Three wins in a row for the Glovers (yes, we’re counting the FHSMPC) and we’re back to pick apart the win over Kidderminster Harriers, there’s some Luke McCormick chat in there, because of course and we look forward to Worthing… and the return of Jordan Young.
Worthing make the trip across from the South Coast for a Tuesday night under the lights and so does the son of a familiar face at Huish Park.
The referee for the game is Sunny Gill Singh, son of Jarnail Singh.
For those who may not know the context, Jarnail Singh was given a standing ovation on his final game after bowing out of his career at Huish Park when hanging up his whistle in 2010. Jarnail refereed the Glovers nine times in the EFL – and now has two sons, Bhupsy and Sunny who are both qualified officials.
Back to Sunny, we haven’t had the pleasure of his company for a few years now, it was back in 2021, when he took charge of the Glovers 2-1 home defeat to Wrexham. Darren Sarll called his performance “1 out of 100” after he failed to stop the game for a head injury, in the build up to the equalising goal.
He also took charge of a 3-0 away win against W*ymouth behind closed doors during the Covid season – sending off Jake McCarthy for the seagull botherers.
Gill Singh hasn’t taken charge of that many National League games in recent seasons, he’s been far higher up the pecking order with EFL Play-off games, England U20s fixtures and even Palace vs Luton in the Premier League in 2024 all on his CV.
This season, he’s looked after six games, booking 21 players, sending one off and awarding just the one penalty to Swindon Town.
He’ll be assisted by Bailey Walker and Grzegorz Kornasiewicz, with Richard J. Morris on the dug outs.
Welcome back to Huish Park, Sunny, say hello to your dad for us!
Yeovil Town FC (First Team) v Worthing FC (First Team)
National League – Premier
Referee: Singh Gill, Sunny
Assistant Referee: Walker, Bailey
Assistant Referee: Kornasiewicz, Grzegorz
Fourth Official: Morris, Richard J.
Yeovil Town goalkeeper Jos Barker has said the Glovers do not fear any side in the National League after they picked up a 1-0 win at Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday.
The stopper also collected his second clean sheet of the campaign after pulling off great saves to deny hosts’ midfielder Callum Dolan in the first half and then keep out a header from striker Lewis Walker after the break.
His performance was as crucial as the match-winner for substitute midfielder Johl Powell and both players celebrated in front of almost 500 travelling supporters at Aggborough.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Ian Randall after the game, Barker said: “That was a big three points today. Our supporters were unbelievable today, I could hear them down the other end of the pitch. To have that moment at the end was good and the three points were obviously even bigger. We were just delighted to get that one over the line.”
Asked about his saves, he added: “I liked the first one more, to be honest, just because it came at me so quickly. I just had to react on instinct. I was happy to help the team get that clean sheet and the three points.”
“I knew I’d have to make saves, which obviously is your job as a goalie, so I’m glad I made them. But I think, on the whole we dealt with it very well. I was ready to be called into action if needed.
“We have so much quality up top with Jonesy, Slavi — all of them. I could name all of them, to be honest. You rely on those little bits of quality in games like this and, luckily today, Johl Powell provided that for us.”
The win means the Glovers sit fifth in the National League Premier Division table with ten games played and they will have the comforts of home next week as they host newly-promoted Worthing at Huish Park on Tuesday night followed by a visit from Boston United next weekend. But Barker insists this side feel they can compete with any side in the division.
He said: “I wouldn’t say we fear anyone. We go into every game wanting to get three points, that is always the aim. Obviously, it doesn’t always work out like that, but there’s definitely not a team that we necessarily fear.“
Normal service is resumed as Yeovil Town goalkeeper Jos Barker has returned to the Non-League Paper’s Team of the Day for his performance in yesterday’s 1-0 win at Kidderminster Harriers.
The stopper pulled off two stunning saves first to deny the hosts’ Callum Dolan with his feet in the first half before pulling off another to keep out a header from in-form striker Lewis Walker after the break.
