Ben Barrett

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Yeovil Town manager Billy Rowley has said he is still looking to boost his squad with further first-team members carrying knocks in to Tuesday night’s trip to Woking.

The Glovers added striker Millar Matthews-Lewis on loan from Burton Albion last Friday and the boss admitted he is continuing to hammer the phone in a bid to strengthen further.

He revealed that on loan midfielder Dakari Mafico is carrying “a slight knock” and central defender Joy Mukena had a hamstring issue following the 2-1 loss at Boston United on Saturday.

Asked on Monday whether he hoped to add to his squad further, Rowley said: “Behind the scenes we’re working literally 24/7. The phone doesn’t stop ever, trying to find the right players, trying to find players that can help this current squad. We’ve lost a lot of players in recent months for a variety of reasons: injury, transfers, people having to almost even retire from football.

“We’re thin at the moment, we’re not as deep as we want to be, so we are looking, but in mid-March it is so difficult to find players. So we’re just going to keep working on that and see what we can do.“

Dale Gorman is part of a three-man caretaker management team at Woking alongside former Glover Jake Hyde and former Cards’ keeper Craig Ross. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

The trip to Woking pits the Glovers, who have lost their last two National League Premier Division fixtures, against a side which unbeaten in their last four matches under the caretaker charge of a management team including former Yeovil players, Dale Gorman and Jake Hyde.

The Cards have an in-form striker in loanee striker Olly Sanderson who has five goals in his last four matches having joined from Premier League Fulham, where Rowley coached earlier in his career and the Glovers’ boss is well aware of his talents.

He said: “We’re going to have to just be the best version of us (to get anything from this game). We’re going to go out and work on some out-of-possession stuff (in training) today to really understand how and when to get the ball back. Then when we’ve got it, we’ve got to be good, but I do feel like there’s spells in games where we are looking good in possession and we are getting to the other team’s final third quite often. We just obviously need to capitalise on that and start scoring some goals.“

Striker Matthew-Lewis managed 12 goals for Hemel Hempstead Town in National League South in the first half of this season, earning him a move to the EFL with Burton, but has not played since the end of January. The 21-year-old appeared as an 78th-minute substitute in the defeat at Boston United.

Rowley said: “With Miller, it’s just going to be about trying to get him up to speed. You have got to make decisions with new players, if you throw them in from the start of the game when the game is fast and they’re not fully match fit, they’re obviously likely to blow up quite early. Or you bring in players when the game’s a bit slower and tired legs, it’s probably more suited for that to him at the moment. But look, team hasn’t been picked for tomorrow. We need to continue looking into Woking and how we’re going to attack them, so we’ll see if he gets a start (on Tuesday).“

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Match Officials

Yeovil Town head to Woking this midweek, with Richie Watkins taking charge of the game.

We haven’t had Watkins in the middle of one of our games for a little while – not since March 2023 to be precise. He took charge of a 1-0 home defeat Bromley.

He only booked ‘keeper Grant Smith on the day but it was a game with a little bit of spice to it.

A month prior, he also took charge of a 2-0 defeat to Maidenhead.

He’s been in the middle for 19 games this season, across six different leagues and cup competitions, 69 yellow cards, nine reds and three penalties have been awarded.

His assistants are Dean Treleaven and Isabel Chaplin with Dan Bonneywell on fourth official duties.

Woking FC (First Team) v Yeovil Town FC (First Team)
National League – Premier
Referee: Watkins, Richie
Assistant Referee: Treleaven, Dean
Assistant Referee: Chaplin, Isabel
Fourth Official: Bonneywell, Daniel

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Yeovil Town manager Billy Rowley has said that the second half performance against Boston has left him feeling ‘frustrated’ after the Glovers too the lead, but fail to capitalise and take anything from the game.
Speaking to BBC Somerset after the game he said;

“Frustrated, obviously. Especially to to to go one up, away from home, a tough place, they’re obviously really high in the form guide, got some good players. I

felt first half we were definitely the better team. But how many times am I saying that at the moment? And then they score a set piece from probably their first or second entry into our box, which is obviously bit of a bit of a killer blow.
So you’re sitting at half-time and you’re trying to reinforce like good things that’s happened, and I just felt like we blew up a little bit second half and obviously they’ve got the home advantage, they started to to defend higher up the pitch and get more pressure on the ball and felt like we didn’t deal with that as well as we’d like to have done. And naturally they get some rhythm and then they go two-one up, and we’ve got a mountain to climb.

