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Substitute and goalscorer Ryan Jones paid tribute to the strength of Yeovil Town’s squad after contributing to a 3-2 home win over Tamworth at Huish Park on Bank Holiday Monday.

The winger came off the bench in the 54th minute of the game and put his side 3-1 ahead just 12 minutes later before they had to endure a nerve-jangling ending with the visitors having a late ‘goal’ ruled out for offside.

Manager Billy Rowley made seven changes to his starting XI as the Glovers started their second game in under three days having made a 600-mile round journey to Barrow on Friday night.

Speaking to BBC Somerset reporter Mark Stillman after the game, Jones said: “In a squad that wants to achieve something having competition for places is one of the most important things. You can’t become complacent in your position and think that you’re going to play every minute of every game, because that’s just not the case.

“Obviously, we had a lot of travelling to do at the beginning of this weekend, so I think it was expected there would be some changes to rest a few bodies. All the lads that started, they came into the team and they all did brilliantly.

“The togetherness of the group is really good. So even if we’re not starting, we’re getting round the lads, supporting them, making sure that they’re ready to go.“

Jones said he was given the instruction to “come on and be positive” when he replaced James Daly nine minutes in to the second half. He did exactly that soon after his arrival when he pressed down the right side and hit a shot which took a deflection off a Tamworth player on its way in to the net.

He said: “I think the ball came out to me on the right and I just kind of took on a couple of players, ended up in the box. I think it was deflected anyway, but I think it was on target, so I think it would go down as mine anyway. It was really good to score, get my first one of the season, so hopefully I can kick on now.“

The visitors Kieren Donnelly reduced the advantage just three minutes after Jones had made it 3-1 and there was a heart-in-mouth moment late on when it appeared Tamworth had equalised. Yeovil keeper Jos Barker came to claim a ball in to the box and was beaten by a header from Morgan Roberts allowing Hayden Hollis to head in to an unguarded net. It looked to everyone inside Huish Park that the scores were level before referee Matthew Scholes ruled the goal out for offside with Hollis having been behind the keeper when he scored.

Jones admitted he was a little unsure about what happened, saying: “I could kind of see it, but I was not really sure, I don’t really know what the rules is – there’s so many changes! It looked offside because of where Jos had come out but I’m not sure. I’ll have to watch it back.“

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Yeovil Town boss Billy Rowley insisted that there are still things to improve on despite seeing his side close out the Bank Holiday weekend with their unbeaten start to the new season intact.

The Glovers came out on the right side of a five-goal thriller with a determined Tamworth side in front of a crowd of almost 4,000 at Huish Park. They went 3-1 up before visitors pulled one back and then looked to have got a late equaliser before it was ruled out for offside as both sides appeared ready for the restart.

Rowley praised the efforts of his side who were coming off the back of a 2-1 win at Barrow less than three days earlier which include the small matter of a 600-mile round journey to Cumbria.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Mark Stillman after the game, he said: “It’s very rare that on a Bank Holiday weekend a team wins two of these games. I think we’re apparently one of two that have done it this weekend. Credit to Tamworth, I thought it was a really tough fixture for us and they’re really good at what they do, but we did we did make a little bit of hard work of it ourselves. We got back at 5am from Barrow, we’ve had a couple of days, not really much prep on the game, so to come out three days after that and get another win, I think it’s really important for us.

“We all love coming here and playing, the pitch is great and I had goosebumps when the fans were singing in the Thatcher’s at the end. I am not over-the-moon with the performance today, but I am not going to dive in to that too much because that is for the staff and the players to review and keeping trying to improve. But I was pleased with the energy in the stadium, we scored another three goals, so I am really pleased for the fans as well.”

Rowley made seven changes to his starting XI from the dramatic late win at Barrow on Friday night with all seven substitutes in that game given a start against Tamworth. He insisted that the decision was driven by sports science with a number of players at risk of picking up injuries.

He said: “It was always the plan (to make changes) today, it might have been a little dependent on our result at Barrow, but all of the boys in this squad deserve to play. We have left two out of the squad today that also could play and those decisions are always results-driven. If we lose today, the first thing people will say is ‘why are we making so many changes?’, but if we win it is ‘great rotation and a sign of how good the squad is’ – and I’m glad it is the second. All the boys are training really well, forming a great bond and I was just really happy we were able to make changes and keep a strong side on the pitch.”

