Match Report: Southend United 2 Yeovil Town 1
2026-03-31
Yeovil Town fell to defeat after a game of two halves at FA Trophy finalists Southend United on Tuesday night.
The Glovers fell behind after just four minutes when Gus Scott-Morriss fired home to get Root’s Hall rocking and the home side were better in every department in the opening 45 minutes.
But, whatever was said by manager Billy Rowley at half-time, it worked and Yeovil deservedly levelled through a Goal of the Season contender from captain Jake Wannell who stroked a sumptuous effort in with 64 minutes on the clock.
Then with six minutes left Keenan Appiah-Forson headed home from close range for a hotly-disputed winner which the Yeovil players did not think crossed the line.
First half
If there was a nightmare start which Yeovil boss Billy Rowley dreamt about the night before, it could not have been much worse than the one he watched after four minutes.
A great ball in from the left side from Harry Boyes was met by the head of Keenan Appiah-Forson in the middle, Jed Ward made a fantastic stop to push it out but it only went as far as Gus SCOTT-MORRISS who lashed the Shrimpers in front. A lazy tackle to allow Boyes to get the ball in and only Alex Whittle was in the middle of the six-yard box to mark two Southend players. Ward did his best, but he can only do so much.
We are playing slowly here and Southend are having the opportunity to reset every time we have it, the fatigue we have heard about looks to be kicking in already. We simply cannot keep up with the pace of this game. On 13 minutes, Charley Kendall, who was causing all sorts of issues down the left, broke forward and fired in an effort which Ward had to tip over the bar for a corner and shortly after a ball fizzed across the face of the Glovers’ goal where mercifully there was no-one there to turn it home.
The one way traffic continued as the game progressed and Southend are getting corner after corner whilst we can never get the ball out of our own half. It took more than 20 minutes for keeper Collin Ndeng-Adi to get his first touch, and that was to play the ball out. He did more in the warm-up than his has had to do in the first half of this half.
That man Kendall had time and space down the left cut in to the box and fed it in to Appiah-Forson whose effort went over the bar with two Yeovil in close proximity. Jed Ward goes down for treatment and Rowley screams for his players to come over for a new team talk. Into ’em, Billy!
On the half-hour mark, Wannell tried to head away under pressure from Andrew Dallas before Ward fell on the ball, before the keeper came to the rescue (yet) again this time to deny Kendall. The last few minutes we have at least made it a little more difficult for Southend, but the balls are still coming in from both flanks and we continue to be penned in to our own half. We are doing some of the ugly stuff which we were not doing in the first 25 minutes, but still not cutting off the source of the danger.
38 minutes played, Will Merry presses forward and has what we could charitably call a shot which Ndeng-Adi has to put his hands down to stop, but he barely broke a sweat. It’s a good forward run by the Southampton youngster but that’s about it.
Five minutes from half-time, a ball in to the box from the left (again) and its going towards Scott-Morriss who gets a hand (maybe two) in the back from Jake Wannell. Referee Abigail Byrne is unmoved, but I think we have got away with one there – and so does the home crowd.
As the clock ticked down to the interval, Rowley will have been hoping to get through to half-time just a goal behind. His heart would have been in his mouth on 43 minutes when Boyes fired in to the six yard box and Andrew Dallas was there to stab it home. Lady Luck was on Yeovil’s side again as the assistant’s flag was raised for an offside.
To say we are fortunate to only be one goal down at the break would be an understatement.
Half time: Southend United 1 Yeovil Town 0
Second half
Aaron Jarvis arrived at the interval, replacing Delano McCoy-Splatt, and playing through the middle. Merry is on the right side and Terrell Works on the left, hopefully to try and get joy in wide positions as they watched
Two minutes in to the second half and Ndeng-Adi had his first work to do. Daly hits a low shot from distance and the keeper has to get down to turn it away for a corner. Five minutes in and we are already looking to compete for the ball more than the supporters who made the trip to Root’s Hall saw in the first half.
Whatever Billy Rowley said to his players at the interval, it has made a difference, we look a completely different side. Brett McGavin sails a free-kick over the bar around the hour mark, but we have shown more effort in this opening 15 minutes.
I told you it was getting better and on 64 minutes, Yeovil drew level – and in some style. A free-kick was easily cleared as far as as Works who gave it to Jake WANNELL inside the area and he caressed a sumptuous shot past Ndeng-Adi. What a finish that is from the central defender. Take a bow!
On 70 minutes, Boyes smashed a fantastic shot in from outside the box and Ward does superbly to tip it over the bar and from the resulting corner Golding has an effort punched away by the on loan Bristol Rovers keeper. Southend are rallying and they make a quadruple change with Jack Bridge, Tom Hopper, Sam Austin and Alfie Massey came on with 73 minutes played.