I’m frustrated, like naturally when you lose a game of football, you’re either happy that you’ve won or you’re annoyed that you’ve lost, so that’s that is what it is.

I’m frustrated that that I’m saying sort of repeating myself a lot of the times in terms of saying that we were we were good with the ball and we we got into their box more than they did ours today. We had a lot of spells in their final third that we didn’t capitalise on.

So frustrated, that’s simple as that.”

Aaron Jarvis opened the scoring, the front man notching just his third league goal of the campaign.

“Yeah, [he] did well today Jarvs, looked hungry, looked fit, got to the ball. I think we missed a little bit of speed in the back line today, I felt I felt like we were trying to get pressure on the ball and then they had good quality to to get in behind us and just some of the distances in the team was tough, so it’s something that we’re going to need to look at and improve on. But yeah, I thought Jarvis played well today and and I’m happy for him to score.”

In perhaps one of the more telling answers, he opened up on not just his own frustrations, but possibly that of the team as well;

“You walk into a half-time changing room after being the better team and finding yourself 1-1and everybody’s heads are on the floor and you’re like you’re trying to you’re trying to pick people up and reinforce good good things you’ve done in the game, but I feel like we’ve obviously we’ve had some tough games lately, we’ve had a couple of okay results, but some of the performances have been alright.

They’ve been alright, if we were to if I’m standing here now and we got beat 4-nil or 3-nil and we didn’t ever create a chance, I’d be really worried. But you know, I feel like I repeat myself here, I felt we got into their final third probably more than they did ours, I’d argue maybe after 70 minutes they might have edged it slightly, but for 70 minutes we were we were worthy of more than one goal. And you find yourself here after another loss sort of thinking ‘how’s that happened?’. So, yeah, naturally frustrated, something we’re going to have to iron out and and improve on.

I think when you play well and you’ve had loads of spells in their final third, you probably expect the score not to be one-one. You probably expect it to be at least one or two nil and now you’re you’re in a great spot to to defend the game in for 45 minutes. But we weren’t, and, it’s no secret we’re obviously struggling to score goals.

We get into some good positions. We’re sometimes a bit loose with the final decision. I think we obviously know that we’re not probably going to score three or four goals, so naturally when you’re when you’re drawing a game when you should be winning, it’s just frustration.”

On new signing Millar Matthews-Lewis’ debut;

“He probably just needs a bit of game time, he obviously hasn’t played since January after his move to Burton, so, he hasn’t trained with us, that’s that’s why he was he was on the bench today, hasn’t even had a training session with the lads.
He he made his way his own way up to to meet us yesterday in the hotel. I think I think it was a tough game for him to step into, we didn’t, at that spell in the game when he came on, we didn’t have loads of the ball or spells we could really get him on it. So, I think I’ll be able to answer that better in a in a couple of weeks.”

The manager also confirmed that Luke McCormick underwent groin surgery on Friday and that Johnathon Page will be available at the weekend.

​

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Billy Rowley has said that Terrell Works comes into the side for the game against Boston with the hope of finding a little bit of magic.

Speaking to BBC Radio Somerset’s Josh Perkins, he explained that Alex Whittle adds balance to the side and that he might have someone a bit Bobby Firmino-esque on the bench.

Loanee Terrell Works was introduced in the second half.

​Kyle Ferguson [comes in as a] a natural swap for Sakura after going back to Wycombe, I thought Fergie was look superb for two months when I first came in. I think he was probably a bit tired and fatigued and probably needed to come out the team just to rest and and watch a little bit.
[Alex] Whittle has been injured for a large portion of when I’ve been in, but every time he’s played he’s looked really assured. And I think the first half or first 60 at Southport he was superb, didn’t put a foot wrong. And then when we took him off, we lost a lot of balance and and experience, so that hurt us.
And then obviously Terrell coming in, he’s, I would argue probably our player with most creativity and magic and anytime he’s around the box with the ball, you’re gonna be thinking there’s a chance coming, so… It’s a nice pitch, it’s a good day, and I think this this suits Terrell.

