Yeovil Town started 2026 on a high note, securing a 3-1 victory over Braintree Town at Huish Park. Manager Billy Rowley described his side as “pretty worthy winners” after a solid second-half display that saw goals from Luke McCormick, James Daly, and a late own goal seal the win.
The first half ended goalless, with Yeovil creating chances but unable to convert. A notable moment came when Kyle Ferguson’s header was controversially disallowed, a decision Rowley accepted with good humor, acknowledging the challenges referees face. “I’m not a stickler for the rule book,” he quipped, adding that the referee’s call was likely correct.
The breakthrough arrived early in the second half when McCormick reacted swiftly to fire in a rebound following James Plant’s shot. Minutes later, Daly struck with his first goal for Yeovil, heading in from close range after Jake Wannell’s initial attempt was saved.
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Rowley credited the goals to focused training on creating clear scoring opportunities. “It’s something we’ve been working hard on,” he explained, praising the team’s overall performance despite admitting it was not flawless. “We had decent control of the game for large parts.”
Braintree threatened a comeback when Lewis Walker scored from the edge of the box, narrowing the gap to 2-1. However, Yeovil quickly restored their two-goal lead thanks to Brett McGavin’s well-delivered free-kick, which deflected in off a Braintree defender.
Set-pieces proved crucial once again, with Rowley singling out McGavin’s left foot for delivering “top draw” balls into the box. “Every time we put the ball in from a corner or free-kick position, I felt like we could score,” he commented.
The win was made even sweeter with the return of Jacob Maddox to the squad after nearly a year out due to injury. Rowley praised Maddox’s mental resilience and commitment in training, calling him “my type of player.”
Looking ahead, Rowley hinted at possible January transfer activity to strengthen the squad depth. “We might have a couple of ideas coming along this week,” he revealed.
Yeovil now turn their attention to the FA Trophy, hosting Alvechurch next Saturday, hoping to build on their winning momentum and advance to the next round.
Yeovil Town lineup: Ward; Wannell, Williams, Ferguson; Plant (Greenslade 70), Cousin-Dawson, McGavin, Daly; Sims (Oluwabori 70), McCormick (Jolliffe 90+2); Jarvis (Campbell 88). Subs not used: Gould, Tobin, Maddox.
Braintree Town lineup: Terry; Drake, Langston, Clarke; Logan (Babic 64), Dudziak (Emmanuel-Thomas 80), Vennings, Pinnington; Cooper; Walker (Thorpe 80), Oteh (Akinde 74). Subs not used: Omrore, Kamara, Hockey.
Referee: Zac Kettle
Attendance: 3,573