The Rowley revolution gets underway at Huish Park this weekend as Yeovil Town begin life under new manager Billy Rowley with a home match against Boston United.
FORM…
Yeovil Town
Yeovil ended their three game run of defeats and extended their run without a win to eight matches with an uninspiring goalless draw at Morecambe last weekend. The result proved to be manager (or was he interim manager afterall?) Richard Dryden’s final one in the dug-out as new manager Billy Rowley was appointed as the new boss on Tuesday.
One statistic which the new manager will be looking to change quickly is the Glovers’ run of four matches without a goal with their last coming with Tahvon Campbell’s 15th minute opener in the 1-1 draw at home to Carlisle United more than a month ago.
The clean sheet at Morecambe last weekend was also the first clean sheet since the 1-0 home win over Altrincham almost two months ago.
Boston United
Boston United arrive in Somerset with the same number of points from the same number of National League Premier Division games as their hosts albeit one place above them in the table virtue of a one-goal superior goal difference.
It’s not been a vintage season for the Pilgrims under the guidance of ex-Bristol Rovers’ boss Graham Coughlan and they come in to this fixture without a win in their last four league matches having been heartbroken by a 90th minute winner from Carlisle United in last weekend’s televised late kick-off.
Away form has been kinder to Boston than at home with three wins and four draws in their ten games on the road this season and they will be looking to keep that up at Huish Park.
KEY PLAYERS…
Yeovil Town – Jed Ward
It probably underlines Yeovil Town’s current form, when an on loan goalkeeper who has conceded 13 goals in his last eight matches is your star man, but there is no question that number would have been higher if it was not for the form of the Bristol Rovers player.
Ward kept his first clean sheet in nearly two months in the stalemate at Morecambe last weekend and had to have his wits about him to ensure the Glovers came out with a point.
Boston United – Lennell John-Lewis
The veteran striker made the move to Boston following his departure from York City in the summer and is the club’s top scorer with five goals this season. His fifth game with an equaliser in what turned out to be a 2-1 home defeat to Carlisle United last weekend.
The 36-year-old brings raw power, experience and an eye for goal, but he has not been a guaranteed starter with six appearances off the bench and 13 starts since arriving in Lincolnshire. Ex-Yeovil loanee Jordy Hiwula, signed follow his departure from Morecambe in the summer, has been playing up front as well.
John-Lewis scored from the penalty spot when York ran out 1-0 winners at Huish Park in September 2022 and has four goals in his seven appearances against the Glovers.
THE GAFFER…
Graham Coughlan will be a familiar face to Westcountry football fans from his time in charge at Bristol Rovers. The Irishman spent a year in charge at the Memorial Ground before moving to League Two Mansfield Town in December 2019 where he lasted less than 12 months.
He arrived at Boston in November 2024 following the decision to sack Ian Culverhouse and inspired the Pilgrims to a great escape having been 12 points adrift of safety in the National League Premier Division at one point last season. The boss described the performance of his team who put together a run of 11 wins in their final 18 matches as “nothing short of a miracle.”
Boston fought to keep hold of him when they rejected an approach from National League rivals Hartlepool United in the summer.
LAST TIME WE MET…
Not many Yeovil fans will want to remember the last time Boston United visit Somerset as the Pilgrims ran out 3-0 winners in a miserable midweek match for the Glovers. Jimmy Knowles, Jacob Hazel and captain Zak Mills were on target for the visitors that night as they turned in a fine display on their way to a great escape from victory.
The reverse fixture at the end of August 2024 was a completely different affair with Yeovil running out 3-1 winners courtesy of a brace from Brett McGavin, including a masterful free-kick, and a third from Jordan Young before Jake Wannell was sent off late in the game.
DON’T I KNOW YOU…
There are a few former Glovers in the visitors’ squad this weekend. Right back Marcel Lavinier arrived at Boston in October originally on a non-contract basis before impressing enough to earn a permanent deal, the ex-Forest Green Rovers’ man made eight appearances for Yeovil towards the end of last season.
You have to go back a little further in green-and-white history for the other names in the Pilgrims’ squad. Michael Kelly was on loan at Huish Park during the 2020-21 campaign whilst striker Jordy Hiwula promised much but delivered little when he spent time on loan from Manchester City back at the start of the 2014-15 campaign.
THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE…
Harry Wager takes charge of the fixture, and as usual read Ben’s full article here.