Millar Matthews-Lewis

​As for his new front man, Millar Matthews-Lewis;

“Millar’s a lad who I know, he grew up playing at Luton as a scholar and stuff. Might have got a professional deal there. And then he ended up in non-league and I’ve come up against him a couple of times in my management journey and he’s a nine that’s that’s very clever. He compares himself to Bobby Firmino.

He’s a drop-down nine that can sort of set, link. I think he’s still  in the top 10 top scorers in the National South, and he left on the first of January. So he definitely knows where the goal is and and he brings like a real youth and, you know, enthusiasm to the front line and he’s a smart player, he’s a good presser and he can score goals. So I think it’s a good find for us.

I know people that work at Burton and they do a lot of work and research into who they sign there, so it wasn’t a flash-in-the-pan signing. It was someone that they really looked into deeply and and think he’s got a big future. So yeah, we’re we’re really positive that he can come in and help us.

By:
On:
In: Away Tickets, Latest Yeovil Town News

Yeovil Town can now buy their tickets for Eastleigh on Monday 6th April (3pm kick off)

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

Tickets cost…

Adults – £20.20
Concession (65+ / student) – £16.20
Junior (7-16) £7.20
Child (Under 7) £5.20

The odd amounts are because each ticket has a £1.20 admin fee on… because, of course.

Once you’ve made your choice, either log in to the account you probably have set up for the other sides who use this system – or continue as a guest and check out.

ACCESSIBLE TICKETS

Disabled supporters in receipt of higher rate DLA/PIP (mobility/care) are entitled to a free personal assistant ticket which can be obtained in person in the ticket office by presenting the DLA/PIP letter.

Ambulant disabled supporters

Away supporters

There are 11 step free seats at ground level solely for away fans which can be increased or decreased depending on the anticipated number of traveling supporters.

We would offer the step free seats to supporters who are unable to manage stairs or personal assistants attending with wheelchair users. Wheelchair spaces are available on ground level behind the perimeter fence surrounding the pitch.

Supporters with autism or other sensory needs

We very much understand that being prepared and having an understanding of facilities available ahead of matchday can help you prepare ahead of your visit. We have recently invested in some ear defenders that are available to use. Please speak to a steward or come into the club shop before entering the stadium to enquire.

If required, we would be more than happy to welcome you the opportunity to visit the ground on a non-matchday, where you will have the opportunity to be shown around by a member of staff. During this visit, any questions can be asked, and supporters and their families/carers can see where the facilities are and where the most appropriate place to sit/stand would be. Please bear in mind though that this will be dependent on availability (particularly the section of the blue seated ‘main stand’ level with the half way line where most seats have already been reserved).

Toilets

Away supporters

There is a toilet in the away end which is accessible for ambulant disabled fans but it is not wide enough to accomodate a wheelchair. Wheelchair users will need to speak to a steward in order to use the wider accessible toilet at the other end of the Nuffield Health Stand past the home fans. There are also fully accessible toilets in Sherwoods restaurant and in the Hangar bar for away supporters to use before turnstiles open.

Other Away Tickets on Sale to YTFC Fans

Woking – 17th March – CLICK HERE

Wealdstone – 25th March – CLICK HERE

Gateshead – 28th March – CLICK HERE

Southend United – 31st March – CLICK HERE

York City – 18th April – CLICK HERE

By:
On:
In: Away Tickets, Latest Yeovil Town News

Yeovil Town fans can now buy their tickets for the upcoming away day at Wealdstone.

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

The game takes place on Wednesday 25th March – kicking off at 7:45pm

Tickets are;
£18.00 for adults (standing – £19.00 seating),
£13.00 for concessions (£15:00)
£11.00 “Next Gen” (£13.00)
£7.00 Under 19s (£9.00)

Away supporters have been allocated the east end of the stadium; a total of 1,025 tickets which includes 369 unallocated seats in the Modu Stand and a mix of covered and uncovered terracing.

Away supporters please follow the instructions of the stewards who will direct you to the away end.

If you require a seat, please book a Seating ticket. Seats are now allocated by row and seat number, there is no transfer into seating with a Standing ticket.

Concession Tickets

Available for those aged 65+ and for mature Students (ID Required). For younger students, it is cheaper to purchase a 19-23 or an under 19s ticket.

