Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 3)

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It’s back to FA Trophy action as Yeovil Town travel to the Midlands to face AFC Telford United in the fifth round of the competition.

FORM…

YEOVIL TOWN

The Glovers haven’t played since the 17th January after their last two fixtures were postponed due to waterlogged pitches. With the extra time off the squad should be feeling fresh and will be looking to put in a better performance than when they lost at Brackley Town.

The 2-1 loss to Brackley was probably one of the worst performances Glovers fans have seen this season. However, credit where it is due, the Saints were good value for money and had Yeovil on the back foot for the majority of the game. However, it was clear to see how much Yeovil missed Morgan Williams at the back, with neither, Jake Wannell, Finn Cousin-Dawson or Kyle Ferguson looking capable at the back.

Brackley’s Danny Newton rises highest for a header whilst the Yeovil defence look on.

There was news of the departures of on loan midfielder Max Jolliffe, who returned to his parent club Colchester United, and defender Michee Efete ahead of the match.

TELFORD UNITED

The Bucks are in the division below Yeovil, in the National League North. They currently sit 8th in the league but that doesn’t tell half the story for the Midland side. Over their last five games they have only been beaten once and won the remaining four fixtures. The stand-out result being an 0-8 away win at Curzon Ashton earlier this month.

In their previous game, it was another away three points for the Bucks as they put Merthyr Town to the sword, winning 1-4. That was an impressive victory in itself, with the Welsh side sitting in third. Although Telford do seem concede most games they tend to score a lot more goals than their opponents.

KEY PLAYERS…

YEOVIL TOWN – DAKARAI MAFICO

The young midfielder has shown how good he is since joining on loan from League One side Cardiff City, and was one of the only bright sparks in the defeat to Brackley. The full back does everything you want in a defender, which was shown last time out with:

  • 14 recoveries
  • Five ground duels won
  • Three interceptions
  • Two clearances

That is an impressive stat line for anyone let alone a 19-year-old, who is getting his first real taste in senior football. Offensively he is also prolific, with the headline stat from the Brackley game being his 95% pass accuracy. The Glovers will need Mafico on top form again against the Bucks.

Dakar Mafico for YEOVIL TOWN
Dakarai Mafico. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown

AFC TELFORD UNITED – MATTY STENSON

With 55 goals scored this season in the league, The Bucks players are all chipping in, but none more so than their centre-forward, Matty Stenson. The 31-year-old is an experienced player who has travelled around the level all his career but seems to have found his place in Shropshire, he netted 32 goals in the 2024/25 season and already has 13 this campaign.

The big man was also nominated as The National League Player of the Month for December for his five goals in the month. The former Kidderminster man is also Telford’s top scorer of all time (since 2004 reformation) with 60 goals from just over 100 games.

The striker will no doubt cause trouble for the Yeovil defence and they will have to be at their best to stop Stenson. One hope is that he does appear to have a short fuse with eight bookings and a red to his name this season.

THE GAFFER…

Kevin Wilkin is the Bucks boss, and will pit his managerial wit against Danny Rowley on Saturday afternoon. The 58-year-old is a former striker, most notably playing for Northampton Town, Cambridge United and Nuneaton.

As a manager, Wilkin has taken charge of four clubs with considerable time spent at the three of them. In the last two years of Wilkins playing career he also took charge of Nuneaton, with his time as manger there going from 2006-2014. He then took over at Wrexham before the money and quickly left again in 2015.

The next seven years for Wilkin were spent at Brackley Town before he took the job Telford in 2022. The 58-year-old has never faced the Glovers.

LAST TIME WE MET…

The two sides technically have never met, due to the reformation of AFC Telford United in 2004. However, we did have met the “original” Telford United FC on multiple occasions. With the last fixture between the two clubs being played just under 23 years ago in 2003.

That day the Glovers ran 3-0 on their way to league success that season. The game will be remembered by most for the fact we still hadn’t mathematically won the title due to a Chester win, although the players did do a lap of honour at Huish Park.

The squad that day was full of Yeovil legends with the likes of Chris Weale, Terry Skiverton and Kevin Gall in the starting line-up. A brace from Michael McIndoe and a Kirk Jackson header secured the win for the home side.

The last time the two sides met in Telford was earlier in the season in 2002, when the Glovers won 0-5 thanks to goals from Nick Crttenden, Adam Lockwood, Andy Lindegaard, Howard Forinton and Gavin Williams.

DON’T I KNOW YOU…

There will be no former Glovers to look out for this weekend.

THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE…

Aaron Farmer is the man in charge for this fixture. For more information on him and his team for Saturday night check out Ben’s article – here.

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Midfielder Max Jolliffe has been recalled from his loan spell at Yeovil Town by League Two Colchester United.

