Jones: Strength in depth can drive us on
2026-08-31
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.“
Rowley: We can still improve
2026-08-31
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.”
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.”
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.“
Match Report: Yeovil Town 3 Tamworth 2
2026-08-31
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.
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.
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.
MOTM Voting – Tamworth (H)
2026-08-31
Who was your Man of the Match for the Glovers at home to Tamworth.
Rowley: We’ve changed for energy
2026-08-31
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.
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.“
Team News: Tamworth (home)
2026-08-31
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.
Gloverscast #521 “He couldn’t believe his left eye”
2026-08-31
A Friday night in Barrow, a Monday afternoon at Huish Park.
We sing the praises of all those in Green and White (in the stands and on the pitch) on the latest edition of the Gloverscast, three voicenotes, some GCQs and Ben’s chat with Jos Barker all packed into this episode!
Barker in third NL Team of the Week
2026-08-30
I promise you, we’re not making this up.
Jos Barker has made three out of a possible four Enterprise National League Team of the Weeks.
(In the only one he didn’t, Luke McCormick made the cut)
The Glovers were winners away at Barrow and highlight saves from Kennedy Digie and Xavier Benjamin at either end of the 90 clearly caught the eye of the panel.
He was also named in the Non League Paper XI.
Match Preview: Yeovil Town vs Tamworth
2026-08-30
It’s a quick turnaround for National League clubs as Bank Holiday Monday football comes to Huish Park with the visit of Tamworth.
FORM…
YEOVIL TOWN
The Glovers have had a brilliant start to the season. Eight points from four games, seven goals scored and only three conceded. If we’re being honest, none of the fan base expected this start, surely? And out of the 24 teams in the National League, only three remain unbeaten, and Yeovil are one of them.
The early-season worries of conceding late on have eased slightly, even if Friday night was touch and go, but the team is showing real progression. That is the most refreshing thing about watching this Yeovil side. Not since probably Darren Sarll’s first season at the club have I been this excited about the journey that could be ahead.
However, we can’t get too far ahead of ourselves. It is only four games into the new campaign and there is still a lot that can happen, but the early signs are encouraging. Our2-1 away win at Barrow on Friday night showed us everything about this team in just 90 minutes. They dug deep, showed quality in the final third and, defensively, we are solid, even if there are some areas for improvement. It also showed that our midfield is more than just three guys with great hair.
All jokes aside, Brett McGavin, Luke McCormick and Zain Westbrooke (a new member added to the boyband) add control, stability and a foundation from which to play forwards, something that has been missing for years now.
TAMWORTH
If you thought the end of our match at Barrow on Friday night was dramatic, Tamworth went one better as they picked up their first win of the season at home to newly-promoted Worthing.
The Lambs scored twice in stoppage time at the end of the game including a winner in the eighth minute of time added on when their opponents were down to nine men and having led twice. It was a textbook Tamworth never-say-die performance and when midfielder Nathan Tshikuna levelled with a penalty in the fourth minute of stoppage time they pressed for the winner which came through Morgan Roberts, a summer signing from Brackley Town.
Boss Andy Peaks admitted the first win was important. He said: “It’s massive, we needed something today having lost the last two games and now you look at our league position, we have four points from four games and it is a lot healthier. Yeovil away is always a tough fixture, it has not always been the best place to go for us, it’s a big pitch and they actually have a good team this year, so that could be really hard. But to get this first win gives everyone a lift.”
Roberts’ winner is not even the latest goal Tamworth have scored this season, on the opening day midfielder Ben Milnes converted a penalty in the 12th minute of stoppage time to earn a 3-3 draw at Boreham Wood. Since then, they lost at home to AFC Fylde and were beaten 4-1 at FC Halifax Town before the late win over Worthing.
Off-the-pitch, our opponents today have had takeover with Abdullah Ashraf, a 24-year-old businessman from the US, targeting EFL football and promising to buy their stadium (sound familiar, Glovers?) in the summer. The new owner has backed manager Peaks bringing in a flurry of new faces including experienced defender Tom Parkes, midfielder Tshikuna from Wealdstone, and three players from Brackley in full-backs Tyler Lyttle and Riccardo Calder as well as Roberts.
