Yeovil Town boss Billy Rowley praised his side’s performance after they opened 2026 with a solid 3-1 home victory against Braintree Town. Despite a goalless first half, the Glovers came alive in the second, securing three crucial goals to take all three points.
The breakthrough came through Luke McCormick, who quickly followed up James Plant’s low shot to put Yeovil ahead. James Daly then doubled the lead, scoring his first goal for the club with a close-range header after a saved effort from Jake Wannell. Although Braintree’s Lewis Walker narrowed the gap with a well-placed strike from the edge of the box, a late own goal by a Braintree defender off Brett McGavin’s expertly delivered free-kick sealed the win for Yeovil.
Rowley reflected on the match, acknowledging his side’s control but a performance that could be improved. “I wouldn’t say it was massively convincing, there were decent spells from Braintree,” he admitted. “But overall, we had decent control of the game for large parts.” He also commented on a controversial disallowed header by Kyle Ferguson, humorously noting that while he’s not a “stickler for the rule book,” he believes the referee made the right call.
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Set-pieces proved critical to Yeovil’s success, with Rowley praising McGavin’s delivery from corners and free-kicks. “Brett’s right foot is brilliant,” he said. “Every time we put the ball in from a set-piece, I felt like we could score.”
The match also marked a positive milestone with the return of Jacob Maddox to the matchday squad after nearly a year out due to injury. “Mentally it’s really difficult,” Rowley said. “I think he’s over that stage now; he’s competing well in training.”
Looking ahead, Rowley hinted at potential signings as the January transfer window unfolds. “We might have a couple of ideas coming along this week,” he revealed.
Next up for Yeovil Town is an FA Trophy clash at Huish Park against Alvechurch, where they aim to extend their winning momentum and advance further in the competition.
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