added: "Gary was superb. He really put himself out and took us round the stadium, gave us sandwiches and involved us with the TV cameras who were there for the FA Cup draw."
Yeovil Town's Ticket Office has sold out of the initial batch of tickets for Saturday's trip to Oxford United's Kassam Stadium. It is now too late for Oxford to send down a further batch and so all purchases for tickets must be now made from Oxford's ticket office.
It is possible to purchase tickets on the day, however we do not recommend it unless you have no other alternative, due to the large surcharge Oxford apply on tickets purchased on match days. To get around this problem, either telephone Oxford's ticket office or book on-line using their Official Site's booking system. Obviously in both scenarios arrange for personal collection rather than relying on the post at this late stage.
The Ciderspace away guide to Oxford states that: "fans are housed in an end section of the North Stand. Adults £15.50, students with an NUS card £12.00, other concessions (over 65's and under 16's) £9.50. Tickets can be bought online via the club's official website as well as over the phone [Ticket Office - (01865) 337533]. It's sensible to buy tickets in advance as matchday prices are £18.50, £14.50 and £11.50! If you do buy on the day go to the ticket office to purchase your ticket, as turnstiles do not accept cash."
Finally a reminder that the Ciderspace guide to Oxford United, including directions, ground photos, pubs, the aforementioned ticketing information and general information on the club can be found here.
Ticketing details for the forthcoming FA Cup 4th round match vs Charlton Athletic at The Valley on Saturday 29th January 3pm kick-off, have now been released.
According to Charlton's official site, Yeovil supporters have been allocated a total of 4,000 all-seated tickets, the majority in the Jimmy Seed Stand (behind the goal) plus blocks A and B of the East Stand.
Prices are £20 adults; £15 OAP's, 16-18 year olds; £5 under-16's.
NOTE: If a replay at Huish Park is required, Charlton's Official Site notes that it will be played on Saturday 12th February, with a kick-off of 3.00pm (presumably subject to Sky Sports stepping in). This unusual replay date has been set due to the FA - in their wisdom - setting some international fixtures in the normal week for Fourth Round Replays. A case of one hand at the FA not knowing what the other hand at the FA is doing? In such an event, the likely-to-be-sold-out League Two match against Bristol Rovers scheduled for the same day would be the casualty.
Glovers fan Tim Lancaster is producing an enamel lapel badge for the Charlton Athletic vs Yeovil Town FA Cup fourth round tie available on the day of the game or by post.
The badge will feature both club crests and competition details, and will retail at £3.50.
Postal requests to 45, Goytre Road, Goytre, Port Talbot, West Glamorgan, Wales, SA13 2YN. Cheques for £3.75 made payable to Tim Lancaster to cover P&P.
Yeovil Town Reserves lost 2-3 to their Swansea City counterparts in an entertaining Combination League match at Huish Park last night. Manager Gary Johnson took the opportunity to give some much needed match practice to those members of his first team squad who haven't played much lately, and Yemi Odubade took the opportunity offered by scoring a brace in a thoroughly impressive performance.
The Glovers second-string as a whole looked good going forward but struggled a little defensively - not at all surprising against a team featuring the hugely experienced Kevin Nugent up front, and with Yeovil fielding a back four comprised entirely of youth team players, 3 of whom were playing out of position and who also lost their only recognised central defender - Sam Croft - early in the first half. In the circumstances the lads performed admirably.
The only worry for the Gaffer at the end of the game would be the sight of Adrian Caceres being carried off the pitch in the second half. It looked serious at the time, but reports this morning suggest that the problem is a twisted ankle and that Caceres could still be fit for Saturday's crucial match at Oxford.
A full match report will be online later today.
In other news the Western Daily Press reports that Gary Johnson has once again be linked with the manager's job at another club. The paper reports speculation that the Glovers boss has been short-listed for the vacant Coventry City post, following Peter Reid's recent resignation. The WDP goes on to say that former Brighton and Leicester manager Micky Adams is the early favourite for the position, with famous names Dave Jones, Dave Basset and Stuart Pierce also applying for the job. "Until my board of directors have had an approach then it's only speculation, but I am aware of the reports," Johnson commented yesterday.
Glovers Latvian forward Andrejs Stolcers is hopeful of adding to his tally of international caps after a spell in the international doldrums. "The Latvia manager is going to keep an eye on me and see if I'm ready to play for them," he said yesterday, adding: "It depends on how well I continue to play. But I would be very happy to play for Latvia again." Latvia's only remaining international fixture this season is at home to Luxembourg on May 30th - the day after the Glovers home fixture with Notts County.
Finally, although it now looks like the Glovers FA Cup match at Charlton will not be televised live, Yeovil does feature twice on the box this evening (Thursday). Glovers boss Gary Johnson is a guest on HTV West's Soccer Night programme, beginning at 11.30pm this evening; while the C5 programme John Barnes Football Night also has a section on the Glovers, the programme beginning at 12.40am Friday morning - set your recorders!
Yeovil Town's second-string entertain their Swansea City counterparts in a Combination League fixture at Huish Park this evening, kick off 7pm. Arron Davies is set to start for the Glovers, the young Welshman has been a little short of match practice since signing from Southampton before Christmas and could do with playing at least half the match to keep his fitness levels up. "We had a chat about it and I am involving him because he needs 45 minutes - we both agreed he should play." Glovers boss Gary Johnson told the Western Daily Press.
As well as Davies, the likes of Nicolas Mirza, Adrian Caceres, Yemi Odubade, Dale Williams and assistant manager Steve Thompson should also feature, though Roy O'Brien is unlikely to be risked - if he should be injured or otherwise become unavailable Yeovil will have no cover on Saturday for central defenders Terry Skiverton and Scott Guyett, as both Colin Miles and Steve Reed are suspended.