Interesting to see former Glovers’ favourite Jordan Young in the XI for his performance for Worthing in their 2-1 home win over FC Halifax Town on Saturday. He returns to Huish Park with his new side on Tuesday night.
It is back-to-back wins for Yeovil Town after a hard-fought win at Kidderminster Harriers yesterday and, whisper it quitely, but as September comes to an end, we’re inside the play-off places at the top of the National League Premier Division table.
Abby Carter was among the almost 500 Glovers fans at Aggborough and here are her conclusions on the performance.
It’s nice to add a new away day
21 years since we’ve been to Kidderminster and Aggborough is a very welcome addition back to the National League, that felt like proper away day with a great atmosphere in the away end. We travelled well with 481 Glovers’ fans in attendance, and and for those of you wondering if the tea bar is still good after all these years – you will have to ask Dave and Foxy!
We still have one game left in September, but I’m calling the Green Day Rule early
Two months of football and we’ve barely left the play-off places in the National League Premier Division table and even had ten minutes at the top of the league earlier this month. With performances like these, it’s easy to forget this is a two-year project.
You will struggle to see a team playing more attractive football than us in the National League this season, or many more exciting players to watch than Ryan Jones.
Yet again he was a cut above in the first half, he ran the show at Aldershot a few weeks ago and he was in great form at Kiddy yesterday, but after the last week we have to remember – don’t fall in love with footballers.
This team is special.
It’s hard not to feel excited about this season and this team and yesterday was yet another complete team performance. The football is a joy to watch and they are playing like a team that have been together for years, even though the majority were not together last season.
In previous seasons we’ve struggled for leaders and what’s clear is Billy and Darren are building a team of them. This side is full of character and accountability, togetherness, communication, friendship and fight. The relationship between fans and players feels as strong as I can remember and wounds of seasons past are healing.
Johl ‘Goal’ Powell
Ryan Jones, Zain Westbrooke and Brett McGavin all could have seen their name on the scoresheet yesterday (not score board because Kiddy don’t have one), but the job fell to super sub Johl Powell who made it look easy. If this is the sort of player you sign in nightclubs Billy and Jamie, you best get yourselves on a few more nights out because that finish was absolutely fearless.
We probably need a bit more upfront
Whatever has happened between the manager and Luke McCormick, only they will know the truth, but one thing is clear, with our top-scorer rumoured to be on the transfer list, we are going to need to replace those goals.
Impact subs are important and the response since the home defeat to AFC Fylde has been everything we could have asked for – the midfield is magic, Jos Barker has been outstanding in goal, the defence feel like they’ve found themselves and now we need our strikers to join the party
After all defences might win leagues, but goals are going to be needed for the play-offs and now we’re here, it would be really nice to stay there.
Yeovil Town manager Billy Rowley praised his side’s ability to win in a physical battle after seeing them inflict the first home defeat of a the season on Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday.
The Glovers were made to work for their three points which came courtesy of a cool finish from substitute Johl Powell with 16 minutes remaining to seal a 1-0 win.
The result was the first home defeat inside 90 minutes for the hosts, who are managed by former Glovers’ midfielder Paul Wotton, since November 2025, and that fact was not lost on Rowley after the match.
Speaking to BBC Somerset reporter Ian Randall after the game, he said: “They were really tough opponent and we knew it was going to be that way. I think they’ve got the fourth highest average attendance, so I thought the crowd made for a really intense affair. It was difficult to get information onto the lads, hence why I’ve lost my voice a little bit, but it was a game of one or two moments that have that have decided the outcome. I’m so proud of the boys to win in this fashion.
“It was by no means our prettiest performance and there is a lot of stuff that that we’re going to review and try and improve on. There were moments from our goalkeeper, there’s last-ditch blocks, Johl Powell coming again on for the second week in a row with a late a late winner, so like loads of positives to take from it.”
