By Izzy Jackopson
Yeovil Town saw their first win since 7th September as they secured a 1-0 victory over Dagenham and Redbridge, leapfrogging them in the league table after a 55th-minute winner from Ciaran McGuckin on Saturday afternoon at Huish Park.
The Glovers started on the front foot as they created two early chances inside the first ten minutes, but they were unable to capitalise on these opportunities to take an early lead.
The first chance came from Jordan Young in the 6th minute after a pass from Frank Nouble in the middle of the park saw Young take the ball down the right-hand side of the pitch and cut inside the Dagenham defender. He then laid off a left-footed shot from just outside the 18-yard box, but it found the hands of the Dagenham keeper.
Another close chance for the Glovers came just two minutes later, in the 8th minute, when a great ball in from Jordan Young on the right-hand side found the head of Frank Nouble in the box, but again it fell into the hands of the Dagenham keeper.
In the 17th minute, Dagenham defender Romoney Crichlow made an unsuccessful pass straight to Ciaran McGuckin, who drove the ball forward, just getting away from Crichlow and laying off a low shot, but once again the Dagenham keeper came to the rescue.
After these chances, the game seemed to be played mostly around the middle of the park, with no clear chances for either side until the half-time whistle blew.
In the second half, the first chance fell to the visitors, who found themselves in front of goal when the ball fell to Josh Umerah, but the flag went up for offside. Nevertheless, Ollie Wright was there to make a great save had it been onside, in what was his first real test of the match.
The Glovers got the breakthrough in the 55th minute when a great deep ball from the left-hand side by James Plant found Ciaran McGuckin, who was able to put the ball past the Dagenham and Redbridge goalkeeper to break the deadlock.
McGuckin’s goal sparked more fire into the Greens as they applied more pressure in the attacking third, pushing for a second.
Some great play from James Plant, Dylan Morgan, and Brett McGavin in the attacking third allowed McGavin, who was in acres of space and in line with the goal, to take a shot from around 25 yards out, forcing the keeper to make a great save and put the ball out for a Yeovil corner.
The visitors pushed for an equaliser in the final five minutes of the match, but they were unsuccessful in finding the final ball to level the scores.
Cheers were heard all around the ground as the final whistle blew, just seconds after a late save from Ollie Wright kept the home side in the lead. The Glovers were able to claim the three points after a nerve-wracking six minutes of additional time.