Luke McCormick celebrates his opener against Tamworth. Picture courtesy of Indy Pitman/Indy’s Visuals.

Captain Luke McCormick put Yeovil ahead after just 17 minutes when he stabbed home a beautiful move from the hosts before the visitors Jake Hutchinson levelled just after the half-hour mark following a swift counter attack. The boss admitted the first half performance did not get his blood pumping as much as he would have liked.

He said: “We want to be a team that has a lot of the ball. We want to be possession-based. We want to try and create opportunities to progress certain ways. But I think what that can end up looking like sometimes is just a lot of safety and just passing to the guy that’s closest to you, nearest to you. It becomes quite easy for the opposition and it also becomes pretty boring for the supporters to watch.

“I think there’s certain times, there’s certain players, where you just have to risk the ball. You have to try and break a line. You have to try and take someone on and carry the ball into the box, which is just something we’re going to have to look at and try and improve on. We have to understand that when you try those things, you turn the ball over. So we’ve got to be really good in those turnover moments as well. It’s just something else for us to keep working at and keep improving. But I think the boys have performed excellently in these last two games, so full credit to them.”

Thank goodness for the offside rule – whatever it is!

Rowley pleaded ignorance when it came to the heart-stopping moment at the end of the match when it appeared Tamworth had grabbed an equaliser. The moment saw goalkeeper Jos Barker beaten as he came to claim a cross in to his box and the ball dropped to the visitors’ Hayden Hollis who headed in to an unguarded net. That fell foul of the offside rule which says because Hollis was behind the keeper when he scored, he was in an offside position.

The Glovers’ boss said: “It’s another one I am going to have to watch again. Daz (Simpson, assistant manager) had the iPad next to me and he said it was offside. I have to credit the officials in these moments, it is a big decision which has gone our way and there were quite a few that didn’t today. I remember a handball on the edge of the box when we played some combination play, which should’ve been given. I don’t know, that might’ve been a penalty or just outside.

“But full credit to (the officials). They’re not able to go and check VAR like they are on the TV, so credit to them for actually reversing that moment in their head and replaying it and I think, from what I have heard, making the right decision.“

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Yeovil Town served up a five-goal thriller in front of the biggest crowd of the season at Huish Park to retain their unbeaten start to the National League season.

Captain Luke McCormick gave the Glovers the lead with 17 minutes after another impressive start but were pegged back when a counter attack found Jake Hutchinson at the back post and he levelled.

Mason Obeng and Ryan Jones’ efforts were both given a helping hand in to the net before Tamworth showed their never-say-die attitude to reduce the advantage through Kieren Donnelly with 20 minutes still to play.

But the real drama came in the closing stages when the visitors thought they had levelled through Hayden Hollis only for the officials to rule the goal out for offside as both sides were ready to restart. Then, with the final kick of the game, McCormick won a penalty and hit it against the inside of the post.

A breathless finish, but at the end of it the unbeaten start was intact.

First half

Billy Rowley made seven changes to the starting XI which started the 2-1 win at Barrow less than three days earlier with all the substitutes for that match starting and all those dropping out named on the bench.

The boss called for another quick start from his side and an early goal almost came after just four minutes when visiting keeper Rhys Lovett tipped over a Brett McGavin effort from the edge of the box before Johl Powell, one of those seven changes, fired wide five minutes later. Whilst there has not been a goal in the opening ten minutes, the Glovers have been in complete control in these opening exchanges.

Jos Barker was called in to action on 12 minutes when he got down well to deny Tamworth forward Kieren Donnelly, but it was Yeovil who deservedly took the lead through a fantastic team goal. McGavin engineered a move forward before darting in to the box to collect a pass from Spasov and flicked it to Luke McCORMICK who slid in to make no mistake for his fourth goal in the last three games.

Tamworth thought they had levelled when Donnelly fired in to the top corner, only for the offside flag to deny him. It is a warning that, despite our impressive start to this match, the opposition still have plenty of threat. They showed exactly that on 31 minutes when Tamworth equaliser. A quick move forward from the back found Yeovil’s defence out of position as Tom McGlinchey strode forward, laid it off to TJ Bramble whose ball across the face of goal picked out Jake HUTCHINSON completely unmarked at the back post to smash past Barker.

We have kept pressing forward looking for a second and Tamworth took advantage with a quick break, we simply could not get back in to our defensive shape quick enough. Credit to the visitors, they took their opportunity ruthlessly but that will be watched back in the post-match review – possibly more than once.

