Dave, Ben and Ian are back after back-to-back victories. The 2-0 win over Wealdstone was a gigantic step in mathematically securing National League status. The plebs chat about the match and more…
A resurgent Yeovil Town ran out as 2-0 winners at Wealdstone on a bitter Wednesday night; Tom Bailey was there for Green and White Radio, here’s what he made of it…
What a great team performance! There were concerns post-Woking that the team looked unmotivated, that there was a lack of fight, togetherness and desire… well that did a complete 180! Every single player looked like they would run through a wall for each other, FCD and McGavin put their bodies on the line in a powerful midfield display, variations of Sims, Jones, Daly and Works all pressing as duos, and an organised backline showed that these guys can be a team, as they outworked and outsmarted a rotated Wealdstone side.
Before I call out my man of the match, I want to give an honourable mention to Ryan Jones for pulling off a roulette inside his own half under pressure from multiple Wealdstone players, nerves of steel on that man in a fantastic individual display.
James. Daly (again). Can I just use last Saturday’s thoughts for this bit? Once again, an electric performance while in the central striker role – have we had our missing striker at the club the whole time?? His turn of pace is elite for the level, causing defences headaches all game, and his linkup with both wings was exceptional. Take a bow son, take a bow!
The pressure has been eased tremendously now. There were concerns among fans headed into this trio of games (Morecambe, Wealdstone, Gateshead) that they could define our season. Two wins from the first two of those games have made that gap to the bottom four look like a chasm in comparison to a week or so ago.
The fans, the staff and the players should all give themselves a pat on the back for stepping up when it’s mattered most, as we look increasingly like a National League side for next season!
The red. Yes I’m afraid I’m going to mention it, we can’t have all five points be positive can we?! Troy Perrett has come in for criticism at times this season, with a bright start to life in green and white dying off pretty quickly. In absence of Dakarai Mafico, he’s started the last two games and while there were sparks of brilliance, it’s not quite come together for him yet.
However, having slept on it (important here on Gloverscast) – that’s really poor for me. I came in for stick when I said Jarvis shouldn’t have been dismissed against Rochdale (I WAS VERY WRONG), and this incident felt weirdly similar to me. In the moment, I didn’t quite understand how it was even a booking, never mind a red, but upon seeing the replay, he’s earned every bit of that red. Hopefully this is a learning experience that he can take forward in his career, marking a low point of an uninspiring loan spell.
Let’s end the season with a flourish! I was keen to just stay up, even if it was close, I just wanted to stay up. Maybe I’m giddy from seeing us sit in the dizzying heights of 15th, but I feel weirdly relaxed about the rest of the season now. Let’s enjoy ourselves, keep up the impressive performances and end the season with a high. Wins against the likes of Gateshead, Truro, Eastleigh and Solihull would see us very comfortably into mid-table, let’s manifest a few more wins!
Dean Watson will take charge of his second Yeovil Town game of the season, the other being what turned out to be a feisty encounter against Hartlepool United.
Two players were shown red cards after the final whistle of that game – including Morgan Williams.
The match itself ended 2-0 to Yeovil thanks to a wonderful brace from Luke McCormick.
Eight times he’s been the man in the middle for a National League game this season , 38 yellow cards have come out in those games and three reds – if you count the two after the final whistle as mentioned above.
He took charge of a 1-0 defeat to Halifax back in 2025 and a 1-1 away draw vs Chesterfield the season before, a Ryan Law header cancelling out an early Paul McCallum penalty.
Given his geography, it’s probably no surprise he’s officiated far more Gateshead games – nine in total, most recently a 3-3 draw vs Aldershot earlier on this season.
He will be assisted by Stephen Rushworth and Alan Hull with Liam Smith the fourth official.
Gateshead FC (First Team) v Yeovil Town FC (First Team)
National League – Premier
Referee: Watson, Dean
Assistant Referee: Rushworth, Stephen
Assistant Referee: Hull, Alan
Fourth Official: Smith, Liam
Yeovil Town manager Billy Rowley has said he’s “thrilled” to pick up three points away at Wealdstone despite playing the majority of the second half with ten men.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins he highlighted their defensive control during the game.
