Yeovil Town gained a priceless three points at Huish Park this afternoon, as they clocked up their first League One win for almost three months. A single Paul Huntington header just 11 minutes into the match as he converted an Andy Welsh cross ensured victory, although matters became somewhat more edgy in the final six minutes, as Jean-Paul Kalala picked up his second red card of the season, reacting to a poor Michael McIndoe challenge by raising his hands to the former Glover.
Team selection was a simple one for manager Terry Skiverton - the same starting eleven, and only the shock pre-match news concerning Stefan Stam's exclusion from the squad affecting the substitute's bench, with only five named and no second goalkeeper. Shaun MacDonald and John Sullivan lined up to play the final matches of their loan spells at Huish Park, whilst Tom Parkes' injury means his month in South Somerset has been curtailed for the time being.
Whilst the match against Plymouth Argyle was a cagey affair with few chances, this match was a more open one, and the Glovers got the start they needed thanks to a ball into the box from regular assister Andy Welsh. The winger had taken a corner that was only half cleared, and when the ball came back to him a second time, his return cross was met by the head of Paul Huntington and although visiting keeper David Martin got a hand to the ball he couldn't keep it out.
The Glovers took that goal, and went on to dominate the half. With the crowd chanting 'Macca, What's the Score?' at the New Year's Pantomime villain, Nathan Smith drove a shot straight at Dons keeper David Martin, whilst Shaun MacDonald's crunching tackle in midfield set him up to go forward and strike the ball from 30 yards with David Martin saving well, scrambling low down to keep the ball out. The Glovers should have been 2-0 up when Smith's ball over the top to Dean Bowditch allowed the striker to race through on goal, but his shot was too close to Martin's diving body.
The Dons really only had two chances, and both within 30 seconds of each other. Jabo Ibehre's flicked header was headed onwards by Sam Baldock forcing John Sullivan to tip over the bar, whilst the resultant corner saw Ibehre win his header again, only to see the shot misdirected wide of the target. But this was a game that was largely in Yeovil's control and they should have doubled their lead when Andy Williams put in a teasing cross, but Sam Williams fluffed his lines as he misconnected with an attempt at a diving header.
Michael McIndoe allowed for a bit of fun just before the break, as he collided with one of his own team-mates and then with the dugout as he lost his bearings, giving Huish Park its biggest cheer since the goal, and the Glovers well deserved their lead.
For a side that has been in good form recently, particularly at home, it was no surprise to find MK Dons have a decent spell in the game - that came at the start of the second half, as they dominated possession, leaving the Glovers chasing shadows. But eventually Yeovil began to get the measure of it - soaking up the pressure then hitting them on the break. One such move saw Andy Williams strike the woodwork as he received a ball over the top, chipping the ball past the keeper, but seeing the ball go agonisingly onto the foot of the post, and bounce clear of the line.
Dean Bowditch put in a long range change in on goal, whilst Paul Wotton showed early signs of having an eye for goal with another bullet of a shot of the kind that he managed at Home Park two days earlier. Then Andy Welsh also caught Dons on the break, as he raced through on goal, only to find a spot of dithering on his part allowing Dean Lewington a chance to put in a last ditch tackle.
There was always a danger that these spurned chances might cost the Glovers, but a more serious moment of madness put the game on a knife edge with six minutes to go. Substitute Jean-Paul Kalala had only come on in the 78th minute for the out of form Sam Williams, but his contribution lasted just six minutes as he got himself sent off for the second time this season. The game had already been in danger of boiling over minutes earlier with Paul Wotton and Sam Baldock getting involved in a spot of argy-bargy, and referee Simon Hooper did nothing to diffuse the situation. So when Michael McIndoe committed a crude challenge on Kalala, the two fiery players squared up to each other, and Kalala's fuse was well and truly lit - pushing McIndoe in the face. Out came the red card, and McIndoe was fortunate to finish with a yellow.
The Dons couldn't make their advantage count though, with Dean Bowditch intelligently running the ball into the corner flag several times during the closing minutes. The nearest the visitors came was during injury time, when a mis-judged John Sullivan punch created panic, but Nathan Smith bailed him out to keep the three points in tact. So Yeovil move up one place in the League One table, leapfrogging Dagenham, although they remain five points adrift thanks to others getting good results during the day. The main thing to concentrate upon though is the Glovers own points tally, and five points from the last three games is the kind of target they need to set their sights at. If they can continue that over the coming months then the gap will drop between them and the 5th from bottom place.
Link: 2010-11 Latest League One Table.
Final Score: Yeovil Town 1 Milton Keynes Dons 0.
Scorers: Paul Huntington (11 mins, 1-0)
Yeovil Town: (4-4-2)
1. John Sullivan
8. Luke Ayling 5. Paul Huntington 14. Max Ehmer 6. Nathan Smith
11. Andy Welsh (62) 20. Paul Wotton 25. Shaun MacDonald 10. Dean Bowditch
9. Sam Williams 7. Andrew Williams
Substitutes:
16. Edward Upson 17. Craig Calver (90 mins for Dean Bowditch) 21. JP Kalala (78 mins for Sam Williams) 23. Billy Gibson 31. Rhys Baggridge
Milton Keynes Dons:
1. David Martin
15. Dan Woodards 6. Sean O'Hanlon 4. Mathias Doumbe 3. Dean Lewington
14. Lewis Guy 7. Stephen Gleeson 22. Peter Leven 20. Michael McIndoe
10. Sam Baldock 19. Jabo Ibehre
Substitutes:
27. Daniel Powell 28. Jemal Johnson (75 mins for Stephen Gleeson) 26. Luke Chadwick (54 mins for Lewis Guy) 23. Adam Chicksen 13. Mark Carrington 17. Stuart Searle (GK) 5. Gary MacKenzie (65 mins for Sean O'Hanlon)
Yeovil Bookings: Paul Wotton (36 mins, dissent). Red Card: Jean-Paul Kalala (violent conduct, 84 mins).
MK Dons Bookings: Gary MacKenzie (69 mins, foul), Michael McIndoe (foul, 84 mins), Peter Leven (dissent, 88 mins).
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire). Assistants: Andrew Bennett (Devon) and Brett Huxtable (Devon). Fourth Official: Paul Rees (Bristol).
Attendance: 3,508.
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