With another league season upon us the Glovers made their way up to south London for a tough encounter with freshly relegated Millwall at their marvellous New Den stadium.

Coming into the game both managers had an array of new talent on show, with Millwall having seven debutants and the Glovers three in their starting line-ups.

Shape wise, Russell Slade decided to go with the diamond formation that had served so well last week at Weymouth.

This saw Paul Terry playing just in front of the back line, and Arron Davies tucked in behind strikers, Harrold and Gray.

Finishing off the midfield were Chris Cohen and Anthony Barry, both playing in front an able defence of Skiverton, Forbes, Jones, Lindegaard and Mildenhall.

So the scene was set, and fifteen minutes later than planned the ground rose to welcome the players out on the pitch.

The new season was underway.  Welcome to the pressure pot!

And it was a frenetic start too with both teams eagerly fighting for the early advantage. Millwall probably had the better of the early exchanges, but with it the Glovers were not putting a foot wrong, and were certainly not under too much pressure.

The Glovers supporters were playing their part too with continuous enthusiastic singing, and they certainly appreciated the never say die attitude of the lads out on the pitch.

The home attacks were often continuous, but Skiverton and co. coped ably well, and with it the Glovers attack were holding their own with Cohen, Terry, Gray, Davies and Jones seeing plenty of the ball.

By the 15 minute mark the home crowd were feeling a little frustrated. Their side were getting plenty of possession, but such was Yeovil's success at breaking down the attacks, they were hardly getting the ball into the box.

The Glovers were probably having the best success here with Davies going close on 17 minutes when he was fed into the box and was unlucky to hit his shot wide.

Yeovil had been playing well throughout, but by the 20^th minute they were starting to see a lot more of the ball, and as a result were now getting in some reasonable attacks and creating some chances in front of goal.

On 24 minutes Arron Davies made a good break through the centre and got the ball to Gray just inside the box, but he unfortunately headed it in to the keepers hands.

Seconds later and the Glovers floated in a corner on for Skiverton to go close with another header, with Barry hitting a thunderbolt soon after from the right which brought a superb save from Pidgeley.  We were definitely holding our own!

Davies was now looking lively too and was buzzing around the box. Cohen was also doing brilliantly, and on 30 minutes he broke down the left, crossing the ball in for Gray to get in a good header, which went just wide.

And then it happened.  Matty Harrold broke down the left, and got the ball to Jones who did well to get it across for a melee of defenders to try and clear the ball away.

Arron Davies tried to get to it, but in the end it went to Wayne Gray who from a slight angle powered it into the back of the net from a few yards out.  Lovely!!  1-0!

It was all Glovers now, who despite a few half hearted home attacks, were much the better side, with Davies, Gray, Cohen, Jones and Barry having the time of their lives.

It had been the perfect time to score, with the goal quietening the imposing Den support and to a large extent knocking the stuffing out of their team.  The Glovers came into the break much the better side and well worthy of their lead.

Cohen and Barry probably stood out as the best performers, but that was taking nothing away from others such as Gray, Lindegaard, Terry and Jones who had all done brilliantly.

Forbes too at the back had been solid, with Mildenhall at his imposing best.

A good team display.

Half Time - Millwall: 0  Yeovil Town: 1

The Glovers continued well in the second, and won an early corner for Matty Harrold to head just over the bar.

On 49 minutes Cohen got a good through ball for Gray who beat his marker and broke at speed into the box.  He eventually got in a good shot which unluckily deflected off the keeper's legs and over the touchline.

Millwall were contributing more now, and with it the tempo of the game was increasing.

The Glovers were still the better side having the better of the possession, but they still had to be weary though of the home attack which was getting into increasingly more dangerous positions.

The London support were also upping the tempo, with their volume often hitting deafening levels.  The Glovers faithful were holding their own though, and with it the lads on the pitch were excelling themselves.

On 57 minutes Byfield had a shot from just outside the box go over the bar, but the referee deemed it a foul from Yeovil and awarded a free kick.  Morais hit it in and Mildenhall gathered easily.

The Lions were piling on the attacks now, and really putting pressure on the Glovers defence. Forbes and Skiverton were playing out of their skins though, and as a result the threat was averted.

The Glovers attacks were measured, with Cohen, Davies, Gray, Barry and Terry putting in some fine work, but they had to be careful of the fast moving and clinical home attacks.

Thankfully their work in front of goal was not good so Mildenhall was not under too much pressure.

On 64 minutes though Brighton broke into the box and get the ball well to Byfield who much to the dismay of his fans hit the ball wide.

Millwall were getting into the Glovers final third much more now, but Yeovil were defending in numbers.

Time for some attack the Gaffer thought, and thus introduced Kevin James for Anthony Barry on 65 minutes, with the shape going back to a more conventional flat midfield, with James on the right wing.

Millwall continued to look dangerous though and it was taking some brave defending from Skiverton, Forbes and Jones to keep them at Bay.

The shape shifting was completed on 73 minutes when David Poole came on for Wayne Gary to play on the left.  This saw Davies move up front next to Harrold.

We were still living on their wits to an extent though, and Mildenhall made a great point blank save on 74 minutes to deny Morais right in the line.  Brilliant save.

Yeovil were still worthy attackers and proved this well on 76 minutes when Arron Davies took a short corner to be eventually floated in for Matty Harrold to go close at the far post.

Though lessening slightly the pressure was still on the Glovers defence, with Byfield curling a nice one in on 79 minutes, but in the end seeing his shot going a good foot wide.

A goal had been on the cards though, and it duly came on 82 minutes when Neil Ardley made a good run down the wing to get in a fine cross to Darren Byfield to put in at the far post.  The New Den went crazy!  1-1

The volume was now up to defining levels as the home side attacked with force in an effort to convert their equaliser into a winner. Yeovil definitely needed to hold their nerve now.

But could they still nick it at the last?  Arron Davies certainly thought so with a good run into the box on 86 minutes.  He eventually won a corner, with the result being Terry Skiverton heading just wide at the far post.

In the end though neither team managed to make that final break through, and with it the game ended one a piece.  Looking back it was probably a fair result.

The Glovers had been the better team during the first 45 minutes and had deserved their half time lead, while Millwall had been the dominant force during the second period, putting the Somerset team under sustained pressure.

The Glovers had done well during that second period though, and played their hearts out.  They could well have taken it in the and when Arron Davies went close with virtually the last kick of the game, but the ball went just wide.

A draw was still a fantastic result though, and was matched by a great performance - one to make the supporters proud.

Full Time - Millwall: 1 Yeovil Town: 1

Report by Ali King