We’d be lying if we said that 2017 has been a great year for Yeovil Town. In truth, it’s been a testing time for Glovers fans, with inconsistent results on the pitch and further frustration off it.
However, that pain only makes the victories taste sweeter. Here’s a look back at some of the best from the past 12 months:
Performing perfectly against promotion-chasing Plymouth
Few people expected Yeovil’s first win of the calendar year to come against the high-flying Pilgrims, but that’s exactly what happened on a cold and rainy Tuesday night at Huish Park.
It was two set pieces within two minutes that did the damage, with Nathan Smith heading in from a corner and Alex Lacey scoring from Matty Dolan’s free kick. Former Glover Jakub Sokolik pulled a goal back for Plymouth, but the home side stood firm.
Final score: Yeovil Town 2 – 1 Plymouth Argyle (31/01/2017)
Marvellous Matt sealing much-needed Morecambe win
February was not a fruitful month for Darren Way’s men, with five draws, one loss and zero wins. They needed to put it right in March, and an away trip to Morecambe provided them with the opportunity.
Bournemouth loanee Matt Butcher opened the scoring and staked his claim for goal of the season with an incredible volley. In the second half, Alex Lacey and Bevis Mugabi helped seal the win.
Final score: Morecambe 1 – 3 Yeovil Town (11/03/2017)
Cruising past Crewe to get out of trouble
With just four games of the season remaining, the Glovers were in serious danger of being dragged down into a relegation dogfight, but they relieved the pressure with a classy performance against Crewe.
Matty Dolan opened the scoring with a ‘top bins’ free kick, before Jean Louis Akpa Akpro headed home from Otis Khan’s delivery. Khan himself made it three in the second half, and virtually secured Yeovil’s safety in the process.
Final score: Yeovil Town 3 – 0 Crewe Alexandra (17/04/2017)
Bouncing back from Luton thrashing
When Yeovil conceded eight goals away at Luton on the opening day of the season, fans must have been fearing the worst. However, they followed that dismal day at Kenilworth Road with an impressive win over Accrington Stanley.
All of the Glovers’ goals came in the first half, with Francois Zoko’s strike being sandwiched between Olufela Olomola’s first and second senior goals.
Final score: Yeovil Town 3 – 2 Accrington Stanley (12/08/2017)
Finding the balance with a Coventry win
Scoring lots of goals but leaking them at the back continued to be a theme for Yeovil, with Darren Way saying he wanted to find the right balance between the two.
His side certainly found it when they played Coventry City on a sunny Somerset day, as Rhys Browne and Olomola provided the goals, and the defence – with the addition of Millwall loanee Sid Nelson – yielded the first clean sheet of the campaign.
Final score: Yeovil Town 2 – 0 Coventry City (26/08/2017)
Leaving it late at Chesterfield
The green and white faithful hadn’t won away from home in the league since March, but when victory on the road finally came, it was in dramatic fashion.
Yeovil had taken a two goal lead thanks to Olomola and Khan, but were then pegged back to 2-2. That’s when captain James Bailey stepped up to head home a winner in second-half injury time. Get in!
Final score: Chesterfield 2 – 3 Yeovil Town (26/09/2017)
Continuing to crush Crewe
We appear to have become a bit of a bogey side for Crewe, having won six of our last nine encounters against the Railwaymen.
The Glovers continued their good form against the Cheshire club with a 2-0 home win, Browne and Olomola with the goals.
Final score: Yeovil Town 2 – 0 Crewe Alexandra (14/10/2017)
Two red cards but three goals against Stevenage
Yeovil do like making things difficult for themselves. Having raced into a three-goal half time lead at Huish Park, Olomola and Francois Zoko got themselves sent off, leaving the home side with nine men.
The goals came from Olomola and Sam Surridge, who struck twice, and thankfully that proved to be enough to secure the win despite the numerical disadvantage.
Final score: Yeovil Town 3 – 0 Stevenage (28/10/2017)
Causing another ‘cupset’
Yeovil and the FA Cup have a romantic history, and although their giant-killing days may be over, they still upset the odds in 2017 by beating League One side Southend United.
The upset doesn’t quite come close to the famous victory over Sunderland in 1949, but the win over the Shrimpers is still impressive, with Khan grabbing the winner from the penalty spot.
Final score: Yeovil Town 1 – 0 Southend United (04/11/2017)
Double derby wins for Christmas
Darren Way’s side had a fantastic festive period in 2017, with two wins over two of their most geographically close clubs.
First, they overcame promotion-chasing Exeter City at Huish Park 3-1, with Jake Gray, Zoko and Surridge all getting on the scoresheet against the Devon club.
Final score: Yeovil Town 3 – 1 Exeter City (23/12/2017)
Then, they made the short Boxing Day trip to Cheltenham Town, where Omar Sowunmi and Jordan Green scored to secure three points and get one over on former manager Gary Johnson.
Final score: Cheltenham Town 2 – 0 Yeovil Town (26/12/2017)
What was your favourite YTFC moment of 2017? Let us know if we’ve forgotten any.
Until then, it’s onwards and upwards! Let’s hope for more goals and more great moments in 2018.
Best Team in the West 
My favourite moment of 2017 was realising that it couldn’t get worse. My highlight of this year, 2018, is the joyful knowledge that another disastrous season under an incompetent manager is almost over.
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