Last-gasp James is the hero for Glovers

TOM JAMES’ late, late winner may have cost Yeovil boss Darren Way a few quid, but the manager had no complaints after his team ended their long Brunton Park jinx with victory over Carlisle.

James fired a freekick through a crowd of players and past Carlisle goalkeeper Adam Collin with five minutes of injury time already completed.

The game had looked to be heading for a goalless stalemate with only a few clear-cut chances for either side.

However, Way was delighted with the performance of his young troops.

He said: “We would have qualified to play in the under-23 league. The thing is to improve every day and we are obsessive in what we want to achieve.”

Way puts a contribution into the pot ever time his team score from a set-play.

He said: “We overachieved in the result we got today. What a great effort by the lads. It’s another one chalked off. We keep changing history and I’m delighted with a clean sheet as well.”

Yeovil had promised 50 of their travelling fans a pie and a pint to reward their 650-mile round trip.

Way said: “We appreciate them and the way they have stuck behind the young players. It’s a great way to give them something.

“We kept calm under pressure and used the width of the pitch and all the players kept passing and passing. We don’t have a lot of experience, but the players kept going which is what pleased me.”

Alex Fisher almost gave the Glovers the lead before half-time with a shot which was heading for the top corner, until Collin produced a wonderful fingertip save. Nathan Baxter in the Yeovil goal then made a great driving stop to deny Ashley Nadesan just after the break.

James almost scored with a glancing header which skimmed the crossbar, but his moment came from a free-kick to the left of the area as the dying seconds ticked by.

Carlisle sank to a fifth straight home defeat without scoring. Assistant manager Tommy Wright said: “It was tough on us, but we can’t go feeling sorry for ourselves. There is a lack of desire and hunger. Is it confidence, I don’t know?

“You can practise all you want... you have to have mental strength to put the ball in the back of the net.”