After 85 minutes of last nights first home game of the season one fan walked out of the Bartlett Stand and off into the warm sultry evening shaking his head. What short memories some people have!

They say the Conference is the hardest league to get out of, I suppose they are right…it took us long enough! Others will then say it's the Championship. I suppose if you are a Wolves or a Ipswich fan you’d agree, but judging by the two games Yeovil have played so far, Division One looks the toughest of the lot…as I’m sure any Bristol City fan will tell you!

On view for Rotherham last night was none other than Deon Burton, recipient of some 50 caps from his native Jamaica. Burton has filled out somewhat since his Derby days but was still a fine player. In the squad was Paolo Vernazza, Jon Otsemobor and Scott Minto, well known to Arsenal, Liverpool and West Ham fans respectively…maybe I got it wrong…perhaps the “fan” left Huish Park shaking his head in disbelief that after a season or two in the league, here we were playing, and holding our own against that calibre of opposition; then again maybe, as he left the tunnel to enter the car park he saw the kind of traffic organisation that has been sadly lacking for a while. Just like on the field…progress is being made.

Yeovil unsurprisingly started the game with three changes following Saturday's disappointing result at Oldham. Chris Weale returned following Steve Collis’s error for the first goal at Boundary Park - the sign of things to come no doubt. Gary Johnson has taken a Zero Tolerance attitude with his keepers', both inseparable in terms of talent. The one who shows the most mental toughness is now the one who will command that spot. Kevin Gall replaced David Poole on the right hand side of midfield, and Matt “Prince” Harrold was the preferred choice alongside Phil Jevons. Arron Davies and Luke Oliver dropped back to the bench. Pablo Bastianini, still unable to play due to his work permit not arriving in time, was once again denied his home debut.

With the home crowd, a small one of 5800 considering the occasion, behind them from the start the Glovers started brightly. Rotherham were a different side compared to that of last season when the two teams met in the FA Cup, new manager Mick Harford has already stamped his mark. Rotherham were bright upfront and Jamal Cambell-Ryce quick of feet. Weale was alert to several long range efforts and made one great save tipping a fierce drive over the bar, whilst at the other end Yeovil huffed and they puffed but they could not blow the Millers house down. Colin Murdock at the heart of their defence was made of granite! Matt Harrold tried as did Jevons, but neither could shake the resolve of the big man, at times the duel was infuriating as niggly fouls on both sides led to stops in play, but we are going to face more of the same each week until May, something that underlines the step up in class we have made…it’s a giant leap.

10 minutes or so before half time the Westland Stand upped the tempo with some fanatical support which spread to the stands, it was that proverbial twelfth man. Lesser teams would have panicked under the tribal atmosphere that was Huish Park, but Rotherham having seen it all before took it in their stride and as the half time whistle blew you could tell something special was required to break the deadlock, at both ends, because Yeovil too defended stoutly.

The second half was more of the same with Yeovil attacking the Westland Terrace, Gall and Amankwaah often linked well, but the final ball lacked quality. Johnson probed the midfield and raked passes from left to right, mostly accurate and setting up forward advances. His corners though, and we had plenty, like the final ball lacked quality. It’s in these areas that you need to take advantage. Paul Terry quietly got on with his work in central midfield, and Darren Way, still out on the left worked his socks off and won several free kicks in dangerous areas, but again the final balls into the danger areas lacked quality. Nathan Jones supported Way on the left, but like Jevons, then Harrold, and Oliver and Davies before him, they never really looked like they had got an understanding going.

Late pressure towards the end saw Yeovil go close on a number of occasions, but not quite close enough. Skiverton who took a knock was replaced by Colin Miles in the centre, and Arron Davies replaced Paul Terry. Darren Way regained his central midfield role, with Davies pushing out to the left…at last…we had some natural width and it made a difference, in hindsight Gary Johnson may rue not making the decision earlier. Rotherham on the other hand were denied a late winner but for an outstanding double save by the recalled Weale, who bar his odd kicking misdemeanour did enough to don the gloves against Blackpool on Saturday.

The game ended and Yeovil secured their first point of the season, and it was a hard earned one, in fact every point is going to be hard earned this season. As somebody said leaving the ground (and it wasn’t the one shaking his head), it’s like leaving Junior School and joining the Comprehensive for the first time, it takes a while to settle, to find your bearings and to dodge the initiation ceremonies, but eventually you find your feet. The strong ones prosper and the weak suffer. Gary Johnson is a tough cookie and he’s got lots more of those in his biscuit tin too!

Jeremy Gear

MOTM Vote Result:

Player MOTM Score Kevin Amankwaah 16 555 Efe Sodje 8 430 Chris Weale 7 290 Matt Harrold 4 225 Kevin Gall 3 130 Darren Way 2 110

Overall match rating: 6.8 / 10
Performance: 6.6
Entertainment: 7

39 votes received.

Any comments/questions please email yeo.motm@ntlworld.com

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