And in the meantime Gary Johnson has been dismayed by the news that pivotal midfielder Lee Johnson will also miss Saturday's trip to Oxford United because of a one-match suspension, handed out after the midfielder accumulated 5 yellow cards from the beginning of the season. "Our disciplinary record is the best in the League but we are finding now that we are getting players banned for five bookings when other clubs have players close to 10 bookings when you get a two-game ban," the Glovers boss said yesterday.
"It's ridiculous that players have to wait until February before they get their bookings cleared. It's very hard to go until then and not get five bookings, and we have had some silly bookings against us," he added.
Ties to be played by Saturday 19 February 2005.
"Well my first reaction was that it was a Premier League team, and I think the most important thing about this draw is that we all felt we wanted a Premier League team. Once again we are not without a chance. I think we all feel we can go there and give a good account of ourselves. We totally respect Charlton as a management team and a football team and we will give them the respect they deserve but our focus will be totally FA Cup only when it's the next game. I think that's the important thing for all of us and we've already had a meeting this morning about it. We're totally focused on the league at the moment and it will only be the week leading up to the FA Cup where we will totally focus on the FA Cup. I think it's fair to say as well that all of us at this football club respect the tradition and the history of the FA Cup. That's important to us and we will progress as far as we can whether we are top of the league or bottom of the league. Yeovil and the FA Cup go together and we'll be doing all we can to enhance our reputation."
Gary was asked how he felt Yeovil's team would match up against a side sitting more than comfortably in the Premiership: "Player for player, obviously they've made themselves Premier League players. But I think we have some players who have those sort of ambitions. I think when you've got a team with that ambition it's why were doing as well as we are doing because every one of us wants to progress with Yeovil Town FC. It wasn't so long ago that Charlton were lower down the leagues and they've made themselves into a very comfortable Premier League club. So we feel that for any football team we come up against we think we can be in the game. Charlton are no different and we were certainly in the games against Liverpool and Bolton although we got beaten and now we've got to try and turn that around and maybe its third time lucky."
Finally Gary was asked about what sort of an event it would be for Yeovil's travelling supporters and believed the potential was there for Yeovil to take unprecedented numbers to an FA Cup match: "We know its going to be a great day, a competitive game and a football match. If we can get the same amount of people that went to Villa Park to watch us in the FA Trophy final, 10-15,000 people, then why not? It's a great day and it would be fantastic for us to get anywhere near 10,000 support down there and for us to out-support the Charlton fans on their own patch."
10 January 2005 : It's Charlton!
Yeovil Town have been handed an excellent FA Cup Fourth Round draw against Premiership side Charlton Athletic at The Valley. The Glovers were the last side out of the hat in the draw for a game that will take place on the 56th anniversary of the famous Sunderland match, on January 29th.
9 January 2005 : Fancy A Fans Match?
Tired of seeing their BIG club embarrassed by a bunch of villagers in the main event, supporters of Bristol Rovers feel their only hope of a win over The Glovers is to try to do the job themselves.
Mark Kelly is asking anyone who would be interested in playing in a fans game against Bristol Rovers fans before the match at Huish Park to contact him. Age/weight/speed/skill is unimportant, so if you're interested please contact Mark by e-mail.
The Gas outfit has already given an indication of how much they want to win this game - Ian Atkins will not be managing their team.
Another interview with midfielder-turned-right-back Paul Terry is now available on Ciderspace. Following last week's interview after the Shrewsbury Town 4-2 win, Paul features again - this time talking about yesterday's 3-0 win at Rotherham United. The full transcript of yesterday's interview with Paul can be found here or alternatively head to the full Interviews Index.
An interview with Club Captain Terry Skiverton is now on-line. Terry gave his views on the Glovers fortunes at Swansea City on New Years Day where Yeovil won 2-0 and also his thoughts on why Yeovil are scoring so many goals this season. Read the full interview transcript here or head to the Ciderspace Interviews Section for the full set.
For the second time this season a Yeovil Town player has scooped the League Two Powerade Player of the Month Award, the Football League's own recognition of outstanding performance.
In September Phil Jevons took the prize, and for the month of December it is Lee Johnson. Our congratulations to Lee (and of course the whole team and the club itself) for what was an exceptional month of six straight wins and nineteen goals scored by Yeovil Town.
Qu: The work-rate out there today was incredible at times.
GJ: Yes, the workrate was magnificent and it has to be. You don't demoralise a club over 90 minutes unless your workrate is 100 percent. We knew it had to be and we were slightly short of that in the first half and we felt we had to up it a bit and keep moving. We were playing football but without the movement. Once we got the movement in then we opened them up.
Qu: You grew in confidence really.
GJ: Yes, we grew in confidence, although the first goal always helps you. I asked them to believe in themselves a little bit more at half time and I felt we did that and produced three magnificent goals. We were looking very strong in the end which is on a par with the way we are playing at the moment. We are a team that can do that, which is credit to the boys and their fitness and commitment.
Qu: The fitness levels really told towards the end.
GJ: Yes, they are very focussed and we have a regime that makes sure that the lads are fit. They have to make sacrifices and keep to the rules and I'm pleased with them for that.
Qu: You always look fit when you are winning though!
GJ: That's very true. But even in defeat you know whether your lads are fit or not and that's mentally as well as physically fit. I think we showed that today.
Qu: I know you want to celebrate tonight after that win, but any eye on who you might like in the next round?
GJ: No not yet. Did Exeter draw with Man United? That's unbelievable really. The lads are celebrating in there that we are in the fourth round. In the draw it is always exciting but we'd like a big club. Or maybe Exeter at home in the fourth round for a big local derby! But I will worry about that when I see all the other results because I haven't seen any of the other results yet. I've just been praising my boys and letting them know that was a fine performance.