They almost did it again on 38 minutes when a long ball forward found Donnelly down the right side, he tore forward and his effort was tipped over by Barker. Another warning of what Tamworth can do, if we needed one.

Two contrasting styles. Expansive, possession-based from Yeovil, whilst Tamworth are looking to hit the Glovers on the counter attack – and that’s exactly how both goals have come about. Level at the break, but an enjoyable opening 45 minutes.

Half-time: Yeovil Town 1 Tamworth 1

Second half

There were no changes for either side at the break. The first chance of the half fell to the visitors after Mason Obeng was muscled off inside the box and the ball fell to Oliver Dyson just inside the box and he curled an effort wide.

There was movement on the Yeovil substitutes bench and, perhaps realising he might be at risk, Mason OBENG made himself difficult to withdraw as he restored Yeovil’s lead. McGavin picked him out on the right side and the winger moved in to the box and his effort deflected off Joe Rye and in to the net.

Mason Obeng celebrates restoring Yeovil’s advantage. Picture courtesy of Indy Pitman/Indy’s Visuals.

The changes happened anyway with Ryan Jones replacing Daly and Ben Radcliffe coming on for Loick Ayina as the two sides lined up for the restart.

But, yet again, Tamworth gave us an almost immediate warning as Roberts’ high cross in from the left found Donnelly on the back post and he headed over. A better chance than the finish it got.

On the hour mark, one of the most obvious handballs I’ve seen since Harry Maguire’s for Manchester United on Sunday was not given by referee Matthew Scholes and Tamworth broke and Donnelly got a shot in which Barker got down to.

Zain Westbrooke and Archie Davies replaced Johl Powell and Hayden Muller on 64 minutes and two minutes later Ryan JONES extended Yeovil’s lead. The winger picked the ball up just inside his own half, cut in from the left and fired in a shot which deflected off Tamworth defender Hayden Hollis and in to the net.

But, Tamworth are not the types to fold and they got one back three minutes later. The Lambs got a cross in from the left despite the presence of plenty of Yeovil defenders, it flashed across the face of goal and Kieren DONNELLY was there to turn it in at the back post. They have always been a threat despite not seeing much of the ball and you have to credit their never-say-die attitude.

Barker was called in to action again when another Tamworth counter attack on 76 minutes was Donnelly denied and two minutes later McGavin’s effort from just inside the box flew just wide. Jordan Norville-Williams replaced Obeng with 11 minutes of normal time left.

With 88 minutes on the clock, a scramble on the goal line just about denied when Barker threw himself on the ball and moments later the visitors levelled – or so they thought. A long punt forward from Lovett was headed up in the air by Norville-Williams, Morgan Roberts’ jumped with Barker who had come a long way off his line and beat the keeper, the ball looped up and there was Hayden Hollis to head it in to an unguarded net. Tamworth celebrated and everyone inside Huish Park thought it was a goal, ran back to the halfway and then the game stopped. The assistant’s flag is up……but it wasn’t up when the ball hit the net or when the visiting players celebrated in front of him. In fact, it didn’t go up until he had spoken to the referee.

Thank goodness for the offside rule.

This correspondent is not the best one to decipher that for you, but the best guess I can make is that because Radcliffe was the only covering defender and Hollis was behind the keeper, it’s offside. I might need to defer to Gloverscast Ben to explain that one.

But, there was still more drama to come from this game in the penultimate minute of the seven added on as McCormick went clear through on goal and was brought down inside the box by Lovett. Penalty given, just a yellow card for the keeper. McCormick stepped up his effort came off the inside of the post and away.

The final whistle came seconds after the restart. Yeovil unbeaten as August comes to an end and up to fourth in the National League Premier Division table – but it is only five games gone, of course.

Full time: Yeovil Town 3 Tamworth 2

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Date: Monday 31st August, 3pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Luke McCormick 17 (1-0), Jake Hutchinson 31 (1-1), Mason Obeng 53 (2-1), Ryan Jones 66 (3-1), Kieren Donnelly 69 (3-2)

Pitch: In good nick given the recent rain.
Conditions: Cloudy but dry.