There is a second wind blowing in this Southend side, but Rowley and his assistant Darren Simpson have got his tactics spot in this half, they are stopped the hosts coming through the middle of the pitch as they were doing at will in the opening 45 minutes.
But, with six minutes of remaining, Southend’s pressure told and they regained the lead. A ball bouncing around the box and substitute Austin heads it to the back post where Keenan APPIAH-FORSON headed it goalwards, Ward seems to claim it but the assistant insists he can see through a crowd of bodies to tell it is over the line. Wannell goes in to the book for his protests, the Yeovil players are furious. That is harsh on the visitors, who have looked much better in this half.
Millar Matthews-Lewis was thrown on as an 87th minute substitute and in second half stoppage time, the on loan Burton Albion man did well to make time for himself inside a crowded area and thrashed an effort just the wrong side of the post.
Full time: Southend United 2 Yeovil Town 1
Match Details
Venue: Root’s Hall
Date: Tuesday 31st March, 7.45pm kick-off
Competition: National League Premier Division
Scorers: Gus Scott-Moriss 4 (0-1), Jake Wannell 64 (1-1)
Pitch: Patchy in places
Conditions: Cold
Attendance: 7,793 (68 away supporters)
Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Jake Wannell 85
Southend United: Oli Coker 11, Gus Scott-Moriss 38, Harry Boyes 89
Referee: Abigail Byrne
Yeovil Town
Substitutes: Aaron Jarvis (for Delano McCoy-Splatt, 46), Harvey Greenslade (for Terrell Works, 81), Millar Matthews-Lewis (for Will Merry, 87), Jaydon Biss (not used), Ollie Hughes (not used), Matt Gould (not used).
Southend United: Collin Andeng-Ndi, Gus Scott-Morriss, Harry Taylor, James Golding, Joe Gubbins (for Jack Bridge, 73), Harry Boyes, Keenan Appiah-Forson, James Morton (for Alfie Massey, 73), Oli Coker (for Sam Austin, 73), Andrew Dallas (for Ben Goodliffe, 90+1), Charley Kendall (for Tom Hopper, 73).
Substitutes (not used): Noah Mawene, Josh Walker.
Rowley: Daly is fresh and ready
2026-03-31
Yeovil Town manager Billy Rowley has said that forward James Daly is “fresh” for tonight’s visit to FA Trophy finalists Southend United.
The forward, who has seven goals this season including two in his last three outings, was a second half substitute in the 2-1 defeat at Gateshead at the weekend, but has been brought back in to the starting XI in Essex.
He is joined by Southampton Under-21s loanee Will Merry, who appeared as a 62nd minute substitute on Saturday, in the line-up. The pair replace Millar Matthews-Lewis, who is named on the bench, and the suspended Finn Cousin-Dawson.
Speaking about the changes to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins ahead of kick-off, Rowley said: “The plan was to rest James Daly in the first half at Gateshead, he got through ridiculous running distance at Wealdstone (last Wednesday), even when we were down to ten men he was acting like two players for us. He was really tight and tender on Saturday, so we felt it would be stupid to wheel him out against Gateshead and in this game and on Friday (against Truro City), so we decided to pick the Gateshead game as a rest for JD with an eye on getting him fresh. He is fresh, he feels good tonight and will be ready to go.
“Will comes in for a debut, I liked what I saw from Will at the weekend. He is a technical footballer who has grown up in a great academy at Southampton, he carries the ball superbly and is a good athlete. I feel like on this pitch and with the way Southend are quite front-footed and are going to put us under pressure, we need people who can not only run in behind but carry the ball well and he is definitely one of those.”
Southend are sat in the National League Premier Division’s final play-off place with games in hand over the teams around them and will be on a high having booked a place at Wembley in the Trophy final with a win at Southport, the team which put the Glovers out in the quarter-finals, at the weekend.
Asked whether the high of success would work in his side’s favour tonight, Rowley added: “We will see. We both had similar travel at the weekend and had a similar type of game and had similar rests. We had a couple of good results before Saturday and I feel we are in good spirits in terms of clarity and shape, we are trying to keep things as straightforward as we can.
“We are coming up against a team (in Southend) which has play-off calibre players, they have a big squad, good manager, so this is going to be a very difficult game, probably one of our toughest in recent months. We are going to have to be at our best to get anything here, but I have a good feeling we could be at our best.
