Match Report: Yeovil Town 3 Braintree Town 1
Yeovil Town started 2026 with a comfortable win at home to Braintree Town on a freezing night at Huish Park.
After a non-event of a first half, the Glovers took the lead when midfielder Luke McCormick stabbed home just after the hour and James Daly headed a second after Jake Wannell’s initial header had been superbly kept out by the visitors’ goalkeeper Mason Terry.
Braintree pulled one back through striker Lewis Walker with 20 minutes remaining, but an 86th minute superb Brett McGavin free-kick restored the two-goal advantage.
First half
The changes which Glovers’ boss Billy Rowley alluded to following Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Eastleigh did not come as soon as the 5.30pm kick-off time with the only change being Finn Cousin-Dawson coming in for loanee Max Jolliffe. On the bench, Jacob Maddox made his first appearance in a squad since February 2025. In a similar way that Jolliffe did four days earlier, FC-D started on the right side of defence. It looks like 4-4-2 when we are in possession and 3-5-2 when we are out of it.
With eight minutes gone, James Plant had a press down the left and fired in a shot which went wide, but was not seriously troubling Mason Terry in the Braintree goal. A shot at goal even if it wasn’t on target.
The first meaningful effort came in the 20th minute with a nice bit of football from Yeovil. Jarvis lifted a ball across which was touched down by Luke McCormick to Josh Sims whose effort was pushed away by Terry. Moments later Brett McGavin linked up with Jarvis and Sims and McGavin did not quite have the pace to get on the end of it and then Daly had an effort in to the midriff of Terry soon after. Daly showing what his left foot can do when he cuts in from the right side.
Yeovil were the in the ascendancy and thought they had taken the lead when McGavin’s corner was met by the head of Kyle Ferguson. But the assistant referee had his flag up seemingly against McCormick on the line. Was he interfering with play? Referee Zack Kennard (son of) Kettle sided with his official.
Just before the half-hour mark, Terry was called in to action again to deny McCormick’s effort from the edge of the box before Chay Cooper fired one high in to the Thatcher’s Stand at the other end.
Both teams are playing the same tactics here and therefore trying to break each other down in the same way. We have had more shots on target which I assume means we are doing it better, and we had some nice patterns of play to create decent changes. But the most important statistic remains level at half-time.
Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Braintree Town 0
Second half
Neither side came out of the blocks at the start of the second half with Yeovil attacking the Thatcher’s Stand after the break. You can see the frustration in Billy Rowley’s body language on the sidelines when his side have possession and are not moving it forward and in the opening 15 minutes of this half, there’s plenty of frustrated body language.
But with 61 minutes, Plant had a low shot from the edge of the box which Terry could not hold on to and who was there? You guessed it, Luke McCORMICK was the fox in the box there to pick up the rebound and stab it home for his eighth of the season.
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It might not have been the best start to the second half, but Yeovil definitely had the better of the chances in the first and four minutes later they doubled it. McGavin’s free kick in to the box was met by the head of Jake Wannell who was denied by a fantastic save by Terry who could only push it as far as James DALY who headed it in to the net.
Well, Billy Rowley said after the game against Eastleigh that he wanted us to look to get more goals and his side have done that. But, four minutes later, Braintree got one back and it was another sloppy goal for Yeovil to concede. The visitors brought the ball forward as the Yeovil defence stood off and let them work it out to Lewis WALKER on the right of the box and his shot took a nick off Ferguson and over the head of Jed Ward.
Rowley responded by bringing on Andrew Oluwabori and Harvey Greenslade in place of Josh Sims and James Plant, but it is another disappointing goal to concede.
There was almost another self-inflicted wound in the 82nd minute when Wannell gifted the ball to substitute Elliot Thorpe who played in fellow sub John Akinde and were fortunate to the big striker dragged his shot wide.
But three minutes later the Glovers added a third – yes, THREE goals! A great free-kick from Brett McGavin was hit hard in to the near post and it looks like it has come off Braintree’s James Vennings on its way in to the net. Definitely NOT an Own goal, but a 3-1 lead regardless.
Braintree have brought on four changes including Akinde, Thorpe and ex-Bristol City striker Jay Emmanuel Thomas and both Thorpe and Emmanuel-Thomas forced good saves out of Jed Ward as normal time was running out.
One of Yeovil’s subs Oluwabori put one over the bar in the sixth minute of second half injury time, but we started 2026 with three points, three goals and three different goal scorers.
Real improvement in the passages of play which we did not see against Eastleigh on Tuesday night or Truro City on Boxing Day, hopefully this is the start of more to come.
