GLOVERS SECURE A VITAL VICTORY AT STAGS
MANSFIELD 0 YEOVIL TOWN 1
YEOVIL goalkeeper Nathan Baxter produced a stunning performance to help the Glovers end their long winless run – and demonstrate why parent club Chelsea rate him so highly.
The 20-year-old, who recently came back into the side at the expense of the experienced Stuart Nelson, pulled off a string of terrific saves to preserve the Glovers’ clean sheet, including one barely believable stop to deny Mansfield striker Danny Rose.
Baxter recently signed a new longterm contract with Chelsea, but will remain with Yeovil until the end of the season.
Jordan Green’s first-half goal ultimately sealed a first win in 11 games for the Glovers, with Baxter’s heroics – including his astonishing save from Rose – ensuring the three points went back to Somerset.
The goalkeeper said: “It was one for the highlights reel at the end of the season, but I’m more delighted that we’ve got the win and three points, I’m delighted for all the lads and the manager (Darren Way).
“Also, it’s for the supporters who travel all over the country and have seen some poor performances this season and have finally seen a win.
“For me personally, it’s good to be back. I was out with injury for a little while and it’s great to be back playing and hopefully this is the start.
“It was a battling performance and I was busy throughout, but we showed great resilience and the new lads (Josh Grant and Alex Dobre) really played their part.
“We were always going to be under pressure in the second half because they are a good side, but we were able to grind it out and the three points is massive for us.”
With new signings Grant and Dobre both in the starting line-up and new coach Neale Marmon in the dugout, there was a fresh feel to the Glovers set-up at Field Mill.
And they started the game well with Tom James coming close from a free-kick before Green had strong appeals for a penalty waved away by referee Carl Boyeson.
However, on 19 minutes, Yeovil made the breakthrough as the speedy Green sprinted on to a long pass from defender Carl Dickinson before slotting the ball past goal- keeper Jordan Smith to make it 1-0 to the Green & Whites.
Baxter then saved well to deny CJ Hamilton, Tyler Walker and Jacob Mellis, but his best was still to come after the break.
Having already denied Hamilton, he somehow recovered in a splitsecond to also keep put Rose’s powerful shot from the rebound for a stunning double save.
Mansfield had a Walker header ruled out for offside, and their misery was complete when defender Matt Preston was sent off following a second yellow card of the game in stoppage-time.
Yeovil, however, remain just three points above the drop zone.