Ben Barrett (Page 22)

Yeovil Town manager Billy Rowley has said that he has had ‘quarter of an eye’ on Tuesday’s game with Aldershot with regards to his team line up for Saturday’s clash with Brackley.

Speaking to BBC Radio Bristol’s Ian Randall he said;

“I think, with one eye or quarter of an eye on Aldershot on Tuesday, that plays a part into selection. Also coming to Brackley who are fighting, you know, relegation arguably. They don’t concede many goals here, they make life very difficult for people that come and try and play football here. So, yeah, the selection was difficult today, but like I said, I think the fact that we’ve got a game on Tuesday plays a part in sort of sharing minutes.

Only Jonathon Page gets the nod with a potential four more debutants on the bench and Rowley felt like throwing players in all at once might not be what this game requires.

“There was method to that madness, like I said, you know, I don’t feel like today’s game’s going be a roll your sleeves up, and let’s see what we’ve got character-wise, and I’ve got full faith in our lads to do that. They’ve obviously dealt with those sort of occasions before. This game reminds me a little bit of Hartlepool away a few weeks ago. So the boys are well-versed in what’s needed to get a result here today. And I felt, like I said, with a Tuesday game coming up quick and fast after this, it might be a good chance to introduce some of the lads into a home game.

Ryan [Jones] trained with us on Thursday and Friday, and obviously Friday’s only really 45 minutes to an hour match prep, so not loads. So that’s another reason why I didn’t want to like throw him in. I think Aldershot defends slightly differently to we do naturally, they’re a bit more man-for-man and we’re gonna be a bit more of a block today and press in certain moments, so didn’t want to spring that on him. [Jonathon] Page I’ve obviously worked with for six months so he sort of understands what’s needed. And I thought Dak [Mafico] who got man of the match last Saturday was a no-brainer to start.

And I feel really, you know, sorry for Harvey Greenslade who had to be substituted off after 20 minutes because of the red card, cause we probably needed to get an extra midfielder on. And I felt up until the red card last Saturday, I felt we were looking good, albeit against, you know, a team two leagues below, but I felt like if that red card didn’t happen, you know, on another day we probably score three or four goals in that game. So I want to sort of like give a chance for those lads to recreate that first 20 into today’s game.”

Billy Rowley could give as many as FIVE debuts today, but only one gets the nod from the start.

Jonathon Page comes in to replace the suspended Brett McGavin, in the only charge to starting line up from the one that started against Alevchurch.

Max Jolliffe is the unlucky sixth loanee who misses out with the other five all involved in the match day squad, of the contracted members of the group, Jacob Maddox is not involved.

There is no Matt Gould on the bench either, so Jed Ward is the only recognised goalkeeper on the team sheet.

We’ll take the formation graphic with an almighty pinch of salt as we know it is very, very flexible!

Yeovil Town have announced the signing of Aldershot’s Ryan Jones on a deal until the summer of 2028.

Yeovil Town have reportedly paid a “five figure sum” for the former Bristol Rovers youngster.

The officials Aldershot statement said;

“…the club has secured a five-figure sum rather than losing Ryan for nothing at the end of the season as a free agent.

In addition, the agreement includes a sell-on clause, ensuring the club will benefit from any future transfer of the player and enabling any such receipt to be reinvested into the club’s playing staff.”

Jones has been a regular in the Aldershot side this season, playing 18 times in the league, scoring against York City in November.

He limped off in the first half of the Glovers’ 4-1 win over Aldershot earlier in the season.

A former Weston-super-Mare, Hungerford and Bromley player, he is predominantly used down the left hand side, equally happy as a wing back in a five as well as in midfield or attack behind the front man.

He, like Dan Ellison, won the 2024/25 FA Trophy at Wembley with the Shots and returns to his home county to join the Glovers.

Welcome to Yeovil, Ryan!

Dakarai Mafico was proudly posting his Man of the Match award off on social media following his eye catching performance against Alvechurch in the FA Trophy, but this is the one that really counts, right, Dak?

The Cardiff loanee didn’t just beat penalty hero Jed Ward to the top of the votes, he did so by over 30 votes!

Ward did come second, maintaining his record of making a podium in six of the last seven votes, with Josh Sims picking up a small selection of votes to take third.

Another thank you to all those that voted, another high turnout which really does add to the numbers significantly, we’ll be doing it for every game this season, so if you want a quick and easy way to have your view of the game you’d just watched, look out for our Man of the Match polls.

Congratulations, Dakarai… here’s to a few more!

Yeovil Town will head to Brackley Town this coming Saturday and our match official for the day is Mr George Laflin.

Mr Laflin has reffed just the four National League games this season, being used primarily in the Premier League 2 divisions for the youngsters of the top sides.

That doesn’t mean he hasn’t been enjoying himself, 21 times he’s dished yellow cards out, never any fewer than four and averaging out at over 5 per game (just).

In total, 57 yellows in 13 games across all competitions feels like a lot, and it is, but, not once has he used his red card.

As far as I can tell, he’s refereed one Brackley game in his career, a 0-0 draw against Southport a couple of years ago, and one Yeovil Town game, at Huish Park in a vital 1-0 home win over Havant and Waterlooville in the National League South.

He booked four Glovers that day too, but none of Frank Nouble, Jordan Young, Joe Day or Jay Foulston are with us any more to worry about bumping into him again.

He’ll be assisted by Andrew Aylott and Matthew Joyce, with Jack Bloxham in charge of the dugouts.

Brackley Town FC (First Team) v Yeovil Town FC (First Team)
National League – Premier
Referee: Laflin, George
Assistant Referee: Aylott, Andrew
Assistant Referee: Joyce, Matthew
Fourth Official: Bloxham, Jack

Yeovil Town will face Hornchurch or AFC Telford in the FA Trophy 5th Round away from home.

The original tie was postponed at the weekend, with the rearranged fixture this coming Tuesday 13th of January.

Horchurch are currently fighting for a play-off spot in the National League South whilst Telford sit in mid table in the National League North.

Ties are set to be played the weekend of Saturday 31st January

Fifth round: Winners receive £6000, losers receive £1750