It was another moment for Powell who came off the bench to score two late goals to put the gloss on a 4-1 home win over Solihull Moors last weekend. This time the midfielder came on with 67 minutes gone and seven minutes later he ran on to a through ball from striker Slavi Spasov, shrugged off Kidderminster defender Angus MacDonald and coolly slotted the winner.
Rowley was full of praise for the player who he brought in from his former club Walton & Hersham in the summer, saying: “I’ve seen Johl do that since he was 12-years-old. He’s so hungry for a goal and when he can sniff a moment where he could go one-on-one with the goalie, there was no way he’s going down under pressure from the defender. He is a superb finisher. He was playing two leagues below this last season (at Walton & Hersham) but he got 22 goals and that finish today shows what he can do in front of goal. There is a lot to digest from that game, but I think essentially it goes down to a good performance from Jos Barker in toal, a really resilient defensive display, and one really top finishing moment.”
There were moments in the first half where Yeovil had opportunities to find a break through, but they found themselves up against a resilient Kidderminster side who had the best home record in the division ahead of kick-off.
Rowley added: “I think Kidderminster’s game plan was probably to (frustrate us). They changed shape to a degree today and tried to press us man-for-man a little bit. I think at times we included Jos (Barker) in our build-up pretty well and when we did that we looked quite calm and composed, but when we forgot to do that, it was more difficult to build. It was a really ‘bitty’ game, there was a lot of stop-and-starts. They’re a really physical team, a difficult team to play against, but I think we dealt with it well.
“At half-time I told them that I believed in them, but asked them to do the small things that no-one dreams of doing as a kid like organising throw-ins and quick restarts. That is what top teams do to win games and if we can improve those small nuts and bolts, we can be a top side.”
The matches keep coming thick and fast with another newly-promoted side, Worthing, who were champions of the National League South last season, visiting Huish Park on Tuesday night followed by Boston United who come to Somerset next Saturday.
Worthing picked up a 2-1 home win over FC Halifax Town on Saturday and are unbeaten in their last five matches whilst Boston went down 1-0 at home to AFC Fylde.
Rowley said: “They are two teams that I think are going to be again really tough opponents. Worthing have been flying this season and have a top class manager in Adam Hinshelwood. That will be our first focus and then we’ll move on to Boston after that. But those will be two games that we’ll be ready for and start preparing for as soon as we get on the coach today.”
Luke McCormick Update Corner:
Ian Randall: Do you think the McCormick situation will have unravelled and resolved itself by Tuesday?
Billy Rowley: Potentially. Like I said, I’ll update everyone in due course when we have some like real transparency for you and an answer for you.
IR: For those of us who have never been in a dressing room, if there is a disagreement between a player and a manager, how does that not impact on the team?
BR: I do not know what the rumour is because that is not really what has been said. But, like I say, we will deal with this internally and we will give the supporters the clear answers that they deserve when we have them.
Substitute Johl Powell grabbed a late winner to earn Yeovil Town three points from a hard fought win at Kidderminster Harriers.
The midfielder, who had replaced Zain Westbrooke in the 67th minute, ran on to a through ball from striker Slavi Spasov four minutes after coming on and coolly slotted home the winner.
The victory inflicted a first defeat of the season on the home side, managed by former Glovers’ midfielder Paul Wotton, and moved Yeovil up to sixth in the National League Premier Division table with ten games on the board.
The opening exchanges fell in to a familiar pattern of both sides exchanging attacks without making any real impact, but early opportunities fell the way of Yeovil. First James Daly showed great pace down the left side and got a shot away which was blocked before Ryan Jones pass pick out Zain Westbrooke who tried to lob the keeper but his effort went wide.
But Kidderminster can claim the best chance of the opening 15 minutes after Callum Stewart’s ball from the left side picked out Callum Dolan on the far post and the former Torquay United man was only denied by a sensational block from the feet of Yeovil keeper Jos Barker.
