Latics are so close...and Smith is the hero again

Photo: Pictures: ALAN HOWARTH

Indefatigable Lee Croft launches another attack on the right wing.

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Athletic 1, Yeovil 0

Athletic’s coach Lee Johnson relied on old-fashioned values to get past the challenge of his father last night.

This heavily-hyped clash was won by the sorcerer’s apprentice, rather than seasoned Yeovil boss Gary, thanks to hard graft and a set-piece goal from Matt Smith – a traditional centre forward.

After the very impressive David Mellor had forced a brilliant flying save from Yeovil goalkeeper Marek Stech with a 35-yard free kick, a corner by Lee Croft was nodded home from close range by the stooping 6ft 6in forward in added time at the end of the first half.

Boundary Park erupted, not for the first or last time at a gutsy performance from Athletic.

This was the first time supporters had seen their side beat top-10 opposition in npower League One all season – a remarkable statistic of underachievement.

Yeovil, who now settle for a play-off place, couldn’t have any complaints about the result.

Led by the tireless Croft, deep-lunged Athletic dominated for much of this fixture to earn three points that puts a comforting cushion between the club and the relegation zone.

To be safe, Lee Johnson’s men need one more point. Realistically, Johnson’s plans for next term at Boundary Park can start now.

His hand was forced in terms of selection for this game by injuries. Glenn Belezika stepped into his full debut at centre-back and after a few shaky early moments he fulfilled his brief well, helped in moments of difficulty by covering team-mates — a theme that recurred throughout the reshaped side.

After early scares, Athletic settled into their rhythm. It wasn’t always pretty football but it was effective. Matt Smith was causing Yeovil’s defence all sorts of difficulties: after having one header cleared off the line, he should have been awarded a penalty when Richard Hinds climbed all over him.

Matt Smith missed a presentable headed opportunity and Lee Johnson was spoken to sternly for encroaching on to the pitch to control a ball yet to go into touch before the decisive goal of the game.

Mellor’s free-kick was full of quality, arrowing for the top corner, and the crowd were still drawing breath from Stech’s fingertip stop when Smith nodded low in front of the Rochdale Road Stand from the resulting corner to put the home team in front.

Yeovil threw on Athletic’s nemesis Gavin Williams at the start of the second half, but the pattern of the game continued: Athletic, full of energy, pressing keenly and staying on top of proceedings.

There was little goalmouth action to speak of and the main highlights were Belezika’s show of confidence in urging his fellow defenders to keep a high line and Mellor’s drives and pinged crossfield passes.

Matt Smith and Croft were given standing ovations by the home faithful when withdrawn late in the game.

As the final whistle came, exuberance at the result led to some of the crowd spilling on to the pitch to celebrate. They think it’s all over, and now, it nearly is. Phew!