Full time: Yeovil Town 3 Braintree Town 1
Match Details
Venue: Huish Park
Date: Tuesday 3rd January, 5.30pm kick-off
Competition: Enterprise National League Premier League
Scorers: Luke McCormick 61 (1-0), James Daly 65 (2-0), Lewis Walker 69 (2-1), Brett McGavin 84 (3-1)
Pitch: Slippy in places
Conditions: Absolute baltic
Attendance: 3,573 (53 away supporters)
Bookings:
Yeovil Town: None
Braintree Town: Jacob Pinnington 77, Aidan Francis-Clarke 84
Referee: Zac Kennard-Kettle
Yeovil Town (3-4-3)
Substitutes: Andrew Oluwabori (for Josh Sims, 70), Harvey Greenslade (for James Plant, 70), Tahvon Campbell (for Aaron Jarvis, 87), Max Jolliffe (for Luke McCormick, 90+1), Jacob Maddox (not used), Josh Tobin (not used), Matt Gould (not used).
Braintree Town: Mason Terry, Ben Drake, George Langston, Aidan Francis Clarke, Calum Logan (for Goran Babic, 65), Harrison Dudziak (for Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, 80), James Vennings, Jacob Pinnington, Chay Cooper, Lewis Walker (for Elliot Thorpe, 80), Aramide Oteh (for John Akinde, 73).
Team News: Braintree Town (home)
Finn Cousin-Dawson returns to the Yeovil Town starting XI for this evening’s National League Premier Division match with Braintree Town at Huish Park (5.30pm kick-off).
The defender-turned-midfielder replaces on loan Max Jolliffe who is named among the Glovers’ substitutes alongside midfielder Jacob Maddox, who is in line to make this first appearance in 11 months.
Maddox has been sidelined since being substituted in the 1-1 draw at Dagenham & Redbridge on 8th February last year. He replaces Michee Efete, who is not in the squad.
Foot In The Opposition Camp – Braintree Town (H)
Don’t forget it’s the tea time kick off today! Dave chats to Vaughan Creer, a Braintree Town fan and podcaster for today’s Foot In The Opposition Camp!
Gloverscast Player of the Month – December
Bristol Rovers loanee Jed Ward has defended his monthly crown to be named your Gloverscast Player of the Month for December.
As a little quirk of the system, he actually got fewer Man of the Match wins than midfielder Luke McCormick, but because Ward filled the podium spots for ALL FIVE games during the month, he picked up a total of 11 points. (Three points each for his two MOTM wins, two points each for his two second placed finishes and a single point for his sole third place spot)
Luke McCormick came second after three Man of the Match vote wins – but because he didn’t finish in the top three in any other games, he finishes with nine points.
The Bronze medal goes the way of Harvey Greenslade who’s efforts got him some spots on podiums in the votes for the Hartlepool, Maidstone and Forest Green games, but Ward and McCormick alternated the leading votes.
In total, of the 505 votes cast during the month, 344 went to either McCormick or Ward!
| DATE | OPPONENT | RESPONSES | 1ST (Votes / Percent) | 2ND (Votes / Percent) | 3RD (Votes / Percent) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August | |||||
| 09.08.2025 | HARTLEPOOL (Home, 0-0 draw) | 172 | JED WARD (52 / 32.4%) | Morgan Williams (44 / 25.6%) | Jake Wannell (22 / 12.8%) |
| 16.08.2025 | FOREST GREEN (Away, 2-0 loss) | 87 | JED WARD (39 / 44.8%) | Byron Pendleton (16 / 18.4%) | Morgan Williams (11 / 12.6%) |
| 20.08.2025 | BRACKLEY TOWN (Home, 2-1 win) | 153 | JED WARD (89 / 58.2%) | Josh Sims (23 / 15%) | Tahvon Campbell (14 / 9.2%) |
