Match report: Yeovil Town 3, Southend United 1

OCA-COLA LEAGUE TWO

YEOVIL TOWN 3, SOUTHEND UNITED 1

STEVE SOWDEN REPORTS FROM HUISH PARK

YEOVIL Town left it late again on Saturday to conjure up the desired result, but it does not matter when the goals are scored as they all count and this was without question an excellent victory.

And Yeovil boss Gary Johnson enthused: "We've beaten a very good team and Southend showed in bits how good they can be.

"If they'd have won the game they could have leapfrogged us so that's a big game for us in the league.

"Southend have been around a long time at this level so we were pleased to perform like that against them.

"Honestly Southend are a good side and this was a big game for us and a big test for us."

Southend are a much better outfit than they were last season and gave Yeovil a difficult afternoon on a cold and wet afternoon at Huish Park.

With the game locked at 1-1 and going into the final ten minutes it looked as if both teams would have to settle for a share of the spoils.

But when whistle-happy referee Mick Fletcher sent visiting skipper Kevin Maher off for a second bookable offence in the 82nd minute it was Yeovil who took full advantage with deadly aplomb.

Lee Johnson took the resulting free-kick and the ball fell to defender Scott Guyett who was able to stab it past Southend keeper Bart Gremink for his first goal of his Huish Park career.

It was a case of dj vu for Yeovil from the previous weekend and the FA Cup tie at Darlington when the home side had Brian Close sent-off and Bartosz Tarachulski promptly went and scored a last-gasp equaliser in the 3-3 thriller.

And after Guyett had given Yeovil the lead against Southend it was that man Tarachulski who sealed the victory with a superb goal and another case of dj vu.

Yeovil substitute Kevin Gall raced down the right flank, whipped in a superb cross and Tarachulski dived in to head home - a repeat of the winner the big Pole scored against Wycombe Wanderers in the 1-0 league success on November 6.

And Johnson said: "The last thing the left-back wants is Gally coming on for the last 20 minutes.

"We've got players that are good enough to find the ball that puts Gally in, but it was a fantastic run and ball for the goal. He does that every time he comes off the bench at the moment so Bartosz is always pleased to see Gally warming up!"

Southend were probably cursing their luck as they had probably felt at least worthy of a point if not all three.

Yeovil started the game with Tarachulski partnering fit-again Phil Jevons in attack with Latvian striker Andrejs Stolcers moving to a right wide position and Gall relegated to the bench.

A good breakaway from Yeovil in the fifth minute saw Gavin Williams have a shot which took a deflection wide for a corner.

Moments later Guyett found himself in a strange forward position and with the ball ricocheting around the box he nearly got into a shooting position.

But Southend were not without their moments in the opening stages and it was Wayne Gray who posed the most threat.

Yeovil keeper Chris Weale got down well to save one effort and then he bravely dived at the feet of the oncoming Gray after the Southend striker had got away from the attentions of Paul Terry.

Visiting keeper Gremink was fortunate to escape unscathed when he handled the ball outside of the box, but Lee Johnson was unable to do anything with the free-kick.

Slowly Yeovil began to up their game and put Southend on the back foot. Jevons had an effort crash against the bar and Williams had a shot saved by the keeper.

It was leading scorer Jevons again who nearly broke the deadlock when he got through and Gremink did well to save with his legs.

Seconds later, however, Jevons did finally give Yeovil the lead. Michael Rose thundered a 40-yard thunderbolt towards goal which Gremink could only parry and it was bundled away, but the ball got sent back into the box and Jevons was there to head home in the 43rd minute.

With the game entering first-half stoppage time Darren Way, captaining the side again in the absence of the injured Terry Skiverton, hit the ball into the ground on the edge of the box and it bounced the wrong side of the target.

But Yeovil were well worthy of their half-time lead and talk among supporters during the interval was that another goal soon after the break could see the floodgates open.

The only floodgates that did open were the heavens as the travelling Southend supporters stood on the uncovered away end got soaked, but they were inspired by their team's battling start to the second period.

Southend drew level in the 62nd minute when Adam Barrett flicked home a free-kick and then seconds later Gray shot narrowly wide.

And with their heads up Southend pushed forward again and Gray saw an effort take a wicked deflection off defender Colin Miles and Weale had to produce a cracking save to deny the visitors.

The game had certainly opened up and the action swung from one end to the other.

But once Yeovil had weathered the Southend storm, it was the Glovers who began to look the more menacing.

Yeovil threw on Gall and Andy Lindegaard in the 78th minute at the expense of Stolcers and Terry and the new-look right flank seemed to unsettle Southend.

But shortly afterwards it was the referee's moment to take the spotlight when he sent-off Maher for a foul on the edge of the box for a second yellow.

Mr Fletcher brandished six yellow cards and one red during an afternoon which had not seen a really bad tackle and he failed to take into account the wet and slippery playing surface.

But once Maher had departed it was left to Yeovil to conjure up the goods with the decisive goals coming from Guyett and Tarachulski in front of their delighted fans stood on the Westland Stand terrace.

As the fans chanted his name, Tarachulski looked somewhat shocked following his goal as to what to do and he simply waved to the supporters.

After a relatively slow start to his Yeovil career he has suddenly sprung into life and four goals in the last three games have certainly made him a key part of the Glovers' recent upturn in fortunes.

Johnson spoke afterwards of his team showing the quality he requires and it would probably be fair to suggest that Tarachulski is one of the gems currently shining the most in the Huish Park jewellery box.