Yeovil Town head to Wealdstone on Saturday afternoon with momentum behind them after a run of three wins and two draws from their last five fixtures. The Glovers’ latest match ended with a 6-0 win over Boston United, while the side has also gone three games without conceding.
The result has put Yeovil among the best-performing teams in the league and represents a sharp change from the situation at the same stage last year. The Somerset club was then searching for its fourth manager only two months into the campaign. This time, the preview describes a settled team, an improved atmosphere around Huish Park and a style of football in which players across the side are contributing goals.
Yeovil’s defence provides a platform
Yeovil’s attacking output has been matched by a defence that has looked increasingly secure. Three consecutive clean sheets have given the midfielders and forwards greater freedom to express themselves, while the defenders have the reassurance of a reliable goalkeeper behind them.
Jos Barker is identified as the key player for the visitors. The young goalkeeper has been in outstanding form over the last three matches, although the preview also credits the players in front of him for their part in the defensive record. Barker is described as a strong presence in the penalty area, a goalkeeper who gets down quickly and an accomplished shot-stopper.
That combination has helped build trust across the team. The midfield and attack can commit players forward knowing that their teammates at the back are capable of handling pressure, while the defenders can recover from a difficult moment with confidence that Barker may be able to intervene. Yeovil will hope that defensive stability continues away from home.
Wealdstone’s uneven start
Wealdstone’s opening 12 matches have produced an inconsistent set of results, but the Stones have also recorded several impressive performances. They won 2-0 at Sutton United on the August Bank Holiday Monday and took points from both Carlisle United and Forest Green Rovers.
The club’s preparations were affected by changes to the squad during the summer. Defender Deon Woodman left for Bromley, midfielder Nathan Tshikuna moved to Tamworth and winger Dominic Hutchinson joined Worthing. A number of replacements arrived close to the start of the new season, and Wealdstone fielded seven trialists in their final pre-season friendly.
Injuries have added to that disruption. Defender Mason Barrett suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the 1-1 draw with Forest Green Rovers 10 days before the preview was published. The 27-year-old had been almost ever-present for Wealdstone and was expected to miss the rest of the season.
The Stones had won only two of their first nine matches, although their results improved before the latest fixture. They beat Gateshead 4-0 at Grosvenor Vale, drew with Forest Green and then lost at Barrow. The defeat in Cumbria came after Barrow scored a winning goal deep into second-half stoppage time.
Olomola offers a familiar threat
One familiar name in the Wealdstone squad is forward Olufela Olomola. The 29-year-old previously spent three loan spells at Huish Park and has made a productive start to the new season, scoring four goals in his first 12 appearances for the Stones.
Olomola’s first spell with Yeovil came in 2017/18, when he joined from Southampton. He returned during the 2018/19 campaign on loan from Scunthorpe United and later came back from Hartlepool during the 2021/22 season. Across those three spells, he made 57 appearances for the Glovers and scored 11 goals.
After returning to Wealdstone last season, Olomola had a spell in the Football League with Bromley, where he scored six goals in 38 appearances. His previous connection with Yeovil gives travelling supporters an additional player to watch when the teams meet.
Experienced manager and balanced record
Wealdstone are managed by Gary Waddock, who is 64 and has extensive experience in both playing and management. As a player, he made more than 500 Football League appearances, mainly with QPR early in his career and Luton later on.
His managerial career began at Loftus Road, although he did not complete the 2005/06 season. He then managed Aldershot for two years and Wycombe for three years between 2009 and 2012. Later roles took him to Oxford, Portsmouth and Aldershot, before he finished his management work as Southend’s caretaker boss in 2019. After a seven-year break, Waddock returned to management by taking charge of Wealdstone earlier this year.
The two clubs have met 11 times, with Yeovil and Wealdstone each winning three matches and the other four ending in draws. Their most recent meeting was in March at Grosvenor Vale, where Yeovil won 2-0. Terrell Works opened the scoring in the 38th minute and James Daly added a second shortly after half-time.
Callum Jones is the match official for Saturday’s fixture. The source does not provide a calendar date, kick-off time or competition name, but the match preview sets out a clear test for Yeovil: maintain the attacking confidence shown against Boston United while extending a defensive run that has produced three straight clean sheets.