| 23.08.2025 | BRAINTREE TOWN (Away, 1-0 loss) | 71 | JED WARD (29 / 40.8%) | Josh Sims (15 / 21.1%) | James Plant (7 / 9.9%) |
| 25.08.2025 | GATESHEAD (Home, 4-3 loss) | 174 | HARVEY GREENSLADE (65 / 37.4%) | Junior Morias (59 / 33.9%) | Josh Sims (23 / 13.2%) |
| 30.08.2025 | HALIFAX (Away, 3-2 loss) | 93 | JOSH SIMS (36 / 38.7%) | Harvey Greenslade (29 / 31.2%) | Junior Morias (13 / 14%) |
| AUGUST PLAYER OF THE MONTH | 🥇 JED WARD (12 PTS, 3 MOTM) | 🥈 JOSH SIMS (8 PTS, 1 MOTM) | 🥉 HARVEY GREENSLADE (5 PTS, 1 MOTM) |
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| 02.09.2025 | SOLIHULL M (Away, 1-0 win) | 98 | JUNIOR MORIAS (28 / 28.3%) | Luke McCormick (24 / 24.2%) | Jed Ward (15 / 15.2%) |
| 06.09.2025 | YORK CITY (Home, 3-1 loss) | 108 | JOSH SIMS (48 / 44.4%) | Luke McCormick (33 / 30.6%) | Jed Ward (7 / 6.5%) |
| 13.09.2025 | WOKING (Home, 1-0 win) | 127 | LUKE MCCORMICK (47 / 37%) | Kyle Ferguson (37 / 29.1%) | Harvey Greenslade (11 / 8.7%) |
| 20.09.2025 | TAMWORTH (Away, 1-0 loss) | 62 | JED WARD (17 / 27.4%) | Kyle Ferguson (10 / 16.1%) | Josh Sims (7 / 11.3%) |
| 24.09.2025 | ALDERSHOT (Away, 4-1 win) | 94 | ANDREW OLUWABORI (36 / 38.3%) | Tahvon Campbell (25 / 26.6%) | Luke McCormick (10 / 10.6%) |
| 27.09.2025 | ALTRINCHAM (Home, 1-0 win) | 154 | ANDREW OLUWABORI (51 / 33.1%) | Jed Ward (37 / 24%) | Morgan Williams (18 / 11.7%) |
| 30.09.2025 | SUTTON UTD (Away 2-1 win) | 119 | JOSH SIMS (88 / 73.9%) | Andrew Oluwabori (20 / 16.8%) | Jed Ward (6 / 5%) |
| SEPTEMBER PLAYER OF THE MONTH | 🥇 ANDREW OLUWABORI (8 PTS / 2 MOTM) | 🥈 JED WARD (8 PTS / 1 MOTM) | 🥉 JOSH SIMS (7 PTS / 2 MOTM) |
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| 04.10.2025 | BOREHAM WOOD (Home - 0-3 loss) | 87 | JED WARD (61 / 70.1%) | Harvey Greenslade (10 / 11.5%) | Kyle Ferguson (5 / 5.7%) |
| 11.10.2025 | HEMEL HEMPSTEAD (Away 2-1 loss) | 44 | HARVEY GREENSLADE (18 / 40.9%) | Jed Ward (10 / 22%) | Byron Pendleton (6 / 13.6%) |
| 18.10.2025 | ROCHDALE (Away 3-0 loss) | 49 | JED WARD (17 / 34.7%) | Harvey Greenslade (10 / 20.4%) | Kyle Ferguson (5 / 10.2%) |
| 25.10.2025 | CARLISLE (Home 1-1 draw) | 140 | Max Jolliffe (60 / 42.9% | Harvey Greenslade (16 / 11.4%) | George Nurse (13 / 9.3%) |
| OCTOBER PLAYER OF THE MONTH | 🥇 HARVEY GREENSLADE (9 PTS / 1 MOTM) | 🥈 JED WARD (8 PTS / 1 MOTM) | 🥉 MAX JOLLIFFE (3 PTS / 1 MOTM) |
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| 04.11.2025 | WEALDSTONE (Home 0-2 loss) | 67 | LUKE MCCORMICK (13 / 19.4%) | Jed Ward (12 / 17.9%) | Aaron Jarvis (9 / 13.4%) |
| 08.11.2025 | SCUNTHORPE (Away 1-0 loss) | 46 | JAMES PLANT (15 / 32.6%) | Jed Ward (12 / 26.1%) | Harvey Greenslade (10 / 21.7%) |
| 15.11.2025 | SOUTHEND (Home 0-1 loss) | 89 | JED WARD (74 / 83.1%) | Max Jolliffe (5 / 5.6%) | Junior Morias (3 / 3.4%) |
| 22.11.2025 | MORECAMBE (Away 0-0 draw) | 49 | JED WARD (22 / 44.9%) | Harvey Greenslade (12 / 24.5%) | Finn Cousin-Dawson 4 (8.2%) |
| 29.11.2025 | BOSTON UNITED (Home 2-1 win) | 108 | LUKE MCCORMICK (68 / 63%) | Brett McGavin (10 / 9.3%) | James Plant (6 / 5.6%) |
| NOVEMBER PLAYER OF THE MONTH | 🥇 JED WARD (10 PTS, 2 MOTM) | 🥈 LUKE MCCORMICK (6 PTS / 2 MOTM) | 🥉 JAMES PLANT (4 PTS / 1 MOTM) |
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| 06.12.2025 | HARTLEPOOL UTD (Away, 2-0 win) | 106 | LUKE MCCORMICK (78 / 73.6%) | Jed Ward (11 / 10.4%) | Harvey Greenslade (7 / 6.6%) |
