In the final part of our review of the season 2009/10, we look back at the final eight games of the season when the Glovers flirted with the bottom four but eventually finished well clear in lower mid-table...
The month opened with a tricky looking trip to Roots Hall to face a Southend United side plummeting down the division after a horrendous run of form. Both sides needed the points for vaguely similar reasons but in the end a goalless stalemate was what was served up.
Easter Monday two days later and a visit from the big boys at Sky TV to broadcast our match against Leeds United. More than 6,000 fans came in eagerness to Huish Park hoping to see the Glovers overturn their illustrious counterparts for the first time. They were boosted by the return of midfield wizard Gavin Williams after suspension but he could do nothing to prevent the Yorkshire outfit from taking a two goal lead.
With all the attacking power on the field, it was surprisingly left to central defender and occasional scorer Richard Naylor to put the visitors two ahead. Striker Dean Bowditch pulled one back with 25 minutes left and despite sustained pressure in the remaining time, the equaliser wouldn't come.
Next up for the Glovers was the last of a series of trips up the M5 and M6, this time to seemingly doomed Stockport County. The Hatters had suffered a truly awful season in administration and the atmosphere at Edgeley Park was strange and muted for a game so important to their survival hopes.
In the event, two almost identical goals in the first half killed the game (and Stockport's survival chances) with Dean Bowditch then Gavin Williams scoring the goals. Williams added a third late on before County grabbed an even later consolation through George Donnelly. Yeovil were almost safe, County were down and out.
Glovers fans had two tough looking games against play-off chasing teams to face next. Milwall were first up at Huish Park and for more than an hour of the game, it looked like Yeovil would earn a maximum haul from the game. Dean Bowditch scored for the third game running and it took a 93rd minute leveller from Jonathan Obika to save the Lions from a mauling.
The might of Southampton arrived at Huish Park four days later. The Saints weren't mathematically out of the hunt for a play-off place but nothing but a win in every match would suffice. Again, as with Millwall, it looked like Yeovil would take something from the game but heartbreak would strike again when Lee Barnard scored a 93rd minute winner.
Brentford was the destination for the penultimate away match of the season and once more the Glovers took the lead. It's common knowledge in football that players always seem to score against their former clubs and so it proved again. Charlie McDonald handled inside the box and Gavin Tomlin stroked home the spot kick after just three minutes. However a Sam Saunders free kick gave the Bees a point.
The final home game of the season brought Oldham Athletic to Somerset on May 1st. Yeovil still needed points to be safe and they collected all three comfortably with a 3-0 victory inspired by another wonderful performance from talismanic midfielder Gavin Williams.
Another Gavin, Mr Tomlin, netted the first after twenty minutes with a header and although it was the last eight minutes before the game was made safe on the scoreboard, there was little doubt who the winners would be. Williams helped himself to two more before he waved goodbye to the home fans for the last time.
Free of worries, and with Brighton having little but pride to play for, the final game ended with a 1-0 victory for the Seagulls, the only goal being a belter from Elliott Bennett.
That was it. Plenty of goals at Huish Park (more than 1.5 a game on average) and a total of 34 points from home games was impressive. Not so was the away record with just four wins all season on the road. However the most important statistic of all is that Yeovil Town will start their eighth season as a Football League club in League One and should be very proud of what they have achieved.
The fixtures come out in less than eleven hours time - enjoy the rest of the summer and come back refreshed and optimistic ready for the new season.
COME ON YOU GREENS!
