Yeovil Town manager Billy Rowley has expressed cautious optimism as his team gears up to face Telford United in the fifth round of the FA Trophy after a two-week break. The Glovers’ last outing was a narrow 2-1 defeat at Brackley, with subsequent fixtures against Aldershot and Woking postponed, leading to a congested schedule ahead.
“The break has been a double-edged sword,” said Rowley. “While we missed out on competitive matches, it gave us extra training time and allowed some players nursing knocks to recover fully.” This pause in competition also helped new teenage signings settle quickly into the squad, with Rowley praising their growing confidence and adaptation to Huish Park.
Yeovil’s recent FA Trophy journey has been marked by tense penalty shootout victories over Maidstone and Alvechurch, propelling them to this stage. Their upcoming opponents, Telford United, are in formidable form, unbeaten in 2026 with a current four-game winning streak that includes an 8-0 thrashing of Curzon Ashton. Telford, competing in the National League North, have already eliminated Chesham, Altrincham, and Hornchurch from the competition.
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Ahead of the match, Rowley admitted excitement mixed with focus: “This will be my first game against Telford. I’ve gathered insights from players who faced them recently, and it’s a challenge we’re eager to meet.” He emphasized the importance of delivering a strong 90-minute performance, beyond encouraging training sessions.
With the dream of playing at Wembley as the ultimate motivation, Rowley acknowledged addressing the squad with both inspiration and careful pressure. “Wembley’s in everyone’s minds, but we can only focus on getting past Telford first,” he said.
Squad selection faces minor hurdles as Terrel Works and Ryan Jones are cup-tied, and Aaron Jarvis remains out with concussion. Rowley also flagged a few players missing training on the day of the interview, indicating some decisions will be made close to kickoff.
Despite these challenges, Yeovil Town’s ambition shines through their preparation. “We must be at our best for the full match and hope that’s enough to advance,” Rowley concluded, aiming for a performance that truly reflects the team’s potential and unity.