“We have a good group of lads who have been through a lot of turmoil this season. I am the fourth manager who has stood in front of them trying to motivate them, but I can honestly say they are good professionals. Regardless of the game, they are trying to run and trying to win. Sometimes we perform well and sometimes we don’t, that is natural, but we are looking for whether we can work really hard and can we play well tonight.“
Team News: Southend United (away)
2026-03-31
James Daly returns to the Yeovil Town starting XI for tonight’s visit to FA Trophy finalists Southend United (7.45pm kick-off).
The seven-goal forward is joined by Southampton Under-21s loanee Will Merry with Millar Matthews-Lewis, on loan from Burton Albion, returning to the bench having started in the 2-1 defeat at Gateshead at the weekend.
The other absentee is Finn Cousin-Dawson who is suspended after a late sending off on Tyneside.
Match Preview: Southend United vs Yeovil Town
2026-03-30
It’s a third away game in a row for Yeovil Town, as the travel to Essex to face Southend United on Tuesday night.
FORM…
YEOVIL TOWN
The clocks may have gone forward but unfortunately the Glovers momentum stalled as they succumbed to 2-1 loss at the hands of Gateshead. After a slight pick up in form in recent games for the Green and White’s, Saturday saw a very tired side made to look like they had travelled the 350 miles they just completed.
Now it’s not an excuse for an average performance but it is very valid context. In the last month alone the Glovers have played eight times, twice a week or 180 minutes every seven days, with at most three days recovery. It’s not sustainable for players at this level to keep the good performances going week in, week out, so I sympathise with squad. What is less acceptable is seeing your centre back lunge into a challenge in the 93rd minute and get himself suspended for the next three games (I’m looking at you Fin Cousin-Dawson).
SOUTHEND
The Shrimpers have played well over their last five games with three wins, a draw and a loss to their name. That run of form has seen them cement their challenge for the playoffs, where they currently lie seventh in the league.
United will be riding the crest of a wave as well going into Tuesday, after they booked their place at Wembley, beating Southport 1-3 in the FA Trophy. The Shrimpers had their backs against the wall early on as they went 1-0 after Chris Sze opened the scoring. A halftime talking to was just what the Seasiders needed, as they proved their quality in the second 45 minutes. A Charlie Kendall brace bookended the scoring with for Southend with Jack Bridge also finding the back of the net.
KEY PLAYERS…
YEOVIL TOWN – JOSH SIMS
I thought I would change it up this week from the James Daly show and pick his partner in crime. Sims, started the season well and will be remembered for picking up the sack of spuds for scoring the Glovers first goal of the season. But with the change in managers and dips in out of form that brings, the 29-year-old was no different to his team mates. Even in Billy Rowley’s first few months there seemed a spark missing form the winger.
However, over the past month and a half, the ex-Southampton has shown why he has 20 Premier League appearances to his name. Although maybe not scoring or providing the goals that Daly does, Sims has been influential in bringing the best out of Daly and vice versa. The two of them always look like they are on the same wave length, and have been the ignition for Yeovil’s pick up in form.
It was notable on Saturday with no Sims in the squad, that Yeovil looked like they missed something.
SOUTHEND – GUS SCOTT-MORRISS
I like a goal scorer in this section, as they provide a threat, it gives Yeovil fans something to look out for. But there is something unusual about Scott-Morris that makes him stand out from every other goalscorer in the league and that is he is a centre back. It’s not often you see a defender near the top of the charts for goals but the 28-year-old is currently second for the Shrimpers, behind Andrew Dallas, with 10 goals.
Goals aren’t the only thing that Scott-Morriss has in his arsenal, he also a very good defender, providing stability to the Southend backline. The Glovers will need to watch out at both ends of the pitch for the all rounded defender.
THE GAFFER…
Kevin Maher will host the Glovers in midweek when they travel to Essex with the 49-year-old in his fourth year as manager at Roots Hall. The Londoner has been through it all during his time as boss, relegations, administration and playoff final losses to name some of his biggest challenges. Maher, is however looking to get back to the football league with his adopted club, as they currently push for the playoffs.
A former midfielder, the Ilford man, joined Southend in 1998 after being let go by Tottenham Hotspur. He would go on to make over 380 appearance for the Shrimpers over the next 10 years, before leaving for Oldham. Short stints at several other clubs followed before he retired in 2015.
During his time as a manager, Maher has faced Yeovil seven times, winning four, drawing one and losing two.
LAST TIME WE MET…
The two teams last met in November at Huish Park, when the visitors secured a 0-1 over an under pressure Richard Dryden. The only goal that day came from Slavi Spasov in added time.
It was much happier times when the Glovers last traveled to Roots Hall however, back in November of 2024, when they took all three points thanks to a James Plant goal.