Disabled supporters are also eligible to purchase a Concession Ticket. If a ticket is required for a Carer, please email tickets@wealdstonefc.com with your order number and proof of one of the following:

– Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
– Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
– Attendance Allowance
– Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI)
– Assistance Dog ID

Once approved, a free Carer Ticket will be issued via email.

If you are a current Season Ticket holder for a Premier League, or English Football League club you can gain admission to a Stones home National League match for just £13 if purchased online – your Season Ticket must be presented with your match ticket at the turnstile.

Similarly, if you are member of the Armed Services or a paid staff member in the NHS, Police Force, Fire Service and Ambulance Service, you can gain entry to a Wealdstone FC National League game for £13 if your ticket is purchased online – your ID must be presented with your match ticket at the turnstile.

Next Gen 19-23 year olds and under 19s tickets

We are pleased to be able to offer significant discounts for 19-23 year olds via our Next Generation ticket offer and to under 19s. However, please note that ID will be required at the turnstile along with your ticket to demonstrate you are eligible.

Social Club/Bar

The Vale Social Club will be open before the game for both sets of supporters and at half time and after the game for Wealdstone fans ONLY.

Car Parking

Car parking on match days at Grosvenor Vale is currently limited to players, management and club officials only. There is limited street parking close to the stadium and supporters are asked to park courteously and not block or overhang driveways of residents.

We recommend that supporters travel to Grosvenor Vale via public transport as the club is remarkably well served by tube, train and bus routes.

Refreshments/Food

Hot and cold food and drinks will be available to purchase outside the ground and inside the ground in both home and away sections.

On the gate prices

Buying your ticket online in advance is the cheapest way of purchasing on a match by match basis.

Seating tickets CANNOT be purchased in person, they are only available online.

Standing tickets are available at The Vale on match days, either via the Ticket Office outside the turnstiles or on the gates themselves. However, these prices increase by £2 and are:

  1. £20 Adult
  2. £15 Concession
  3. £13 Next Gen 19-23 year olds
  4. £8 Under 19s

Other tickets for away day Yeovil Town fans.

Woking – 17th March – CLICK HERE

Gateshead – 28th March – CLICK HERE

Southend United – 31st March – CLICK HERE

York City – 18th April – CLICK HERE

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Yeovil Town’s away day clash at York City will now kick off at the later time of 5:30pm.

The National League’s online streaming partner, DAZN have agreed to move that game, and Rochdale’s fixture against Braintree as part of their plan to show the final stages of the title race.

Tickets for the game are available to purchase HERE

Confirmed DAZN live picks for the remainder of the season: 

Saturday 14 March
Wealdstone v Solihull Moors (12.30pm)
Scunthorpe United v Altrincham (5.30pm)
Eastleigh v Rochdale (5.30pm)
Morecambe v Braintree Town (5.30pm)*

Saturday 21 March
Solihull Moors v FC Halifax Town (5.30pm)

Monday 6 April
Sutton United v Southend United (3pm)*

Saturday 11 April
Tamworth v York City (12.30pm)
Rochdale v Wealdstone (5.30pm)
Boreham Wood v Hartlepool United (5.30pm)*

Saturday 18 April
FC Halifax Town v Southend United (12.30pm)
Braintree Town v Rochdale (5.30pm)
York City v Yeovil Town (5.30pm)

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Match Previews

Yeovil Town are off to Boston, Lincolnshire (not Massachusetts) this Saturday as they look to take an upward tilt on the Rowley-coaster and get back to winning ways after losing to another Lincolnshire outfit, Scunthorpe United, last weekend.

FORM…

YEOVIL TOWN

It’s a win-one-lose-one kind of situation for the Glovers at the moment, beating Tamworth and Sutton United in between losses to Carlisle United, Southport and Scunthorpe United.

The Glovers haven’t secured an away point – or a victory on the road in any competition – since Terrell Works’ last gasp winner away at Altrincham.

Just 16 of Yeovil’s 41 points have come on the road this season, exactly a point per away game. 15 of Yeovil’s 37 goals have been in away games.

BOSTON UNITED

Boston United are unbeaten in their last four home games, drawing 2-2 and 0-0 against Woking and Tamworth respectively, they did scrape past Gateshead and Sutton United in the games before that to go unbeaten at home in the month of February.

They lost 1-0 to Rochdale last time out, Tyler Smith scoring a late winner for the league leaders.