Qu: Gary, a bit of history - it's the first time you've been in the Fourth Round since the side that beat Sunderland in 1949.
GJ: Is that right? That's good. We've had a lot to live up to with Alec Stock being an ex-manager of Yeovil. I think we are living up to it and we as a club are very proud to be in the Fourth Round.
Qu: One of the key things was that you didn't get over-awed. Sometimes when you are playing a side two leagues above, you can get over-awed.
GJ: You can and that was the key thing at half time - I wanted to make sure that we weren't. We've seen the way that we can play and we've played against Liverpool and Bolton and we've had games against Plymouth in the Carling Cup which we won so there was no need to be over-awed. The boys just had to compete with their dangerous penalty area play because they are big lads and they put a lot of good quality into the penalty box, but I thought our defenders were magnificent in defending it all day.
Qu: You did come out more positive in the second half. Did you actually say to them something there?
GJ: Yes, we had to get moving. We were passing without moving and our game is a little more pass-and-move. The penalty came because we had four lads all moving at the same time and they didn't pick Paul Terry up. He does what he does very well and ghosts into the box and their fellow had to pull him down. Even the other two goals were sheer pace and quickness on the break.
Qu: So it was a bit of a half time rocket.
GJ: No, not a rocket. But we needed to liven ourselves up a little bit. We didn't need a rocket - we just needed to believe in ourselves a little bit more. At half time I didn't quite feel that we had played our game, and win, lose or draw we always want to play our game.
Qu: Gary, nine wins in a row - is that the best you've had as a manager?
GJ: Possibly. Latvia didn't get nine wins in a row! It's nice to break records and think about records, but these lads have had a terrific run, even before that. We lost one in between (at Lincoln) but I think it's now something like one defeat in thirteen or twelve or something like that. That just gets the boys focussed and gives them the belief in what we do.
Qu: How did the second goal come about?
GJ: It was a great move. It was a quick break and I think there were a few involved - Gally, Lee, Stolc and then Stolc instead of shooting just laid it to Darren Way and he stroked the ball in. It was all about movement and we had more players than them in their penalty area and that's how you score goals.
Qu: There were 1,600 in that away end and they were incredible.
GJ: Yes, it was a long old journey again. They've supported us this far north but they've got gale winds all the way up on the roads. They are fantastic supporters and the one thing we wanted to do before the game was to make sure their journey wasn't a waste of time.
Qu: It was a lovely ground for creating that kind of atmosphere.
GJ: Yes, it was nice that we had them behind us and behind that goal in the second half because we had a few little scares. They were helping keeping the ball out for us!
Two divisions and twenty-four places separated Yeovil Town from Championship (division one in old money) opponents Rotherham in the 3rd round of the FA Cup at Millmoor today, but the Glovers made the gap between the teams count for nothing as they swept to a superb 0-3 victory to qualify for the 4th round of the competition for the first time since 1949.
The Glovers got exactly what they deserved from the game as they matched and then bettered their Championship opponents all over the pitch. After a scoreless first half in which both teams had their chances to open the scoring, with an Andy Monkhouse effort which hit the woodwork coming the closest to a goal; it was the Glovers who began to get on top in the second half with the pressure finally telling on the hour, Phil Jevons converting a penalty after Paul Terry was brought down in the box.
The Millers threw men forward in search of an equaliser but it was Yeovil who continued to look the more dangerous, Andrejs Stolcers hitting the bar with the ball bouncing down and away from the goal. The Glovers were defending deep and hitting their hosts on the break, and it was no surprise when their lead was doubled with 4 minutes left on the clock, Darren Way finishing off a Kevin Gall move. Andrejs Stolcers finally got the goal his efforts deserved in injury-time, with his 3rd goal in 4 games sealing a fantastic Glovers win.
There was no doubt as to who was the better side on the day nor the team more deserving of victory. Perhaps understandably Rotherham boss Ronnie Moore was a little less than gracious in defeat after the match. "We needed a good cup run to get some money into the club," he admitted, adding: "We had chances in the first half to be out of sight but we should not be worrying about playing sides like Yeovil here. There is not one of my players who can look in the mirror and say to themselves at the end of the day they played their best."
In contrast Glovers boss Gary Johnson was elated after the game. "Our work rate was tremendous and you do not demoralise a team in 90 minutes unless your work rate is high," he said. "We grew in confidence. The first goal was a real boost and the other two goals were down to sheer pace. In the first half we were passing without moving but we moved well after the break. We just needed to believe in ourselves and we did."
Final score: Rotherham United 0 - 3 Yeovil Town.
The Glovers will collect £40,000 in prize money from the FA for winning today - the reward for all clubs who win in the 3rd round of the FA Cup. The draw for the 4th round takes place on Monday at 1.30pm and will be broadcast live on BBC2, Sky Sports News and Radio 5 Live.
With the season now past the half-way point, and the Glovers battling it out for promotion from Coca Cola League Two, Ciderspace brings you an exclusive interview with South Somerset's No.1 hero, Gary Johnson.
The interview was originally intended to be published in the On To Victory fanzine, but with Jon and Seb deciding to take a sabbatical from the publication this week, George Murray's interview with Sir Gary is now captured in full on Ciderspace. Find the transcript by heading here or head for the Ciderspace Interview Section to view our other recent interviews.
Who's up for the Cup? 1500 Glovers fans are, according to the official site, presumably that's the number of tickets sold to Yeovil fans in advance of tomorrow's FA Cup 3rd Round tie at Millmoor, home of Rotherham FC.
