Three minutes into the second half the Yeovil got their fourth and final goal. Gavin Williams and
Lee Johnson contrived to whip a quick free kick into the box and Bishop got a touch, Marshall flapped and
could only parry the ball into the path of Colin PLUCK who finished in predatory style slamming
the loose ball home with venom. Plucky, after a shaky few weeks was well and truly back!
With the game seemingly won, Yeovil took the foot of the gas, in some respects with four-four draws and dramatic comebacks being the flavour of the month some would argue that unwise, but without being disrespectful to Cambridge, they did not look likely to get back into a game that had been dominated by the home side. That said, it could have been oh so different if the woodwork had not denied them twice with two fine long-range efforts from Gutteridge and Murray.
The Glovers could have doubled their own lead too though, how nice it would have been to score 10 and put one over the old enemy Hereford following their 9 goal drubbing of Dagenham. Marshall made a fine save from Williams who tore through the Cambridge midfield and was unlucky not to get his second. Bishop too should have got a shot on target when he was put through the centre by Stansfield but the ball was nicked off his boot by a last ditch tackle from a Cambridge defender. Bishop, who was carrying a heel injury was replaced by Gall soon afterwards, and Yeovil's other Welshman had a chance to end his drought when Johnson picked up a great ball from Weatherstone, ran at the defence and lined up a shot before nudging the ball wide to Gall who missed when in a good position�how he could have done with that going in!
Stansfield was replaced with 13 minutes to go. He received warm applause from the home, but somewhat subdued crowd of 5694. Stansfield himself would have been happy with his performance and could count himself unlucky if he did not make the start against Huddersfield on Tuesday night. True, he did look a little ring rusty but took his goal well, and as he has gone on record as saying, the only way to get that sharpness back is to compete regularly at this level. Lindegaard replaced the Devon boy and adopted his right wing berth with Weatherstone switching to partner Gall up front.
With other results going Yeovil's way, and others not, the play off spots are beginning to look increasingly tight. Oxford and Hull continue to drop points whilst Doncaster flourish, Torquay and Lincoln are revived, whilst Huddersfield pose a threat. So important then that the Glovers keep winning, and if they do who's to say an automatic spot is still not out of reach. Today was a pleasing performance, the back four looked solid, and although he's not even been mentioned in, El Kholti had a cracking game at left back, the Moroccan played with confidence not seen for some time. Could that be the managers mind games? If that's so you wonder whether Kirk Jackson can come back from the brink and prosper after being recalled from his loan spell at Dagenham. Johnson says it's great that the goals are coming from all over the park but he wants someone to grab ten between now and the end of May. Now wouldn't it be great if Jacko could recapture that form like Abdel has!
Jeremy Gear
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