Since the departure of Graham Coughlan, who was in charge when boss Billy Rowley picked up his first win in his first game in charge at Huish Park back in November, Boston have been in fine form since manager Paul Hurst was appointed on 14th January.

He lost his first match in charge at FC Halifax Town before masterminding an eight-game unbeaten run in the league, including wins at high-flying Boreham Wood, Scunthorpe United and Forest Green Rovers

The Pilgrims sit a whopping seven places above the Glovers, but just three points separate the sides. Their goal difference (-6) compared to ours (-13) means that if we were to win 4-0, we would jump over them with a win, potentially into the top half of the table.

KEY PLAYERS…

YEOVIL TOWN – JAMES DALY

You have to think that James Daly will provide the Glovers with their most likely route to goal after his brace against Sutton and his goal in the FA Trophy.

The former Harrogate and Aldershot man has been instrumental down the right hand side for the Glovers with his energy carrying the attacking unit through games at times.

With Daly on one side and Ryan Jones hitting his stride down the other flank, the Glovers will be hoping for more from their wing wizards.

James Daly celebrates his opening goal at Southport.

BOSTON UNITED – TOM CURSONS

With top scorer Lennell John-Lewis expected to be out for the rest of the season through injury, recent recruit striker Tom Cursons has really stepped up to the goal scoring plate. The 24-year-old, who was one of Hurst’s first signings, has seven goals in eight league games since joining from Harrogate in January.

He played a dozen times for the North Yorkshire side before the switch and found form in the EFL Trophy, but has really hit his stride at Boston.

He scored a hat-trick in a 6-3 win over Scunthorpe, with only three games seeing his failing to score for his new club since joining.

He’s got a nice, new shiny trophy for his mantlepiece after being named the National League Player of the Month for February,

THE GAFFER…

Paul Hurst is the man in charge at Boston these days, he was re-appointed as their manager in January replacing Graham Coughlan. It’s his second stint in charge of Boston having originally left there in 2011, having secured promotion to the National League North.

He is the current National League Manager of the Month – let’s hope the curse lives on.

Oddly, it’s the third side that he’s managed twice with Shrewsbury and Grimsby also having the pleasure on two separate occasions.

He has a 100% win record against the Glovers, twice leading Grimsby to success in the 2021/22 season and once when in charge of the Shrews way back in 2017/18

LAST TIME WE MET…

Yeovil Town won the reverse fixture at Huish Park by a 2-1 score line, Luke McCormick at the double in November.

Last season, both ties went to the away side, Boston winning 3-0 at Huish Park, with the Glovers winning 3-1 away from home in August 2024 thanks in no small part to a couple of Brett McGavin specials.

McCormick puts Yeovil ahead | Photo by Gary Brown

DON’T I KNOW YOU…

There are a couple of former Glovers in the Boston camp; defender Marcel Lavinier has been fairly regular in the side since making his debut when Boston were beaten at Huish Park in November, he played eight times for Yeovil in the National League last season.

You have got to go a bit further back to remember their other ex-Glover man, striker Jordi Hiwula also made eight league appearances in green-and-white on loan from Premier League giants Manchester City, but that was way back in the 2014/15 season. He was on trial at Boston in summer and impressed enough to earn a contract and has been partnered alongside the prolific Cursons in recent weeks.

Marcel Lavinier. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE…

Paul Johnson will be the man with the whistle on Saturday afternoon. For more on him and his team read Ben’s article here.

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News
Ref, Referee, Match Official

Yeovil Town head north for the game against Boston United this coming Saturday.

The man in the middle will be Paul Johnson, a referee we’ve had pleasure of having four times, but we are yet to win with him in charge – three wins and a draw, the history books say.

Most recently, we had him on 11th January, 2025 – a 1-1 draw with Woking at Huish Park, Aaron Jarvis got the goal on the day, with Brett McGavin, Finn Cousin-Dawson and Josh Sims all going in the book.

He’s only taken charge of seven National League games this season and compared to one or two others, has been fairly lenient, dishing out just 36 yellows and only one of those turning red later in the game.

He will be assisted by David Holmes and Wayne Gray (not that one) with William Murray in the dugouts.

Boston United FC (First Team) v Yeovil Town FC (First Team)
National League – Premier
Referee: Johnson, Paul
Assistant Referee: Holmes, David
Assistant Referee: Gray, Wayne
Fourth Official: Murray, William