The Yeovil side left for Yorkshire at 9am this morning, taking with them some walking wounded who will face fitness tests tomorrow to determine whether they will be involved in the match or not. Midfielder Lee Johnson, who missed Monday's win over Shrewsbury with a groin strain is expected to be fit, but striker Bartosz Tarachulski (groin) and defender Scott Guyett (hamstring) are more doubtful and will be assessed tomorrow morning. Definitely out are defensive quartet Adam Lockwood (knee), Michael Rose (ankle), Steve Reed (cup-tied) and Colin Miles (suspended). Roy O'Brien has been recalled from his loan spell at Weymouth to act as cover.
Rotherham have their own problems with a virus apparently doing the rounds amongst the players at Millmoor with your guess being as good as mine as to who will be affected on the day of the game. Millers boss Ronnie Moore has brought Paul Warne back from his loan spell at Mansfield to make up the numbers but in turn has lost loan striker Junior, who has been recalled by Derby County - a definite blow to the Millers.
It's been a turbulent season for our hosts tomorrow both on and off the pitch but things do seem to be looking up at last for long-suffering Millers fans. Off the pitch a supporters consortium has recently taken over the club, paying off debts and bringing some much needed financial stability to Millmoor. Long-serving manager Ronnie Moore, who has overseen the club's rise in status from the old division three to the current Championship is to be offered a new contract and everything in the Rotherham garden appears to be rosier than it's been for a while - until one looks at the league table that is, which sees the Millers rock bottom of the Championship with a playing record this season of P28 W3 D10 L15. As bad as that looks their recent record is rather more impressive with 2 wins - away at Leicester and Millwall and a home draw against a West Ham side featuring ex-Glover Gavin Williams from their last 4 fixtures.
"They've had a great turnaround of results over the last month," Glovers boss Gary Johnson said today. "They've changed their board of directors and their manager has been promised a new contract. They're desperate to get through to the next round, but so are we to enhance our history.
"As always we want to win and with it being a break from the League campaign the lads are very keen to reach the next round and draw another Premiership club. I hear there are something like 1,500 supporters going up to Millmoor and that is testament to how much the club and our supporters enjoy the FA Cup. We owe it them to put on a good performance and we will be doing all we can to get a result."
Ciderspace prediction: Rotherham may be having a poor season but at the end of the day it's still a Championship side at home to a League Two team and they must be favourites to win the game. However we have a sneaky feeling that when the draw for the 4th round is held next Monday both teams will still be in the hat - we'll go for a 2-2 draw with the Glovers to win the replay. You heard it here first!
If you're one of the 1500 Glovers travelling oop north tomorrow, the Ciderspace guide to all things Rotherham, including pubs, is online here. Safe journey there and back.
6 January 2005 : Bid For Chillingworth?
He told me he wants to leave the club because he wants to play more. I am disappointed because I think Chilli is a very good boy, but he thinks he has not played enough. I can understand that he wants to play more, but we have four strikers and we weren't scoring enough goals, so I had to change things.
On December 7th Chillingworth went on loan to Leyton Orient where he has scored twice in eight games, including one in the 3-2 defeat by the Glovers on December 18th at Matchroom Stadium.
I haven't seen Chilli yet but he's scoring goals for Leyton Orient and I'd rather have him scoring goals here. I don't know what went on before, but I don't care if he could score 20 goals and keep us up.
The non-recall month of the loan will finish this weekend.
Glovers boss Gary Johnson has since denied any interest in signing Chillingworth. "We are not interested in the player and I cannot understand where these rumours start," he told the club's official site this afternoon. A question for Sky Sports to answer perhaps?
Glovers manager Gary Johnson has paid tribute to the people at the club who helped him get his second Manager of the Month award for the 2004/05 season.
Winner of the award for December 2004 (see story below) Gary reacted to the news by saying: "The award is for everyone at the club. It is always pleasing, but this is pleasing in particular because of the amount of games we have had in a short space of time. We are a team that can play, we have a bit of quality and have real commitment and desire to get on. Not many of the players have been there and done it. They are working hard and are ambitious."
Gary also said of the current league position that sees Yeovil start 2005 on to of the table: "We are in a good position and have lots of confidence and if we do go up we will be ready. But there are 20 games to go and we will keep our feet on the floor. We will focus on the next division, but we first have to work really hard to stay where we are."
Many of you may have noticed that it has been sometime since the last issue of OTV. To start with we would like to say sorry that it has not materialised, but it does lead us on to another decision. We the co-editors (Seb and Jon) have decided to put OTV on hold for the time being. At this point it is important to state, that we are not killing off the fanzine! Since our first issue at the Trophy final, it has been something that we have enjoyed and been immensely proud of.
It was the point where preparing the fanzine was taking more time that our lives outside of Football would allow. We hope that if this changes in the future we can return in a blaze of glory.
We would like to thank all the contributors and supporters of the fanzine, and hope that we call on you if and when the next issue arises. In addition the support from all the supporters groups and the club itself has been nothing less that superb, thank you!! A special mention has to go to Ciderspace. Thank you lads, for the use of photos and promoting the fanzine.
When we started the fanzine we always wanted to give back to the club. Initially we wanted to buy equipment to nurse the then ploughed field of a pitch. Thankfully it had a transplant and we were able to start by sponsoring 'the gaffer'. The fanzine has given well over £1,000 to YTFC since our creation as well as donations to the DSA.
Thank you for buying the fanzine and we hope that you will be able to do so again. Watch this space!
Former Glovers loan defender Liam Fontaine made his Premiership debut for Fulham as a 90th minute substitute in last night's 3-3 draw against Southampton at St Mary's Stadium. Fontaine has been receiving rave reviews for his performances for Fulham's Reserves and he got himself an early 19th birthday present when he was selected for Fulham's trip to the south coast. Liam made 18 appearances for the Glovers in the centre of defence this season, and Fulham Reserve manager Paul Nevin recently remarked on the player's improvement in his game since his three month loan spell at Huish Park.