| 13.12.2025 | MAIDSTONE UTD (Home, 1-1 [4-2 on pens]) | 125 | JED WARD (83 / 66.4%) | Brett McGavin (10 / 8%) | Harvey Greenslade (9 / 7.2%) |
| 20.12.2025 | FOREST GEEEN (Home, 0-2 loss) | 94 | LUKE MCCORMICK (22 / 23.4%) | Harvey Greenslade (20 / 21.3%) | Jed Ward (17 / 18.1%) |
| 26.12.2025 | TRURO CITY (Away 0-1 loss) | 67 | JED WARD (55 / 82.1%) | Jake Wannell (3 / 4.5%) | Josh Tobin / Aaron Jarvis (2 / 3%) |
| 30.12.2025 | EASTLEIGH (Home 1-1 draw) | 113 | LUKE MCCORMICK (46 / 40.7%) | Jed Ward (29 / 25.7%) | Jake Wannell (10 / 8.8%) |
| DECEMBER PLAYER OF THE MONTH | 🥇 JED WARD (10 PTS, 2 MOTM) | 🥈 LUKE MCCORMICK (9 PTS / 3 MOTM) | 🥉 HARVEY GREENSLADE (4 PTS / 0 MOTM) |
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| 03.01.2026 | BRAINTREE (Home 3-1 win) | 164 | LUKE MCCORMICK (44 / 26.8%) | Aaron Jarvis (27 / 16.5%) | James Daly/Brett McGavin (20 / 12.2%) |
| 10.01.2026 | ALVECHURCH (Home 0-0 [3-1 on pens]) | 172 | DAKARAI MAFICO (86 / 50%) | Jed Ward (55 / 32%) | Josh Sims (9 / 5.2%) |
| 17.01.2026 | BRACKLEY TOWN (Away, 2-1 loss) | 81 | DAKARAI MAFICO (19 / 23.5%) | Harvey Greenslade (15 / 18.5%) | Kyle Ferguson (12 / 14.8%) |
| 31.01.2026 | AFC TELFORD (Away, 2-0 win) | 191 | HARVEY GREENSLADE (79 / 41.4%) | Dakarai Mafico (60 / 31.4%) | Joy Mukena (11 / 5.8%) |
| JANUARY PLAYER OF THE MONTH | 🥇 DAKARAI MAFICO (8 PTS, 2 MOTM) | 🥈HARVEY GREENSLADE (4 PTS / 1 MOTM) | 🥉 LUKE MCCORMICK (3 PTS / 1 MOTM) |
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| 06.02.2026 | ALTRINCHAM (Away, 1-0 win) | 92 | JED WARD (57 / 61.3%) | Troy Perrett (12 / 12.9%) | Kyle Ferguson (7 / 7.5%) |
| 11.02.2026 | BOREHAM WOOD (Away 3-2 loss) | 46 | JAMES DALY (13 / 28.3%) | Jed Ward (12 / 23.1%) | Jake Wannell (8 / 17.4%) |
| 14.02.2026 | ROCHDALE (Home 1-1 draw) | 155 | DAKARAI MAFICO (73 / 45.6%) | Finn Cousin-Dawson (34 / 21.3%) | Jed Ward (13 / 8.1%) |
| 17.02.2026 | ALDERSHOT (Home 2-1 loss) | 86 | JED WARD (50 / 58.1%) | Jake Wannell (10 / 11.6%) | Terrell Works (9 / 9.3%) |
| 21.02.2026 | CARLISLE (Away 3-0 loss) | 47 | JED WARD (21 / 42%) | Finn Cousin-Dawson (10 / 20%) | Harvey Greenslade (6 / 12%) |
| 25.02.2026 | SUTTON UTD (Home 3-2 win) | 82 | JAMES DALY (50 / 61%) | Brett McGavin (7 / 8.5%) | Greenslade/Jones (6 / 7.3%) |
| 28.02.2026 | SOUTHPORT (Away 1-1 draw [2-4 on penalties]) | 54 | JAMES DALY (19 / 35.2%) | Jed Ward (15 / 27.8%) | Harvey Greenslade (7 / 13%) |
| FEBRUARY PLAYER OF THE MONTH | 🥇 JED WARD (14 PTS, 3 MOTM) | 🥈JAMES DALY (9 PTS / 3 MOTM) | 🥉 DAKARAI MAFICO (3 PTS / 1 MOTM) |
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| 03.03.2026 | TAMWORTH (Home, 2-0 win) | 129 | RYAN JONES (53 / 41.1%) | Dakarai Mafico (23 / 17.8%) | Sims/McGavin (19 / 14.7%) |
| 07.03.2026 | SCUNTHORPE (Home, 0-3 loss) | 84 | JOSH SIMS (34 / 40%) | Brett McGavin (23 / 27.1%) | Ryan Jones (8 / 9.4%) |
MOTM Result – Eastleigh (H)
Goal scorer Luke McCormick has topped your Man of the Match votes for the third time in December.
McCormick was the beneficiary of a slip in the Eastleigh defence which Josh Sims pounced upon and laid on a plate for the box-to-box midfielder.
Jed Ward came second, with Jake Wannell snatching third spot, getting just one more vote than the returning Morgan Williams.