“I’m delighted and thrilled with the lads. Until we went down to ten men, we were, in my opinion, definitely the better team. We controlled a lot of what we wanted to control.
We defended really well. I think the management team set up the lads really well and we got that spot on. Credit to Wealdstone, they’re decent with the ball and the surface here is good, so it made for quite a good tactical game.
We obviously go down to ten players and luckily we got a 2-0 lead, but you know, we saw another level of grit and determination from the boys after that and so happy for them to hold on because, I’ve been there as a player many years ago, but, you’re playing with ten players, your legs are tired, your lungs are tired and you’re just defending cross after cross and wave after wave and corner after corner, and eventually the law of averages says you’re going to concede one.
But I’m amazed we didn’t, which goes to show a lot of how good we are at defending the box, and Jed in goal, and some of the boys out wide 1v1. So yeah, over the moon with the defensive display.
The Glovers had a couple of good chances before going 1-0 up in the first half through Terrell Works, speaking of the two goals, Rowley highlighted the work that the creative players have put in during recent weeks.
“I think we’ve got to give Jonesy credit as well. We’ve been speaking a lot recently about slowing our heart rates down in the final third, and in particular when you’re around the box, and just making an extra pass. And Jonesy did that really well, and then Terrell, you know, he’s a magician.
His feet are so good and his balance is great and he can use both feet, so it’s so hard to read what he’s going to do. And for him to chop onto his left foot and finish, it was high level, it was really top work from him.
I can’t speak highly enough of JD at the moment. I do feel like he’s such a threat in that type of game. We spoke at half time, we’re probably now based on the flow and the situation of the game, playing away from home against a team that are 2-0 down, the line’s probably going to be higher, they’re probably going to be more aggressive on the press.
So all you need to do is just play the ball down the sides for JD’s speed and it works to a tee, he’s just so athletic, he got to the ball, he then needs to do a little bit of work to finish, which he did really well. Thrilled for JD. I think it was a great ball by Simsy as well to get him in the channel. So good goal all around.
On the red card, which will leave Troy Perrett unavailable for three games, the gaffer said he has no doubts that the Cardiff loanee meant no harm.
“Troy is a great lad. He’s done really well for us since he’s come in and it’s probably one thing that he needs to work on in his future career, a little bit more aggression and that kind of stuff, which comes with age and power.
So it’s not malicious, definitely not. He’s not known where the defender is. I think he’s just gone up to protect himself and caught him, but I’ve not seen it so I can’t really comment.”
He finally confirmed that Jonathon Page continues to edge closer to fitness, Dak Mafico could be included as soon as Southend away at the end of the month and that Aaron Jarvis will be back in the squad on Saturday following suspension.
Yeovil Town got another big three points on the board courtesy of goals from Terrell Works and another from James Daly to pick up a win at Wealdstone.
The Glovers’ performance was all the more impressive as we played the final 40 minutes of the game with ten men after Cardiff City loanee Troy Perrett was red carded.
There are now nine points between us and the relegation places at the foot of the National League Premier Division and just three from the top half of the table.
With an eye on their FA Trophy semi-final at the weekend, Wealdstone made seven changes to their starting XI whilst Yeovil kept their line-up changed from the 3-2 home win over Morecambe on Saturday. The only change came on the bench where young midfielder Ollie Hughes was missing with the Glovers naming just six substitutes.
But if anyone thought the changes would mean a slow start from the home side, they were proven wrong within seconds as Wealdstone had two half-chances on the Yeovil goal within the opening seconds.
Then in the second minute former Glover Olufela Olomola had an effort well blocked by Joy Mukena and at the other end a good ball through to Terrell Works set James Daly through and his shot across goal was well saved by Dante Baptiste in the Stones’ goal.
Yeovil looking to be more considered when they have the ball against their more fast and furious opponents. With ten minutes gone, Jake Wannell found himself on the edge of the box and he dragged a shot wide.
