David Coates (Page 2)

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Yeovil Town manager Billy Rowley has said he believes that an influx of new faces at Huish Park have the makings of a side moulded in his image.

The Glovers have brought five new players in recent weeks in the form of Cardiff City loanees Dakari Mafico and Troy Perrett, centre half Joy Mukena, midfielder Jonathon Page and Fulham attacker Terrell Works.

Speaking to BBC Somerset reporter Jack Killah ahead of this weekend’s trip to Brackley Town, the boss said he expected that to be the end of his recruitment for the season and called on fans to be patient with the new arrivals.

He said: “I have been really pleased with what I have seen from the current squad and it is nothing against them, I just feel we needed a bit of a freshen up and a bit more depth in certain positions. This last four or five weeks has been like a mini pre-season for me, I have figured out what I like and what I want to see less of and with these boys coming in I think we can start to look a bit more like my type of team.

“We still have 20 games this season, so there is a lot of work to do and when you have a turnover of five or six players in such a short space of time, we have to understand we have to give a bit of time for them to bed in.

“But I am aware we are in the winter months of a tough division and we haven’t really got time to do that, but we are going to have to be a bit patient with the boys whilst they understand what we want from them. I am certain that with 10-15 games left we will look smooth and good to watch.

“I can’t see any other signings this season and I am aware we have loaned a lot of players and the truth is that is where you get the best deals at this time of year. I am in contact with a lot of Premier League clubs who have boys that need to play games and you do not have to pay their full wage, but if you sign a player that is going to start for Yeovil you are going to have to pay a fee and a huge wage, so you probably get the best bang for your buck with loans.”

The boss said that he had seen an upturn in training following the influx of new recruits with the existing players upping their game in the face of a new competition and gave an assessment on some of the arrivals.

He said: “Training has been the highest level since I have been here. When you bring new players to a club, faces that have been here for a while step up a bit because they want to show they want to stay and fight for their shirt and the new boys come in and want to show what they are all about.”

Dakari Mafico: “Dak got Man of the Match on his debut (in last weekend’s FA Trophy win over Alvechurch) which is incredible for such a young lad, I felt he dealt with the occasion brilliantly, had a lot of composure, skill and intelligence and the other lads we have brought in are of a similar level.”

Joy Mukena: “He’s a similar mould to (the recently-departed Morgan Williams), very good stature and very composed on the ball. He has played at a couple of teams which are pretty possession based in leagues higher than this, so he has fitted in pretty seamlessly.”

Troy Perrett: “Another Wales Under-21 international, a goal-scoring midfielder with good timing to get in to the box, good receiver and I think he will contribute well.”

Terrell Works: “I have known Terrell for a couple of years from Fulham, I think he got 15-20 goal contributions in the Premier League Under-21s League which is a tough division with a lot of quality players in it. I think he will be a player the fans enjoy watching, he is a bit of a magician, he can take people on both ways, he can score and assist. Terrell was Braintree’s top scorer, so he knows where the net is and he always has, he can finish off both feet in tight spaces and he can work stuff out of nothing which is something we need as well.”

Terrell Works

He concluded: “I am really excited about all these lads, a lot of them are young and they are probably going to need a couple of weeks to bed in and feel familiar with the surroundings but I think the fans can expect a lot of good things from those boys.”

Alongside the incomings, there were two departures announced last weekend with the return of loanees James Plant and Andrew Oluwabori to Port Vale and Exeter City respectively, and Rowley said he felt bringing in new faces was preferable to keeping the pair.

He said: “There potentially would have been scope (for them to stay), we looked at the squad, the balance of positions and what we need and we felt we could bring in three or four players in place of those two and it made sense to get cover in a couple of different positions.
I have nothing but good things to say (about James Plant and Andrew Oluwabori), they are great professionals and always trained well, but I felt like we needed a couple of different faces that could do different things.”

Yeovil return to National League action as they make their first-ever trip to Brackley Town to face one of the division’s few part-time outfits on Saturday. The Northamptonshire club sit in 18th place in the table going in to the match, albeit with games in hand over come of the other teams around them, and having already defeated high-flying Rochdale and Forest Green Rovers on their own patch this season.

They were put out of the FA Trophy by Rowley’s old side Walton & Hersham last weekend, but did win their last league match at Boston United with Ben Wodskou scoring the winner. The on-loan Birmingham City striker was on the books at Huish Park earlier this season, scoring the winner for Yeovil when the two sides met in Somerset in late August.