It’s the sixth time this season the former Bristol Rovers and Forest Green man has topped the voting charts.
| DATE | OPPONENT | RESPONSES | 1ST (Votes / Percent) | 2ND (Votes / Percent) | 3RD (Votes / Percent) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August | |||||
| 09.08.2025 | HARTLEPOOL (Home, 0-0 draw) | 172 | JED WARD (52 / 32.4%) | Morgan Williams (44 / 25.6%) | Jake Wannell (22 / 12.8%) |
| 16.08.2025 | FOREST GREEN (Away, 2-0 loss) | 87 | JED WARD (39 / 44.8%) | Byron Pendleton (16 / 18.4%) | Morgan Williams (11 / 12.6%) |
| 20.08.2025 | BRACKLEY TOWN (Home, 2-1 win) | 153 | JED WARD (89 / 58.2%) | Josh Sims (23 / 15%) | Tahvon Campbell (14 / 9.2%) |
| 23.08.2025 | BRAINTREE TOWN (Away, 1-0 loss) | 71 | JED WARD (29 / 40.8%) | Josh Sims (15 / 21.1%) | James Plant (7 / 9.9%) |
| 25.08.2025 | GATESHEAD (Home, 4-3 loss) | 174 | HARVEY GREENSLADE (65 / 37.4%) | Junior Morias (59 / 33.9%) | Josh Sims (23 / 13.2%) |
| 30.08.2025 | HALIFAX (Away, 3-2 loss) | 93 | JOSH SIMS (36 / 38.7%) | Harvey Greenslade (29 / 31.2%) | Junior Morias (13 / 14%) |
| AUGUST PLAYER OF THE MONTH | 🥇 JED WARD (12 PTS, 3 MOTM) | 🥈 JOSH SIMS (8 PTS, 1 MOTM) | 🥉 HARVEY GREENSLADE (5 PTS, 1 MOTM) |
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| 02.09.2025 | SOLIHULL M (Away, 1-0 win) | 98 | JUNIOR MORIAS (28 / 28.3%) | Luke McCormick (24 / 24.2%) | Jed Ward (15 / 15.2%) |
| 06.09.2025 | YORK CITY (Home, 3-1 loss) | 108 | JOSH SIMS (48 / 44.4%) | Luke McCormick (33 / 30.6%) | Jed Ward (7 / 6.5%) |
| 13.09.2025 | WOKING (Home, 1-0 win) | 127 | LUKE MCCORMICK (47 / 37%) | Kyle Ferguson (37 / 29.1%) | Harvey Greenslade (11 / 8.7%) |
| 20.09.2025 | TAMWORTH (Away, 1-0 loss) | 62 | JED WARD (17 / 27.4%) | Kyle Ferguson (10 / 16.1%) | Josh Sims (7 / 11.3%) |
| 24.09.2025 | ALDERSHOT (Away, 4-1 win) | 94 | ANDREW OLUWABORI (36 / 38.3%) | Tahvon Campbell (25 / 26.6%) | Luke McCormick (10 / 10.6%) |
| 27.09.2025 | ALTRINCHAM (Home, 1-0 win) | 154 | ANDREW OLUWABORI (51 / 33.1%) | Jed Ward (37 / 24%) | Morgan Williams (18 / 11.7%) |
| 30.09.2025 | SUTTON UTD (Away 2-1 win) | 119 | JOSH SIMS (88 / 73.9%) | Andrew Oluwabori (20 / 16.8%) | Jed Ward (6 / 5%) |
| SEPTEMBER PLAYER OF THE MONTH | 🥇 ANDREW OLUWABORI (8 PTS / 2 MOTM) | 🥈 JED WARD (8 PTS / 1 MOTM) | 🥉 JOSH SIMS (7 PTS / 2 MOTM) |
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| 04.10.2025 | BOREHAM WOOD (Home - 0-3 loss) | 87 | JED WARD (61 / 70.1%) | Harvey Greenslade (10 / 11.5%) | Kyle Ferguson (5 / 5.7%) |
| 11.10.2025 | HEMEL HEMPSTEAD (Away 2-1 loss) | 44 | HARVEY GREENSLADE (18 / 40.9%) | Jed Ward (10 / 22%) | Byron Pendleton (6 / 13.6%) |
| 18.10.2025 | ROCHDALE (Away 3-0 loss) | 49 | JED WARD (17 / 34.7%) | Harvey Greenslade (10 / 20.4%) | Kyle Ferguson (5 / 10.2%) |
| 25.10.2025 | CARLISLE (Home 1-1 draw) | 140 | Max Jolliffe (60 / 42.9% | Harvey Greenslade (16 / 11.4%) | George Nurse (13 / 9.3%) |
| OCTOBER PLAYER OF THE MONTH | 🥇 HARVEY GREENSLADE (9 PTS / 1 MOTM) | 🥈 JED WARD (8 PTS / 1 MOTM) | 🥉 MAX JOLLIFFE (3 PTS / 1 MOTM) |
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| 04.11.2025 | WEALDSTONE (Home 0-2 loss) | 67 | LUKE MCCORMICK (13 / 19.4%) | Jed Ward (12 / 17.9%) | Aaron Jarvis (9 / 13.4%) |
| 08.11.2025 | SCUNTHORPE (Away 1-0 loss) | 46 | JAMES PLANT (15 / 32.6%) | Jed Ward (12 / 26.1%) | Harvey Greenslade (10 / 21.7%) |
| 15.11.2025 | SOUTHEND (Home 0-1 loss) | 89 | JED WARD (74 / 83.1%) | Max Jolliffe (5 / 5.6%) | Junior Morias (3 / 3.4%) |
| 22.11.2025 | MORECAMBE (Away 0-0 draw) | 49 | JED WARD (22 / 44.9%) | Harvey Greenslade (12 / 24.5%) | Finn Cousin-Dawson 4 (8.2%) |
