Source: Terry Fisher

Lady Glovers finish fourth

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Yeovil Town manager Jamie Sherwood would not be able to tell you much about Yeovil Town’s winning penalty against Durham as he opted not to watch – but he knows enough about his team to know they are all set-up to push on next season.

Sherwood continued a career-long habit of letting his players do the talking from the penalty spot as he looked away while Corinne Yorston stepped up in the 89th minute to give her side victory. The result meant his side finished fourth in the table, missing out on third by goal difference alone.

And the Lady Glovers manager believes performances this season shows his team are slowly building up a head of steam in FA WSL2.

“We set a three-year objective at the beginning of the season just gone; we’re in year one of it and we are fourth – tied on third and only separated by goal difference,” he said. “We are not too far away, we know we’ve dropped silly points this year, but that’ll come with maturity for the group.

“Once we get that sorted, we will grow; this season was the growing part, but next season we will go out and make our statement.

“I’ve never watched a penalty since I started coaching and managing, I trust the players that they know what to do, so I didn’t watch it,” he said.

“For a left-back to score goals the way that she (Corinne Yorston) has scored this year shows the quality that she’s got; but – as I’ve always said – it’s not just about the one person, we always make sure that we play football for the unit and we’ve got players who can finish it off – and she’s certainly done that.”

It was the visitors Durham who enjoyed the best of the early chances with both Rachel Lee and Rachel Atkinson drawing saves out of Charlotte Haynes.

But Yeovil grew into the match with Sarah Wiltshire in particularly proving lively including firing over the bar in the second half.

And with time almost up, Wiltshire was again involved as she was fouled in the box and Yorston stepped up to convert.

“I’m gutted we lost but I think the players gave us 110%, I couldn’t have asked for any more on the last game of the season and it’s just a shame that we didn’t get the three points,” said Durham manager Andy Thorpe. “Any other day that shot from Rachel Lee early on would go in the back of the net, but give their keeper credit, it was a top save.

“Any other team and that would have gone it the back of the net.

“We’ve done better than we did last season, our target this season was to get more points and we’ve achieved that.

“We’ve got a stronger squad and we’ll look to build on that and we’re looking ahead to next season now.

“We’ll be aiming for a top four finish and there’s no reason why we can’t aim for that.”

Yeovil Town: Charlotte Haynes, Ellie Issac, Corinne Yorston, Nicola Cousins, Sarah Wiltshire, Steph Williams, Annie Heatherson, Ellie Curson, Ellis Hillman, Sammy Quayle, Helen Bleazard

Substitutes: Shauna Cossens for Williams (68), Natasha Knapman for Quaye (77), Donovan for Hillman (90)

Substitutes not used: Natalie Haigh, Alys Hinchcliffe,

Durham: Helen Alderson, Ellie Christon, Julie Nelson, Sarah Wilson, Becky Beech, Beth Hepple, Rachel Lee, Jordan Atkinson, Natalie Gutteridge, Courtney Corrie, Gemma Purfed,

Substitutes: Anna Moorhouse for Lee (86), Jess White for Atkinson (90)

Substitutes not used: Erika Warden

Referee: Gary Parsons

Attendance: 475

Report courtesy of Yeovil Town Ladies FC