Unusually for the Rovers, they played on a Good Friday afternoon in which all the elements have appeared at different times, sleet and rain in the morning, sunshine in between, with the one constant being a stiff wind blowing across the well grassed pitch at Huish Park, Yeovil. The Rovers welcomed back James O'Connor from injury, with Sean McDaid dropping down to the bench and Stuart Elliott made his first start for the club in place of Mark McCammon, who took his place on the bench. Yeovil made four changes from their last line-up at Bournemouth and welcomed back their captain Terry Skiverton from injury. The Rovers attacked the uncovered end, where their supporters stood, in the first half.
The Rovers started the game and spent the early minutes in their opponents half. Then it was Yeovil's turn and in their first real sortie downfield they gained the first corner of the game in the 8th minute. This was cleared but Yeovil kept up the pressure for the next few minutes. The match settled down to a midfield duel but on 20 minutes Heffernan was foiled by the Yeovil keeper, Flinders, who came out and won the ball as Heffernan closed in. Two minutes later, however, the Rovers found themselves a goal behind. A free kick was awarded to the home team on their right. Placed to the far side of the Rovers penalty area it was met by SKIVERTON with a firm header into the far corner of the net. Four minutes later, Coppinger, in the middle of the park, spread the ball wide to O'Connor on the right. A good cross to the middle was headed fractionally wide of the far post by Elliott. Then Sullivan saved Owusu's shot from 15 yards and a corner for the Rovers was cleared. Then, on 31 minutes, came catastrophe for the Rovers. A long ball downfield by the home team was chased by Owusu but Sullivan came out, controlled the ball but found OWUSU on top of him. He lost the ball as he tried to dribble round the Yeovil man, who then had the simple task of slotting into an empty net from 25 yards. The Rovers continued to play their game and had their fair share of possession but couldn't penetrate the home defence. A couple of corners to the home team came to nothing for them but the second corner on 40 minutes was cleared by Green to Stock, who put Coppinger away down the right. A splendid run by the Rovers man took him to the edge of the Yeovil penalty but his left foot shot was deflected by a last ditch tackle from Forbes just past the far post for a corner to the Rovers. The Rovers then had most of the play to the break but the teams went in with Yeovil holding a two goals advantage.
The rain was coming down and the wind seemed to have increased in velocity although it had swung behind the Rovers for the second half. The Rovers started the game and immediately won a corner on their left, which was headed over at the far post by Green. Continuing to attack, in the 50th minute Elliott, on the Rovers left, gave to Coppinger, to Heffernan, to Coppinger who tried to stab in at the post but Flinders beat it out for a corner. A lone attack minutes later by the home team had Sullivan going down to save well but the Rovers returned to the attack and on 58 minutes, Wellens, on the left, passed inside to Heffernan, who passed back to Elliott, just outside the penalty area to the left of goal. A terrific left foot drive skimmed just the wrong side of the far post. Minutes later Gareth Roberts, from the Rovers left, hit a right foot shot that Flinders saved well at the foot of the near post. Elliott then had a shot saved following a corner to the Rovers. At last, after 73 minutes, the Rovers possession paid off when Taylor, just inside the Yeovil penalty area, passed to HEFFERNAN who had space to rifle into the bottom corner of the net. Two minutes later, a cross by O'Connor from the right was headed on goal by Taylor but Flinders saved. Then Elliott, stretching, put wide from 25 yards. Try as the Rovers might they couldn't find the net again and three bookings for Yeovil in the last ten minutes showed the home team's desperation to preserve their lead. It proved to be enough for Yeovil to run out winners by two goals to one as the Rovers once again failed to capitalise on Swansea's failure to win and gave Carlisle the chance to overtake them tomorrow.
Teams - Yeovil Town - Scott Flinders; Terrell Forbes, Terry Skiverton, Scott Guyett, Lee Peltier; Steve Maher, Jean Francoise Christophe, Anthony Barry, Lloyd Owusu, Marcus Stewart, Andy Kirk,
Subs used - Simon Church for Kirk 66mins; Craig Alcock for Skiverton 70mins; Marc Bircham for Maher 79mins;
Subs not used - Liam Bridcutt, Marvin Williams
Cautions - Bircham, Barry, Guyett,
ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James O'Connor, Matt Mills, Adam Lockwood, Gareth Roberts; James Coppinger, Brian Green, Brian Stock, Richie Wellens, Stuart Elliott; Paul Heffernan
Subs used - Gareth Taylor for Wellens 71mins; James Hayter for Green 87mins; Mark McCammon for Mills 89mins;
Subs not used - Steve Roberts, Sean McDaid
Cautions - Stock,