Attendance: 3,945 (93 away supporters)

Bookings:
Yeovil Town: None
Tamworth: None

Referee: Matthew Scholes

Yeovil Town

Substitutes: Ben Radcliffe (for Loick Ayina, 54), Ryan Jones (for James Daly, 54), Zain Westbrooke (for Hayden Muller, 65), Archie Davies (for Johl Powell, 65) Jordan Norville-Williams (for Mason Obeng, 79), Charlie Lennon (not used), Ste Walker (not used).

Tamworth: Rhys Lovett, Joe Rye, Jordan Cullinane-Liburd, Hayden Hollis, Luke Fairlamb (for Riccardo Calder, 86), Tom McGlinchey (for Nathan Tshikuna, 86), Oliver Dyson (for Teo Kurtaran, 73), TJ Bramble (for Ben Milnes, 73), Morgan Roberts, Kieren Donnelly, Jake Hutchinson (for Ben Acquaye, 73).

Substitutes (not used): Daniel Rachel, Tom Parkes.

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Yeovil Town boss Billy Rowley said the seven changes he has made to his starting XI for today’s home match with Tamworth would “freshen up the legs and the energy levels.”

The Glovers will kick-off against Tamworth at Huish Park just less than three days after they finished a draining 2-1 win at Barrow – followed by a 300-mile journey home – on Friday night.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Mark Stillman ahead of the match, the manager said: “None of the changes are enforced. I think it’s just a massive pat on the back to the squad. I can’t fault anyone’s attitude in training, everybody’s been brilliant.

“It was just having one game a week for the past couple, it’s easy to name the same team. But we’ve had two days’ rest, really. That’s all. So it’s more of a thought to just freshen up the legs and the energy levels, and that’s it really.“

The seven players named on the substitutes’ bench at Barrow – defenders Joe Gubbins, Loick Ayina, Hayden Muller, midfielders Mason Obeng, James Daly and Johl Powell and striker Slavi Spasov – all start with the seven who have dropped out named on the bench against Tamworth.

Johl Powell starts his first league game for Yeovil Town against Tamworth today. Picture courtesy of Jayden Tate | Tate’s Photography

Midfielder Powell, one of three summer signings from Rowley’s old club, Walton & Hersham, starts his first league game for the club having appeared off the bench since the start of the season.

Rowley said: “Johl deserves his start. I think because of the role of Archie Davis at the moment, it’s been really hard to get Johl in the team, and it’s through no fault of Johl. He’s trained really well and he’s deserved a chance.

“But Archie gets through probably the most high-intensity sprints out of the whole team. He’s constantly sprinting 60, 70 yards. Especially with the sports science today, we just thought it would probably be a bit of an injury risk. But he’s still available. We just didn’t want to play him another 90 minutes.“

Tamworth had an even more dramatic Friday night than their hosts today as they came back from 2-1 down to beat newly-promoted Worthing on their artificial surface with two goals in second half injury time. The Lambs have made just three changes from the starting XI in their previous game.

The Yeovil manager said: “Traditionally they are better at home than they are away from home. We’re excellent on our pitch at the moment. The surface suits us, the support is behind us. So, look, we want to start this game really quick. We want to try and put them on the back foot, score an early goal, settle the fans down, and then we can start playing our football.”

The boss also revealed that the players recovered from a 600-mile round trip to Barrow with a relaxing day at a spa at the weekend – albeit without the management team present.

He said: “The lads had a day where they went to a little kind of outdoor spa resort, which is lovely for their recovery — outdoor saunas, cold plunge pools, little lakes to swim in. We tried to get them to top up their energy levels as much as possible, but it was a bit of a team bonding one as well.“

Asked if he got an invite to the day, Rowley added: “I did, but I didn’t want to crash! You know, sometimes when the manager’s not around, they can talk about things that they can’t when I’m in the room, so I just leave them to it.“

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Yeovil Town have made seven changes to the starting XI as they prepare for their second game of the Bank Holiday weekend at home to Tamworth (3pm kick-off).

All seven players who started the 2-1 win at Barrow on Friday night are in the starting XI with only goalkeeper Jos Barker, defender Joy Mukena and midfielders Luke McCormick and Brett McGavin remaining. Coming in are Hayden Muller, Loick Ayina, Joe Gubbins, Mason Obeng, James Daly, Slavi Spasov and Johl Powell.

The seven who drop out are all on the bench, namely Jordan Norville-Williams, Archie Davies, Ben Radcliffe, Zain Westbrooke, Ryan Jones, Charlie Lennon and Ste Walker.

Goalkeeping coach Matt Gould and defender Jack Kingdon are not in the squad.