Glovers manager Gary Johnson has been named as the Manager of the Month in Coca Cola League Two for December 2004. It represents his second such award of the season having also picked up the September 2004 award.
During December, Yeovil managed a clean sweep of all results - six league wins and one FA Cup win over Histon. They also netted 16 league goals in the process - at least double all their rivals with the exception of Swansea City on 13. That run took the Glovers to the top of League Two for the first time since September, just after the Glovers had beaten Oxford United 6-1.
Thus the Sky panel judgement became a complete no-brainer and panel chief Chris Kamara said of the award: "Johnson has formed a side with balance, solid defensive qualities and has an outstanding striker in Phil Jevons. He thoroughly deserves this award."
League One winner was Hull City's Peter Taylor whilst the Championship winner was Sheffield United's Neil Warnock.
Qu: Well Gary where do we start with that? Huish Park is entertainment I think!
GJ: It was certainly entertainment but I didn't feel entertained at 2-1 down. It was nearly a game too far. Scotty was having problems with a little bit of a hamstring, Plucky was having problems he had his ankle put in before the game and also at half time. Then he felt he needed a rest so he got sent off! It was a poor tackle that to be fair but anyway it livened the game up I suppose. It was important that we got our runners on and our fit lads and our legs. Once we put our legs on then we were all over them and when their lad (Luke Rodgers) got sent off then it was even and we could really attack them and get the goals back.
Qu: You said at Swansea that you perhaps had the better of the first half there and didn't capitalise on that, probably the same could be said today?
GJ: Yes, we felt at half-time that one goal wasn't going to be enough. One goal is never enough in this division and I was a bit worried because I didn't really want to take Scotty off and Plucky was struggling a little bit. There were a couple of others with little knocks and I felt at that time we didn't want them to get a goal and when they did I had to push myself into action. Once we did take action we were ok but hopefully the lead-up to Rotherham gives us five days - which is a big treat for us at the moment - to recover if we can. But the lads came good and we can't moan about the spirit of the team and that is a "top of the league spirit" team at the moment.
Qu: Any complaints about the penalty?
GJ: Not now we've won, you never complain about things like that. All those things make the game that little bit more exciting and noisier. In the last 25 minutes once that started happening the crowd got behind everyone because that was how the game went and all of a sudden when the going gets tough and the tough get going.
Qu: And probably the second sending off really changed things as well?
GJ: Yes it definitely changed things that's for sure. It meant there was more room on the pitch and if there's more room on the pitch you put your best athletes on. Our athletes came to the fore and once again our subs have affected the game unbelievably. Reedy has done a very solid job, Caceres came on and made one scored one, and Arron Davies was full of running and opened them up as well, so before you say it for me, it was another good substitution by me!
GJ: It was a marvellous goal and again we had runners and Adie Caceres had three options and he picked Gally. It was a great finish for him. He had kept looking over wondering if I was going to take him off or not but he is a fit lad and he can run for 95 minutes, sprint for 95 minutes and that's why he stayed on and that's why he ended up winning us the game.
Qu: Eight wins and now you are on top with Scunthorpe losing again today.
GJ: Well there are plenty of games to go but the extra three points are always handy. They are three points you don't have to get later and the more we can get the now the more we can enjoy the end of the season.
Qu: I know you know Gary Peters very well and they gave you a good game but in the end you've come out on top.
GJ: Yes, we came out on top. I think they were a little bit fortunate - credit to them - but they were in the lead at 2-1 and at that point you think oh no this is going to be one of those days. So therefore you change things and make things happen and that's why I made the changes.
Qu: So Gary Johnson can now reflect on what has been a very good Christmas period.
GJ: It's been a fantastic Christmas period, we couldn't have wished for a better period of time and every game turned into three points. If you include the game that was on about the 18th of December (Leyton Orient) as part of Christmas then I think its about 5 wins over this period. We will try and help the walking wounded. Bartoz has got a nasty knock around the groin area. I'm celebrating but I'm also thinking of the next game hoping that we get a few of them through to fitness for Saturday.
Qu: Presumably you're grateful to have a break from the league now?
GJ: We'd be grateful for a longer gap in league or cup but we play again on Saturday and other teams have had to do that and we will see how we fare but we will certainly start looking forward to it come tomorrow.
Qu: Might you have to bring Roy back from Weymouth?
Qu: And you were saying a fortnight ago that you didn't want to go top too soon - is this too soon?
GJ: Well it might be. I suppose it's never too soon. Scunthorpe have had a poor run of results over Christmas haven't they? They've lost top spot really and if we're there, then we're there. We've got the points and we will just have to cope. I think the supporters like us being top of the league that's for sure. If we can stay there then it will be a great feat and with 20 games left, it gets less and less and it comes round very quick now. So we might have hit it too early or we might have hit it just at the right time. We're enjoying our football, I'm enjoying watching them, they are enjoying performing in it and we've another great Christmas crowd so the supporters are enjoying it as well. The club is on a high and deserves to be where it is and we need to keep that going.
Glovers boss Gary Johnson has been nominated as one of the contenders for December's League Two Manager of the Month award.
The winner is chosen by a panel led by Sky Sports pundit and former Bradford City manager Chris Kamara and will be announced at around mid-day this Thursday on Sky Sports News. Gary Johnson has already won the award once this season, in September, and with 5 league wins out of 5 this month, plus an FA Cup win at Histon under his belt, he's odds-on to pick up the award again this Thursday.
To no-one's surprise, central defender Roy O'Brien has been recalled from his loan spell at Conference South outfit Weymouth. Glovers boss Gary Johnson acted after the curse of the central defenders struck for the umpteenth time this season, though it could be argued that one of the current wounds was self-inflicted, Colin Miles receiving a 3-game ban today for the straight red card shown him in yesterday's thrilling 4-2 win over Shrewsbury.