Asked about Brackley, Rowley said: “I know what they are all about, very organised team, solid and do not let a lot of goals in especially at their place. We know how we are going to look, but the pitch, the weather and the environment plays a part in how you approach the early part of the game.

“We know what we are walking into and I think we are going to have to be our best version of ourselves. We want to go there and get a good result and they are no pushovers at their place, they get some good results, so it is going to be difficult but we are going there to win, that is for sure.“

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Defender (yes, you read that right!) Joy Mukena has become Yeovil Town’s second new signing of the day.

The 26-year-old has joined from League Two side Crawley Town on a contract until the summer of 2027.

He has made just four appearances for the Red Devils this season with all his minutes coming in cup competitions and fills a void in the Glovers’ defensive ranks left by the exit of Morgan Williams last week.

Announcing the second signing of the day following the arrival on loan of Cardiff City youngster Troy Perrett, Yeovil boss Billy Rowley said: “Joy brings good experience for his age and has been part of successful teams. He’s someone we feel will add competition and depth to the squad, and we’re pleased to bring him to Yeovil Town.”

In the same statement, the former Watford academy product said: “I’m really pleased to be joining Yeovil Town. It’s a club with a strong identity and ambition, and I’m looking forward to getting started, working hard, and contributing to what the group is trying to build.”

He was part of the Crawley side which won promotion through the League Two play-offs in the 2023-24 season, playing 18 times that season.

He made a further 25 appearances last season in League One before a “freak training ground injury” ruled him out from last January. He was awarded a new contract last summer, but has not featured for Crawley in League Two this season.

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Teenage midfielder Troy Perrett has become the second Cardiff City academy prospect to join Yeovil Town on loan until the end of the season.

The Wales Under-21s international links up with fellow Bluebird Dakarai Mafico, who arrived at the end of last week and turned in a Man of the Match performance in the FA Trophy fourth round win over Alvechurch on Saturday.

Announcing the signing on Monday, Glovers’ boss Billy Rowley said: “Troy is a talented young player with a lot of potential. He’s already been involved at senior and international level, and this move gives him the chance to gain valuable experience. We’re pleased to welcome him to the club.”

Perrett has made four appearances for the Bluebirds’ first-team in the EFL Trophy this season including scoring in a 3-1 home win over Arsenal Under-21s in November. He made his Cardiff first-team debut in September when he appeared as a second half substitute in a 1-0 win at Exeter City.

In the same announcement, Perrett said: “I’m really pleased to be joining Yeovil Town. It’s a great opportunity for me to get minutes and continue my development in a competitive environment. I’m looking forward to getting started and helping the team wherever I can.”

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The loan spells of wingers James Plant and Andrew Oluwabori with Yeovil Town have been completed, the club has confirmed.

The pair have returned to their parent clubs Port Vale and Exeter City respectively.

In a social media post on Sunday, the Glovers said: “Following the conclusion of their loan spells, James Plant and Andrew Oluwabori have returned to their respective parent clubs.

“We thank them both for their efforts and wish them all the best for the future.”

Neither player featured in the Yeovil squad for the shoot-out win over Alvechurch in the FA Trophy on Saturday, with manager Billy Rowley saying they had returned to their  parent clubs.

Speaking after the game, the boss said: “They headed back to their parent clubs yesterday. We just looked at some depth and some positions we need and I have to say, we did this privately in front of the lads, but I can’t speak highly enough about both of those lads. Brilliantly professionals, they train really well. So obviously wish them wish them the best.”

 

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Cardiff City academy product Dakarai Mafico has joined Yeovil Town on loan until the end of the season.

The 19-year-old has started four times for the League One side this season, including a league debut in the Bluebirds’ opening game of the season when he played as a makeshift left-back having impressed in pre-season.

He also made his international debut for Wales’ Under-21s last November.

In an announcement on Friday, Glovers’ manager Billy Rowley said: “Dakarai is a talented young player who has already shown he can compete at a high level. We’re thrilled to bring him to Yeovil Town, and I’m confident he will add pace, energy, and creativity to our midfield as we push through the season.”

The youngster added: “I’m really excited to join Yeovil Town and to get the chance to play regular first-team football. I’ve heard a lot about the club and the team, and I can’t wait to contribute and help the squad wherever I can.”