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Goalkeeper Jos Barker was “buzzing” after making a string of crucial saves to help Yeovil Town to a 2-1 win at Barrow on Friday night.

The 22-year-old, who stepped up two tiers of the football pyramid when he joined from Walton & Hersham in the summer, pulled off a stunning fingertip save just seconds deep in to second half stoppage time in Cumbria.

But, speaking exclusively to Gloverscast Ben after the match, he said he felt his effort to keep out the hosts’ Kennedy Digie’s header after just ten minutes was better.

The keeper said: “I thought I made a save in the first ten minutes of the game which I thought was a better save! But because it was in injury time at the end of the game everyone was buzzing for it, even Brett (McGavin) who is probably the biggest keeper hater in the world – but he came up to me and said ‘what a save’! That is the first time I have heard that from him.

“It is just instinct, I was not sure if I should come out and press the ball to put him off the shot, but then there is the risk of not getting it. My old coach always told me to stand and be hard to be beat and that is what I did and managed to get my fingers to it.”

Jos Barker has made an impressive start to life between the posts with Yeovil Town. Picture courtesy of Indy Pitman/Indy’s Visuals.

The victory came courtesy of a Joe Gubbins header four minutes in to second half stoppage time and means the Glovers remain unbeaten with four matches of the National League season completed. Barker said the spirit in the team has surpassed even his best expectations.

He added: “The way we have connected as a group is better than I ever thought it would happen, the character we showed in that game is unreal, everyone is buzzing. It was a man for man game, you know what you were going to get with their press and their energy was unbelievable which makes the game harder as a goalkeeper in terms of distribution and finding the right pass because you know whoever you are passing to has a man right behind them.

“The first half was not amazing, but I think we combated it well in the second half and brought on some much energy in the likes of James Daly on the wing and we just matched them and came out on top.”

Don’t miss Monday’s episode of the Gloverscast podcast to hear Yeovil’s number one discuss his relationship with goalkeeping coach Matt Gould and boss Billy Rowley

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Yeovil Town boss Billy Rowley hailed the “togetherness” of his new-look squad as they came from a goal down to snatch a dramatic late 2-1 win at Barrow on Friday night.

With just 15 minutes remaining in Cumbria, the Glovers found themselves trailing, but pulled level when captain Luke McCormick netted from the penalty spot before substitute defender Joe Gubbins headed the winner deep in to second half stoppage time.

The win kept up an unbeaten start to the new National League Premier Division campaign and will send them on a long journey home in high spirits with Tamworth due at Huish Park on Bank Holiday Monday.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins after the game, Rowley said: “It is easy to get carried away and zoom in on these types of wins, but I think you have to at the time. It is only three points, but I am so thrilled for the lads. The togetherness of this group, even after only four games, I really feel it, so in that sense it is a really important three points.

“We work really hard as a management team, we are only a small team, but we put a lot of time and effort in to watching opposition and when you get those last minute winners, it makes it all feel worthwhile.”

Manager Billy Rowley celebrates with scorer Joe Gubbins at the final whistle.

Barrow came in to the game where they were marking 125 years as a club before kick-off still looking for their first win of the season after picking up one point in their opening three league games. The Bluebirds showed a high intensity style which was physical and undoubtedly had the better of the opening 45 minutes.

Rowley said: “Even though they have lost two games here, I do not see them losing too many games at home. They were a really hard opposition tonight, they had energy, they had a press, they were man for man all over the pitch and full of energy and my message for the boys at half-time was to try and find a bit of composure in those scrappy moments. Try and find three or four passes and we did it decently enough and we had one or two chances but so did they.

“That is where you defenders as so important. I felt Radders (Ben Radcliffe) was incredible, Jos in goal was again superb even if he was wearing the wrong studs from the start! Jordan Norville-Williams was incredible, Archie (Davies) has not put a foot wrong in his first four games, and in front of them, Brett (McGavin) and Zain (Westbrooke) were dogged and diligent in their defensive work. It was not a beautiful game, but it was never going to be, they are the highest pressing team in the league, they get in your face and put the ball in your box and it is really hard to play against.”

Yeovil made a triple substitution at the start of the second half with defender Joe Gubbins and wingers James Daly and Mason Obeng replacing Joy Mukena and Ryan Jones, who both picked up first half bookings, along with Barnsley winger Charlie Lennon.