The 20-year-old, who arrived under former boss Richard Dryden at the end of October, has not started a game since the end of December and not featured since appearing as an 89th minute substitute in the 3-1 home win over Braintree Town at the start of the month.

He was not even named on the substitutes’ bench in the previous two games with manager Billy Rowley bringing in a number of other midfielders including Cardiff City loan duo Dakari Mafico and Troy Perrett and Bromley’s Josh Tobin.

Under National League rules, a club can only name five loan players in a matchday squad. The current Glovers loanees are goalkeeper Jed Ward, midfielders Mafico, Perrett and Tobin and forward Terrell Works. Both Andrew Oluwabori and James Plant returned to their parent clubs, Exeter City and Port Vale, earlier this month.

Jolliffe was named in the National League Team of the Week for his performance on his debut in a 1-1 draw with Carlisle in October.

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Striker Harvey Greenslade said the time spent together with his Yeovil Town team-mates in the two weeks since their last match had allowed them to get to know each other better.

The Glovers have been without a game since the 2-1 defeat at Brackley Town a fortnight ago and travel to in-form AFC Telford United in the FA Trophy fifth round this weekend hoping the horrific weather which has hit the South West allows them a chance to play.

In their last fixture, there were first appearances for four new players – Jonathon Page, Ryan Jones and loanees Troy Perrett and Terrell Works – whilst Cardiff City youngster Dakari Mafico played only his second match with his new team-mates, and the recent time on the training pitch has allowed them to get to know their new colleagues better.

Speaking to BBC Somerset reporter Jack Killah on Thursday, Greenslade said: “With the new signings, it’s nice to get to know them a bit better before you obviously kick the ball with them and they very good for the group. But it has been frustrating because we want to get on the pitch and kick a ball. I feel like we’ve had a good rest now and it’s time to—time to kick on.

“The Gaffer (manager, Billy Rowley) knows who is going to be good for the team and I feel like now we’re in a good place and everyone’s on the same wavelength.“

Yeovil make their first trip to Telford since October 2002 when Gary Johnson’s side ran out 5-0 winners against Telford United, the team which was liquidated and reformed as this weekend’s opponents.

The Bucks are in fine form having won eight of their last nine matches in all competitions including an impressive 3-0 win away at Merthyr Town in National League North on Tuesday night when they were without suspended top scorer, Matty Stenson. The striker has 11 goals in his last 11 matches and missed the midweek game after his sending off at Hornchurch in the Trophy’s previous round, but is available to face Yeovil this weekend.

Asked about the opposition, Greenslade said: “Seeing the last couple of results they’re doing quite well in the league, so we definitely not to underestimate them. National League North is quite a good standard anyway, so it should be a good test, but I feel like if we come together and play the way we know we can we can match anyone.”

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Yeovil Town boss Billy Rowley has said a trip to Wembley Stadium in the FA Trophy final is the motivation his side will be taking in to a tough fifth round tie away at in-form AFC Telford United this weekend.

The Glovers have not played since the 2-1 defeat away at Brackley Town a fortnight ago due to the horrendous weather hitting the South West which saw their home game with Aldershot Town and last Saturday’s trip to Woking postponed.

The boss said he was still expecting to be without striker Aaron Jarvis, who is suffering with concussion for the trip to Shropshire, and would also be missing recent arrivals Ryan Jones and on loan Fulham youngster Terrell Works, who have both played in the competition already this season and are therefore cup-tied.

Asked about the prospect of trip to Wembley in May by BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah on Thursday, Rowley said: “I just mentioned to the lads. They are all aware of it and it’s always afine balance of trying to motivate the lads without putting them under pressure and tightening up on the day. We are all aware that Wembley is the end goal here and it is for every team in this competition, but we can only look as far as Telford. So, boring answer, but we are going to have to go and perform over 90 minutes and make sure we get through.”

The Glovers have been taken to penalties at home to lower league Maidstone United and Alvechurch in penalty shoot-outs in their previous two games in the Trophy this season and the manager admitted that, whilst he would prefer a good performance from his side this weekend, he realises progression is what cup football is all about.

Telford are in impressive form going in to the tie having won 3-0 away at third-placed Merthyr Town in National League North in midweek which meant they have won eight of their last nine fixtures in all competitions. The Bucks, who sit just outside the play-off places in the league, have also dispensed of higher division opposition already this season, beating Altrincham in the competition’s third round.

