Away Day Joy for Glovers

By Alex O'Loughlin
October 9 2010

Yeovil Town built on last weekends victory away to Walsall with another away win at Spotland. 

Something unusual ahead of the game was the fact that Terry Skiverton was able to field an unchanged side, with no new faces entering the substitutes bench either. Jean-Paul Kalala, Stefan Stam and John Sullivan missed out nursing injuries whilst captain Craig Alcock still had no place in the starting eleven.

The game began with great intensity with both 'keepers being forced into early saves with firstly Stephen Henderson saving well from Gary Jones before Josh Lillis did the same at the other end from a Sam Williams effort. 

Next to go close was 'Dale defender Josh Thompson who met a Rochdale corner only to see his header fall agonisingly wide of the post. 

The frantic intensity eventually died down with both sides beginning to cancel each other out as both teams fielded attacking based formations.

The Glovers continued to dominate the game in terms of chances with Owain Tudur Jones again keeping Lillis on his toes in goal. Good interplay between Shaun MacDonald and Dean Bowditch presented the latter with a good chance. 

Despite only joining in the summer Adam Virgo has become something of a cult figure at Yeovil and his reputation was nearly added to dramatically when his ludicrously ambitious 45 yard shot had to be forced wide for a corner. From that very corner Paul Huntington nearly netted after a good delivery from Gavin Williams. 

Rochdale's main source of outlet was ex-Grimsby man Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro who was troubling the Yeovil back four with his pace and power. All be it producing little in terms of chances.

Half Time: Rochdale 0-0 Yeovil Town

Rochdale before the game lied in 5th position, and they came flying out of the blocks in the second half demonstrating some of the football which has seen them start the season so well.

A forced change for Yeovil at the break was the withdrawal of Gavin Williams with an ongoing ankle injury with Andy Williams replacing him on the right wing. 

Despite 'Dale's quick start to the second period, it was Yeovil who had the first notable chance.

Sam Williams found space to lash the ball across the box with the ball rebounding of the post towards the onrushing Andy Williams. However, the ex-Bristol Rovers man ended up putting himself in the net with the ball eluding him.

As the second half reached its midway point, Terry Skiverton introduced Luke Freeman for Andy Welsh, with Dean Bowditch moving out to the right wing to allow Freeman to move upfront alongside Sam Williams.

It took Freeman just four minutes to make his mark on the game when he gave Yeovil the lead. 

Owain Tudur Jones ventured forward before watching his strike clatter the cross bar with Luke Freeman first to react to grab the lead. 0-1.

The goal seemed to rock the home side but the Green and Whites couldn't take advantage of this and were nearly made to pay only for a world class save from Stephen Henderson. Craig Dawson's shot looked destined to hit the back of the net but Henderson tipped it brilliantly onto the underside of the cross bar and eventually away.

Yeovil were denied a stoppage time penalty when it seemed to everyone in the ground apart from referee Andy Haines that Luke Freeman was upended in the box by Craig Dawson. 

But in the end it did not come back to haunt the referee with Yeovil seeing the remainder of the game out to claim the three points for their second away win in a week and their first back-to-back victories since February 2009.

Confidence will be high ahead of the visit of Sheffield Wednesday to Huish Park next week, with the Green and Whites currently lying in 16th position and just three points behind Wednesday.