Distant Glover: Commemorative Merchandise
2026-10-11
It’s all coming up sixes for Yeovil Town lately and our resident cartoonist Alex ‘Distant Glover’ Russell has got some ideas for some new merchandise….
Five Conclusions – Wealdstone 0 Yeovil Town 6
2026-10-11
12 goals in two matches, back-to-back clean sheets, in the top four with 13 matches played, it’s a lot of fun to be a Glover at the moment. Dave was at Wealdstone yesterday to watch the latest demolition and here are his thoughts on it all.
6-0 again, ole, ole: It is crazy to think the last time we turned up at Grosvenor Vale in March we picked up a win which secured our safety in the National League. Fast forward fewer than 200 days and we’re talking about a side which literally steam-rollered Wealdstone to pick up back to back 6-0 wins. That is what Billy Rowley and Darren Simpson have done with this team and it is a genuine pleasure to watch them play football at the moment. Forget the league position, it’s too early for that, just enjoy that we are good to watch for the first time in a long time.
Brett McGoalvin: The likes of Ryan Jones, Jordan Norville-Williams and Johl Powell have taken the plaudits up until now (and rightly so), but this was Brett McGavin’s day. Have you seen a better striker of the ball in a Yeovil shirt? I’m not sure I have. His goals at Wealdstone seemed to get better and I just wish I had been closer and not shielding my eyes from the low October sun when his third went in. A thing of beauty and he makes it look so easy.
A shout out for the boys at the back: That is now three clean sheets in the last four matches. No, I’m not counting the Somerset Men’s Premier Cup – but if you want to, it’s four in the last five. Jos Barker was imperious again and how good do Ben Radcliffe and Jack Kingdon look in the middle of defence at the moment? That defence is contributing going forwards as well, it is that good.
Even the half-time drills look better: A nod to Former Gloverscast Quiz Champion Rob Manley for pointing this out, but it is so refreshing to see our substitutes doing an actual warm-up at half-time. Our six subs were being put through their paces by Head of Sports Science Glenn Shepherd. How often have we seen them aimlessly kicking balls between each other with no staff member anywhere near? Is this what having professionals in charge is like?
Now let’s get up for the Cup: It’s been amazing over the past two matches, but I was pleased to hear Billy Rowley speak about keeping our feet on the floor in his post-match interview. I know I say it all the time, but we’re only in late October and there’s still plenty of football to play. One thing I would love for us to do this season is have a good run in a cup competition, and where better to start than Leatherhead in the FA Cup next weekend?
Rowley a “Clinical and ruthless” performance
2026-10-10
Following the Glovers’ 6-0 victory away at Wealdstone on Saturday, Yeovil Town manager Billy Rowley chatted with BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins to discuss a remarkable period of form that has seen the Glovers net 12 goals in just two matches.
Despite the emphatic scoreline echoing the previous week’s success, Rowley was quick to keep his side grounded, noting that while the results are incredible, games of this magnitude are rare.
“I’m not sure we’ll win another game 6-0 this season even though we’ve just won two. It’s a very unique and rare scoreline,” Rowley told Perkins adding, “Let’s not get used to winning 6-0, it’s like a bit of a fairy tale”.
Rowley reflected on the match itself, acknowledging that Wealdstone started strongly on a dry pitch before Yeovil adapted to the elements and capitalised on their chances.
“We’ve just been really clinical and really ruthless in the final third today, and that’s what happens when you are really like we know we’re going to create chances,”
“We’re building some really good relationships and timings on the pitch and and we know we’re going to create and other other days, you know, you you hit the post and you you miss your chances and and it could easily be a draw. I thought I actually I think Wealdstone were arguably better than us in the first 20 minutes. I felt we we took time to adjust to the pitch and the elements”
A standout feature of the afternoon was Brett McGavin, who secured a brilliant hat-trick. Rowley lauded McGavin’s exceptional technical qualities: “Brett’s football ability, left and right foot, his ball striking is probably up close one of the best I’ve ever seen”. Johl Powell also chipped in with two goals, cementing a dominant team display.