Rowley added: “When you play against teams like this, you have to weather the storm probably for the first hour and hope they blow up a little bit. They obviously made five subs like we did and that leaves your team a little disjointed I think, the timing of their press was a little bit off and we found a bit more space. But naturally it comes down to energy and endurance. It was an incredibly hard game, but when you get those last minute winners it is a nice release.”

Luke McCormick celebrates his third goal of the season after levelling from the penalty spot.

It was another substitute who played a major role in the Glovers equaliser as striker Slavi Spasov was brought down inside the box with four minutes remaining and, after a long delay, captain Luke McCormick made no mistake to level and it looked like the game was heading for a draw until Gubbins nodded the winner.

The Yeovil boss joked: “Joy (Mukena) made a good comment at the end when he said ‘what a sub that was’ bringing Gubbo on, but Joy came off because he was on a yellow card and in a game of some many duels I could not risk (him getting sent off). I learnt the hard way leaving Gubbins on after a booking (in the 1-1 draw with Carlisle where Gubbins was red carded) to give the lad the benefit of the doubt. 

“Gubbo had a bit of a mishap when one of his contact lenses came out during the celebrations. I have never seen that before! He was scrambling and they almost scored when we were down to ten men, but sometimes the Gods are on your side and they were there.”

Just a minute after going ahead, the visitors were grateful to the brilliance of goalkeeper Jos Barker awho pulled off a stunning save to tip an effort from Barrow substitute Xavier Benjamin over the bar. Rowley said: “Jos is still 22 and has joined us from two leagues below and we found him another two leagues below that, so he has jumped four or five leagues in two or three years. I said it when we signed Jos, he had incredibly big shoes to will in Jed Ward and he is doing a decent job of that. I can’t speak highly enough of him, he’s been only been training full-time for eight weeks and he has taken to it like a duck to water and he is only going to get better.”

Having completed a 600-mile round journey when they returned home in the early hours of Saturday, Yeovil’s attention now turns to Tamworth who arrives at Huish Park having had their own late euphoria on Friday night. They scored twice in second half stoppage time to pick up a 3-2 home win over Worthing in a match which saw their opponents reduced to nine men.

Rowley concluded: “It is going to be a hard turnaround. I feel really sorry for all the teams who have made long journeys on a Friday night, we are probably going to get home at 5am (on Saturday) morning and then we have to play again on Monday when we do not have a massive squad. The boys finished on their backs tonight, but they are going to have to roll their sleeves up and go again on Monday and I am sure they will.“

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An injury time header from substitute Joe Gubbins saw Yeovil Town fight back from a goal down to grab a dramatic late winner at Barrow on Friday night.

The Glovers fell behind to a stunning strike from the hosts’ Keaton Ward with 15 minutes remaining and looked set to be heading for their first defeat before a foul on Slavi Spasov saw them awarded a penalty with three minutes remaining. Captain Luke McCormick stepped up to level from the spot.

Then, just as the visitors looked set to make the 300-mile journey home with a point, defender Gubbins snuck in between two defenders to meet a Brett McGavin free kick with a header and snatch three points at the death.

First half

Yeovil Town boss Billy Rowley named an unchanged starting XI from the one which won 3-0 at home to Gateshead the previous weekend with defender Joe Gubbins and winger James Daly, who missed the last game through injury and suspension respectively, both on the bench.

The home side, who were looking for their first win of the season, started the brighter of the two sides and Yeovil keeper Jos Barker was called in to action within seven minutes. A corner found defender Kennedy Digie at the back post with a free header which Barker denied with an impressive instinct save before Ryan Jones blocked the rebound on the line.

Barrow’s early pressure continued as they pressed and outmuscled the Glovers on a number of occasions. Alex Reid put a header just wider before Barker had to get down smartly to deny Rekheem Harper’s effort after 12 minutes. Yeovil’s first opportunity came five minutes later after Zain Westbrooke picked out Jones on the right side, he cut in and dragged an effort wide.

Jos Barker comes for a ball in the first half at Barrow.

On 27 minutes, Jones was outmuscled by Danny Rose whose ball in from the left found Harper inside the box but the striker completely miscued his effort which took a deflection off Jordan Norville-Williams on its way out for a corners.

You can absolutely see why Barrow was making a name for their physical style of play this season and it is working for them with referee Ross Martin not listening to any protests from the Yeovil bench – or the away end. Love it or hate it, the home side had the better of the first half and will rue the chances they missed and the question is whether they can keep up that level of intensity in the second half.

