Yeovil Town manager Billy Rowley expressed immense pride in his team’s resilience after they secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw against league leaders Rochdale at Huish Park. Despite being reduced to ten men with 20 minutes remaining due to Aaron Jarvis’s straight red card, the Glovers showed great determination to hold on for a valuable point.
Rochdale took an early lead in the 12th minute when Aidan Barlow broke through Yeovil’s defense and calmly finished, with the Glovers’ offside appeals dismissed. However, Yeovil responded swiftly. Brett McGavin’s free-kick found Finn Cousin-Dawson, who powered a header into the net just before halftime, leveling the score.
“A great header, it was almost perfect really, probably a bit lucky," said Rowley. “It gave us confidence; I want the lads to play with more bravery and courage, and I felt we did that today.”
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Rowley acknowledged that while the team is still developing, there were many positives to take from the performance against the division’s top side. “We are definitely a work in progress, but I saw loads of positives today. We shouldn’t be looking down, we should be looking up, and that’s the mentality we want to keep.”
Highlighting key performances, he noted, “Dak (Dakarai Mafico) and Brett (Brett McGavin) controlled the game in some of our buildup. Macca (Luke McCormick) and Troy (Troy Perret) were very clever in how they created attacking opportunities.”
The dismissal of Jarvis marked Yeovil’s second red card in as many games, following a challenge on Kyron Gordon. Rowley confessed, “I haven’t seen it back, I’m going to have to watch it before I comment. Naturally, like everyone who cares about this club, I’m frustrated and annoyed by it.”
Despite being a man down, Rowley praised his team’s unity and fighting spirit. “They adapted well, and I’m really proud of the boys on the pitch. They galvanized each other and stuck together – it’s everything you want to see in a team.”
The match also saw a debut for Wycombe loanee Declan Skura, who came on for Joy Mukena at halftime. Rowley was optimistic about Skura’s potential: “Everything about him—his composure, stature, and presence on the ball—is impressive. I think after four or five games, we will see an incredible defender in this shirt.”
Yeovil now prepare to host in-form Aldershot at Huish Park on Tuesday night. Rowley remains confident in his squad’s mindset: “It is a key game. I’m not questioning the lads’ mentality anymore; I can tell they care about each other and this club.”