Rowley was quick to credit the collective ethos of the squad, pointing out that the substitutes played a pivotal role in maintaining momentum from the bench. “The subs today were unreal,” Rowley said, highlighting how players coming off the bench injected fresh energy, pressed effectively, and contributed directly to goals.
“All I ask from the subs is that we inject some sort of energy to the game and carry the ball and get to the ball and they did that so well. Ste coming off the bench again, he set up the set up the penalty or one of Johl’s goals. Owen Dean, really happy for him, he’s sort of pressed the goalie and slide tackled him, which we scored from.”
“It’s a squad effort, like I keep saying to them every week really with this team”.
When asked what fuels this successful Yeovil Town side, Rowley credited an innate passion and camaraderie within the group. He described it as “an infectious energy for football” where the players genuinely enjoy training daily and spending time together beyond scheduled hours. “It’s something that you can’t buy… it’s more just their buy-in to each other and and getting better at football”.
With the FA Cup and upcoming league fixtures on the horizon, Rowley and his squad are ready to return to the training ground, keep their feet on the ground, and prepare to host Altrincham next weekend.
McGavin “What a football club to play for”
2026-10-10
Yeovil Town extended their stellar run of form in style on Saturday afternoon, cruising to a dominant 6-0 victory away against Wealdstone at Grosvenor Vale.
Midfielder Brett McGavin stole the show, claiming the first hat-trick of his career as the Glovers put five past the hosts in a blistering second-half display, with the skipper scoring his three in a 16-minute spell.
The match turned decisively in the 25th minute when Wealdstone goalkeeper Dante Baptiste was shown a straight red card for a late challenge outside the penalty area. Yeovil capitalised on their numerical advantage shortly before half-time when James Daly broke the deadlock in the 34th minute.
After the interval, the floodgates opened. Johl Powell doubled the lead just after the hour mark before McGavin took centre stage. He netted twice in the space of three minutes (67th and 70th minutes) to put the game out of reach, before completing his historic treble with a late strike in the 83rd minute. Powell added a sixth deep into stoppage time.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins after the final whistle, a delighted McGavin reflected on his milestone performance and the team’s momentum.
”I don’t think I have to say how happy I am over the moon,” McGavin told BBC Somerset. “Obviously I’m taking the match ball home, but what a performance from the team. So proud of everyone.”
The victory marks Yeovil’s second consecutive 6-0 win, extending their unbeaten run in the National League to six matches. Despite the scoreline, McGavin emphasised the importance of remaining grounded as the side prepares for upcoming FA Cup fixtures.
”Football will bite you on the bum if you’re not level-headed and humble about it,” McGavin said. “We’ve just won 6-0 and 6-0… we haven’t done anything yet. We’ve had a brilliant run, but we’ve just got to stay on it and stay humble.”
The captain also praised the strong unity and collective leadership within the squad.
“Right from Jos [Barker] all the way up, we just have such a good base. We have so much quality from them as well, like even Radders’ pass for the goal. Just fantastic. So yeah, right the way through the pitch, we’ve just got so much quality, so over the moon.”
“You ask anyone who supports, plays for, works for Yeovil Town, the atmosphere and environment is absolutely brilliant. How can you not thrive in an environment like that? Right from the top, all the way to Chef Steve, like everyone’s just such incredible people and yeah, what a football club to play for.”
With his first match ball safely secured, McGavin and the Glovers will look to carry their ruthless form forward into the FA Cup next weekend.
Match Report: Wealdstone 0 Yeovil Town 6
2026-10-10
A second half hat-trick from midfielder Brett McGavin was Yeovil Town picked up their second 6-0 win in as many weeks as they scored five goals in the second half at Wealdstone.
The home side were reduced to ten men when keeper Dante Simpson was red carded with 25 minutes played and the visitors took full advantage with James Daly putting them ahead ten minutes later.