Five minutes later, Sims created a great opening having been played into the box by Troy Perrett, Sims pulled off a great bit of skill to beat his defender but his effort flew past just past the post. The best opening either side have created in the opening 15 minutes. We are starting to take the game to Wealdstone after the hosts’ frenetic start, plenty of energy and attacking purpose.
On the 23rd minute, Yeovil had the ball in the net as Brett McGavin’s corner found its way to a crowd of heads and the ball went in to the net. Referee George Laflin seemed to point to the centre circle before deciding it was a foul on Baptiste. The keeper will be breathing a sigh of relief as he looked weak from that one.
The next opportunity came just before the half-hour mark when a beautifully weighted ball from Works found Daly running forward, he lifted it but a Wealdstone defender got a foot to it and turned it away for a corner.
Yeovil were in the ascendancy and on 38 minutes they took the lead. Ryan Jones did superbly to nick the ball off a Wealdstone player, burst forward and fed it in to Terrell WORKS who showed some great footwork to fire in to the net. A great move and a great finish and thoroughly deserved it. This first half performance could not be more different to the opening 45 minutes at Woking seven days earlier.
Wealdstone came out brighter in the second half and you felt the next goal was going to be crucial – and it came for Yeovil just three minutes after the restart. A ball over the top towards James DALY on the right wing saw the in-form frontman have a great first touch, beat his defender and slot it under the keeper.
But, just when you thought this was going to be an easy night, Perrett was given his marching orders. The Cardiff City loanee challenged for a high ball with Connor McAvoy and referee Laflin saw it as malicious and got his red card straight out. One can only assume the referee felt Perrett led with an elbow, but interestingly assistant Anastasiya Voloshchuk did not put her flag up and the referee did not talk to her. Either way, we are down to ten men for the rest of this.
On 53 minutes, there was a great opportunity for Olomola who was found on his own inside the box by a ball forward from Enzio Boldewijn, but his header was high over the bar.
A double change for Yeovil with Alex Whittle and Delano McCoy-Splatt coming on for Josh Sims and Terrell Works with 55 minutes on the clock. Billy Rowley looking to shore it up as we have a numerical disadvantage. Five minutes later, Wealdstone responded with a quadruple change, presumably these are their more regular starters sensing blood.
On 70 minutes, Olomola was in the thick of it against his old employers again. Cook’s ball in was deflected in to the path of the striker and Jed Ward did well to go down bravely to turn it out for a corner.
Olomola had another opportunity turned over three minutes later and from the resulting corner Yeovil had to defend well to get it away. Wealdstone are knocking on the door and we are going to have to be focused and organised to keep them out. It is one-way traffic and a big test of our resolve.
Wealdstone have been going for it ever since the red card and Baptiste is out to the centre circle to get it forward. But it took until a minute from normal time for the next chance, great footwork from substitute Terrell Agyemang whose effort just crept the wrong side of the post for him.
From the resulting corner, Daly made a typical lung-busting run as he got on the end of McCoy-Splatt’s ball and burst in to space, rounded Baptiste only for Boldewijn to get back and deny him. What a run from that man Daly in the final minute of normal time. Immediately after McCoy-Splatt was replaced by Harvey Greenslade.
Five minutes in to the nine added on, a breath-taking bit of skill from Jones who spun past two Wealdstone players and put a ball forward to Greenslade to chase one in to the corner. It’s been mostly defending for Yeovil here, but those were two great moments.
Those were two very different halves. The first was full of effort and attacking play, but we had to dig deep for much of that second half with ten men. Clean sheet and three points. Real character.
