The scoreline didn’t tell the whole story as Yeovil Town fell to a heavy defeat against Notts County.
Three late goals struck a dagger in Yeovil hearts after a spirited performance from Mark Cooper’s side.
The quality of the league’s top scorer Macauley Langstaff shone through, as he struck a hat-trick to secure the win for the Magpies.
The game could not have got off to a worse start for Yeovil, as Langstaff was found at the back-post with four minutes played to head home an opener.
Many would have feared the floodgates were about to open, but instead the Glovers rallied and dominated the remainder of the first half.
Matt Worthington was a constant thorn in the County side, picking the ball up high and driving into the Pies box.
The best chance to level the game in the first half fell to Charlie Cooper with 13 played. He was found in at the near post, but was unable to guide his flicked finish beyond Sam Slocombe.
Set-pieces also proved a useful avenue, with both Lawson D’Ath and Alex Fisher forcing heroic blocks and saves with 20 on the clock.
Just after the half an hour mark, Worthington was involved in driving the play forward once again, but Slocombe was equal to his strike from the edge of the box.
The second half saw Yeovil continue with this attacking vigour, but the league leaders did begin to enjoy spells with the ball. Langstaff had a great chance to make it two in the 56th minute, but somehow with two bites of the cherry, he was unable to turn the ball home from an acute angle.
Substitutions played their part for Yeovil, as Andrew Oluwabori proved a vital introduction. The Magpies backline lacked pace and Oluwabori is certainly blessed in that departed, tormenting the league leaders with his direct running.
It was the Peterborough loanee who was able to celebrate as he struck the equaliser for Town in the 66th minute. A misjudgement from Slocombe saw Oluwabori pounce, he then made room for himself to shoot, and produced a fantastic finish to leave the County goalkeeper stranded.
For a spell, it looked like Yeovil were the team most likely to score next, but this soon changed as the league leaders won a penalty after a foul by Reckord. Ruben Rodrigues stepped up and cooly dispatched in front of the travelling fans.
With less than ten to go, Yeovil threw the kitchen sink at it. Throwing bodies forward in the hunt for an equaliser. Reckord went closest when he was unable to force the ball over the line after it dropped to him in the six-yard box, then moments later, Edwin Agbaje struck the bar from an acute angle.
As bodies were forward, Langstaff was able to capitalise, scoring two late goals to secure the points for the Nottingham outfit.
Yeovil Town: Smith; Agbaje, Staunton, Reckord, Law; Williams, Cooper, D’Ath (Oluwabori), Worthington; Linton (Young), Fisher
Bookings: Worthington, Cooper
Subs not used: Buse, Dawes.