Gary Johnson had mixed emotions over his defender's dismissal yesterday. "He did well to even play," Johnson said, pointing out that Miles had missed the New Years Day win at Swansea with an ankle injury. "So on one hand I want to kiss him and on another hand I want to kick him!" Whichever hand the Gaffer uses to do what, the fact remains that he has lost the services of one of his few central defenders for 3 games. Another defender, Adam Lockwood looks to be no nearer to returning after yet more problems with the knee injury that has plagued him this season and a third central defender, Scott Guyett, has a hamstring strain that really requires a rest. All of which leaves club captain Terry Skiverton as the sole fit centre-half, hence Roy O'Brien's recall from deepest Dorset today.
The packed Christmas programme may have garnered maximum points for the Glovers leaving them top of the League Two table, but the players have paid the price in terms of wear and tear on their bodies. Other injury concerns include Lee Johnson and Bartosz Tarachulski, both carrying groin strains and who could both do with a good rest to ease their conditions; and Michael Rose, who has an ankle injury and who will definitely miss Saturday's FA Cup tie at Rotherham. It remains to be seen how many other players will be fit for the match.
Paul Terry spoke to the press having helped Yeovil Town go three points clear at the top of League Two, and revealed how he had thrown the pressure on his younger brother - Chelsea captain and England star John Terry - by scoring his fifth goal of the season in a 4-2 win over Shrewsbury Town at Huish Park yesterday.
Yeovil came from 2-1 down to superbly beat Shrewsbury 4-2 at Huish Park this afternoon to chalk up their eighth consecutive win while moving up to first place in League Two (writes George Murray).
After the minute silence for the tsunami victims was impeccably respected by the 7,250 fans, Phil Jevons and Andrejs Stolcers wasted decent chances to open the scoring in the first 5 minutes, blasting each of their efforts wide. Yeovil continued to dominate procession and threaten the Shrewsbury defence and Gary Johnson's men thought they had won themselves a penalty but referee Jarnail Singh waved play-on after Dave Edwards looked to have handballed inside the box. The Glovers took a deserved lead shortly after the half-hour mark as Darren Way's 25-yard deflected shot found the root of the net.
Andrejs Stolcers saw his free-kick denied by the fingertips of Scott Howie in the Shrewsbury goal and Darren Way pursued the pressure on the visiting defence with a long shot which blasted narrowly over the bar. Yeovil were made to rue for missing earlier chances after Jarnail Singh dubiously awarded Shrewsbury a penalty after Chris Weale was judged to have brought down Kevin Langmead inside the box and Jake Sedgemore converted the penalty to draw the scores level. Worse was to come for the Somerset outfit when Colin Miles was sent off for a reckless challenge on Luke Rodgers before moments later David Edwards put the Shrews ahead with a long-range strike on the counter-attack. Four minutes after Miles was shown his marching orders, Shrewsbury were down to ten men following Luke Rodgers' thump on Andy Lindegaard. Yeovil began to show true 'bouncebackability' while the visitors began to collapse in defence when first Paul Terry pulled the scores level with a header from 6-yards out before substitute Adi Caceres struck six minutes later to edge Gary Johnson's men ahead. The points were sealed a minute before full-time when Kevin Gall latched on to Caceres' pass and made no mistake with just the keeper to beat.
Final score: Yeovil Town 4-2 Shrewsbury Town.
Injury news: It ain't very good! First the positive bit - Lee Johnson missed today's game with a groin strain but is apparently hopeful of being fit for Saturday's 3rd round FA Cup tie at Rotherham. Michael Rose also missed today's game, in his case with an ankle injury, but it's not thought that his recovery will be quite as quick as Johnno's though this has yet to be confirmed by the club. Do not expect him to be fit for Rotherham however. Meanwhile the central defenders curse has struck again with both Colin Miles and Scott Guyett taking knocks in today's game. Miles of course was dismissed for violent conduct during the match so now faces suspension anyway, but both his and Guyett's leg injuries will be assessed in the morning. Bartosz Tarachulski was also substituted because of a knock this afternoon and again, he and several other players with various minor ailments will be assesed by the club's medical staff tomorrow morning.
The hard-earned 3 points today, combined with Scunthorpe losing 1-0 at Mansfield means that the Glovers top the league table for the second time this season, on 52 points from 26 games played - hitting Gary Johnson's target of an average haul of 2 points from every game played. The Iron slip to 2nd on 49 points, with Swansea chasing hard in 3rd place on 48 points after winning 2-0 at Rushden today. Southend remain in 4th position, on 44 points.
A post-match interview with Phil Jevons, following Tuesday's 5-3 win over Cambridge United is now on-line. Find the interview with Phil by heading here or head to the Ciderspace Interviews Section.
A bucket collection organised by Yeovil Rotary Club for survivors of the Boxing Day disaster in South-East Asia will take place at tomorrow's game against Shrewsbury Town.
Qu: Gary a tremendous victory and a tremendous performance.
GJ: It was a tremendous victory and we competed well. I was a bit disappointed at half time. We were doing well in the defending third and the middle third but our forward play as a team wasn't as good as it has been. We didn't really look like we were going to score one or two goals, which I like to see us do. Certainly in the second half we had to rally round. We showed a little bit more movement and we got on the ball a little bit more. Just at the point where you are thinking maybe 0-0 is not a bad result Stolc (Andrejs Stolcers) comes up with an absolute quality goal. For the other goal, there we were trying to hold the ball in the corner and try and waste time and in the end we found we could get out and score another goal and that's the nature of our lads. From our point of you it was a great game and three great points.
