Yeovil Town Triumph Over Braintree Town in New Year Clash

Yeovil Town’s New Year Victory

Yeovil Town kicked off 2026 with three points at Huish Park as they produced a strong second-half display to secure a 3-1 victory over Braintree Town. This crucial National League encounter demonstrated the importance of resilience and attacking prowess for teams battling in the lower reaches of the table.

Match Overview and Significance

Yeovil currently sit 15th in the National League on 28 points, whilst Braintree sit 19th on 24 points. Both clubs entered this fixture desperately seeking points to distance themselves from the relegation zone, making the outcome particularly significant for their respective campaigns.

First Half Frustrations

The opening period proved challenging for Yeovil despite their dominance. Yeovil thought they had taken the lead midway through the first half when Kyle Ferguson headed home from Brett McGavin’s corner. However, after a lengthy delay, the goal was disallowed for offside, with McCormick adjudged to have interfered with play from an offside position, denying Ferguson his first goal for the club.

Second-Half Resurgence

The Glovers emerged transformed after the interval. The Glovers took the lead when midfielder Luke McCormick stabbed home just after the hour and James Daly headed a second after Jake Wannell’s initial header had been superbly kept out by the visitors’ goalkeeper Mason Terry. Braintree pulled one back through striker Lewis Walker with 20 minutes remaining, but an 86th minute own goal caused by a superb Brett McGavin free-kick restored the two-goal advantage.

Looking Ahead

It was a great turnout at Huish Park. I didn’t expect more than 3,500 people to turn up to cheer on the Glovers at that awkward kick off time in sub-zero temperatures, but maybe somethings changing. This positive result could signal a turning point for Yeovil as they seek to climb the National League table and ease relegation concerns in the months ahead.