Venue: Grosvenor Vale
Date: Wednesday 25th March, 7.45pm kick-off
Competition: National League Premier Division
Scorers: Terrell Works 38 (1-0), James Daly 48 (2-0)
Pitch: Plenty of slope, but plenty of grass as well
Conditions: To put it mildly (no pun intended), it’s on the chilly side
Attendance: 1,165 (135 away supporters)
Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Jake Wannell 82
Wealdstone: Dominic Hutchinson 81
Sendings off:
Yeovil Town: Troy Perrett 50
Wealdstone: None
Referee: George Laflin
Yeovil Town
Substitutes: Alex Whittle (for Josh Sims, 56), Delano McCoy-Splatt (for Terrell Works, 56), Harvey Greenslade (for Delano McCoy-Splatt, 90), Jaydon Biss (not used), Millar Matthews-Lewis (not used), Matt Gould (not used).
Wealdstone: Dante Baptiste, Mason Barrett (for Jack Cook, 62), Connor McAvoy (for Michael Adu-Poku, 77), Junior Tiensia, Enzio Boldewijn, Jack Wells-Morrison (for Terrell Agyemang, 62), Jack Hinchy (for Shay Spencer 62), Dylan Kadji, Dominic Hutchinson, Olufela Olomola, Sean Adarkwa (for Micah Obiero, 62).
Yeovil Town have named an unchanged line-up from Saturday’s 3-2 home win over Morecambe for tonight’s visit to Wealdstone (7.45pm kick-off).
The only change comes on the substitutes’ bench where Under-18s’ midfielder Ollie Hughes is missing with the Glovers only naming six subs.
Yeovil Town boss Billy Rowley said his side’s performance in Saturday’s win over Morecambe was the performance he had been seeking for a number of weeks.
The Glovers sit six points clear of the National League relegation zone going in to Wednesday night’s trip to Wealdstone after their opponents at the weekend, Gateshead, pick up a shock win over York City and Sutton United collect three points at fellow strugglers Eastleigh on Tuesday night.
Speaking to BBC Somerset, Rowley said: “That performance is something we’ve been looking for for ages and it’s something that I’m going to urge the players to try to bring into (the game at Wealdstone). We’ve just had a good review meeting, watched some good clips with the lads of of what we were pleased to see and what we want to see more of.
“The idea is to to go and start the game at Wealdstone on front foot with positive play. We want to try to go and win that game as well and there’s a lot of a lot of reasons why we can do that. I know Wealdstone are playing in a semi-final of the FA Trophy on Saturday, so naturally whether you like it or not, some of those players and staff will have at least one eye on that game, and we’re fighting for every point we we can get, so we can hopefully use that in a positive way.“
The Stones, who sit five places and four points ahead of Yeovil in the table, were beaten 2-0 at Forest Green Rovers last weekend following a 1-0 loss to Gateshead the previous Tuesday. They take on Marine in the Trophy semi-final on home soil on Saturday hoping to book an appearance at Wembley.
Rowley said: “They have got some really talented players and I know Wealdstone’s a tough place to go and get points but they are a team that on their day I think can beat anyone. But every team suffers dips in form and I think they’re going to be at least 10% concentrating on their game on Saturday. They have had some indifferent results recently, so we’re going to be going there and and trying to upset them.“
The manager was asked about the performances of two players in last weekend’s victory – goalscorer James Daly and loanee Delano McCoy-Splatt. Daly netted the Glovers’ second goal and put in an all-action performance which won him rave reviews whilst AFC Wimbledon youngster McCoy-Splatt impressed having appeared as a second half substitute.
On Daly, Rowley said: “He’s been he’s been a breath of fresh air in every sense of the word. James is potentially the best professional I have worked with, he’s definitely in the top three in the way he looks after himself, the way he trains, and he’s brought that on to the pitch. He was in and out the team with injury until I came in and we were fortunate that we we got him back fit. It’s such a shame that because we have got a small squad he’s been used in in a few different positions, which probably sometimes hampers his his rhythm. But when when we play him regularly in whether it be down the middle or off the wing, he’s a he’s a threat.”