Speaking this week, Cardiff manager Brian Barry-Murphy said he expected Mafico to go out on loan adding the experience would be valuable to the player’s development. The boss spoke highly of the youngster following his league debut earlierthis season.

He said: “Dakarai has been outstanding in pre-season for us, so he was naturally the next option to play left back. He’s an exceptional player, but he’s never played left back before I came to the Club. He’s an elite number 6, and when you see him play there, it’ll be clear to you how good he is. 

“He shows courage in everything he does, he’s an incredible talent, and one the supporters are going to fall in love with once they see him play more.”

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In form midfielder Luke McCormick has extended his contract at Yeovil Town until the summer of 2028.

The former Bristol Rovers’ man has been in sensational form for the Glovers since joining following his release from the Memorial Stadium last summer.

He netted his eighth goal of the season in the 3-1 home win over Braintree Town on Saturday.

In a video published on the club’s social media following the announcement on Sunday, the 26-year-old said: “The conversations I have had with the manager and the hierarchy at the football club align with my vision for this club to push it further up the food chain in seasons to come, so hopefully I can play my part.

“The management team’s enthusiasm for the game and values and view on the game align with mine and it is a really exciting time to pin myself down (to a new contract) and hopefully kick on. 

“The main goal is to push this club forward and hopefully higher up the food chain whether that is this season, next season or the one after that is the goal and we are going to need help and guidance along the way and I think we have the right people in place to do that.”

In a statement, manager Billy Rowley added: “Luke embodies everything we want this football club to be about. His commitment, mentality, and leadership on the pitch have been outstanding, and he sets the standard every day. Keeping him here long term was a priority for us, and this is a really important moment as we continue to build for the future.”

Luke McCormick | Photo by Gary Brown

McCormick signed on an initial 12-month contract by former manager Mark Cooper at the start of August having impressed on trial in the summer and has been a regular fixture in the starting XI under the procession of managers which have followed.

He got his first goal in the 3-1 home defeat to York City at the start of September and is currently in a patch of good form with five goals in his last six appearances, including a brace in Rowley’s first game in charge at home to Boston United last month.

McCormick is now under contract until the end of the 2027-28 campaign with captain Jake Wannell, defender Dan Ellison, who is currently on loan at National League South side Weston-super-Mare, and winger James Daly all on contract until the end of next season.

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Yeovil Town manager Billy Rowley was pleased to see the work on his side’s attacking play make it off the training ground and on to the pitch in the 3-1 home win over Braintree Town.

The Glovers started 2026 with a comfortable victory courtesy of goals from midfielder Luke McCormick, his eighth of the season, James Daly’s first for the club before a late own goal wrapped up the three points.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins after the game, Rowley said: “It is something we have been working on in training, trying to get in to the final third more often and trying to give the boys clearer pictures about how we might create goals and it won’t always be pretty. Some of our organisational stuff was good, we needed a little reminder at half-time and we showed the boys a couple of clips about what we wanted to see more or less of.

“I thought we were decent all round, there’s loads to improve on still and I fully appreciate that but we saw some good signs there. Some of the set piece deliveries out there were top drawer, Brett’s right foot was brilliant and every time we got a free kick or corner, I thought we might score.”

He added: “I would not say it was massively convincing, there were some good spells from Braintree, but I thought we had decent control of the game for large parts and I thought the only time they looked like threatening us was from our sloppy giveaways particularly in the middle or final third of the pitch when we weren’t set up correctly. We left our defence quite isolated in those transitions, but we dealt with that and I thought we were pretty worthy winners.”

Luke McCormick got his eighth goal of the season with the opener against Braintree Town. Photo by Gary Brown.

Despite the victory, Rowley said he expects to bring in new faces next weeks with left back Alex Whittle having been out for almost a month through injury. He also revealed midfielder Josh Tobin, who is on loan from League Two side Bromley, is also injured and was only named among the substitutes on Saturday to make up the numbers.

The manager had also spoken about how he expected “some changes” following the 1-1 draw at home to Eastleigh on Tuesday night.

On new arrivals, the Glovers’ boss said: “We might have a couple of ideas coming along next week. I think the boys just need a bit of help and support because we are light on numbers at the moment. Whitts has been out for a couple of weeks, Josh Tobin was injured tonight, Jacob Maddox has not played any minutes in a year, so I want to have more depth and players challenging for slots. We are working hard on that, but I think it is important we get the right players and the right characters in and I want to make sure they are good people and fit the system.”

