Yeovil Town manager Billy Rowley acknowledged the challenges his team faced after being reduced to ten men but celebrated their resilience as they secured a spot in the fifth round of the FA Trophy. The Glovers triumphed 3-1 in a penalty shootout against Alvechurch following a goalless 90 minutes.
The game took a difficult turn midway through the first half when Brett McGavin received a second yellow card, forcing Yeovil to adjust their game plan significantly. “Going down to ten men really hurts us from a game plan perspective, we had to shuffle three or four lads around,” Rowley reflected.
Despite the setback, Rowley defended McGavin’s sending off, calling the decision soft but a reflection of the modern game. “I don’t blame Brett for that. He tried to pull out, but the referee still saw it as a second yellow,” he said.
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While Alvechurch worked hard to restrict space, Yeovil maintained the upper hand in creating chances. Luke McCormick and Josh Sims both came close to scoring, yet neither side managed to break the deadlock.
The hero once again was Yeovil goalkeeper Jed Ward. The Bristol Rovers loanee, who also starred in the previous round, made three outstanding saves during the shootout to send Yeovil through. “Brilliant, Jed,” Rowley praised. “I can’t speak highly enough of him. A brilliant professional and an unbelievable keeper. Really pleased for him today.”
McCormick’s intelligent runs and anticipation kept Yeovil dangerous throughout the match. “Another day he scores two or three and it’s a different story,” the manager said.
New signing Dakarai Mafico also made an immediate impact, earning man of the match honors despite training with the squad for only an hour before the game. “He played three or four positions and was the best player on the pitch,” Rowley noted.
Rowley confirmed the return of Andrew Oluwabori and James Plant to their parent clubs but hinted at incoming transfers soon. “We’ve got a few things in the pipeline—fans will see that in the next couple of days,” he revealed.
Looking ahead, Yeovil will discover their next opponent in the FA Trophy fifth round on Monday afternoon as their journey to Wembley continues. Meanwhile, league action resumes with Yeovil preparing for their first away match of the year at Brackley.
Yeovil Town: Ward; Cousin-Dawson, Wannell, Ferguson; Greenslade (Tobin 27), McGavin, Mafico, Daly (Efete 66); McCormick, Sims (Maddox 80); Jarvis (Campbell 80). Subs not used: Gould.
Alvechurch: Kilroy; Dugmore, Bavangabga, Merrett, Sephton; Wills, Perry, Ngandu; Sullivan (Dugan 81), Obadeyi, Wakefield (Whyte-Hall 64). Subs not used: Evans, Pearce, Schwarm, Timson, Sang.
Referee: Elliot Swallow.