Penalty miss costs Yeovil Town away victory

Sam Williams' penalty miss meant Yeovil Town had to be content with a point from an engrossing goalless draw at Plymouth Argyle.

The result was enough to see the Glovers climb off the foot of npower League One as they returned to the pitch for the first time since mid-December.

Argyle stopper David Button made a comfortable save diving to his right to keep out the spot-kick awarded for a foul on Andy Williams midway through the first half.

Both defences weathered pressure but Yeovil goalkeeper John Sullivan enjoyed the quieter afternoon to register the club's second successive league clean sheet.

Despite the penalty miss, manager Terry Skiverton considered it a point gained rather than two dropped.

"They (Plymouth) came out in the second half and they put us under pressure," he said. "We had to withstand that and the positive thing for our football club is that in the league now that is two clean sheets.

"I think in the first half we should have been a little bit home and dry had Paul Huntington headed down and put the keeper under pressure.

"Andy Williams should have done better with the cutback. Also with the penalty as well, as Sam has been putting them away in training.

"Two clean sheets on the bounce in the league is excellent for us and it takes us off the bottom of the league, which is a massive step."

Skiverton made five changes to the side beaten 4-2 by Hartlepool United in the FA Cup second round on December 14.

Last-minute loan signings Paul Wotton and Max Ehmer came in for Ed Upson and Craig Alcock (back) respectively.

Nathan Smith returned from suspension at left-back ahead of assistant manager Nathan Jones, Sam Williams replaced Jean Paul Kalala (groin), and Paul Huntington came back for injured Tom Parkes.

A brisk start resulted in Yeovil's first chance on seven minutes as former Argyle hero Wotton reminded home fans of his prowess from range.

Playing against the side he led to two promotions, the Southampton loanee sent Button scrambling from 30 yards, as the ball crept wide.

Two minutes later, Tottenham Hotspur youngster Button tipped Huntington's header over the bar before Andy Williams' looping header dropped onto the woodwork from the subsequent corner.

On 19 minutes Joe Mason's diagonal ball sliced through the Yeovil defence to find Rory Patterson. However, the midfielder's poor first touch invited Sullivan off his line and the visitors' Millwall loanee dived bravely at his feet.

With 23 minutes on the clock the Glovers' defenders backed off Mason, allowing him to accelerate to the edge of the 18-yard box before his shot was deflected over.

Three minutes before the half-hour mark, Sam Williams was presented with his chance from the spot after Curtis Nelson tripped Andy Williams.

Andy Williams rolled clear of Nelson, only to be pulled back as he looked to cut into the box. The former Bristol Rovers man rode the challenge but saw his run stopped by referee Brendan Malone who chose not to play advantage. However, Sam Williams' shot lacked conviction.

Plymouth made a strong start to the second period.

On 65 minutes Kari Arnason's long throw was laid off to Reda Johnson by Bradley Wright-Phillips only for the division's leading goalscorer to fire over.

Button was called into action three minutes later, pushing away Dean Bowditch's deflected shot from 25 yards.

The keeper's heart was in his mouth on 71 minutes when Nelson sliced behind and wide from Bowditch's cross.

Four minutes before the final whistle Stephane Zubar beat Huntington to a Plymouth corner, but was unable to find the target with a header.

The hosts' final chance of the match came deep into injury time when another Jim Paterson set piece was headed straight at Sullivan.

Plymouth Argyle (4-4-2): Button; Zubar, Johnson, Nelson, Paterson; Patterson, Arnason, Fletcher, Bhasera (Bolasie 76); Wright-Phillips, Mason. Substitutes (not used): Larrieu (gk), Duguid, Clark, Stephens, Peterlin, Timar.

Yeovil Town (4-4-1-1): Sullivan; Ayling, Huntington, Ehmer, Smith; Welsh (Kalala 62), Wotton, MacDonald, Bowditch; S Williams; A Williams. Substitutes (not used): Stam, Upson, Calver, Gibson, Baggridge.

Attendance: 9,720.

Referee: Brendan Malone (Wiltshire).