| 29.11.2025 | BOSTON UNITED (Home 2-1 win) | 108 | LUKE MCCORMICK (68 / 63%) | Brett McGavin (10 / 9.3%) | James Plant (6 / 5.6%) |
| NOVEMBER PLAYER OF THE MONTH | 🥇 JED WARD (10 PTS, 2 MOTM) | 🥈 LUKE MCCORMICK (6 PTS / 2 MOTM) | 🥉 JAMES PLANT (4 PTS / 1 MOTM) |
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| 06.12.2025 | HARTLEPOOL UTD (Away, 2-0 win) | 106 | LUKE MCCORMICK (78 / 73.6%) | Jed Ward (11 / 10.4%) | Harvey Greenslade (7 / 6.6%) |
| 13.12.2025 | MAIDSTONE UTD (Home, 1-1 [4-2 on pens]) | 125 | JED WARD (83 / 66.4%) | Brett McGavin (10 / 8%) | Harvey Greenslade (9 / 7.2%) |
| 20.12.2025 | FOREST GEEEN (Home, 0-2 loss) | 94 | LUKE MCCORMICK (22 / 23.4%) | Harvey Greenslade (20 / 21.3%) | Jed Ward (17 / 18.1%) |
| 26.12.2025 | TRURO CITY (Away 0-1 loss) | 67 | JED WARD (55 / 82.1%) | Jake Wannell (3 / 4.5%) | Josh Tobin / Aaron Jarvis (2 / 3%) |
| 30.12.2025 | EASTLEIGH (Home 1-1 draw) | 113 | LUKE MCCORMICK (46 / 40.7%) | Jed Ward (29 / 25.7%) | Jake Wannell (10 / 8.8%) |
| DECEMBER PLAYER OF THE MONTH | 🥇 JED WARD (10 PTS, 2 MOTM) | 🥈 LUKE MCCORMICK (9 PTS / 3 MOTM) | 🥉 HARVEY GREENSLADE (4 PTS / 0 MOTM) |
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| 03.01.2026 | BRAINTREE (Home 3-1 win) | 164 | LUKE MCCORMICK (44 / 26.8%) | Aaron Jarvis (27 / 16.5%) | James Daly/Brett McGavin (20 / 12.2%) |
| 10.01.2026 | ALVECHURCH (Home 0-0 [3-1 on pens]) | 172 | DAKARAI MAFICO (86 / 50%) | Jed Ward (55 / 32%) | Josh Sims (9 / 5.2%) |
| 17.01.2026 | BRACKLEY TOWN (Away, 2-1 loss) | 81 | DAKARAI MAFICO (19 / 23.5%) | Harvey Greenslade (15 / 18.5%) | Kyle Ferguson (12 / 14.8%) |
| 31.01.2026 | AFC TELFORD (Away, 2-0 win) | 191 | HARVEY GREENSLADE (79 / 41.4%) | Dakarai Mafico (60 / 31.4%) | Joy Mukena (11 / 5.8%) |
| JANUARY PLAYER OF THE MONTH | 🥇 DAKARAI MAFICO (8 PTS, 2 MOTM) | 🥈HARVEY GREENSLADE (4 PTS / 1 MOTM) | 🥉 LUKE MCCORMICK (3 PTS / 1 MOTM) |
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| 06.02.2026 | ALTRINCHAM (Away, 1-0 win) | 92 | JED WARD (57 / 61.3%) | Troy Perrett (12 / 12.9%) | Kyle Ferguson (7 / 7.5%) |
| 11.02.2026 | BOREHAM WOOD (Away 3-2 loss) | 46 | JAMES DALY (13 / 28.3%) | Jed Ward (12 / 23.1%) | Jake Wannell (8 / 17.4%) |
| 14.02.2026 | ROCHDALE (Home 1-1 draw) | 155 | DAKARAI MAFICO (73 / 45.6%) | Finn Cousin-Dawson (34 / 21.3%) | Jed Ward (13 / 8.1%) |
| 17.02.2026 | ALDERSHOT (Home 2-1 loss) | 86 | JED WARD (50 / 58.1%) | Jake Wannell (10 / 11.6%) | Terrell Works (9 / 9.3%) |
| 21.02.2026 | CARLISLE (Away 3-0 loss) | 47 | JED WARD (21 / 42%) | Finn Cousin-Dawson (10 / 20%) | Harvey Greenslade (6 / 12%) |
| 25.02.2026 | SUTTON UTD (Home 3-2 win) | 82 | JAMES DALY (50 / 61%) | Brett McGavin (7 / 8.5%) | Greenslade/Jones (6 / 7.3%) |
| 28.02.2026 | SOUTHPORT (Away 1-1 draw [2-4 on penalties]) | 54 | JAMES DALY (19 / 35.2%) | Jed Ward (15 / 27.8%) | Harvey Greenslade (7 / 13%) |
| FEBRUARY PLAYER OF THE MONTH | 🥇 JED WARD (14 PTS, 3 MOTM) | 🥈JAMES DALY (9 PTS / 3 MOTM) | 🥉 DAKARAI MAFICO (3 PTS / 1 MOTM) |
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| 03.03.2026 | TAMWORTH (Home, 2-0 win) | 129 | RYAN JONES (53 / 41.1%) | Dakarai Mafico (23 / 17.8%) | Sims/McGavin (19 / 14.7%) |
| 07.03.2026 | SCUNTHORPE (Home, 0-3 loss) | 84 | JOSH SIMS (34 / 40%) | Brett McGavin (23 / 27.1%) | Ryan Jones (8 / 9.4%) |
Staunton returns to lead Under-19s
Former Yeovil Town captain Josh Staunton has returned to Huish Park to lead the club’s Under-19s side.
In an announcement on Friday, the club confirmed the return of the 30-year-old, who retired from playing last month.