Half-time: Barrow 0 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

Billy Rowley responded with three changes at the start of the second half with Joe Gubbins, Mason Obeng and James Daly replacing Mukena, Jones and Charlie Lennon. Both Mukena and Jones picked up bookings in the first half and there is no doubt that Gubbins and Daly add experience and, in the case of Daly, plenty of energy.

The response from Yeovil was much improved, not only proving themselves more willing to mix with Barrow’s more physical approach, but creating chances as well. On 54 minutes, a good move saw McCormick find Daly at the near post and the substitutes’ header was denied by a last ditch block from Danny Amos.

Slavi Spasov replaced Walker just before the hour mark and ten minutes later a move down the right saw Davies pick out Daly whose effort was blocked before falling to Westbrooke whose effort was over the bar. At the other end, former Yeovil loanee Ben Whitfield fired one just past the post.

But, with 15 minutes gone, the home side took the lead in spectacular style. A corner was punched away by Barker, but could not clear the danger and it fell to substitute Keaton WARD who showed great technique to fire in a shot which rattled off the underside of the bar and over the line. Barker did his best to try and clear it, but there were few inside Holker Street who thought it did not cross the line.

Despite being behind for the first time this season, Yeovil were not giving up with Obeng and Daly combining for the latter to have an effort denied by a smart stop from Ben Winterbottom. Then with four minutes remaining Spasov was brought down inside the box by Dan Amos and referee Ross Martin pointed to the spot. After what seemed like an eternity, Luke McCORMICK shrugged off the attempts from home fans behind the goal to put him off with mobile phone torches stepped up to sent Winterbottom the wrong way.

Luke McCormick celebrates his equaliser.

Then, just as we were all about to shake hands and settle for a point each, Brett McGavin swung in a free-kick in the fourth minute of injury time and Joe GUBBINS snuck in between two Barrow defenders to place an expertly taken header in to the net. That was the defender’s first professional goal and he will not score many sweeter.

After the euphoria of the players celebrating in the front of the travelling supporters, there was still three more minutes – plus whatever the referee added on for the goal – remaining. There was enough time for Barker to show his class when substitute Xavier Benjamin got on the end of a ball in to the box and the keeper made a stunning fingertip save.

This was far from the best performance from this team in the opening games, but for their desire for keep going and come back they deserved it.

The 84 fans in the away end, many of which endured a nine-hour coach journey up to Cumbria, will be smiling all the way to Somerset.

Scorer Joe Gubbins celebrates with manager Billy Rowley at the final whistle.

Full time: Barrow 1 Yeovil Town 2

Match Details

Venue: Holker Street
Date: Friday 22nd August, 7.45pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Keaton Ward 75 (0-1), Luke McCormick pen 87 (1-1), Joe Gubbins 90+4 (2-1)

Pitch: Well watered pre-match despite the heavy rainfall in Cumbria over the past 24 hours
Conditions: Dry

Attendance: 2,286 (84 away supporters)

Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Ryan Jones 22, Joy Mukena 40, Luke McCormick 43,
Barrow: Scott Smith 48

Referee: Ross Martin

Yeovil Town

Substitutes: Joe Gubbins (for Joy Mukena, 46), Mason Obeng (for Ryan Jones, 46), James Daly (for Charlie Lennon, 46), Slavi Spasov (for Ste Walker, 59), Johl Powell (for Zain Westbrooke, 84), Loick Ayina (not used), Hayden Muller (not used).

Barrow: Ben Winterbottom, Kennedy Digie, Paul Kalambayi, Dan Amos, Marcel Oakley (for Xavier Benjamin, 72), Scott Smith, Issac Marriott, Thierry Latty-Fairweather (for Keaton Ward, 72), George Walker (for Ben Whitfield, 56),  Rekeem Harper (for Ben Jackson, 72), Alex Reid (for Innes Cameron, 60).

Substitutes (not used): Olly Crankshaw, Danny Rose.

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Yeovil Town are unchanged from last weekend’s home win over Gateshead as they take on Barrow in Cumbria tonight (7.45pm kick-off).

Defender Joe Gubbins and winger James Daly, who missed the previous match through suspension and injury respectively are on the substitutes’ bench.

There is no place for either defender Jack Kingdon or second-choice goalkeeper Matt Gould on the bench.