Yeovil Town 3-0 Brentford: Only goal difference keeps Glovers out of play-offs

Just goal difference keeps Yeovil Town out of npower League One's top six after their fifth win on the spin saw them trounce fellow play-off rivals Brentford.

Ed Upson capped his 100th Glovers appearance with a 30-yard thunderbolt sandwiched between an intuitive Paddy Madden finish and Dan Burn's well-executed close-range volley.

Madden's 15th goal of the season ended a bright start on a heavy pitch from the Bees on and ensured Yeovil were on the way to completing the double over their visitors.

Winning manager Gary Johnson said: "It's a very important one against a very good side. They're above us in the table and we needed to bring them back towards us.

"I thought that the nature of the win was fantastic. Marek Stech had to do his job and gradually we took over.

"Considering we played on that pitch twice in a few days, that is an unbelievable achievement."

Indeed, had it not been for Yeovil's giant Czech Republic stopper, Brentford could easily have comfortably led.

With a mobile telephone left in the dugout as he awaited news on his partner going into labour, Stech showed few signs of distraction on four minutes when he athletically tipped Clayton Donaldson's dipping effort over the bar and Burn cleared the corner off the line.

Seven minutes later Harlee Dean's header from Upson's delivery prevented Madden an easy chance and Donaldson could not hit the target having twisted into the box on the counterattack.

On 23 minutes Tom Adeyemi escaped the offside flag to cross for Donaldson but again Stech was superbly up to the task of saving. Adeyemi then danced through Yeovil's defence on 31 minutes to be denied by the keeper's legs.

It was to prove Brentford's last attack of the opening phase as the Glovers forged ahead on 34 minutes. A scuffed clearance fell fortunately for Madden and the Irishman coolly chipped into the net.

Stech's brilliance saved Yeovil again a minute later, blocking Harry Forrester's immediate response.

Upson then put daylight between the sides four minutes before the break, unleashing a fierce drive from 30 yards to register a contender for goal of the season.

The Glovers could have made it 3-0 at half time only for a combination of dogged defending and profligate finishing to deny another.

Brentford again bossed the early stags of the second period until James Hayter ended a fine move in the 56th minute by firing over.

On 58 minutes substitute Joe Edwards selflessly picked out Madden but the pitch proved the striker's undoing as the ball bobbled away from his foot.

Paul Hayes proved a threat within seconds of his 72nd minute introduction, orchestrating an attack but only able to shoot tamely at Stech.

Seven minutes before time Burn put the game to bed, capping a display that saw sponsors name him man of the match by thumping home Jamie McAllister's wicked wide free kick.

Three minutes later Kevin Dawson came close to notching his first Yeovil goal but saw his effort cleared off the line and the follow up went wide.

MATCH STATS

Yeovil Town (4-4-2) - Stech; Ayling, Burn, Webster, McAllister; Dawson, Upson (Blizzard, 82), Dolan (Edwards, 24), Foley; Hayter (Appiah, 74), Madden. Unused subs: Stewart, Hinds, Williams, Young.

Goals: Madden 34, Upson 41, Burn 83.

Bookings: Upson (foul), McAllister (foul).

Brentford (4-4-2) - Moore; Logan, Dean, Craig, Bidwell; Adeyemi, Kiernan (Saunders, 60), Douglas, Forshaw (Trotta, 46); Forrester (Hayes, 71), Donaldson. Unused subs: Lee, Barron, Hodson, Diagouraga.

Bookings: Logan (foul).

Ref: James Linington (Isle of Wight).

Att: 4,106.

YEOVIL TOWN 3-0 BRENTFORD - IN PICTURES

Photos: Yeovil Town 3-0 Brentford - npower League One