On McCoy-Splatt, he added: “He’s a lad that I’ve watched play for the last three or four years, he’s an unbelievable technician, a powerful, great mover, really good on the eye and on top of that I didn’t realise how much of a good character he was as well. I’ve had a few mates that have worked with Delano in the past couple of years and they’ve had good things to say about him and yeah he’s been he’s been brilliant with the with the group. He’s he’s good mates with Tyrell Works as well, that’s brought another layer of Tyrell’s character out. I thought his his debut was excellent when he came on, he was he was so assured on the ball, he passed forward, he receives it well and like I say physically he’s excellent as well.“
It’s some more midweek action for Yeovil Town as they travel to Wealdstone for a crucial game in the league.
The upcoming match will be a different kind of test for the Glovers as they face a tough to beat Wealdstone FC side.
Now, The Stones have hit the skids over the last two games with defeats to Forest Green Rovers and Gateshead respectively, but before that loss to the North-East side they had won three on the bounce. Last time out for the Londoners, was that defeat to Forest Green, but that 2-0 loss can be taken with a pinch of salt as the Gloucestershire side have been one of the more classier outfits in the league this season.
Another factor for the Stones coming into this fixture will be their semi-final against Marine in the FA Trophy. So, will they be putting a full strength side out knowing they have to be at their best on Saturday, time will tell.
Who needs a striker when you have James Daly. The winger has been exceptional in the back half of the season, contributing effectively with Josh Sims and Ryan Jones to build a formidable attacking three behind the striker. As well as the bond he seems to struck up with them, Daly is finding the net when others maybe have not. The winger has looked a real class act now he’s had a run of games after time out with an injury.
Saturday also showed his desire to work for the team, which was highlighted by his closing down of the Morecambe keeper in the 99th minute of the match. If we had a team full of James Daly’s, I don’t think we would be where we are in the league.
The midfielder has been integral to the Stones this season with key performances dotted through out the league campaign. And although above par in the two losses recently it was in Wealdstone’s last win against Solihull that the 27-year-old stood out. And for all his good work off the ball, a goal and two assists is enough for any player to be seen as an influential.
Over the course of the season, Tshikuna has contributed well with eight goals to his name, as well as those two assists. Yeovil will need to be on high alert to keep the lively midfielder at bay.
Gary Waddock is the manager in the home dugout, as Yeovil travel to the capital. In fact, the 64-year-old is no stranger to London, having spent the majority of his playing days in the city. The former midfielder, will be most know for his time at QPR, where he played over 200 times for the R’s. He would then go to play in Belgium for Charleroi before heading back to London, playing for Millwall. Waddock, is also no stranger to the West Country, having played 71 games for Bristol Rovers.
As a manger however, the ex-Ireland international started a QPR in 2006 but quickly left the same year. Two years at Aldershot then followed, before he left in 2009 for the bright lights of Wycombe Wanderers. After three years at the Chair Boys, Waddock was relieved of his duties. Short stints at Oxford and Pompey followed before he retuned to Aldershot in 2016, where stayed until 2019, which was his last job as a permanent manager.
The Londoner has faced the Glovers four times, losing on all four occasions.
You then have to go back to October of 2024 for when the two sides faced off at Grosvenor Vale. That day the Glovers took all three points in a 0-3 win thanks to goals from Brett McGavin, Aaron Jarvis and Ciaran McGuckin.
A couple of names for travelling fans to keep an eye out for. First of which is Anthony Georgiou played two games for Yeovil in 2022/23 when on loan from Leyton Orient.
Another Yeovil old boy that now plays for the Stones is Olufela Olomola. The forward was a bit of fan favourite during his first spell at Huish Park in 17/18, coring seven goals, whilst on loan from Southampton. Olomola would return a season later bagging three goals. He came back for a third loan spell in 21/22 scoring just the once. Across his three spells the 28-year-old would make 57 appearances in all competitions.
George Laffin will be the man with the whistle on Saturday afternoon. For more on him and his team read Ben’s article here.
James Daly has made not one, but two Teams of the Week.
Being named in both the Non League Paper and Enterprise Teams of the Week.
A decisive goal against Morecambe and celebrating a late, late block of a goal kick like he’d scored another. That’ll do for us!
