Yeovil Town manager Billy Rowley praised his side’s ability to win in a physical battle after seeing them inflict the first home defeat of a the season on Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday.
The Glovers were made to work for their three points which came courtesy of a cool finish from substitute Johl Powell with 16 minutes remaining to seal a 1-0 win.
The result was the first home defeat inside 90 minutes for the hosts, who are managed by former Glovers’ midfielder Paul Wotton, since November 2025, and that fact was not lost on Rowley after the match.
Speaking to BBC Somerset reporter Ian Randall after the game, he said: “They were really tough opponent and we knew it was going to be that way. I think they’ve got the fourth highest average attendance, so I thought the crowd made for a really intense affair. It was difficult to get information onto the lads, hence why I’ve lost my voice a little bit, but it was a game of one or two moments that have that have decided the outcome. I’m so proud of the boys to win in this fashion.
“It was by no means our prettiest performance and there is a lot of stuff that that we’re going to review and try and improve on. There were moments from our goalkeeper, there’s last-ditch blocks, Johl Powell coming again on for the second week in a row with a late a late winner, so like loads of positives to take from it.”
It was another moment for Powell who came off the bench to score two late goals to put the gloss on a 4-1 home win over Solihull Moors last weekend. This time the midfielder came on with 67 minutes gone and seven minutes later he ran on to a through ball from striker Slavi Spasov, shrugged off Kidderminster defender Angus MacDonald and coolly slotted the winner.
Rowley was full of praise for the player who he brought in from his former club Walton & Hersham in the summer, saying: “I’ve seen Johl do that since he was 12-years-old. He’s so hungry for a goal and when he can sniff a moment where he could go one-on-one with the goalie, there was no way he’s going down under pressure from the defender. He is a superb finisher. He was playing two leagues below this last season (at Walton & Hersham) but he got 22 goals and that finish today shows what he can do in front of goal. There is a lot to digest from that game, but I think essentially it goes down to a good performance from Jos Barker in toal, a really resilient defensive display, and one really top finishing moment.”
There were moments in the first half where Yeovil had opportunities to find a break through, but they found themselves up against a resilient Kidderminster side who had the best home record in the division ahead of kick-off.
Rowley added: “I think Kidderminster’s game plan was probably to (frustrate us). They changed shape to a degree today and tried to press us man-for-man a little bit. I think at times we included Jos (Barker) in our build-up pretty well and when we did that we looked quite calm and composed, but when we forgot to do that, it was more difficult to build. It was a really ‘bitty’ game, there was a lot of stop-and-starts. They’re a really physical team, a difficult team to play against, but I think we dealt with it well.
“At half-time I told them that I believed in them, but asked them to do the small things that no-one dreams of doing as a kid like organising throw-ins and quick restarts. That is what top teams do to win games and if we can improve those small nuts and bolts, we can be a top side.”
The matches keep coming thick and fast with another newly-promoted side, Worthing, who were champions of the National League South last season, visiting Huish Park on Tuesday night followed by Boston United who come to Somerset next Saturday.
Worthing picked up a 2-1 home win over FC Halifax Town on Saturday and are unbeaten in their last five matches whilst Boston went down 1-0 at home to AFC Fylde.
Rowley said: “They are two teams that I think are going to be again really tough opponents. Worthing have been flying this season and have a top class manager in Adam Hinshelwood. That will be our first focus and then we’ll move on to Boston after that. But those will be two games that we’ll be ready for and start preparing for as soon as we get on the coach today.”
Luke McCormick Update Corner:
Ian Randall: Do you think the McCormick situation will have unravelled and resolved itself by Tuesday?
Billy Rowley: Potentially. Like I said, I’ll update everyone in due course when we have some like real transparency for you and an answer for you.
IR: For those of us who have never been in a dressing room, if there is a disagreement between a player and a manager, how does that not impact on the team?
BR: I do not know what the rumour is because that is not really what has been said. But, like I say, we will deal with this internally and we will give the supporters the clear answers that they deserve when we have them.