Yeovil Town travel to Aldershot Town for a Tuesday-night National League fixture under the lights at The Recreation Ground, with Billy Rowley’s side attempting to stop a run of two successive defeats.
The Glovers had made a promising start to the season, but that momentum has been checked by a narrow defeat away to Southend United followed by a 4-1 home loss to AFC Fylde on Saturday. The match preview described the Fylde performance as Yeovil’s worst display of the campaign so far, leaving the visitors needing a response in Hampshire.
After the defeat, Rowley told BBC Somerset that the senior players were rallying the squad. Yeovil’s players were brought in on Sunday before training on Monday and travelling to Aldershot for the midweek fixture.
“We’ll train on Monday and then we’ll go and try and put the record straight on Tuesday.”
Aldershot arrive with six points from two matches
Yeovil face an Aldershot team moving in the opposite direction. The Shots have collected six points from their last two games and have recorded four wins, two draws and one defeat in their opening seven matches.
The latest of those victories came away at Solihull Moors, who were bottom of the table according to the preview. Aldershot fell behind to a first-half penalty scored by former Yeovil loanee Ben Wodskou, but winger Broady Peart equalised. The visitors then secured the win in the second minute of stoppage time when Solihull goalkeeper Max Metcalfe fumbled a corner.
That result followed a 1-0 home victory over FC Halifax Town. Aldershot’s most impressive result so far came at The Recreation Ground, where they beat second-placed Harrogate Town 3-1.
Aldershot are managed by Scott Davies, who has links to Yeovil as both a former player and a former loanee. The previous two victories have given his side confidence before the visit of the Glovers.
Yeovil waiting on defensive and midfield options
The preview identifies Joe Gubbins and Zain Westbrooke as two players whose possible returns could help Yeovil recover from the defeats. Joy Mukena and Ben Radcliffe are described as likely to miss out through injury, which would increase the importance of Gubbins if he is available to play in central defence.
The competition for the other defensive position alongside Gubbins is therefore a key question for Rowley. The preview says Gubbins’ place at the heart of the defence could become firmly established in the coming weeks, although the source does not confirm the final team selection.
Westbrooke’s potential return is viewed as equally important in midfield. At 29, he is the older player in a young squad, and the preview points to his experience and calmness as qualities Yeovil need around their younger players.
His energy could also give Brett McGavin more freedom to control the match. Against AFC Fylde, Yeovil were judged to have lost the midfield contest, particularly in the second half, when the visitors were able to find time and space in dangerous areas. The preview presents Westbrooke as a possible foil for McGavin and suggests his presence could restore balance in the centre of the pitch.
Abrahams is Aldershot’s main attacking threat
Tristan Abrahams is the principal player Yeovil will need to monitor. The former Glovers loanee is Aldershot’s leading scorer with five goals, including a hat-trick in the 3-1 win over Harrogate Town.
Abrahams was previously part of Yeovil’s squad during a half-season loan from Norwich City in 2019, when he scored three goals in 15 appearances. He was also involved in the Yeovil team that exited the Football League that year.
The striker has another connection to an unwanted Yeovil memory. In 2023, while playing for Welling United, he scored an 11-minute hat-trick in a 4-1 victory over the Glovers. The preview says that performance may resurface memories for the Yeovil players and supporters as Abrahams returns to the fixture.
Former Glovers add to the connections
Davies made only four appearances for Yeovil during a loan spell from Reading towards the end of the 2009-10 season. His assistant at Aldershot, Mark Jones, also has a Huish Park connection, having been part of Mark Cooper’s coaching team at Yeovil.
Defender Michee Efete joined Aldershot at the end of last season after being released by Yeovil in January. He started the Shots’ first five matches of this campaign but was not included in the squad for the weekend victory at Solihull Moors.
Yeovil have won the latest September meeting at Aldershot
The most recent Tuesday-night September meeting between the clubs at Aldershot ended in a 4-1 Yeovil victory. That game came less than 24 hours after Danny Webb left his position as manager following an 11-day spell. Richard Dryden, who had been on Aldershot’s coaching staff since the previous season, took charge of Yeovil for the match.
Tahvon Campbell scored twice, with Junior Morias and Luke McCormick also finding the net. The later reverse fixture at Huish Park brought a different outcome. Olly Scott put Aldershot ahead early, Terrell Works equalised for Yeovil, and Shots striker Sean Patton scored in the second half to secure all three points for the visitors.
Niall Smith has been appointed referee for Tuesday night’s match. The supplied preview does not provide the calendar date, kick-off time or season year.