But it was after the break that the Glovers put their hosts to the sword with Johl Powell doubling the advantage just after the hour mark before Brett McGavin bagged a hat-trick and then Powell added a sixth in stoppage time at the end of the game.
Powell missed a penalty in the dying seconds of the match with Wealdstone reduced to nine men as Aidan Francis-Clark was dismissed for hauling Powell down inside the box to give away the spot kick.
First half
Unsurprisingly having won 6-0 and home to Boston United in their last game, Yeovil boss Billy Rowley named an unchanged starting XI. The only change came on the substitutes’ bench where striker Owen Dean, who arrived from Farnham Town last weekend, was named ahead of midfielder Zain Westbrooke.
The opening exchanges were dominated by the home side and Fejiri Okenabirhie had a couple of opportunities with a header going over after four minutes before Jos Barker got down bravely to deny him a minute later.
The Stones continued to dominate without forcing Barker in to any meaningful saves and the game turned in the Glovers’ favour on 25 minutes when keeper Dante Baptiste tearing out of his area to challenge Archie Davies. Referee Callum Jones had no choice but to show the keeper a red card and back-up stopper Endurance Johnson came on to replace him with former Glovers’ frontman Olufela Olomola making way. From the resulting free-kick, Brett McGavin’s effort came back off the wall before Powell lashed a shot over the bar.
From there, Yeovil got a hold of the game and ten minutes later took the lead. Ryan Jones dribbled in from the left, slipped a pass through to Archie Davies whose shot was pushed away by Johnson as far as Powell whose effort was blocked and landed to James DALY who smashed it through the keeper’s legs and in to the net.
On 39 minutes, a great bit of skill from Jordan Norville-Williams fed Slavi Spasov whose close range effort turned wide by Johnson.
There was a worrying moment in first half injury when Jones, whose name was sung in the away end to celebrate his new contract, took a blow to the back of the head. He needed a bandage around the head but carried on until the break.
Half-time: Wealdstone 0 Yeovil Town 1
Second half
Ryan Jones was the first player to have an effort at goal after the restart when he fizzed a shot over the bar with 52 minutes, and seven minutes later the winger skipped in from the right and fired an effort in which Johnson got down well.
It was all Yeovil and they doubled the lead when Johl POWELL shrugged off the challenge of his defender and slipped the ball past the keeper. It’s Johl Powell again ole, ole!
On 68 minutes it was 3-0 as Brett McGAVIN got his first of the match. The midfielder started the move before a combination of Powell and Walker set him up to stroke the ball home from the edge of the box.
The maestro’s second goal was not far away. Just one minute later Brett McGAVIN latched on to a loose pass from keeper Johnson, held off the challenge of a Wealdstone defender as he pressed into the box and poked the Glovers 4-0 ahead.
But McGAVIN’s best was still to come and with six minutes of normal time remaining he picked the ball up, took a couple of strides forward and caressed another finish in from fully 25 yards. 12 minutes to score a hat-trick is impressive, but not a club record, that honour goes to Guy Whittingham who scored one in seven minutes at Telford United in January 1989.
“We want six, we want six” roared the travelling supporters in the away end at Grosvenor Vale. It took until a minute in to injury time at the end of the match for Yeovil to oblige. Substitute Owen Dean closed down keeper Johnson who miscued his clearance and played it straight to the feet of Johl POWELL who ran forward and added the sixth.
There was even time for Yeovil to go one better than last weekend’s heroics as a quick break saw Walker find Powell inside the area where he was hauled to the ground by Wealdstone’s Aidan Francis-Clark to give away a penalty. Looking to complete his hat-trick, but he was denied by a save from Johnson.
Oh well, 6-0 again, ole, ole!
Full time: Wealdstone 0 Yeovil Town 6
Match Details
Venue: Grosvenor Vale
Date: Saturday 10th October, 2026, 3pm
Competition: National League Premier Division
Scorers: James Daly 29 (1-0), Johl Powell 64 (2-0), Brett McGavin 70 (3-0), Brett McGavin 71 (4-0), Brett McGavin 84 (5-0), Johl Powell 90+1 (6-0).
