February 2026 (Page 3)

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It was a long trek for supporters making the almost 700-mile journey to Cumbria yesterday and the journey home after a 3-0 defeat felt a lot longer. Gloverscast Ben (who had a slightly shorter journey, it has to be said) was on co-commentary duty at Brunton Park and here are his conclusions.

Heads dropped: I will get to the football in a minute, but I do think it’s worth making a point about the body language our football club as a whole is offering up at the moment. The third Carlisle goal on the stroke of half-time was the killer blow for the game itself but, it came in part because heads had already begun to drop and frustrations had kicked in. Even the manager, Billy Rowley, who wears his heart on his sleeve and kicks and heads every ball, was starting to get frustrated, water bottles got kicked and on a couple of occasions, Brett McGavin exchanged ‘pleasantries’ with someone on the Glovers’ bench.

At half-time, our subs had a leisurely walk around kicking a ball, whilst the Carlisle bench had cones, structure and a coach making sure their replacements were ready at the drop of a hat. Players were getting wound up with one another and that’s all giving off the wrong image and setting the wrong tone.

I believe that emotions are high and that I want my players playing on the edge, but let’s remember that achieving our goals comes with….unity. Its written on our kit. Frustration can be a force for good when channeled correctly.

Yeovil Town on the defensive in the first half yesterday.

There was a Jake Wannell shaped hole at the back:

Remember the days of the consistent back line of Michael Smith, Morgan Williams, Jake Wannell and Alex Whittle Oh, what we would give for that kind of consistency right now. Now, that is not to say that Finn Cousin-Dawson, who was my Man of the Match, Declan Skura and Kyle Ferguson don’t have their attributes, they absolutely do. But I am not sure organisation is one of them.

The first goal comes from a second phase of play where players don’t have a grasp on where their player has drifted off to and how to organise with the ball coming back in. That’s where we need someone to set the tone and get the defence set. We missed our skipper.

We need to talk about Ryan Jones: It sounds odd that adding a transfer fee to someone adds pressure straight away, but I think I am not the only one who was hoping for a bit more from him in this part of the season. I do not know if the right wing/wing back/right back is quite where we’ll get the best out of him long term.

I am fully appreciative that any move into a new team requires time to bed in and get used to a new set up, but for a player who we know is very good for this level, I think I would like to see a bit more between now and the end of the season.

Ryan Jones in his days at Aldershot Town

We looked a lot better in the second half: Did Carlisle take their foot off the gas? Maybe a bit, but their substitutes all had a point to prove coming on and certainly did not slow up. (I could make a separate point about squad depth, Regan Linney and Chris Conn-Clarke off the bench? Are you serious? Silly depth).

But, we got chalk on the boots of Jones and Daly and they both looked far more comfortable working with those around them to create plenty of moments that were… nearly… brilliant. I can’t count the number of times we did so much of the nice build up stuff only for the final ball/cross/shot to be naff. Ugh.

I’m not panicking – yet.

Seriously, I am not. There are certain corners of the Internet that have already booked their trains to a range of National League South towns and have started pointing their fingers at any range of people on the pitch, in dug outs, board rooms and wherever else they want to find blame.

That’s not going to help is it? The gap is five points…. to 11th. And I know that is not as click baity as “AFC Yeovil, who’s in?“, but it is true. Let’s try and give the players the belief that one good performance / result and we’re in touching distance of the top half.

That’s bonkers. There are 14 games to go. Every team in the bottom half has to play those around them. Pick the battles, be up for Sutton at home on Wednesday night, but also Tamworth. Things could look different then, but there is so much football to be played.

If any player is reading this, turn the Internet off. Mute the #YTFC hashtag and get your motivation from those who gave you everything at Carlisle, those who’ll be at Southport and wherever else this season takes us. Up the Glovers. Achieve by Unity.

Achieve by Unity – it used to be written all over us.

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Ref, Referee, Match Official

Son of former Premier League referee Paul Durkin, James is the match official who will look after the Glovers’ game vs Sutton United this midweek.

