Ben Barrett (Page 5)

Yeovil Town have announced the signing of Southampton striker Will Merry on loan until the end of the season.

Merry, 20 has spent time on loan with Eastleigh in the past making a handful of appearances for the Spitfires.

This season, he’s been a regular in the Saints’ U21s set up, scoring in their National League Cup clash against Aldershot in October. – he also scored the first spot kick in the shoot out of that match too.

Welcome to Somerset, Will!

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.

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!