Midfielder Jacob Maddox, who has not featured for almost a year due to an injury which required an operation in the summer, was also named on the bench against Braintree. Rowley said he had spoken to the former Forest Green Rovers man about going out on loan to build his match fitness.

He said: “Naturally any time a footballer has been out for almost a year, it is really difficult. Mentally training on your own, but then when you start playing you are naturally worried about re-injuring yourself but I think he is over that stage now. He is competing in training, going in for duels and looking fit and strong.

“He is a very technical footballer, my type of footballer, he can receive the ball in tight spaces, he sees a pass as well, so I hope we can offer him some minutes in the short term. I have spoken to him about potentially going on a very short loan to get some minutes because it is difficult just coming on for 10 or 15 minutes with us, but he is someone I think can help this team when he gets fit.“

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Winger James Daly said he was “delighted” to get his first Yeovil Town goal since arriving at Huish Park in the summer in the 3-1 home win over Braintree Town.

The 25-year-old headed the second goal of the night after 65 minutes in front of the Thatcher’s Stand and admitted he had been thinking about the moment whilst he was out through injury for more than two months.

He told BBC Somerset reporter Josh Perkins: “It was very long overdue and I am delighted with it, it always was going to be a header. You just have to keep knocking on the door when you go so long without a goal because goals are a big part of my game, so to go this long without scoring was disappointing for me. I am just delighted to get off the mark.

“When I had those dark days, I was thinking about how I could get on the pitch and scoring goals. It has been a long journey with being out for ten weeks, so I am delighted to be playing again and scoring a goal.”

The former Bristol Rovers’ player said he felt Yeovil should have gone in ahead at half-time after a header from defender Kyle Ferguson was ruled out after 25 minutes with Luke McCormick adjudged to have been offside.

Daly said: “The first half was good I thought, we created chances and I think we should have gone ahead, I thought it was a poor decision from the linesman which would have given us some momentum going in at half-time. But we knew that in the second half we would just keep doing what we were doing and the goals would come, we kept knocking on the door and they came.

“At half-time we said we needed to be ruthless when we did create the chances, it was a matter of being patient, and in the second half we knew we had to not get too hurried and take our chances.”

Daly has started every match since the arrival of manager Billy Rowley at the end of November and said he believes the best is yet to come.

He added: “It has been a whirlwind of a season so far with everything that has gone on, and we are just looking to get some consistency about how we are going to play and we can only get better. The foundations are there and I think there is a lot more to come.“

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Yeovil Town started 2026 with a comfortable win at home to Braintree Town on a freezing night at Huish Park.

After a non-event of a first half, the Glovers took the lead when midfielder Luke McCormick stabbed home just after the hour and James Daly headed a second after Jake Wannell’s initial header had been superbly kept out by the visitors’ goalkeeper Mason Terry.

Braintree pulled one back through striker Lewis Walker with 20 minutes remaining, but an 86th minute superb Brett McGavin free-kick restored the two-goal advantage.

First half

The changes which Glovers’ boss Billy Rowley alluded to following Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Eastleigh did not come as soon as the 5.30pm kick-off time with the only change being Finn Cousin-Dawson coming in for loanee Max Jolliffe. On the bench, Jacob Maddox made his first appearance in a squad since February 2025. In a similar way that Jolliffe did four days earlier, FC-D started on the right side of defence. It looks like 4-4-2 when we are in possession and 3-5-2 when we are out of it.

With eight minutes gone, James Plant had a press down the left and fired in a shot which went wide, but was not seriously troubling Mason Terry in the Braintree goal. A shot at goal even if it wasn’t on target.

The first meaningful effort came in the 20th minute with a nice bit of football from Yeovil. Jarvis lifted a ball across which was touched down by Luke McCormick to Josh Sims whose effort was pushed away by Terry. Moments later Brett McGavin linked up with Jarvis and Sims and McGavin did not quite have the pace to get on the end of it and then Daly had an effort in to the midriff of Terry soon after. Daly showing what his left foot can do when he cuts in from the right side.

