Match Preview: Yeovil Town vs Carlisle United
It’s back to Huish Park on Saturday afternoon as Yeovil Town take on Carlisle United in their first competitive game at home this season.
FORM…
YEOVIL TOWN
As is the same for every team one game into the season there isn’t any real form to go off, and it’s no different for the Glovers. We can however cast our eye over last weeks fixture to make some sort of judgement on the team. Drawing 1-1 against Scunthorpe United on the opening day of the season in no mean feat, and a section of the fans (even if tongue in cheek) described it as the same old Yeovil.
That feels harsh though, it was strong showing for a side that has only had pre-season to get to know each other. Another reason to look at it with a small glint of rose tinted glasses was the fact we were winning the match until the 89th minute. Some fans frustrations are understandable that we didn’t take home all three points, but all you have to do is watch the highlights to realise that not even Thibaut Courtois would have stopped that’ll going in from Luke Brennan.

All in all I think it was mostly positive from the Glovers last week, which will hopefully put us in a good place going into another tough game against the Cumbrians.
CARLISLE UNITED
It hasn’t been the best of starts for the Cumbrians under new manager Rob Elliot. Pre-season was tough as they struggled to just the one win against Darlington in their friendlies. That would mean nothing if the came into the opening game and won with the style and type of performance they came accustomed to under Mark Hughes last season. However, much like Yeovil, they were found ruing their missed chances after 90 minutes at home against newly-promoted Worthing.
In a game that started slowly, the Blues finally took the lead just before half-time through forward Georgie Kelly, giving his side a good foundation to build on. Whatever Worthing boss, Adam Hinshelwood, said at the break seemed to make a difference as on the 67th minute Dominic Hutchinson got the away side back in it.
It wasn’t until the last 10 minutes though that game really kicked into life as Razzaq Coleman and Ricky Aguiar quick fire double put the visitors 1-3 up with four minutes to go. The game looked done and dusted until Kelly got his brace for the Cumbrians to set up a tense final couple of minutes. It wasn’t to be however for the home side, which lead to boos from some disgruntled fans.
Archie Mair was in goal for Carlisle last weekend with recognised number one Gabe Breeze on the bench and the homegrown keeper departed for Cambridge United this week. His replacement, Gateshead stopper Adam Desbois, was in goal from the Tynesiders in their 2-1 opening day defeat at Eastleigh last weekend.
The number of former Gateshead players who manager Rob Elliot, a former boss at the International Athletics Stadium, has brought to Cumbria has been a point of contention for supporters. Long throw specialist Brad Nicholson, fellow defender Kenton Richardson, have both made the move from the North East to the North West alongside a number of backroom staff – and now Desbois.
Wherever they have come from, there is no doubt that Carlisle’s squad has enough quality – without mentioning the likes of last season’s top-scorer Regan Linney, winger David Ajiboye, midfielder Callum Whelan and summer signing Harvey Bunker – to bounce back from opening day defeat at Huish Park.
KEY PLAYERS…
YEOVIL TOWN – MASON OBENG

The winger has provided a contestant threat down the left hand side since joining, and proved last week how effective he can be for the team. The youngster, not only showed glimpses of his silky feet but also how clinical he can be in front of goal. His timing for said goal was impeccable, a perfectly-flighted free-kick from former Aldershot Town man Ryan Jones, was played deep to the back post, and just when it looked a wasted opportunity, up popped Obeng to volley it in to the opposite corner of the goal.
Even if the Glovers couldn’t hang on the new signing showed what could be to come against Carlisle and the season ahead.
CARLISLE UNITED – GEORGIE KELLY
It was a tough one to pick as David Ajiboye and Georgie Kelly are both great players. Besides the two goals last week, the reason I chose Kelly was due to Ajiboye underperforming the last time we met, after I picked him to watch out for.
That’s not a disservice to the Kelly in any way though, as the forward proved what a key asset he could be to Rob Elliot last week. Similar to Obeng in that he kept up his side of the bargain with two goals that should’ve at least got the Cumbrians a point. One game is way to early to start pointing fingers but it wasn’t the Irishman’s fault they lost last weekend.
And Yeovil will have to be careful he doesn’t pick up his scoring boots this weekend or the defence could have a long afternoon ahead.
THE GAFFER…
A familiar face in this league and also in the Premier League, it’s Rob Elliot who takes the reins for the opposition at Huish Park on Saturday. Everyone now knows the spiel on the 40-year-old, as a player he made over 50 top flight appearance for Newcastle United, whilst also playing five games in the Europa League as a goalkeeper. Throughout his 20 year career, Elliot mainly served as a back up making over 200 appearances.
It’s as manger that he has made a name for himself, especially in the National League, where he guided Gateshead to FA Trophy glory in 2024. He left the following season for football league side Crawley but after some poor results the pair parted ways. He soon rejoined Gateshead with the objective of keeping them up, which he did with two games to spare. It was in May that the former goalkeeper joined Carlisle as their manager.
Elliot has faced the Glovers on three occasions winning two and losing one.
LAST TIME WE MET…
Remember what being cold was like? Well, if you can cast your minds back to February this year when Yeovil Town were beaten 3-0 at Brunton Park in our last meeting. That day the game was over before Billy Rowley even had a chance to sit in the dugout as Morgan Feeney put the home side up 1-0 after five minutes. Only 12 minutes later and Luke Armstrong had doubled the scoring for the Blues as they ultimately played the Glovers off the pitch. The game was then put to bed in first half stoppage time when Ryan Galvin made it three for the Cumbrians. The only saving grace that day for Yeovil was that they didn’t concede any goals in the second half.

The last time Carlisle made the long journey to Somerset saw the sides held to a 1-1 draw at Huish Park last October. With Richard Dryden in the dug-out, the Glovers took the lead after just 15 minutes with Tahvon Campbell credited with the goal before the visitors’ substitute Harvey McAdam equalised after 68 minutes.
DON’T I KNOW YOU?
Former Glovers’ defender Bevis Mugabi is on the books at Brunton Park, but he won’t be featuring at Huish Park this weekend.
The Uganda international, who made more than 100 appearances having joined the Glovers from Southampton in 2016, is one of a number of players on the treatment table for Carlisle.
The 31-year-old is suffering with a knee tendon injury which has kept him out since the end of last season.
THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE…
Lewis Sandoe will take charge of Yeovil’s first game of the season with more detail here from Ben.






























