Yeovil Town manager Billy Rowley expressed his satisfaction following the club’s promising pre-season opener—a convincing 4-1 victory against Melksham Town. “We’ve only trained together about 10 days, and for that limited time I thought we already looked quite familiar with each other,” Rowley said.
The Glovers wasted no time making their intentions clear for the upcoming National League campaign. Luke McCormick put the side ahead with two goals, sandwiching Stephen Walker’s first-ever goal for Yeovil, giving them a 3-1 lead at halftime. After the break, a new set of players took the field, with Brett McGavin sealing the win by curling in a trademark free-kick.
Rowley was pleased with the players’ understanding and timing on the pitch despite the short preparation period. “Some of our movements and timings were good, our understanding of what we wanted was good. When we stayed on script, I thought we looked really good,” he explained.
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McCormick stood out as a key performer, with Rowley noting the winger’s renewed motivation following recovery from a previous injury. “The fire’s lit in Macca this year, and he wants to be one of the best players in the league,” Rowley said. “He was definitely one of the standout performers in the first half.”
Among the 13 new summer signings, Stephen Walker made an immediate impact by scoring his debut goal. Rowley praised the young talent’s background and ability. “He’s a real talent; his upbringing and pedigree speak for themselves. You could see the quality, and it was a great goal.”
The only concern for Yeovil came when defender Joy Mukena had to leave the game early due to a hamstring issue he’d been managing throughout the week. “He’s got a bit of a neural hamstring injury. He saw a specialist yesterday, and we’re going to try and patch him up over the next few weeks,” Rowley confirmed.
Mukena’s replacement, William Lannin-Sweet, impressed in his opportunity. The 19-year-old trialist, who developed through Arsenal’s youth system, showcased a composed presence and a strong left foot. “He was brilliant,” Rowley noted.
Another trialist was former Yeovil player Johnathon Page, who is aiming to prove his fitness and earn a place back in the squad after being released last season due to injury struggles. “He wanted to come back here and prove himself,” Rowley said.
Reflecting on the team’s attitude, Rowley was full of praise. “I haven’t got a bad word to say about anyone. The attitude was excellent, and the supporters were excellent as well.”
Looking ahead, Yeovil Town will face National League North side Merthyr Town in their next pre-season fixture this coming Tuesday.