DON’T I KNOW YOU…
THE WOMAN IN THE MIDDLE…
Abigail Byrne will be the woman with the whistle on Tuesday evening For more on him and his team read Ben’s article here.
Gloverscast #494 – “The MML Experience”
2026-03-30
Chris Fox joins Dave and Ben to talk about the Gateshead loss and look ahead to Southend.
Thanks to Tim Hubble and James Drew for their voicenotes.
Women Pick Appledore Apart
2026-03-29
Yeovil Town Women returned to winning ways with a 3-0 victory away at Appledore in the league.
The Glovers dominated from the start, with Jodi Cornwall’s delivery from the right skimming the crossbar and Lily McNally’s header from a corner going just wide.
It was Cornwall who broke the deadlock with just 12 minutes on the clock, as she raced through on goal and coolly slotted home.
The lead was doubled on the half-hour mark when the ball fell to Becky Miles on the edge of the box, and she fired low into the bottom corner.
There were chances for Dave Court’s side to increase their lead after the break, but Laura Wensley’s header was off target and Keira Ealson-Taylor couldn’t quite convert from McNally’s ball across.
The third goal did arrive with a minute left when McNally got on the end of a defence-splitting pass and curled past the ‘keeper.
The three points keep Yeovil top of the South West Regional Football League, with their next scheduled game currently the trip to Feniton on Sunday 19th April.
| Opposition | Kick Off | H/A | Competition | Score | Location | Scorers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | |||||||
| 07.09.2025 | Wells City FC | 14:00 | A | FA Cup | 1-6 | Wells City FC | Davenport '11, Childs '30, OG '64, McNally '70, Hunt '85 & '92 |
| 14.09.2025 | Appledore | 14:00 | H | League | 6-0 | YTCST Centre at Alvington | McNally '5, '20, '86, Hunt '53, '65, '83 |
| 21.09.2025 | Saltash Utd | 14:00 | A | FA Cup | 0-2 | Saltash United | Hunt '61, McNally '74 |
| 28.09.2025 | Feniton | 14:00 | H | League | 2-0 | YTCST Centre at Alvington | Davenport '21, Hunt '33 |
| October | |||||||
| 05.10.2025 | Winchester Flyers | 14:00 | A | FA Cup | 1-0 | Winchester FC | |
| 19.10.2025 | Wells City FC | 14:00 | H | League | 4-0 | YTCST Centre at Alvington | McNally '11, '47, Davenport '19, Miles '69 |
| November | |||||||
| 02.11.2025 | Weston-super-Mare | 14:00 | A | League | 1-2 | Optima Stadium | Simmons '10, Cornwal, '65 |
| 09.11.2025 | Feniton | 14:00 | H | League | 1-0 | YTCST Centre at Alvington | Cornwall '44 |
| 23.11.2025 | W*ymouth | 14:00 | A | Cup | Walkover Victory | Bob Lucas Stadium | |
| 30.11.2025 | Wells City | 14:00 | A | League | 2-1 | Wells City FC | McNally '59 |
| December | |||||||
| 07.12.2025 | Weston-super-Mare | 14:00 | H | League | 1-2 | YTCST Centre at Alvington | Cornwall '32 |
| 14.12.2025 | Appledore | 14:00 | A | League | 0-4 | Marshford, Appledore | McNally '53, '85. Ealson-Taylor '56, Davenport '83 |
| January | |||||||
| No Fixtures Played | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| February | |||||||
| 08.02.2026 | Wells City | 14:00 | A* | League | 0-6 | Wells City FC * Played at Huish Park 3G | McNally '2, '34, '45 '85, OG '43, Davenport '90 |
| 22.02.2026 | Weston-super-Mare | 14:00 | H | Cup | 2-3 | Huish Park 3G | Hodge '25, Cornwall '48 |
| March | |||||||
| 08.03.2026 | Wells City | 14:00 | H | Cup | 5-0 | Huish Park 3G | Miles '20, Cornwall '26, '71 McNally '39, '43 |
| 15.03.2026 | Keynsham Town | 14:00 | A | Cup | 5-2 | The AJN Stadium | McNally '11, Cornwall '37 |
| 29.03.2026 | Appledore | 14:00 | A | League | 0-3 | Marshford, Appledore | Cornwall '12, Miles '30, McNally '89 |
| April | |||||||
| 26.04.26 | Feniton | 14:00 | A | League | Feniton Playing Fields | ||
| May | |||||||
| 03.05.2026 | Weston-super-Mare | 14:00 | A | League | The Optima Stadium |
Match Officials – Southend Utd (A)
2026-03-29
Tuesday night takes us to Southend for another National League clash and our match official is, Abigail Byrne.
