Paul Terry's return from injury meant that manager Gary Johnson made a rare bending of his rule to never change a winning team with the Glovers having a recognisable right-back fit and available for selection. That meant Scott Guyett was the unluckiest player in the squad as he made way and was forced to occupy a bench position as Yeovil took on a Leyton Orient side occupying seventh place on the morning of the game.

Although both sides took to the game at a frantic pace, there was very little end product. The Glovers perhaps edged the early action but without much more than a few Kevin Gall crosses searching for Phil Jevons and Bartosz Tarachulski but not quite finding their target. Leyton's Andrew Scott was an early booking for bundling over Colin Miles close to the touchline.

Leyton's moves were largely initiated down the same flank with Matt Lockwood putting in a few deep crosses, but Terry Skiverton and Colin Miles were well on top of everything that was thrown at them and Leyton's front line weren't even getting a sniff of the ball.

It took 26 minutes before either side created any chance of note, and it produced a goal. Lee Johnson, was as always the man to unlock a stubborn defence, and he did so with an outstanding low pass straight through the middle of the Orient defence, leaving Bartosz TARACHULSKI behind their back line and only Leyton keeper Glenn Morris to beat. Despite a last gasp tackle by Matt Lockwood, Bartosz cooly lifted the ball over the top of keeper Morris and into the net from 10 yards out.

This was a match that certainly had an awful lot going on just off the ball, and Leyton's supporters were doing their best to try and influence referee Barry Knight in their direction. Orient player John Mackie was probably a trifle fortunate to avoid a card of some description when he knocked over Phil Jevons off the ball after play had been stopped whilst Justin Miller's refusal to give Darren Way the ball at a free kick looked as if it was going to cause some serious arguments between both teams.

Leyton's one and only half chance of the first period came just after the half hour mark when a ball was put across the face of the box and missed everyone, whilst Terry Skiverton made a rare error when he misjudged Daniel Chillingworth's run through the centre, bringing the striker down and landing in the book. Leyton's Michael Simpson followed him into the book almost immediately afterwards.

Andrejs Stolcers almost extended Yeovil's lead with a long range shot but Morris was equal to his fierce shot. Yeovil were well on top of the game and it was no surprise when Yeovil took the lead, even if it's manner was a little unexpected. Paul TERRY received the ball back from a throw-in and drove in a long ranger from 40 yards out aimed at the head of Phil Jevons on the near post. Jevons flung himself at the ball and although he missed contact, that was enough to wrong-foot Morris and see the ball creep in at the far post. 2-0 up and the perfect time to score a goal with the game having reached the 45 minute point.

Gary Johnson had to make two half time adjustments following some overly robust tackles by Leyton Orient players. Michael Rose was forced to retire, needing four stitches in his ankle following a tackle that Leyton supporters tried to suggest he had dived for! Similarly Phil Jevons - the subject of similar catcalls from the Orient Main Stand could not reappear after the break due to a dead leg. Scott Guyett got his chance in defence, whilst new signing Arron Davies went straight up front as Yeovil readjusted into a far more attacking formation with Davies joining Bartosz up front.

Yeovil started the second period well on top and had a series of opportunities to put the game beyond reach. Kevin Gall put in Bartosz Tarachulski but Morris blocked well and John Mackie's attempted clearance rebounded off Bartosz and off for a goal kick. Arron Davies was making himself a nuisance and he got the ball into the back of the net on the hour mark only for a linesman's dubious flag to deny him a goal. Kevin Gall's lob landed on the crossbar and Morris did well to recover quickly enough to block Andrejs Stolcers's shot from a narrow angle.

With 67 minutes gone, it seemed as though Orient didn't have a prayer. Yet to make a shot of any meaningful nature let alone one on target, there only was one result possible. That was until a ball into the right was only half cleared by Terry Skiverton and as the ball went up in the air, Yeovil's defence seemed to lose their shape and Efe ECHANOMI, on as a second half substitute was able to sweep the ball home from close range and give Leyton a lifeline.

Suddenly Orient had all of the confidence they had previously been missing. Daniel Chillingworth went close with a long range drive and as the Orient support finally began to put their energies towards backing their team instead of berating the referee and the Yeovil team, they got an unexpected equaliser. Matt Lockwood's ball into the centre was shielded by Echanomi and he fed the ball back to Daniel CHILLINGWORTH who fired into the corner to make it an improbable 2-2.

With Orient now on top song, there was a real worry now that they might grab all three points but as they aimed to go for the killer blow, it was Yeovil that had the last laugh. Bartosz Tarachulski received the ball with his back to goal, and brilliantly shielding it under pressure from an Orient defender, he released it at the perfect moment for Arron DAVIES to blast a shot into the top corner from 20 yards out, giving the former Southampton midfielder a dream debut.

Orient were shattered by this goal, and never really came back into the game. Andrew Scott was a little fortunate to remain on the field when he pole-axed Kevin Gall whilst on a yellow card, but referee Barry Knight seemed to be in a lenient mood. John Mackie headed the ball wide of Chris Weale's left hand post in second half injury time but that was as close as Leyton got, and the Glovers could sigh with relief at the final whistle. The Glovers now get eight days off to lick their wounds after a physical robust encounter but whilst on such a great winning run, any limited Christmas celebrations Gary Johnson may allow will taste very sweet indeed.

Badger

MOTM Vote Result:

Player MOTM Score Bartosz Tarachulski 9 707 Arron Davies 5 587 Paul Terry - 183 Lee Johnson 1 93 Kevin Gall - 93 Phil Jevons - 80

Overall match rating: 8 / 10
Performance: 7
Entertainment: 9

15 votes received.

Any comments/questions please email ytfcmotm@ntlworld.com

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