Qu: Defensively you have kept a clean sheet and have looked very solid.
GJ: Yes that's nice. I don't think we've kept many clean sheets. Certainly at the end Swansea got a few big 'uns forward and I thought we defended fantastically in our own penalty area and when they did beat our centre-halves and defenders then Wealey was there to put it over. But their keeper made some good saves as well and it looked like it was going to be a 0-0 but I suppose it could have been 3-3 as well. Having said that in the second half I think we showed that little bit of quality that we were lacking in the first half to score a couple of goals.
Qu: And your two substitutions were again successful. Andy Lindegaard came on and defended well and Arron Davies provided that little bit of a spark on the right.
GJ: Yes just we needed somebody to get involved more on that right-hand side. Gally has done great for us but unfortunately he wasn't quite getting the ball today. We needed a different kind of player out there - someone who could pop inside or go outside and Arron did that. But the whole team picked up a little bit. The whole team worked hard and we started running a little bit more. We got our passing going again. We wanted to come here without upsetting anyone. People got upset here before but that wasn't of our doing and we had to make sure that we quietened the crowd down and that meant that we had to keep the ball for long periods and I felt we did that.
Qu: You haven't mentioned it, but that's seven wins on the bounce now. That's a tremendous run.
GJ: Yes, that is a great run and they are the types of runs that get you to near the top of the league. We'd like to keep that going of course and we don't know how far that run will go, but this is a great position to be in at this stage of the season. But it is early.
Qu: You have closed the gap and you're now level on points with Scunthorpe.
GJ: That's great. Everyone goes through their blip. We went through our blip in October and Scunthorpe are hitting theirs a little bit now. But we've just got to keep going and the main thing is that the boys are enjoying it. They are looking forward to every game and I can see that in their play.
Qu: You've got a game on Monday (against Shrewsbury). Any knocks picked up?
GJ: Yes there were a few knocks. Lee got a nasty knock in the groin, Rosey took a nasty knock just above the ankle and Colin Miles had to pull out just before the game. So we've got a few knocks but the way that Andy Lindegaard, Arron Davies and even Adie Caceres when he came on played - and we've still got people like Reedy available - shows that we've got a squad now. If anyone is short of form or slightly injured then we can change it and not upset the form or the quality.
Qu: It just re-enforces your belief in the players, Gary.
GJ: This tells you a lot about your players. If you are going to go up - and Swansea are the same - you have to cope when it's this type of atmosphere and this type of away game. We did keep 10,000-odd people quiet which means you've done your away game proud. To be fair the Swansea supporters were terrific and they clapped our lads off and we shook hands with them. It's nice to be going away as 2-0 winners and not having lost any friends.
Qu: And a great advert for League Two.
GJ: Yes, I think both teams will be very close at the end of the season.
Qu: The game mirrored the match at Huish Park somewhat. Swansea took the game in the first half and you took the second.
GJ: Yes, I thought we had quite a bit of possession in the first half without really creating any chances. You are right but the game lasts 94 minutes - as it did today - and you have to play for the 94 minutes. We're a good fit side and we do play out these games. We do tend to score a lot of goals in the last few minutes even when we don't want to!
Qu: What do you think of Swansea? Do you think they will be up there?
GJ: Yes, they will - I think so. If Lee Trundle stays fit - although I wouldn't for a minute suggest they are a one-man team because they've got other decent players - they are going to be there or thereabouts.
Qu: Were you fearful of the crowd today?
GJ: No not fearful. You know what it's like when you go away and you have got 9,500 - 10,000 home supporters. You have to put on an away performance and you mustn't upset the crowd. You've got to be professional and do the right things and get on with your game and I felt that professionalism was the key word today. That's what we have been working on all week.
Qu: You've referred to people being upset with you before you came down here.
GJ: It was just about last year when we went back to 2-2 and we had a couple of silly gestures. We didn't even know ourselves what they were. It was just an individual personal thing with one of our players but he has gone now! But at the end of the day it was important that we went away with friends behind us rather than enemies, because it could be that both teams could go up in which case we would be competitors next year as well. But as I've said we've got a long way to go.
Qu: Did you put any extra emphasis on today's game?
GJ: No, I think we just all knew how big the game was. We've got a 2-0 scoreline against a team that is third in the league, at their ground and with 11,000 people in the ground.
Qu: I would have thought that if anything you would have been wanting to dumb down the game's importance.
GJ: That's what you are trying to do but that's easier said than done! But we did it today and we did it with professionalism.
2 January 2005 : Stress? What stress?
Tim Lancaster has kindly supplied us with this alternative view of yesterday's 2-0 win at Swansea. Thank you Tim!
The pre-match hype was far more frenzied than the actual event, two sides scoring with ease, and Lee Trundle's attempts to draw Yeovil into a war of words promised a real fire cracker, however in the cold light of day Yeovil Town won this top of the table clash with style and come the final whistle could have been considered unlucky not to score two or three more goals!
This spectacle was an excellent advertisment for League Two football, and both sides played their part, and should meet again next season at Swans' splendid new stadium, albeit in a higher division. Prior to the game the travelling YTISA supporters enjoyed a stop off at Goytre United Football Club, the Welsh League division one side welcoming the forty or so supporters into their bar to enjoy a slightly quieter drink than may have been possible in the city.
Departing the ground at 2.00pm the journey into Swansea was traffic free and in twenty minutes we were parked outside the away end. What was noticeable upon arrival was that there was virtually nobody around! Expecting a capacity crowd pretty well all the home supporters had made an early path for the ground, and 80% of the 800-odd visiting supporters had done the same.
