For the third consecutive week, Yeovil took a two-goal lead, but allowed the opposition back into the game. This time, they owed the win in a large part to Tony Pennock, who was unoccupied for much of the game but made some stunning saves late on as Kettering pushed for an equaliser.
Kettering haven't won at home since early November. They've drawn a number of games, and have scored and conceded fewer goals than most sides. The widely-predicted 0-0 scoreline was scuppered in the second minute, as Rob Cousins hit a super goal. Kettering failed to get a Yeovil corner away, and Cousins volleyed in from the far post. It's only Rob's second goal for the club, but he really took it with style.
Kettering had looked a decent side than the 2-0 scoreline suggested when they lost at Huish Park earlier this season, but for most of this game weren't really in the match. They applied a short spell of pressure shortly after Yeovil's opening goal, but never went closer than a chip that went yards over the bar after an unusually poor clearance from Kevan Brown.
Yeovil controlled much of the rest of the first half, and were rarely threatened at the back. Warren Patmore headed wide at the far post after 28 mins when he might have done better, but the Glovers generally failed to convert territorial advantage into good chances. The home side finished the half with their best spell so far, as Tony Pennock was brought into action for the first time on 41 mins as Watkins tried to fire in from a close angle. The keeper pushed the ball away from a corner, from which Gary Setchell should have got his header on target.
After the break, Yeovil continued to have the better of the possession, but were now able to create more openings from it. Glen Poole was getting in some great crosses from the corner, and it was from one of these that Terry Skiverton headed home to extend the lead.
The game could have been sealed when Ben Smith got to the goal-line and pulled the ball back across the face of the goal, but in the pinball session that ensued, no-one was able to prod the ball home.
Kettering got more into the game after Phil Brown replaced Setchell, and applied a lot of pressure from a large number of corners. Yeovil generally defended these well, but looked at sea when a low ball came in from Watkins which should have been easy to clear. However, it was allowed through to Brown, who finished with ease.
This triggered an extended period of pressure from the home side, and for the last ten minutes they were virtually camped in the Yeovil area. A goal-line clearance kept them at bay before they were denied a few times by the woodwork. But Yeovil's real saviour was goalkeeper Tony Pennock, now in serious action for the first time. He saved well from a few headers, and from Watkins' shot from the edge of the area, and somehow the visitors hung on for the win.
The Independent Site's Opinion:
One thing that Yeovil must learn from the last three games that they need to finish off teams rather than allow them back into the game.
Easy to say, of course, but with the current depleted squad is it easy to achieve? Perhaps not. The player most sadly missed at the moment, it seems to me, is Matt Hayfield. If he's not to make it back into the side soon, then it must be a priority to get someone else of a similar style/standard.
This valuable win keeps Yeovil 3rd in the table, as most other sides near the top also won today.
Results and updated table
