By Alex O'Loughlin
October 30 2010

Yeovil Town conceded two goals in the last three minutes to throw away an invaluable victory of Swindon Town. 

Ahead of the game Terry Skiverton altered his team making four changes. Shaun MacDonald and Adam Virgo returned from injury and illness to replace Ed Upson and Sam Williams respectively. Meanwhile, Andy Welsh entered back into the starting eleven in place of Luke Freeman, with assistant manager Nathan Jones finalising the quartet of changes as he replaced the injured Nathan Smith.

The changes had undoubtedly made the Glovers much stronger, with Owain Tudur Jones moving forward into a more familiar midfield position after filling in at centre back last week.

With just two points separating the sides there was much to play for, something the Robins seemed to realise more readily than Yeovil, as they dominated the first half proceedings. 

John Ferry was first to start the shooting, with his effort flying just over the bar, firing a warning shot to the stuttering Glovers.

A rare Yeovil attack resulted in debutant Andy Frampton receiving a yellow card, as he hauled down Dean Bowditch as the forward looked to streak onto a Shaun MacDonald through ball. 

Despite their lack of possession, it was the Glovers who were next to go close, with Gavin Williams firing just over the bar from 25 yards after a good run by right-back Luke Ayling. 

Swindon were dominant in possession, seemingly ready to score whenever they fancied as they spread the ball excellently, led by the experienced David Prutton. 

The inevitable happened just past the twenty minute mark, when loanee Matt Ritchie combined with ex-Glover Michael Rose before firing in a dangerous low ball which the Yeovil defence failed to deal with, leaving the potent Charlie Austin free to tap in. 0-1.

Whilst Swindon found their passing range, Yeovil struggled to create an attacking move, with possession being too readily conceded.

A carbon copy of the goal almost brought a second for the Robins, when another Ritchie cross found Austin, who this time could only find the post under pressure from Adam Virgo who eventually cleared the danger.

In a change of formation, Skiverton withdrew Andy Welsh for Sam Williams, a decision that was met by an echo of boo's. 

Yeovil's slow first half was epitomised by Swindon's next chance, when JP Kalala was caught in possession in his own half resulting in Steven Henderson bravely denying Ritchie. The on-loan 'keeper received treatment after this, after taking a whack to the forehead.

As the referee prepared to blow his half-time whistle, Yeovil somehow found themselves a way back into the game. 

Good pressure from Shaun MacDonald forced Michael Rose into a handball 25 yards out, with the resulting free-kick nestling in the bottom corner from a Gavin Williams drive. 1-1.

Half-time: Yeovil Town 1-1 Swindon Town

Stephen Henderson's earlier knock to the head forced the 'keeper off during the break, with goalkeeper coach Ben Roberts replacing him to make not only his Yeovil debut, but his first competitive match since 2005.

Swindon made a change of their own with Simon Ferry being replaced by Jon-Paul McGovern.

The goal before half-time had buoyed the Glovers, who seemed more alive in the second period with Gavin Williams almost starting where he left off, smashing a shot just wide early on. 

But it didn't take long for the Green and Whites to take the lead, when a Nathan Jones long throw caused chaos in the Swindon box. Substitute Sam Williams flicked on past the out of position David Lucas which Dean Bowditch capitalised on to tap in. 2-1.

The Robins reacted immediately, when a quickly taken free-kick caught out the Glovers, who could only watch as Charlie Austin's sliding effort fell kindly into the mid-drift of Ben Roberts.

With Swindon chasing an equaliser, Paul Caddis was withdrawn with Alan O'Brien replacing the Scotsman, despite being previously dubbed to miss the game through injury.

Just minutes past the hour mark and Yeovil had a third, from a typically route one move. Ben Roberts' goal kick found Nathan Jones who kicked long over the Swindon defence catching them flat footed as Bowditch ran on, before showing his composure by slotting past Lucas for his second and his sides third of the day. 3-1.

A quick fire second half hat-trick was almost completed, when the sharp Bowditch turned and shot wide much to the thanks of the scrambling Swindon 'keeper.

As the game ticked towards the final 25 minutes, Swindon manager Danny Wilson introduced ex-Juventus striker Vincent Pericard in place of David Ball, offering a new dimension to the Robins.

But the substitution had no immediate impact, with Yeovil containing the huffing and puffing Robins with seeming ease. 

With just fifteen minutes remaining, Yeovil withdrew the influential Gavin Williams with Andy Williams replacing the Bristol City loanee.

And the substitute made an impact when he dribbled to the by-line before driving in a venomous cross which Dean Bowditch could only hit over the bar from an off-balance position.

Swindon earned a corner on the 87th minute and punished the Glovers for slack defending, when Michael Rose's whipped in ball found an unmarked Sean Morrison who couldn't miss from a yard out. 3-2.

What appeared to be a definite three points soon became a battle to the end, with players and crowd alike visibly becoming nervous.

And no sooner had the Swindon fans stopped celebrating they were at it again, when the tricky Alan O'Brien was given too much space to cross which Ben Roberts half dealt with by parrying outwards. The ball was pounced on by Jon-Paul McGovern who fired past a stationary Yeovil defence to snatch a point for the Robins. 3-3. 

After a nervy stoppage time the game finally finished 3-3, ending what could only be described as two points lost. Yeovil now find themselves third from bottom as they look to visit MK Dons in midweek, a ground where they threw away the game from a winning position last season. Manager Terry Skiverton will have to pick his players up ahead of the game, who must learn how to defend a lead.