Conditions: Beautiful sunny day – just a shame the sun was in the eyes of the away fans all through the second half.
Pitch: Green and slopey
Attendance: 2,082 (561 away supporters)
Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Jordan Norville-Williams 45+3
Wealdstone: Connor McAvoy 90+3
Sendings off:
Wealdstone: Dante Simpson 25, Aidan Francis-Clark 90+3
Yeovil Town: None
Referee: Callum Jones
Yeovil Town
Substitutes: Owen Dean (for Slavi Spasov, 65), Mason Obeng (for James Daly, 65), Ste Walker (for Ryan Jones, 65), Loick Ayina (for Hayden Muller, 71), Joe Gubbins (for Jordan Norville-Williams, 71), Charlie Lennon (not used), Matt Gould (not used).
Wealdstone: Dante Baptiste, Abraham Kanu (for Joe Newton, 74), Connor McAvoy, Aidan Francis Clarke, Jack Wells-Morrison (for Carmichael Uchenna, 74), Ronan Maher (for Joe Newton, 70), Milton Oni, Dan Chesters, Fejiri Okenabirhie (for Dion Conroy, 70), Olufela Olomola (for Endurance Johnson, 23), Luke Norris.
Substitutes (not used): Tyrelle Newton, Aaron Henry.
Team News: Wealdstone (away)
2026-10-10
Yeovil Town have named an unchanged starting XI for today’s trip to Wealdstone (3pm kick-off).
New signing striker Owen Dean is named on the substitutes’ bench in place of Zain Westbrooke, who is not in the squad.
Foot In The Opposition Camp – Wealdstone (A)
2026-10-10
“You’ve got no fans!” was the cry from one famous Wealdstone supporter, but in fact we have some very helpful and lovely Wealdstone fans to come on and chat about Gary Waddock’s side.
Leo Werin, part of the Stonescast team joins Dave to chat about this afternoon’s game.
Wing wizard Jones extends Glovers contract
2026-10-09
Yeovil Town winger Ryan Jones has signed a contract extension which will see him remain at Huish Park until the summer of 2029.
The 24-year-old arrived for a reported five-figure sum from Aldershot Town in January and was a bright spark in an otherwise forgettable end to the 2025-26 season, and he has been in scintillating form this season with three goals and five assists in his first 12 matches.
Jones initially signed on a deal until the summer of 2028 and one assumes that this one-year extension is designed to ward off interest from other clubs after his start to the new campaign.
In a statement, Jones said: “I’m delighted to have signed an extension. It feels like I’ve found a home at this club and I’m so happy to commit my future here.
”I’m excited to see what the future holds and I’m confident we can build something special together.”
The club made on its social media channels on Friday night adding: “The new deal reflects the club’s confidence in Jones and its commitment to retaining key players for the future, ensuring he remains part of the Glovers’ plans until 2029.”
Bath-born Jones began his career in the academy at Bristol Rovers before having spells at Bromley and then Aldershot where he was part of the side which won the FA Trophy in 2025.
Match Preview: Wealdstone vs Yeovil Town
2026-10-09
On the road again, this time to the outskirts of the capital as Yeovil take on Wealdstone on Saturday afternoon.
FORM…
YEOVIL TOWN
The Glovers’ form has them among the best in the league, with three wins and two draws from their last five fixtures. And it could be a case of missing those home comforts for the Somerset side, after dismantling Boston United 6-0 in their most recent outing.
It’s a far cry from where we were this time last year, when we were in the midst of searching for our fourth manager just two months into the campaign. This term, however, things are settled, and there is blue sky above Huish Park.
The football being played is second to none. The whole team seems to be chipping in with goals, while the defence has looked extremely solid, having gone three games without conceding.
Long may this continue for the Glovers.
WEALDSTONE
Wealdstone have had a difficult start to the new season punctuated by some impressive results in their opening 12 matches including a 2-0 win at Sutton United on August Bank Holiday Monday and taking a point off both Carlisle United and Forest Green Rovers.