Yeovil were the in the ascendancy and thought they had taken the lead when McGavin’s corner was met by the head of Kyle Ferguson. But the assistant referee had his flag up seemingly against McCormick on the line. Was he interfering with play? Referee Zack Kennard (son of) Kettle sided with his official.

Luke McCormick on the line adjudged to have blocked the view of Braintree keeper Mason Terry as Ferguson’s header arrows in.

Just before the half-hour mark, Terry was called in to action again to deny McCormick’s effort from the edge of the box before Chay Cooper fired one high in to the Thatcher’s Stand at the other end.

Both teams are playing the same tactics here and therefore trying to break each other down in the same way. We have had more shots on target which I assume means we are doing it better, and we had some nice patterns of play to create decent changes. But the most important statistic remains level at half-time.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Braintree Town 0

Second half

Neither side came out of the blocks at the start of the second half with Yeovil attacking the Thatcher’s Stand after the break. You can see the frustration in Billy Rowley’s body language on the sidelines when his side have possession and are not moving it forward and in the opening 15 minutes of this half, there’s plenty of frustrated body language.

But with 61 minutes, Plant had a low shot from the edge of the box which Terry could not hold on to and who was there? You guessed it, Luke McCORMICK was the fox in the box there to pick up the rebound and stab it home for his eighth of the season.

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It might not have been the best start to the second half, but Yeovil definitely had the better of the chances in the first and four minutes later they doubled it. McGavin’s free kick in to the box was met by the head of Jake Wannell who was denied by a fantastic save by Terry who could only push it as far as James DALY who headed it in to the net.

Well, Billy Rowley said after the game against Eastleigh that he wanted us to look to get more goals and his side have done that. But, four minutes later, Braintree got one back and it was another sloppy goal for Yeovil to concede. The visitors brought the ball forward as the Yeovil defence stood off and let them work it out to Lewis WALKER on the right of the box and his shot took a nick off Ferguson and over the head of Jed Ward.

Rowley responded by bringing on Andrew Oluwabori and Harvey Greenslade in place of Josh Sims and James Plant, but it is another disappointing goal to concede.

There was almost another self-inflicted wound in the 82nd minute when Wannell gifted the ball to substitute Elliot Thorpe who played in fellow sub John Akinde and were fortunate to the big striker dragged his shot wide.

But three minutes later the Glovers added a third – yes, THREE goals! A great free-kick from Brett McGavin was hit hard in to the near post and it looks like it has come off Braintree’s James Vennings on its way in to the net. Definitely NOT an Own goal, but a 3-1 lead regardless.

Braintree have brought on four changes including Akinde, Thorpe and ex-Bristol City striker Jay Emmanuel Thomas and both Thorpe and Emmanuel-Thomas forced good saves out of Jed Ward as normal time was running out.

One of Yeovil’s subs Oluwabori put one over the bar in the sixth minute of second half injury time, but we started 2026 with three points, three goals and three different goal scorers.

Real improvement in the passages of play which we did not see against Eastleigh on Tuesday night or Truro City on Boxing Day, hopefully this is the start of more to come.

Full time: Yeovil Town 3 Braintree Town 1

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Date: Tuesday 3rd January, 5.30pm kick-off

Competition: Enterprise National League Premier League

Scorers: Luke McCormick 61 (1-0), James Daly 65 (2-0), Lewis Walker 69 (2-1), Brett McGavin 84 (3-1)

Pitch: Slippy in places
Conditions: Absolute baltic

Attendance: 3,573 (53 away supporters)

Bookings:
Yeovil Town: None
Braintree Town: Jacob Pinnington 77, Aidan Francis-Clarke 84

Referee: Zac Kennard-Kettle

Yeovil Town (3-4-3)

Substitutes: Andrew Oluwabori (for Josh Sims, 70), Harvey Greenslade (for James Plant, 70), Tahvon Campbell (for Aaron Jarvis, 87), Max Jolliffe (for Luke McCormick, 90+1), Jacob Maddox (not used), Josh Tobin (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Braintree Town: Mason Terry, Ben Drake, George Langston, Aidan Francis Clarke, Calum Logan (for Goran Babic, 65), Harrison Dudziak (for Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, 80), James Vennings, Jacob Pinnington, Chay Cooper, Lewis Walker (for Elliot Thorpe, 80), Aramide Oteh (for John Akinde, 73).

Substitutes (not used): Manny Omrore, Sahid Kamara, Freddie Hockey.