If you believe in omens then try this one for size! When Yeovil Town won the Conference they started with a draw and a defeat and went top of the table after victory at Leigh RMI on Gary Johnson's birthday.
This season the club started with a defeat and a draw and have gone top on the equivalent weekend. Looks pretty promising to me!
Victory this weekend at Gay Meadow wasn't quite such a straight forward affair though with a first half performance that owed as much to Shrewsbury's poor form as Yeovil's lack of ability to break down a resolute defence.
Manager Gary Johnson made two changes from the side that lost out to Bolton with Gavin Williams reclaiming his midfield berth and Colin Miles coming in for an injured Terry Skiverton in the heart of the defence.
In a fiery opening spell it was clear from the start that Shrewsbury were not going to lie down easily despite their lowly position in the league. Luke Rogers was a constant threat up front and ex-Yeovil favourite Ben Smith was pulling the strings in midfield to equal anything Darren Way and Lee Johnson could conjure up for Yeovil.
The Shrewsbury defence was also in resolute mood and nothing Yeovil could do in the early stages seemed to cause the home side any problems.
Paul Terry was unlucky not to set up a goal for Yeovil early on when his cross found Andrejs Stolcers but a great block from Challis cleared the danger.
At the other end Luke Rogers fired in a snap shot that Chris Weale did well to tip over the bar.
Another Yeovil attack saw Phil Jevons with a chance but Challis again got in to deny the striker but injured his back in the process which necessitated him being carried off on a stretcher.
A great through ball from Michael Rose found Jevons in a one on one with Howie minutes later but the Shrews keeper got down well to deny Jevons again.
As Yeovil started to get more possession Colin Miles was unlucky after receiving a great ball from Darren Way but Miles' header was put behind by Tinson for a corner.
With half time beckoning and that awful period when one dare not loose a goal Yeovil did just that.
As Yeovil attacked they lost the ball and the home side attacked on the break. The ball reached Logan whose superb cross field pass found danger man Rogers and he drilled in an unstoppable cross shot into the far corner to beat Chris Weale comprehensively.
The goal really changed the shape of the game though as Yeovil suddenly looked to have an uphill battle on their hands.
But the one thing this Yeovil side has this season is the ability to bounce back as they have done several times already and although things didn't look great at half time a Gary Johnson team talk is usually enough to turn things around.
Half Time: Shrewsbury Town 1 Yeovil Town 0
And turn things around they did as the team came out with all guns blazing. Kevin Gall came on at half time to replace Colin Miles who had jarred his ankle and Gary Johnson moved Paul Terry into the full back position and Roy O'Brien into the centre.
Shrewsbury though seemed unsettled by the change in Yeovil personnel and Jevons with a shot over the bar and Stolcers had early chances to put The Glovers on level terms.
The home side continued to create chances though and Rogers was again on hand to give Weale a fright with a shot that went over the bar.
On the hour Gary Johnson took off Phil Jevons, who had been suffering with a cold all week, and brought on Bartosz Tarachulski and within nine minutes Yeovil were in front. Shrewsbury appeared to have shut up shop and settled for holding on to their one goal lead but this only encouraged Yeovil who really had a great spell of play after Tarachulski and Gall had come on.
Their deserved equalizer came after 69 mins when Howie could only parry a Darren Way shot and Lee Johnson was on hand to slot home for his fifth goal of the season.
Three minutes later and Yeovil were in front having sensed this was their moment. Following intense pressure when Jevons was denied a stone wall penalty Tarachulski managed to fire in an unstoppable shot to beat Howie from close range.
Paul Terry had crossed in a superb ball in just the right area and although Bartosz was standing with his back goal the turn and finish were top rate.
It was a typical goal from the Pole-accurate and powerful and although he may not have been quite as prolific as Jevons he certainly doesn't miss when the chances come.
Shrewsbury tried in vain to hit back with Rogers leading the charge but the Yeovil back line held firm and The Glovers should have made it 3-1 when a great run by Gavin Williams saw him held back and a penalty awarded.
As usual Gavin strode up to take the kick but a great save from Howie kept the ball out only for the M.I.B. to decide there was some encroachment and Williams was ordered to take the kick again.
Up strode Williams again and again Howie denied him with another great save. Back to the practice ground Gav!!
A somewhat disappointing end but three points none the less and perhaps more to the point Yeovil sit proudly on top of the league.
full Time: Shrewsbury Town 1 Yeovil Town 2
Sat 25th Sept 2004, 3pm kick-off.
Conditions: Warm and sunny
Pitch: Good
Scorers: Luke Rodgers (39), Lee Johnson (69), Bartosz Tarachulski (72)
Attendance: 4,196
Referee: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire)
Assistants: Colin Harwood (Greater Manchester); Simon Hollick (Devon)
Bookings:
Yeovil: None
Shrewsbury: Ben Smith (71, foul)
Yeovil Town : (4-4-2)
1. Chris Weale 3. Michael Rose 25. Liam Fontaine 5. Colin Miles 14. Roy O'Brien
20. Gavin Williams 6. Darren Way 8. Lee Johnson 7. Paul Terry 11. Phil Jevons 27. Andrejs Stolcers
Subs: 9. Kevin Gall (46, for Miles) 10. Adrian Caceres 13. Steven Collis (GK) 18. Bartosz Tarachulski (60, for Jevons) 23. Nicolas Mirza (84, for Stolcers)
Shrewsbury Town : (4-4-2)
1. Scott Howie 3. Trevor Challis 5. Darren Tinson 14. Stuart Whitehead 2. Darren Moss
26. John McGrath 15. Ben Smith 4. Jamie Tolley 8. Jake Sedgemore 16. Richard Logan 9. Luke Rodgers
Subs: 22. Joe Hart (GK) 25. Dave Walton (63, for McGrath) 18. Duane Darby (81, for Sedgemore) 20. John Grant 23. Ross Stevens (27, for Tolley)