We haven’t seen James for a little while actually, not since a 1-1 draw away at Aldershot in April 2023. Six Glovers got booked that day, including both Coopers.

In total, we’ve had him six times, just winning the one – a 2-1 win over Bromley in 2022.

As an additional quirk, back on 27th October, 2010, he took charge of this exact fixture. That game ended in a 2-1 win for Sutton; Joe Quigley scoring in between two Harry Beautyman efforts.

So far, this season, he’s taken charge of 25 games across six competitions, dishing out a clean 100 cards (4 per game on average for the maths wizzes) six reds and nine penalties have also been at the centre of his matches.

He has already seen a Sutton United game this season, a 4-2 defeat away at Wealdstone.

Adam Wilson and James Tewson will be on flagging duties with Jack Clench the fourth official.

Yeovil Town FC (First Team) v Sutton United FC (First Team)
National League – Premier
Referee: Durkin, James
Assistant Referee: Wilson, Adam
Assistant Referee: Tewson, James
Fourth Official: Clench, Jack

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Luke McCormick was left frustrated on one of the ‘proudest moments’ of his career as he skippered the Glovers on the 3-0 loss at Carlisle.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins, McCormick said: “[I’m] very frustrated probably one of the proudest moments in my career, on a personal note, wearing the armband today for this football club. Obviously tarnished by the result seeing the traveling fans and the numbers that they travelled in. Yeah, really disappointing day, gutted, very emotional.  All I can say is, on behalf of me and all the boys, we can only apologise and try and put things right on Wednesday.”

Falling behind early was – clearly – not part of the plan and McCormick said he knows what to do in this situation. [I’m not sure what situation he’s referring to here, nothing to worry about all…]: “You go away from home, a lot of the messages up and down the country will be very similar. We had a game plan, and unfortunately, we didn’t execute that today. Yes, this is roll your sleeves up time. It’s not getting bogged down. I’ve been in these situations before. The only way out of this is to stick together. That’s everyone, that’s the whole football club and everyone involved, to help your mate out to do a little bit more if you can, because you can always do more. And yeah, like I said, go again Wednesday, and that, for me, is a must-win game of football.”

McCormick added that the defeat to the high-flyers didn’t dictate the mentality going into the Sutton United fixture at Huish Park on Wednesday.

“I don’t think that’s dictated by the result here today. I think to come here and and lose is obviously not what we wanted to do. We go to every ground to win the game of football, but it doesn’t always work out like that. Make no bones about it, these teams that are in around us, these are massive games. Yeovil is a massive football club for the division alone. We need to steer clear of this scrap, we need to steer clear of this fight. And I think there’s enough in this dressing room, and there’s enough of good people at this football club that we will.

“We’re in a business end of the calendar, so we need to pick up points, and like I say, we move on to Wednesday, we dust ourselves off. Thank you very much to the traveling fans, each and every one of them, the people that watch the home,” McCormick added.

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Yeovil Town were put to the sword by promotion-chasing Carlisle United in a match that left Billy Rowley frustrated with the scoreline.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins, the manager said: “[I’m] Really frustrated with the result of the game. I’ll have to dive deeper into this in the next 24 hours. But, my gut tells me that we had some really decent spells in the game. At the moment, I think this is natural for when you’re at the the other end of the table. You tend to tense up when you’re around the other team’s box and you’re not in flow state, and you’re not loose, and you’re not finding the right pass.

Rowley added: “I can think in the first half we got to the edge of their box, and we had a shot from 25 yards when you probably had two extra players on the outside, and you could probably work a better chance, but we’re just sort of snatching at efforts. And then the flip side, Carlisle are obviously at the the opposite end of the division. They’ve got some some really talented players that are obviously in good form and when they get in and around your box, they tend to look a bit more cutthroat with the final action and they were better in both boxes. But I thought from 18 [yard box] to 18 it was dead even, and I think we had some some decent spells.”