The defender/midfielder, who had one game in temporary charge of the first team at the end of the 2021-22 season, has been appointed as Under-19s Operations Lead – which we assume is a managerial role.
In an announcement, the club added: “In his new role, Staunton will work closely with the Academy Manager and coaching staff, supporting the day-to-day operation of the Under 19s programme and helping to drive the academy’s long-term development plans, ensuring young players are given the best possible environment to progress.”
Staunton said:
“I’m incredibly proud and excited to be returning to Yeovil Town and to be working with the Under 19s programme. I’ve seen the plans for the future and I’m really looking forward to helping produce local talent capable of stepping into first team environments. Yeovil has always meant a great deal to me, and I’m passionate about supporting young players both on and off the pitch. I’m excited to work closely with the academy manager and coaching staff to help players reach their potential.”
The Under-19s have enjoyed a decent start to this season in the National League Under-19s Alliance. Read all about it in our review of their season so far – here.
Staunton has also been appointed a trustee at the Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust. The Trust currently lists Executive Chairman Stuart Robins, former Glovers’ CEO Martyn Starnes, ex-Commercial Manager Danny Linney and Johanna Harris, a teacher at Bucklers Mead Academy, as its other trustees.
A statement posted on the Trust’s social media adds…..
In addition to his Trustee role, Josh will also take up the position of U19/Post-16 Operations Lead. In this capacity, he will work closely with the Academy Manager to oversee the strategic and operational delivery of the post-16 pathway, ensuring high standards across football, education, and player welfare. He will also play a key role in supporting coaching staff, embedding best practice, and helping young players transition successfully both within football and into wider career opportunities.
Speaking on the appointment, Martyn Starnes, Chariman of the Board of Trustees, said:
“Josh embodies everything we stand for as an organisation. He has been an exceptional servant to Yeovil Town Football Club and an outstanding advocate for the community. His experience, leadership, and values will be invaluable as we continue to grow our provision and strengthen our pathways for young people.”
Welcome back, Staunts!
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.
Match Preview: Yeovil Town vs Braintree Town
Yeovil Town get 2026 underway with a home game against Braintree Town in Saturday’s televised late kick-off with both sides needing points to pull them away from the foot of the National League Premier Division table.
FORM…
YEOVIL TOWN
A 1-1 draw at home to Eastleigh on Tuesday night ended a run of back-to-back defeats for The Glovers with midfielder Luke McCormick scoring his seventh goal since arriving at Huish Park.
The goal came with a stroke of good fortune for Yeovil who capitalised on a slip at the back from visiting defender Temi Eweka having failed to do too much which looked like it might lead to a goal.
Manager Billy Rowley spoke after the game after how there was “going to be some changes in the near future” and pointed to how recruitment at Huish Park before he arrived was not aligned with his style of play. There is no doubt he was talking about The Glovers’ struggles in front of goal, we have managed just 23 goals in our opening 25 league matches.
