It was a tough call choosing my favourite game. I nearly went for the 4-3 win over Bari in the Anglo-Italian tournament of 1977 [ details ], but the 2nd Round Replay at Hereford edged it on the basis of the importance of the game. Apart from being a most-exciting match, it saved Yeovil from extinction.
After winning 5-2 away to 3rd Division Torquay United in the first round, Yeovil were drawn at home to Hereford United in the second. This was a dull affair, ending 0-0.
Yeovil should have had a penalty in the dying moments. In fact, this was to be the only game of the campaign in which they didn't get one, Batty scoring from the spot at Crawley, Torquay twice, and later in the Hereford replay and the Arsenal third round tie.
But this dull 2nd round game in front of a then record 8,085 crowd didn't really justify victory for either team. The excitement came afterwards, when the draw for the 3rd Round was made, and the winners would be at home to Arsenal.
In the replay at Hereford, Yeovil took the lead in the first half when Paul "Tessa" Sanderson headed home a Steve Harrower cross on 18 minutes. Great goal, and a well-deserved lead.
Hereford went close to levelling the scores just before half-time, a 20-yarder from Tony Cousins rebounded to safety off the underside of the bar.
| Hereford United |
(0) 1 |
Pickard 77
(Downs sent off, 52) |
| Yeovil Town |
(1) 2 |
Sanderson 18,
Coates 88 |
| Att: 6,051 |
|
|
| Yeovil team: |
Coles, Dobbins, Sherwood, Shail, Ferns,
Cooper, Sanderson, Batty, Wilson, Spencer,
Harrower.
Subs: Hughes (n/u), Coates (for Cooper, 78) |
The second half was very dramatic, as Hereford captain Greg Downs was sent off for a professional foul, then a trip on Phil Ferns produced a penalty for Yeovil. The usually-reliable Paul Batty put his spot kick to close to Bulls' keeper Alan Judge, and the chance to extend the lead was spurned. This looked like it could be the turning point, as the scores were level soon afterwards; a long ball over the Yeovil defence was knocked home by Owen Pickard (later to sign for the Glovers of course).
It was tense right up to the end, as the old "ten men always do better" cliché kept coming to mind. But, with only a minute or two left, a cross from Wayne Dobbins on the right eluded defence and attack alike to land at the feet of Neil Coates at the far post. He took what seemed like hours (but video evidence shows it to be about 1 second!) before firing home a dramatic winner. Bring on the Arsenal!
The real significance of this game was so much the chance of glory if a result could be obtained against Arsenal, but that the income that the 3rd round game guaranteed would keep Yeovil afloat; at this time the club was VERY close to folding, and only the Arsenal money and sale of Mark Shail kept the club alive. For that reason, I will never ever forget that Neil Coates goal.
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