KEY PLAYERS…
YEOVIL TOWN – RYAN JONES
The whole team could be in here at the moment, and to be honest, I was stuck between Jones and Josh Barker after his spectacular night in Cumbria (sorry, Dave). But the 24-year-old Jones has been amazing over these first four games.
In the opening two fixtures, the former Aldershot Town man showed his quality in the forward areas, providing two assists in those two games. We knew when signing him from the Hampshire side that he had that bit of quality, and we saw it when he first joined.
In the two games since Carlisle, the winger may not have got on the scoresheet, but he has provided an outlet on the right that has caused opposition left-backs real trouble. Even on Friday night, when he was subbed off after 47 minutes, which felt a bit harsh, he had played to a good standard.
The cause for concern for Rowley would have been that he wasn’t providing the same outlet he had been in the opening games, so he wanted to switch things up. Besides that really minor blip, Jones could become the team’s main playmaker out on that right flank.
TAMWORTH – KIERAN DONNELLY
I know it’s easy to go with the top scorer in the side as the key player, but the 25-year-old really is a difference-maker up top. Now, I am happy with Yeovil’s options at striker, but after looking at Donnelly’s stats, I’m surprised we weren’t looking at him this off-season. The Lambs signed the frontman from Boston United, where he didn’t get much of a look in and was loaned out to Kidderminster Harriers. And it’s his form at Kiddy that really piques my interest.
Donnelly scored eight goals in 15 appearances for the Midlands side at the back end of last season, helping push them to promotion from the National League North, with one of his contributions coming in the play-off final against South Shields. That incredible form has carried on into the new campaign with his new side, where he has already bagged himself three goals.
If there is anything you could discredit the striker for, it’s that he hasn’t found the net in the last two games. But, to caveat that, he did score twice on the opening day in a 3-3 draw against a quality Boreham Wood side. The Glovers’ backline need to be on high alert to deal with the Lambs’ talisman.
THE GAFFER…
Andy Peaks is a bit of a stalwart when it comes to being a club’s manager, having only ever managed two clubs in his 13-year career. That is no slight on the former defender and shows that he is very good at what he does. It was at his former club, Rushden & Diamonds, where the 55-year-old established himself, first as a player and then as a manager.
During his playing days in the semi-professional ranks, Peaks spent six years at the Midlands club before moving around multiple clubs in the area for another 10 years before retiring in 2008. After spells at AFC Long Buckby, Daventry Town and Rushden & Diamonds as an assistant manager, it was at Nene Park where he got his breakthrough and was offered the top job in 2013. Over the next 10 years, Peaks solidified the Diamonds’ position and never looked like leaving.
It was then in 2022 that the then 51-year-old decided to step out of his comfort zone and become the manager of Tamworth, where he has now been for five years. His record against the Glovers doesn’t read the best, having faced us four times, winning once, drawing once and losing twice.
LAST TIME WE MET…
The last time the two sides met was in a rescheduled fixture at Huish Park in March. That day, the Glovers strolled to a 2-0 win, with goals either side of half-time.
Ryan Jones got the first on 40 minutes after a scintillating run from the winger took him past his man before he coolly finished past the keeper. Declan Skura was also on the scoresheet that night, with another brilliant goal to boot.
Brett McGavin, as always, produced a free-kick of the highest quality, which was tipped onto the bar by Jasbir Singh. The ball fell to the edge of the area, where Skura was waiting to strike it on the half-volley past the unfortunate Singh.
DON’T I KNOW YOU?
Tom Parkes is probably a player better known as an opponent for Yeovil Town in recent years. The towering centre-half joined Tamworth from Hartlepool United having had a career including four years at Bristol Rovers, but had a very brief loan spell at Huish Park whilst a Leicester City player in the 2010-11 season, making just two appearances.
In one of his more recent appearances against the Glovers, Parkes used all his experience to tumble inside the box and win a penalty for Hartlepool in December 2024.
THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE…
Matthew Scholes is our match official for this game, to find out more about the man in black check out Ben’s article – here.