It took just five minutes for Carlisle to take the lead through Morgan Feeney and that annoyed Rowley: “The first goal comes really early, which is so, so annoying, so frustrating. And, it just comes from a poor clearance, and then a ball in the box, and then that’s it. And then the second goal is obviously a penalty, which is just really frustrating. If you’re getting carved open and you’re just miles off it, then you can kind of accept that. I do still feel in the first 25-30 minutes, I thought our organisation was okay, but I felt we could have got to the ball a little bit more, and we could have got in their faces a little bit more, which we changed at halftime, and I felt like we did that well in the second half.”

Ryan Galvin put the match to bed in the third minute of first half stoppage time, a goal which Rowley said made the mountain insurmoutable: “It was obviously a dagger to the heart when they go and score in the 45th minute, because you go in at two nil, and you think, you score in this game anywhere up to probably 80 minutes, and you got a chance, but you go in three-nil, and you’re looking for a miracle. The mountain was far too high for us at that point.”

The Glovers were without the suspended duo of Jake Wannell and Aaron Jarvis, although welcomed back Alex Whittle to the bench, but the manager felt they missed the influence of the experience.

“We’ve got a small squad at the moment. We’re just about filling benches every week. Whitts and Page, were on the bench today, but they haven’t really featured in weeks – Whitts in months – so we were bare bones to an extent on the bench. Naturally missing any players, Jake – Captain – and Jarvs – obviously a target man that can relieve pressure at times – are big misses,” Rowley said

“The message to the group has been, regardless, if you’re 31 years old or you’re 19 on loan, I think when you cross a white line on a football pitch you’ve got to man up, and you’ve got to stand up to be counted, and even small things like when you’re taking a thrown in, communicating with people. And it’s small, basic things which we have to improve on, and we have to find the one and two percents and if we do that, we’ll be fine.”

Yeovil held Carlisle, who admittedly took their foot off the gas, in the second half but did show improvements after the break and manager said he wanted his team to have more of the ball.

“We just spoke about getting the ball back more often. I felt like Macca [Luke McCormick] and Tav were sort of leading the press in the first half, and it’s difficult because they’re dealing with four players in how we were pressing today, but I felt like the intensity to get to the ball could have been better. So we adjusted that. We did it, and then we started to regain the ball more and when you regain the ball more, you have more of the ball yourself. I’m really annoyed to concede three goals because the score line looks bad. I don’t think it was. It was a dreadful performance by any means.”

Attention turns to Wednesday now with the visit of Sutton United – who beat Wealdstone 3-0 today – and the fixture is pivotal as the Glovers look to increase the five-point gap from the bottom four.

“We’re aware of the situation we’re in. We understand what we need to do. We need to stick together, we need to work hard, we need to train well. And there can be no blame. People need to take ownership, including myself. We know we’re approaching a big game on Wednesday, and every game is that, at the moment, we’re fighting for three points in every game, regardless of who we’re playing, and we’ve just got to reset and make sure we’re ready for Wednesday.”

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Yeovil Town were sunk by three first half goals at Carlisle United as they dropped to one place above the National League Premier Division relegation zone.

The Glovers were outclassed from the moment Morgan Feeney headed the home side in front after just five minutes before Luke Armstrong added a second from the penalty spot and then Ryan Galvin added a third in first half stoppage time.

The second half was a more even affair as Carlisle took their foot off the gas, but remained in complete control.

The gap between us and the bottom four is the same as it was before the game, but Wednesday night’s home match with Sutton United is looking enormous.

First half

It was the worst possible start for a Yeovil side already low on confidence after the midweek defeat at home to Aldershot Town after they went a goal down after just five minutes. A corner was defended but Ryan Jones played a lazy ball forward which landed straight to the feet of Ellis who swung a ball over to the back post where Morgan FEENEY rose to head in and of the post.
A good ball forward by Brett McGavin set James Daly free down the left after 11 minutes and the winger was brought down by McAdam. A free kick was on target and well punched away by Gabe Breeze in the hosts goal.
On 17 minutes what looked like it was going to be a long afternoon looked even longer. A foul by Finn Cousin-Dawson inside the box handed the home side a chance to double their advantage from the penalty spot. With Jed Ward in goal you always have a chance, but Luke ARMSTRONG made no mistake and sent the keeper the wrong way.
The dangerous Ajiboye had two efforts just off target soon after but it is clear Carlisle are a cut above us. Everything they do looks assured and deliberate, whereas we look as if we need an assist from Lady Luck to fashion a chance.
How we were not three down with 41 minutes gone is beyond me. A corner bouncing in literally on Jed Ward’s goal line had both ex-Glovers’ defender Bevis Mugabi and Armstrong in close proximity but neither could steer it home.
On the stroke of half time, it was 3-0 and and again so simple. Three minutes in to first half stoppage time, a flowing Carlisle move saw Ryan GALVIN released inside the box and he stroked home the third. It was the least they deserved.

