Yeovil Town v Gillingham

A sun-drenched Huish Park welcomed a Gillingham side looking to equal a 51-year-old record, as they battled for their seventh consecutive league win. Yeovil and their Kent opponents entered the fixture experiencing two completely different runs of form. Gillingham had defeated the likes of Swansea and Huddersfield in recent weeks, whilst the Glovers were in need of points to stave off relegation.

After losing at Nottingham Forest on Easter Monday, Steve Thompson made a number of changes to his Yeovil line-up. Colin Miles replaced Nathan Jones at left back and Adam Lockwood accompanied Terry Skiverton. Andy Lindegaard completed the back four at right back. Craig Rocastle returned to the starting eleven, while Matt Harrold dropped to the bench, as Thompson favoured Phil Jevons and Arron Davies in attack.

The Glovers started with intent and after two minutes Rocastle found himself in a shooting position. Paul Terry's shot from 25 yards struck a defender, before the Sheffield Wednesday loanee lifted his effort over the crossbar.

Two minutes later Yeovil were on the attack again, with Chris Cohen forcing an error from Gillingham's Trinidadian defender, Brent Sancho. Cohen threaded the ball through to Jevons, who shot off-balance. Sadly for the home side the effort trickled wide of the post.

D

espite all of Yeovil's pressure, Gillingham took an unlikely lead against the run of play after 11 minutes. Good work from Matthew Jarvis unlocked the hosts' defence down the left, who then linked well with Gary Mulligan. The striker slotted the ball to former Arsenal youngster, Tommy Black who had the easiest of finishes.

The Glovers fought back, continuing to dominate the early stages of the game. After 15 minutes Gillingham were reduced to ten men. Poole's neat over-head ball was latched onto by Jevons, who was brought down in the box by Sancho. The referee had little choice but to give the defender his marching orders.

Jevons stepped up to take the resulting penalty and cheekily rolled the ball past Gills 'keeper, Jason Brown who had dived the wrong way to his left. After suffering an early set-back, Steve Thompson's men were right back in the fixture, with the added bonus of having numerical superiority.

Buoyed by the equaliser Yeovil maintained their attacking play. Seven minutes after the goal an advancing Terry Skiverton cut the ball back from the left for Cohen in the penalty box. However, the talented midfielder's studs stuck in the ground and his shot lacked power and precision.

Thirty-five minutes into the game the Glovers capitalised on sloppy Gillingham defending to take a deserved lead. Lindegaard's whipped cross from the right created havoc amongst the opposition defence, with captain Ian Cox only able to head vertically with his 'keeper breathing down his neck. Cohen rose to the falling ball, looping his header over Cox into the vacant net.

Moments later Cohen came close to doubling his tally and Yeovil's lead. A well executed Jevons ball from the left was met first time by the West Ham player, who could only volley wide.

Two minutes before half time Gillingham threatened the home goal, having an effort cleared off the line. The Glovers failed to deal with a corner, and both Steve Collis and Lindegaard had to hurriedly force the ball clear inches from the line.

Gillingham may have been the form team entering the game but it was Yeovil who played the better football in the first half. Losing the imposing Sancho so early would have been a blow to manager Ronnie Jepson and his team's performance, but his outfit had little response to the hungry team in green and white.

Half Time: Yeovil Town 2 Gillingham 1

The Glovers started the second half where they left off, barraging the Gillingham defence. Two minutes into the half Paul Terry could have registered Yeovil's third. The result of a persistent attack saw Terry 12 yards from goal with no red shirts for company. His left-footed shot across goal struck a defender's leg, before being cleared.

With 52 minutes on the clock Terry made no mistake with his second opportunity in five minutes. Cohen's burst down the Yeovil left proved too much for John Wallis, who was left for dead. The Yeovil midfielder crossed superbly for Terry who smashed the ball home from close range.

Minutes later the action was at the other end of the pitch, as Gillingham tried to salvage a glimmer of hope. The Glovers seemed unable to grasp control of the ball, but substitute Neil Harris could only fire wide with his bicycle kick.

Yeovil soon put this scare behind them and replied with a fourth goal after 56 minutes. Sean Clohessy misjudged his header back to 'keeper Brown, allowing Davies to leap on the loose ball. The Welshman took one touch before firing past a flailing Brown.

The home team who began the game one place above the relegation zone were not content with four, and continued to steamroller the Gillingham defence. On the hour mark Terry decided to have another crack at goal, this time from 20 yards. Brown dived to his left and saved well.

After seventy-seven minutes the Gills grabbed a surprise second goal. Twenty-five yards out Mike Flynn's speculative and somewhat tame effort somehow crept through the Yeovil defence and evaded the outstretched hand of Collis.

As Yeovil sat back and Gillingham fought to earn something from the game the away team came within a goal of Yeovil with two minutes of normal time remaining. With his back to goal Andrew Crofts controlled with his chest, before unleashing an unstoppable chip 20 yards from goal.

Four minutes of injury time were announced and suddenly a jubilant Huish Park turned silent and tense. Having been out of the tie for so long, Gillingham demonstrated a late burst of energy and commitment to the cause that had previously not been on display.

Despite a nervy closing few minutes the Glovers held on for an invaluable victory. Yeovil had bucked the form book, but must be wondering quite how the tense finale came about after seemingly ending the game as a contest at the beginning of the second half.

For the vast majority of the game Yeovil were the better side, passing with flair and displaying a rampant attacking edge. Steve Thompson's men dictated play with the confidence they show when truly on form. Gillingham never recovered from the early dismissal of Sancho and only played at the top of their game when Yeovil sat back and allowed them to play.

It would be unfair to single out players in such a fine team performance where all green and white units gelled. Strong in all areas of the pitch, Yeovil now have an excellent chance of playing League One football next season.

Full time: Yeovil Town 4 Gillingham 3

Report by Chris Sweet