The fact that the game never opened up in a high tempo fashion was the first positive point as we dealt comfortably with the home attacks. The Swans' hero Trundle was up for this one and fired some long glances at the away section who questioned his weight! Body strengh is one of the many assets this man has and his quick feet meant we were placing two men on him in the danger areas, all to good effect with Scott Guyett masterful. Mark Wright once said Guyett was the best defender in the lower divisions, and the man we loved to hate at Chester actually made sense for once after the defender's performance today.
The early chances fell to Yeovil, Phil Jevons placing a shot wide of Frenchman Willy Gueret when well placed before late in the half Trundle turned on the proverbial sixpence to send a shot flashing past the post. Time seemed to stop as the ball left his foot, thankfully the crowd did not erupt. The darkness was drawing in, and with it Yeovil's pace and fitness took over to the extent that the final twenty minutes saw Gary Johnsons men control the game. I consider myself quite a patient person but even I was getting a little annoyed as Andrejs Stolcers continually lost possession in their box - one inspirational moment later and with twelve minutes to go the Latvian has produced a piece of magic and the ball hits the net - in front of us. Silence is golden for a split second as the ball rolls down the inside of the netting - you could hear it and it is a beautiful sound. The away section goes nuts and far from going into a shell we continue in the same vein with chances wasted regularly. Chris Weale pulls out a top draw save, but still I am not stressed and cannot understand why. Perhaps the hype really was greater than the event.
Jevvo 2-0, that's it and the home fans make for the exits. It is an excellent display all round from Yeovil, and a great show of support by the home club who produced the league's biggest attendance of the season, probably only to be beaten when they wave farewell to The Vetch when Shrewsbury visit on the final day of the campaign. The league is not won or lost in December, however we looked a different class today and cemented our status in the top three.
Yesterday's match at the Vetch Field between Swansea City and Yeovil Town produced the highest attendance so far of the Coca Cola League Two 2004/05 Season. An impressive 11,225 turned up to watch the 2-0 away win, including around 1,000 travelling Glovers, beating Swansea's Boxing Day attendance for their home match against Boston United.
The Glovers have contributed to two more of the season's best attendances - October's 9,295 crowd at the Memorial Stadium for the 2-2 draw against Bristol Rovers comes in as 4th best and is also Rovers top crowd of the season. Meanwhile Huish Park's top crowd of the season is also currently the 19th best crowd in the league so far.
The full top 20 list can be found here.
A post-match interview with Lee Johnson, following Tuesday's 5-3 win over Cambridge United is now on-line. Find the interview with Lee by heading here or head to the Ciderspace Interviews Section.
1 January 2005 : ...Oh what fun it is to see Yeovil win away!
Yeovil Town moved level on points with league leaders Scunthorpe having secured three crucial points over fellow automatic promotion hopefuls Swansea. Gary Johnson's men recorded their seventh consecutive victory courtesy of second-half goals from Andrejs Stolcers and Phil Jevons (writes George Murray).
It took Lee Trundle just five minutes to show why his name has been linked to several high-profile clubs in recent months, when the prolific striker forced Chris Weale to pull off a fine reflex save low to his left. Chances for Yeovil in the first period were few and far between with captain Terry Skiverton having the best opportunity to break the stalemate but his shot fell agonisingly wide following a corner. Kenny Jackett's side continued to dictate the play and Swansea were unfortunate not to take the lead minutes before half time when Trundle's 20-yard effort glided inches wide of the post.
Phil Jevons had a fantastic opportunity to put Yeovil in the lead straight after the interval but the in-form striker couldn't place his shot on target with just the keeper to beat. Alan Tate thought he had scored for the home side with a 25-yard strike but Yeovil keeper Chris Weale superbly tipped the ball out for a corner. Yeovil began to enjoy a sustained spell of pressure with Bartosz Tarachulski and substitute Arron Davies both coming close to scoring. The Swans were fortunate not to have conceded an own goal midway through the second half after Alan Tate headed Lee Johnson's free kick onto the woodwork. Yeovil finally opened the scoring late on when Andrejs Stolcers was given too much time inside the Swansea penalty area and unleashed an unstoppable drive past Willy Gueret. The Glovers would have felt hard done by if Lee Trundle's acrobatic bicycle kick had found the back of the net, but luck was at hand for Yeovil as the ball stuck the outside of the post and went wide. Phil Jevons doubled Yeovil's lead in injury time when he shrugged off two challenges and stabbed the ball home following a fine individual display.
Final score: Swansea City 0 - 2 Yeovil Town.
The Glovers didn't come through the match unscathed. Lee Johnson, substituted on 80 minutes, has a groin strain - it's not known yet whether he'll be fit for the visit of Shrewsbury this Monday. Michael Rose was taken off at half-time with an ankle injury and Colin Miles was a late withdrawal 30 minutes before the match with his own version of a dodgy ankle. Again, it's too early to say if either player will be fit for Monday's game v Shrewsbury.
League leaders Scunthorpe faltered again, losing 0-1 at home to Darlington and having danger-man Andy Butler sent off for violent conduct, an automatic 3 game ban. The Iron stay on top of the table on goal difference with 49 points, the same total as the 2nd placed Glovers. Swansea remain 3rd on 45 points, 4 points ahead of 4th placed Southend who cruised past Rushden with a 3-0 win today. Northampton move up to 5th place on 40 points and have a game in hand over the top 4. Monday's opponents Shrewsbury beat Bristol Rovers 2-0 at Gay Meadow to move up to 21st place in the table.
Converted winger and crowd favourite Kevin Gall is December's Internet Fans' Player of the Month. The former Welsh u-21 international edged out Polish striker Bartosz Tarachulski to the honour after being voted MOTM in 3 of December's games, whereas Bartosz was voted as MOTM twice. Darren Way picked up the other MOTM accolade in the month, and finished in 3rd place in the month's poll.
Gall (on top): "Who's the daddy now, Bartosz?"