“We were pretty worthy winners,” Yeovil Town boss Billy Rowley claimed after his side began 2026 with a 3-1 victory over Braintree Town at Huish Park.
Goal celebrations for James Daly of Yeovil Town during the Enterprise National League Match between Yeovil Town and Braintree Town at Huish Park on 3 January 2026 in Yeovil, England (Photo by Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)(Image: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)
“We were pretty worthy winners,” Yeovil Town boss Billy Rowley claimed after his side began 2026 with a 3-1 victory over Braintree Town at Huish Park.
After a goalless first-half, the Glovers found the back of the net three times in the second half, with goals from Luke McCormick, James Daly, and a late own goal to secure all three points, Braintree did have a slight hope of a comeback when Lewis Walker made it 2-1.
Rowley felt his side controlled the majority of the game but still admitted the performance was far from perfect. “I wouldn’t say massively convincing, there were obviously decent spells from Braintree,” he said. “But I thought we had decent control of the game for large parts.”
(Image: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)
The first half offered a few clear-cut chances for the Glovers, with the most noteworthy being Kyle Ferguson’s controversial disallowed header. Rowley joked that “I’m not a stickler for the rule book, I haven’t read it upside down.” Before suggesting that “the referee’s job is hard, and I’ll say it’s probably the correct decision.”
However, luckily for Rowley the decision did not change the outcome of the game, with the breakthrough coming through McCormick after he reacted quickly to fire home the rebound from James Plant’s low effort. Minutes later, Daly grabbed his first goal for Yeovil, when he headed the ball home from close range after Jake Wannel’s initial header was saved.
The goals were the product of hard work on the training pitch, according to Rowley. “It’s something we’ve been working hard on,” he explained. “Trying to give the boys more clear pictures on how we might create goals and I thought we were decent all round.”
Braintree did reduce the deficit when Walker fired home from the edge of the box following another Yeovil lapse in concentration, but Rowley’s side restored their two-goal advantage after Brett McGavin whipped a free-kick that was turned into the net by a Braintree defender.
Set-pieces were a key weapon to the Glovers in picking up the victory over Braintree. “Some of the deliveries out there were top draw,” Rowley said. “Brett’s (Brett McGavin) right foot is brilliant. Every time we put the ball in from a corner or free-kick position, I felt like we could score.”
McGavin may well be credited with Yeovil’s third goal, much to his manager’s amusement. “He (Brett McGavin) tries that once or twice a game; he’s got a great strike on him,” Rowley mentioned. “We’ll credit that goal to him, that’s for sure.”
Goal celebrations for Brett McGavin of Yeovil Town during the Enterprise National League Match between Yeovil Town and Braintree Town at Huish Park on 3 January 2026 in Yeovil, England (Photo by Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)(Image: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)
Rowley was also pleased to see the return of Jacob Maddox in the matchday squad after nearly a year sidelined. “Mentally it’s really difficult,” he highlighted. “I think he’s over that stage now; he’s competing in training. He’s my type of player, Jacob (Maddox).”
Rowley also hinted that movement in the January transfer window could be close, as he looks to add depth to the squad. “We might have a couple of ideas coming along this week,” he revealed.
Yeovil will now turn their attention to the FA Trophy, as they welcome Alvechurch to Huish Park next Saturday. The Glovers will be hoping to book their place in the next round of the competition and continue their winning start to the year. Yeovil Town: 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: 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