February 2026

Yeovil Town’s FA Trophy dreams ended with a penalty shoot-out defeat at the hands of National League North side Southport.

The Glovers took the lead just before the half-time break when James Daly pounced on a mistake by the hosts’ defence to fire home his third goal in two matches, but after the interval the Glovers were battered by wave after wave of attacks from the Sandgrounders.

In front of vociferous home crowd of more than 3,000, it always seemed like an equaliser was coming and it arrived with just two minutes remaining when Ted Lavelle lashed home a thunderous strike.

That left the result down to the lottery of penalties and after Brett McGavin confidently thundered home the opening spot kick, Aaron Jarvis and captain Jake Wannell failed to even hit the target with their efforts.

Jed Ward’s save from Lavelle with Southport’s fourth penalty only delayed the inevitable and Danny Lloyd booked the Merseyside outfit in to the competition’s semi-finals when he fired home the winner.

First half

Mafico playing further forward is looking for opportunities to get on the ball and when he does he looks capable to creating something.

The home side had their first effort on goal just before the half-hour mark when a free-kick was cleared as far as Jordan Slew whose low effort was dived on by Jed Ward this near post.

Campbell created another opening after 40 minutes after a neat interchange with Mafico and stumbled his way over a few challenges but couldn’t get his shot away.

But with three minutes of the first half remaining, Yeovil took the lead. James DALY seized on a loose back pass from Burgess rounded the keeper and fired home.

Half time: Southport 0 Yeovil Town 1

Second half

Striker Aaron Jarvis, who travelled up separately after suffering with food poisoning, replaced Campbell at the start of the second half.

Southport suffered a blow after 52 minutes when goalkeeper Pickford, on loan from Premier League Everton, was forced to go off with injury replaced by Chris Renshaw.

The hosts created an opening on 54 minutes when a long ball forward found Sze in a tussle with Mafico, but his shot was over. Moments later he smashed on straight at Ward.

You get the feeling it is going to take more than one goal to settle this and Mafico tried to find one but fired his effort in to the side netting.

Southport had another opening when Ward raced to the edge of his box and Sze got round him but Mukena was back to clear the danger. The home side are putting some pressure on here and the big crowd inside Haig Avenue feels like it is ready to explode in to life.

On 64 minutes, Harvey Greenslade and Troy Perrett replaced Whittle and Mafico, and then the lesser spotted Dan Ellison came on in place of Mukena nine minutes later.

Soon after his arrival Greenslade was released down the right but fires high and wide. We have struggled to keep possession when we had it and are dropping deeper and deeper as Southport press forward in search of an equaliser.

The home side had a golden opportunity to level with six minutes later. Ward pushed a shot out as far as Eze who had only keeper to beat and lifted it over the bar. We are hanging on here.

Exactly what looked like it was going to happen happened two minutes from time. An 88th minute clearance landed to Ted LAVELLE who smashed a beautiful shot in to the top corner. You can’t say they don’t deserve it and Haigh Avenue is rocking.

We have looked like a different team since the substitutes. Sat too deep, let them play and invited the pressure and, to their credit, Southport have taken it with both hands and deserve their chance to progress to the semi-finals in a penalty shoot-out.