Yeovil took a first minute lead, but like last season Doncaster looked better at Huish Park than their league position indicated. Unlike last year's game when Yeovil came back from behind to earn a draw, this time Doncaster took a lead and held on quite comfortably, in an open game which was entertaining apart from the result.

Given that this was a home game, I'd hoped that Yeovil would start with the formation (and line-up) that finished this week's match at Rushden, but Steve Thompson opted for just one striker in his last game in charge, keeping the same starting XI as Tuesday.

Paul Tisdale's first minute strike (see photo at bottom of page) was a carbon copy of his Trophy goal against Weymouth. When Warren Patmore was fouled outside the Doncaster box, Tisdale curled his shot around the wall and into the bottom of the net.

There were a number of good opportunities throughout this game, and typical of the visitors' efforts was an 8th minute cross whipped into the Yeovil area and not defended well. This time the header was glanced wide, before Rob Cousins went close at the other end with a long-range strike.

A McIntyre long throw-in caught out the Yeovil defence for Dave Penney to steal in and knock home the equaliser after the ball had been knocked goalwards by Dean Walling. The first half remained fairly even, Penney going close with a long shot and Matt Hale having a volley scrambled away, and 1-1 was about right for the half-time score.

Yeovil went to two strikers in the second half, and surprisingly Jason Eaton was brought on rather than Adrian Foster. Well before the introduction of popular Matt Hayfield, Yeovil went two down. A neat flick into the home team's area found Noureddine Maamria, whose shot on the turn beat Pennock. And a few minutes later it was 3-1, as Terry Skiverton headed past his own keeper from another McIntyre long throw.

Soon after coming on Matt Hayfield ran at the Doncaster defence, and looked like he'd score before his shot was scrambled away. But the visitors were generally looking more than comfortable now, and were carving out more chances. Gary Williams really should have made it four when he fired over from 12 yards, and his side looked the most likely to score.

The result leaves Yeovil with just one win from the last six conference games, and the team is declining badly. In the report for Tuesday's game I asked if the improvement was a one-off. This was nowhere near as bad as the Nuneaton and Northwich games, but Yeovil were still second-best against a team in the bottom half of the table.

If personnel changes are required on the playing staff, there's little time left for new boss Dave Webb to make his move. The transfer deadline is 30th March. But for the most part this squad is capable of playing much better than it has done recently. If Webb can get everyone pulling together for the rest of the season then although it's too late for the title, at least we may yet get something to cheer about. But if he can't, then big trouble lies ahead. The club already runs at a large loss according to one director, and gates are in danger of dwindling further.

Results and updated table

Above: Paul Tisdale gives Yeovil a first-minute lead as he beats the defensive wall with his 23-yard free-kick.
Action shots: Above left: Terry Skiverton clears. Above right: Tony Pounder during a 1st half Yeovil attack. Top of match report: Dave Piper tracks Noureddine Maamria, scorer of Rovers' 2nd goal. Centre of match report: Warren Patmore goes up with Dean Walling and Mark Barnard. Lower match report: Piper again.