The futures of loanees James Plant and Andrew Oluwabori, who both joined on deals until the turn of the year, are unclear with no announcements about whether their stays will be extended announced at the time of writing. Defender Dan Ellison has been sent out on loan to Weston-super-Mare, where he put a Man of the Match performance in on his debut.
Braintree Town
Braintree Town are the only side in the National League Premier Division which have scored fewer goals than Yeovil. The Iron have managed just 18 goals in their opening 25 league matches, making them the division’s lowest scorers.
That has resulted in them starting 2026 two places and one point above the relegation places, but they did finish 2025 with a 1-0 win at Woking. New signing striker Aramide Oteh, who joined on Boxing Day following his departure from Welsh side The New Saints, got their only goal in that game.
Before that win, Braintree had failed to win in their previous four matches in all competitions including exiting the FA Trophy at the hands of lower league Ebbsfleet United. They were also put out of the FA Cup by local rivals Chelmsford City in the first round of the FA Cup.
The departure of last season’s top scorer Kyrell Lisbie in the summer and the exit of influential midfielder Marley Marshall-Miranda, who joined Boreham Wood last month, have clearly had an impact on the Iron.
KEY PLAYERS…
YEOVIL TOWN – LUKE McCORMICK
It was either going to be him or Jed Ward, wasn’t it? Midfielder McCormick has undoubtedly been one of the stars of a difficult start to the 2025-26 season with seven goals and a string of Man of the Match performances this season.
Both managers in this game will say their sides have been creating chances in the first five months of the season – even if they have not been taking them – and McCormick is the most likely candidate to find the net for Yeovil.
Glovers fans will be hoping that someone else in the squad will turn in a performance which makes them worthy of their vote in the Man of the Match poll on Saturday.
BRAINTREE TOWN – CHAY COOPER
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Braintree goalkeeper Mason Terry has been the visitors’ most important player this season, but I am going for midfielder Chay Cooper.
Following the exit of Marley Marshall-Miranda who joined Boreham Wood just before Christmas, Cooper is a player the Iron will be looking to create something going forward having turned in a number of good performances in a difficult start to the season.
The former Colchester United player is the Iron’s top assist maker, albeit only with three, this season and has managed two goals in all competitions.
THE GAFFER…
When Braintree sacked Angelo Harrop last December, just four-and-a-half months after winning them promotion to the National League Premier Division, they turned to the experienced head of Steve Pitt, who took his first managerial role in 14 years.
In his career the 64-year-old hasn’t left Essex with a spells as manager of Clacton and then Leighton before moving into the role of Director of Football at Heybridge Swift in 2016. Then in 2020, he joined Chelmsford in the same role before leaving Billericay’s Director of Football a year later.
He moved on again after just a year in that role to become Angelo Harrop‘s number two at Braintree, where he enjoyed early success with Harrop. But, following the young manager’s sacking, Pitt took over and guided the Iron to safety last season.
LAST TIME WE MET…
Braintree substitute Sahid Kamara scored the 77th minute winner in that game after The Glovers huffed and puffed in front of goal, but could not blow anyone’s house down. Sounds familiar, right?
The last time the Iron visited Somerset is a slightly happier tale to tell with Yeovil running out 3-1 winners thanks to goals from Aaron Jarvis, Ed James and Brett McGavin – oh to have three players scoring goals.
DON’T I KNOW YOU…
THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE…
Zac Kennard-Kettle is the referee for Saturday’s late kick-off at Huish Park and if you are wondering if he’s any relation to that refereeing Kettle, check out Ben’s article – here.
Match Officials – Braintree (H)
Yeovil Town welcome Mr Kettle back to Huish Park on Saturday!
Zac Kennard-Kettle son of legendary official Trevor Kettle will take charge of the Glovers’ clash against Braintree this Saturday afternoon.
ZK-K has been a busy official this season, mostly taking charge of games in the EFL, but has been used in the National League and cup competitions too. He’s been in the middle 18 times, dishing out 74 yellow cards – that’s over four per game on average, five red cards and seven penalties.
Break that down to just the National League and it’s 19 bookings in five games, but nine of those came in a spicy game between York and Carlisle.
It’s not the first time we’ve been refereed by Zac, he took charge of our first game at National League South level, that’s right… that game against Hemel Hempstead.
On that day, Zac Bell and Jamie Sendles-White both took a booking.
He will be assisted by Stuart Kane and Ivan Stankovic with Gary Parsons in the dug out.
Yeovil Town FC (First Team) v Braintree Town FC (First Team)
National League – Premier
Referee: Kennard-Kettle, Zac
Assistant Referee: Kane, Stuart
Assistant Referee: Stankovic, Ivan
Fourth Official: Parsons, Gary