The magic feet of Glovers’ winger Ryan Jones almost unlocked the Kidderminster defence on 21 minutes having picked the ball up in the middle of the park, he dribbled his way past three of tackles and got in a shot with clipped the post on its way wide.
As the half wore on, Jones got more and more creative and had the home side’s defenders on toast on numerous occasions. Indeed, some of tue inter play between Westbrooke, Jones and Brett McGavin was a joy to behold. We really can move it.
Kidderminster definitely came out for the second half determined to impose themselves more on the game and they were definitely the side in the ascendancy for the opening 20 minutes. However, despite their pressure and possession, there was nothing to call Barker in to action.
Yeovil captain defender Joe Gubbins, who picked up a booking a minute after the restart, was replaced by Ben Radcliffe. But the first real opening came from another mouth-watering move which began with a great forward run from wing-back Jordan Norville-Williams and ended with Westbrooke picking out McGavin inside the box after 65 minutes but the midfielder’s effort was well blocked by Kiddy defender David Davis.
Barker was called in to action again on 71 minutes when Dolan played a deep cross in to striker Lewis Walker whose header was superbly palmed away by the young keeper. A save that Jed Ward would have been proud of.
But three minutes later, Yeovil took the lead. Spasov did well in a physical altercation, turned his man and fed a ball through to the on-running Johl POWELL. The midfielder, on as a substitute for Westbrooke just seven minutes earlier, had time to think about it but showed no fear to coolly slot past the keeper in front of the travelling support.
Kidderminster were not going to give up easy and Barker did well to get down low to a strike from Stewart who ran at the Glovers’ goal and fired in a shot from the edge of the box with ten minutes remaining.
With seven minutes remaining, Yeovil made a treble substitution with Mason Obeng, Ste Walker and Charlie Lennon, replacing Daly, Spasov and Jones.
As the game pushed in to five minutes of injury time, there was the almost inevitable fears of a conceding a late goal with Kiddy pressing for a leveller. But, as the home supporters streamed out of Aggborough, a Ben Crompton effort dragged past the post was as near as they came.
The final whistle was met by a huge roar from what had been a vocal away end all afternoon and there was a real passion in the celebrations of the Yeovil players – this had not been the most attractive performance of the season, but they knew they had dug one out to pick up three more points.
Venue: Aggborough
Date: Saturday 26th September, 2026, 3pm
Competition: National League Premier Division
Scorers: Johl Powell 74 (1-0)
Pitch: They all look decent at this stage of the season, don’t they?
Conditions: Warm, dry and sunny
Attendance: 3,550 (481 away supporters)
Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Joe Gubbins 46
Kidderminster Harriers: David Davis 43, Lewis Walker 81
Referee: Oliver Mackey
Yeovil Town
Substitutes: Ben Radcliffe (for Joe Gubbins, 53), Johl Powell (for Zain Westbrooke, 67), Mason Obeng (for James Daly, 84), Charlie Lennon (for Ryan Jones, 85), Ste Walker (for Slavi Spasov, 85), Matt Gould (not used).
Kidderminster Harriers: Jack Wint, Ben Crompton, Angus MacDonald, Cian Harries, Richard Faakye, Callum Dolan, David Davis, Max Brogan (for Zak Brown, 56), Reece Devine, Callum Stewart, Lewis Walker.
Substitutes (not used): Josh Bishop, Reece Hall, Luey Giles, Cameron Hargreaves, Ethan Moore, Levi Amantchi.
Yeovil Town have named an unchanged starting XI for today’s visit to in-form Kidderminster Harriers (3pm kick-off).
Boss Billy Rowley brings striker Ste Walker, who returned in the midweek Somerset Men’s Premier Cup win over Radstock Town, back on the substitutes’ bench.
The Glovers only name six on the bench with no place for captain Luke McCormick in the squad again.