The Jekyll & Hyde start followed a dysfunctional summer which saw key players defender Deon Woodman (Bromley), midfielder Nathan Tshikuna (Tamworth) and winger Dominic Hutchinson (Worthing) all departing in the summer, whilst many new arrivals did not arrive until much closer to the start of the new season. In the Stones’ final pre-season friendly of the summer, they fielded seven trialists.
This was compounded by injuries to a number of key players notably defender Mason Barrett who suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury in the 1-1 draw with Forest Green Rovers ten days ago. The 27-year-old had been an almost ever-present for Wealdstone this season, but is expected to be missing for the rest of the season.
Having picked up just two wins in their first nine games, the Stones’ form has picked up a little in recent matches with a 4-0 home win over struggling Gateshead in their last outing at Grosvenor Vale, followed by the draw at Forest Green and then a defeat at Barrow in their last outing. However, that loss in Cumbria came courtesy of a winner deep in second half stoppage time last Saturday.
KEY PLAYERS…
YEOVIL TOWN – JOS BARKER
The young goalkeeper has been unstoppable over the last three games. His defence has certainly played its part in securing three consecutive clean sheets, but ultimately, the buck stops with the keeper. When you concede too many goals, it’s the goalkeeper who often gets the pelters from the fans, so it’s only fair that they get praise when the clean sheets start coming.
Pic C/o Andy Preston AP Photography
To go three games without conceding is some feat, and it has built a foundation of trust throughout the team. The midfielders and forwards can go out and express themselves knowing they can rely on their teammates at the back to do a job. Equally, the defenders know they can have a tough afternoon and still have the reassurance that Jos Barker will more than likely be there to bail them out.
He’s a real presence in the area, gets down quickly and is a very good shot-stopper. What more could you want from your number one?
WEALDSTONE – OLUFELA OLOMOLA
Former Yeovil loanee striker Olufela Olomola has been one of the few Stones’ players who has had a relatively fruitful start to the new season.
The 29-year-old, who has had three spells on loan at Huish Park, returned to Wealdstone last season having had a spell in the Football League at Bromley and managed just six goals in 38 appearances, but has already got four in his first 12 appearances this season.
THE GAFFER…
At 64 years old, Gary Waddock has seen most things in football. As a player, he made more than 500 appearances in the Football League, predominantly for QPR at the start of his career and Luton towards the end.
As a manager, he has seen just as much. His career in management began at the same place as his playing career, Loftus Road, although he didn’t see out the 2005/06 season.
A two-year spell at Aldershot followed, before a three-year stint at Wycombe from 2009 to 2012. Since then, the former Republic of Ireland international has bounced around Oxford, Portsmouth and Aldershot, before finishing his time in management as caretaker boss of Southend in 2019.
A seven-year break from management followed before Waddock took up the Wealdstone job earlier this year.
Across the 11 times the two sides have met, the record is remarkably even, with both clubs winning three times and the remaining four games ending in draws.
LAST TIME WE MET…
The last time the two sides locked horns, back in March, the Glovers came away with a 0-2 victory at Grosvenor Vale.
On an early spring afternoon, it was Terrell Works who opened the scoring in the 38th minute. James Daly then doubled Yeovil’s advantage shortly after the break, securing all three points and sending them back to Somerset.
DON’T I KNOW YOU?
There’s only one player in the opposition ranks that travelling fans will recognise this week, and that comes in the shape of forward Olufela Olomola.
The 29-year-old had three spells at Huish Park, with his most recent coming on loan from Hartlepool during the 2021/22 season. He also featured during the 2018/19 campaign, again on loan, this time from Scunthorpe United. His first spell with the Glovers came in 2017/18, when he joined on loan from Southampton.
Across his three spells, Olomola made 57 appearances for Yeovil, finding the net 11 times.
THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE…
Callum Jones is our match official for this one and you can find out more about him Ben’s article – here.