First home loss since November sees Glovers drop out of play-offs - A FANS VIEW

Another poor result for Gary Johnson's men leaves the Somerset side out of the play-off places on goal-difference after falling to a disappointing 2-0 home defeat against fellow promotion rivals Swindon Town…

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FT score: Yeovil Town 0  –  2 Swindon Town (HT 0-0: Npower league one)

Stadium: Huish Park, Yeovil

Yeovil Town goalscorer/s: none

Swindon Town goalscorer/s: A Rooney (pen) 77', Collins 90'

My Man of the Match: Nathan Thompson (Swindon Town) – An impressive performance by the youngster in a very big game. The occasion, unlike some of the Yeovil players, didn't seem to faze him and the defender made some crucial interceptions to help his side keep a clean sheet. He could be one to watch for the future.

Referee: Stroud 6/10 – He, like Yeovil, produced an average performance and went largely unnoticed until an incident happened on the byline; the linesman waved his flag for a Yeovil free-kick when a Swindon player seemed to elbow Lewis Young in the face. If the referee has seen it, it is surely a clear sending-off but the referee took the easy option by only producing a yellow card.

Attendance: 5,207

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This was a huge game for the Glovers - who could have gone as high as third if they had won this promotion six-pointer.

Unfortunately, with the match being televised on Sky Sports 1 and so much at stake for both sides, the occasion seemed to get the better of the Yeovil players.

With the game being a local-ish derby, the Green & White faithful turned out in big numbers (especially impressive for a Tuesday night) but went home disappointed after watching another mediocre performance.

Chances were few and far between in the first half; with Joe Edwards probably having the best opportunity for the home side, but he could only convert the ball over the bar after finding some space at the edge of the Robins penalty area.

Up the other end, the away side's best chance to break the deadlock in the first period fell to big defender Darren Ward, but somehow his deflected shot crept just wide when it looked destined for the back of the net.

At the interval then, the game was honours even and with both teams having pretty much cancelled each other out in the first half, both sets of supporters would have liked to see more chances created in the final third from their respective players.

The second half was a much more open contest and Swindon started to control proceedings, forcing the Yeovil goalkeeper Marek Stech into some excellent saves.

Then came the turning point as Gary Roberts burst into the 18-yard box before being taken down by the Czech stopper to concede a penalty.

Luke Rooney, an ex. Glovers loanee, confidently stepped up and fired the ball low into the left-hand corner, giving Stech no chance.

Yeovil now had thirteen minutes plus stoppage time to try and find a response. By really going for it however, they left themselves open at the back and the Robins took full advantage…

Swindon counter-attacked with pace and numbers for former Shrewbury man James Collins to shoot low past Stech's despairing dive. That was the last action of a game which promised much, but gave little.

I felt very dis-hearted after the final whistle as the result was a bad blow to our promotion credentials and sees us slip down to seventh in the table.

Looking on the positives, this was the Glovers first home defeat since November 2012 and they are still only four points off an automatic promotion place.

On Saturday, Yeovil need to find a response when they face Carlisle at Brunton Park. The West Country outfit will want to pick up as many points as possible in their remaining games if they are to have any chance of automatic promotion. 

Footnote: The latest weather forecast for this weekend is indicating snow so fingers crossed the game isn't affected.

Written by: Josh Wilde, Age 14 (YTFC season ticket holder - Screen name: Josh98).