Which in itself, is not a particularly interesting thing.
But, what is interesting is the only Yeovil game she’s ever taken charge of is this exact fixture from back in November 2024. A 1-0 Yeovil Town win at Southend – the one where James Plant scored from a very deliberate shot, not a cross, honestly.
What’s even MORE interesting is that she made a few headlines that afternoon, sending off Shrimpers’ goal keeper Zak Jeacock early on in the game – a red card that would go on to be rescinded.
She then sent off Southend boss, Kevin Maher. After the game he said;
“I appealed for a penalty and the fourth official said you can’t do that because my arms were up.
“I thought the referee lost control of the game after 10 minutes and the rest of it was a consequence of that. Both benches were appealing for things, no one swore at anyone.”
For what it’s worth, four Yeovil players also saw yellow; namely Charlie Cooper, Finn Cousin-Dawson, Jake Wannell and Alex Whittle.
Oh to be a fly on the wall when the team sheets are exchanged.
Byrne is actually a very highly thought of official, she’s taken charge of many, many top level matches in the women’s game and international fixtures too, and has even refereed Soccer Aid. If she can keep up with Usain Bolt, the pace of play in this one will be no trouble.
This season, 29 games have seen 103 yellows issued, four reds and eight penalties.
She’ll be assisted by Chris Myatt and Michael Haydown with Andrew Aylott on fourth official duties… he’ll be the one copping the grief from the managers!
Southend United FC (First Team) v Yeovil Town FC (First Team)
National League – Premier
Referee: Byrne, Abigail
Assistant Referee: Myatt, Christopher
Assistant Referee: Hayden, Michael
Fourth Official: Aylott, Andrew
Five Conclusions: Gateshead 2 Yeovil Town 1
2026-03-29
Gloverscast Ben was in the commentary box at the Gateshead International stadium. Here are his five key takeaways from the game.
Knackered. This has been a long ol’ season, even by Yeovil Town standards. I thought that yesterday started to show just how much energy our recent schedule had taken out of us. We definitely missed the energy and running of Daly and Sims from the off and, without question, have a few players feeling the effects of their recent exertions. There wasn’t a lack of effort, I think the legs just didn’t work like they had done prior.
Discipline and officials. Now, if you can’t control the fatigue in the body, you can control the mind. I actually thought Finn Cousin-Dawson played rather well in the middle of the park, we had a lot of defending to do at times and he certainly offers us that protection. But in a game that got feisty, and got away from the ref, he really didn’t need to make that challenge in the 93rd minute, 2-0 down away from home, with a busy schedule ahead of us.
Now, let’s caveat that by saying the ref helped absolutely no-one all game. He could (should) have sent one, maybe two, Gateshead players off for different altercations and bizarrely didn’t send off Jake Wannell for giving away the penalty. (My theory is, he probably regretted booking him for the offence of being elbowed in the head by a Gateshead player). He had no control over the game and everyone got unnecessarily frustrated. Gateshead played that situation better than us.
The curious case of Millar Matthews-Lewis. I can’t figure this one out, he gets his start after a couple of cameos and unused sub appearances and it was a strange 20 minutes from him. He tried to hold the ball up, but a couple of times he looked to be on a different wavelength/planet to those around him and nothing really stuck. We assumed he was nursing an injury when taken off, but we were told it was tactical after the game.
Jarvis came on to get his shirt ripped off on every occasion and did offer far more. But we’re going to need our entire squad for the next six games, is he destined to be filed alongside Jahmari Clarke and Reo Griffiths as strikers that happened, but we dont quite know why..? Maybe.
More the Merry-er. Yes. I tell you who isn’t looking knackered, Will Merry. I know it’s the smallest of sample sizes, but this lad has something. Simple, direct, he almost floats with the ball at his feet. He has an eye for a run too and is happy to drift off a defender and find a position. Let’s get this lad on the pitch a lot over the next six games and see what he’s about. In the name of planning for next season, these might be the sort of raw youngsters that come in to the group.
How to motivate a side on the beach? As we edge closer to the end of the season, the maths will start getting worked out and we’ll soon discover our spot somewhere in the lower-middle pack. But, over 100 people went to Gateshead yesterday, plenty will be at Southend and so on and so forth. They deserve that effort to be matched, if not bettered.
It’ll be interesting to see how we show up for this run in with the ever-decreasing jeopardy this season holds. Those fans still need something to cheer and something to get behind and remember, there’s season tickets and new kits and sponsor board to sell for next season.