Half time: Carlisle United 3 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

There was a notable drop in the intensity of Carlisle from the start of the second half which gave Yeovil the chance to get forward a little more without ever testing keeper Gabe Breeze.

But it was Armstrong who had the first chance of the second half when his stroke from outside the box was pushed away by Ward with 51 minutes gone.

There were attacks by Yeovil with Josh Sims switching sides to try and fashion a chance, but you got the impression Carlisle were happy to let us had possession in the knowledge we had no cutting edge to cause a threat. There were three corners in quick success which could effectively be catching practice for Breeze.

Carlisle keeper Gabe Breeze catches another.

Armstrong put one wide for Carlisle after 68 minutes before a moment which summed up our ineptitude in front of goal. Campbell bundled his way forward down the right, tried to lay it off to Luke McCormick only for the ball to run behind him as far as James Daly who smashed it high over the bar.

On 75 minutes, Carlisle introduced two attacking players valued in six-figure fees in Chris Conn-Clarke and Reagan Linney, we brought on Terrell Works and Harvey Greenslade. There are levels to this game.

As the game pushes in to the final ten minutes, Carlisle pushed to extend their lead and Conn-Clarke had a goal disallowed for offside before Hugh Parker was denied by Ward from a one on one chance on the edge of the area.

There was a welcome return to action for Alex Whittle who was introduced with four minutes remaining, but overall it was a miserable afternoon for those supporters who face not seeing home until the early hours of tomorrow morning.

Full time: Carlisle United 3 Yeovil Town 0

Match Details

Venue: Brunton Park
Date: Saturday 21st February, 3pm kick-off

Competition: Enterprise National League

Scorers: Morgan Feeney 5, Luke Armstrong pen 17, Ryan Galvin 45+3

Pitch: Excellent, you can tell Carlisle invest a lot in it.
Conditions: Cold but mercifully not as wet as the forecast predicted.

Attendance: 6,655 (145 away supporters)

Bookings:
Yeovil Town: None
Carlisle United: Harvey Macadam 7

Referee: Michael Barlow

Yeovil Town

Substitutes: Terrell Works (for Ryan Jones, 74), Harvey Greenslade (for James Daly, 74), Troy Perrett (for Dakari Mafico, 80), Jonathon Page (for Brett McGavin, 86), Alex Whittle (for Luke McCormick, 86), Joy Mukena (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Carlisle United: Gabe Breeze, Morgan Feeney, David Ajiboye (for Hugh Parker, 78), Ryan Galvin, Elliot Embleton (for Regan Linney, 74), Stephen Wearne (for Chris Conn-Clarke, 74), Jack Ellis, Alex Gilliead, Bevis Mugabi, Luke Armstrong (for Charlie Wyke, 78), Harry McAdam (for Terrell Thomas, 74).

Substitutes (not used): Archie Mair, Cameron Harper.

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Yeovil Town have made four changes for today’s game a third-placed Carlisle United (3pm kick-off).

Tahvon Campbell, Josh Sims, Ryan Jones and Kyle Ferguson all return following the 3-1 home defeat to Aldershot Town on Tuesday night.

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Yeovil Town make the almost 700-mile round trip to Carlisle United as they face the third-placed Cumbrians on Saturday afternoon.

FORM…

YEOVIL TOWN

The Glovers didn’t have the best of games last time out as they were beaten 2-1 by Aldershot Town. Although it wasn’t the strongest of performances by the home side, The Shots have been in good form themselves, currently sitting second in the form tables since their new manager, John Coleman arrived.