Rowley said: “We obviously want to go there and win the game and, from a coaching perspective and a long-term perspective I would like us to perform and start to look more like a team that’s in tune with what we’re trying to do. But if you ask me now would you rather play badly and win I’d probably take that. I think it’s the league games where you start have to build some performances and some consistency and that’s what we’re going to be trying to do in the league.“

He added: “Never played against Telford before. I actually called a lad that played against them last week and got a little bit of a breakdown of what he thought about the game and what it’s like to play at Telford. He was complimentary of them as a team and of the pitch and the stadium, so, it’s a game we’re looking forward to go and play. Sam (Curry, analyst) and Darren (Simpson, assistant manager) have been diving into them all week, watching how they play and what to expect from them, but I think it’s going to be a classic case of we can prepare as much as we want, we can dive into them as much as we need to, but we’re going to have to turn up, we’re going to have to be up for it, we’re going to have to deliver on the day and I’m expecting we will.“

With Jarvis, Jones and Works all missing for the weekend, Rowley said he hoped there would be opportunities for players who have not had much game time to have an opportunity to impress this weekend.

The boss added: “There’s a couple of boys that didn’t train today that we’re going to have to look at today and we’ll maybe try and get them out here in a patched-up fashion tomorrow and see how they look for Saturday but can’t really give you a definite answer on that right now. We’re going to have to wait right till the last minute.

“Obviously we’ve got a few lads that are cup tied sadly in this competition, Terrell (Works), Ryan Jones and Jarv (Aaron Jarvis) is out with his concussion still. So, couple of boys missing, but naturally with these absentees it gives a chance for lads that haven’t played or are chomping at the bit to go and perform and keep their shirt.“

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Phew!

Jed Ward returning to Bristol Rovers early is not something Gas’ boss Steve Evans is looking at.

The Bristol Rovers manager is going through something of a goalkeeper reshuffle at the Mem and, speaking to Bristol Live has said that a potential recall of Jed Ward is not an option he has looked at.

The former Rotherham boss has said that Ward is currently playing with a hand injury and that he’ll assess Ward’s future in the summer;

“I’ve not spoken to Jed, but he’s got a little injured hand.

He’s got a hand injury at the minute. So he’s actually been playing through that.

I’m not going to be disrespectful to the National League because I’ve been in it, and it’s so tough when you’re in it, but there’s a difference playing at Yeovil in the National League to playing with Bristol Rovers in the Football League.

So I’ve not looked at that option. That would be one for the summer when Jed comes back in. I’ve seen him as a young player in League One, of course, when you get into the team, so I know what he’s capable of.”

Suits us just fine, Steve, we’ll happily look after him for you.

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Yeovil Town will host Tamworth on Tuesday 3rd March in a rearranged league fixture.

The original tie was meant to be played this coming Saturday (Jan 31st) but due to the Glovers’ continued participation in the FA Trophy, that game was postponed.

Tickets purchased for the original game are still valid, contact YTFC if that no longer suits.

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Yeovil Town’s away game against Woking has been rearranged for Tuesday 17th March (7:45pm kick off)

The original date fell foul to the early January weather, hopefully everything will have dried out by mid-March.

Any tickets purchase for the original fixture remain valid, contact Woking if that is no longer suitable.

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Let’s hope we have some football to talk about this weekend, shall we?

After a couple of blank match days, the FA Trophy is back on the agenda, with the Glovers heading to Telford.

Our referee for the game is Mr Aaron Farmer.

He’s refereed half a dozen National League fixtures this season, dishing out 27 yellow cards in those games, averaging 4.5 a game.

He’s been utilised in the EFL, EFL Trophy and FA Cup – as well as a couple of National League Cup ties.

His numbers this season are; 23 games, 91 yellows, seven reds and eight penalties awarded. Don’t mess with this chap!

We’ve seen him twice before at Yeovil games, a 1-0 defeat to York (below) where he gifted Ollie ‘Tap in Merchant’ Pearce a 12-yard tap in after FCD committed a foul in the box and a 2-0 win over Woking where Jack Stretton was sent off for clashing with FCD off the ball in a game that saw Brett ‘anything but a tap in merchant’ McGavin score a wonder goal.

Kevin Morris and Oliver Nolan are on assistant duties with Harry Warner our fourth official.

AFC Telford United (First Team) v Yeovil Town FC (First Team)
F.A. Challenge Trophy
Referee: Farmer, Aaron
Assistant Referee: Morris, Kevin
Assistant Referee: Nolan, Oliver
Fourth Official: Warner, Harry

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Referee, Rob Massey-Ellis,

Yeovil Town will host Aldershot Town on Tuesday 17th February – with a 7:45pm kick off.

The game which was called off on Tuesday 20th January due to a waterlogged pitch, now slots in between the Boreham Wood and Carlisle games on the 14th and 21st respectively.

Any tickets purchased for the original fixture are valid – chat to the ticket office if the new date doesn’t work for you.

There are still fixtures against Tamworth (H) and Woking (A) to squeeze into the schedule.