Yeovil boss Billy Rowley admitted after the game his side were not ready for the battle with the Hampshire side. Which was clear to see through the efforts of Yeovil’s strikers when they didn’t mop up Jake Wannell’s headers into the six yard box. Talking of Wannell he will miss the Carlisle game through suspension after picking up his 10th yellow of the season.

Yeovil Town vs Aldershot.
Yeovil Town vs Aldershot.

CARLISLE UNITED

The Cumbrians currently occupy third place in the league and their last five games have shown why. Out of those five games, United have won three against good opposition, such as Forest Green. However, the two teams they lost to, are the two teams that sit above them in the league, York City and Rochdale.

It was in their last fixture against the aforementioned Forest Green that they showed why they deserve to be third. Away from home, most teams would try to feel their way into the match. Carlisle, didn’t need time to settle netting the opener in the 11th minute, through Stephen Wearne. A second followed 11 minutes later as Morgan Feeney doubled the Cumbrians lead, before David Ajiboye effectively ended the match in the 29th minute when he bagged his teams third. Rovers scored a consolation in the 52nd minute through Jay Mingi.

Fun Fact: Since the beginning of the year, Carlisle have scored two more goals in every game they have picked up points in.

KEY PLAYERS…

YEOVIL TOWN – JED WARD

By now I think I may just keep this section for Ward. The shot stopper is exactly that, a shot stopper, which was on full display on Tuesday night. The young keeper pulled off a string of saves that kept Yeovil in a game that should have probably got away from them. To put it bluntly, if it wasn’t for Ward we would be staring down the barrel of the National League South.

Jed Ward with a fine save against Aldershot.

The game against Aldershot wasn’t even a good game by the 22-year-olds standards. He had a couple of handling errors, some stray distribution and what will hurt most two goals conceded. But as I said above, if he wasn’t in goal we have been beaten by more. 

CARLISLE UNITED – DAVID AJIBOYE

Ajiboye has been in fine form since New Year’s Eve. In the last month and a half, the 27-year-old has bagged four goals, with three being in the last two games. He has pitched in with two assists in that time as well. The forwards uptick in form coincides with the fact striker Regan Linney has been out the side with and injury. Now, I’m not saying when Linney plays the directive has been to give him the ball, but more players like Ajiboye have come a light in that time.

Positionally, AJiboye has been often deployed on the right hand side of the front line. His heat map shows he sits just off the right side of the 18-yard box with not much tracking back. The former Peterborough man will be one to watch on Saturday.

THE GAFFER…

It’s none other than Mr Wales himself, Mark Hughes, in the opposition dugout this weekend. A superstar in his playing days, Hughes turned out for Manchester United, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich  and famously played for both Wales and Bayern on the same day in 1987.

Now 61, Hughes has managed at the highest level with Wales, Manchester City, and Stoke. After a tough spell at Southampton in 2018, he returned to management with Bradford City in 2022, earning Manager of the Month before being dismissed a year later.

Following another short break, he took charge at Brunton Park, staying on despite Carlisle’s relegation to the National League. Hughes, has guided Carlisle to third in the league and will be looking for instant promotion this season. He is also an idol of Yeovil boss Billy Rowley.

Hughes has faced the Glovers once in his managerial career drawing that game.

LAST TIME WE MET…

The last time the two side met was in the return fixture earlier this season when they played out a 1-1 draw at Huish Park. No Yeovil player scored that day as Morgan Feeney put the Glovers ahead with an own goal in the 15th minute. Carlisle did get their equaliser in the 68th minute however through Harvey Macadam.
Morgan Wiliams the last time we faced Carlisle United.
Pic C/O Gary Brown

DON’T I KNOW YOU…

Just the one  recognisable face for the travelling Glovers on Saturday with centre-back Bevis Mugabi now plying his trade in Cumbria. Mugabi made 102 appearances for Yeovil during his two-year spell at the club.

THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE…

Greg Rollason is the man in charge for this fixture. For more information on him and his team for Tuesday night check out Ben’s article – here.