FOR a full match report of Yeovil Town's 1-0 victory over Rochdale see here:

NATIONWIDE LEAGUE DIVISION THREE

YEOVIL TOWN 1, ROCHDALE 0

STEVE SOWDEN REPORTS FROM HUISH PARK

IT was not the greatest game ever to be witnessed so far in Gary Johnson's success-strewn managerial career with Yeovil Town. But the 1-0 victory over Rochdale could be classed as three of the most important points his players have earned.

After two successive league defeats against Kidderminster Harriers and Swansea City, plus all the hullabaloo surrounding Liverpool's visit to Huish Park for the FA Cup Third Round, it was vital the Glovers got back to winning ways to keep themselves in the Nationwide League Division Three leading pack.

After the cream cakes of Liverpool it was back to the bread and butter of league action and Rochdale, who will always hold a special something for Yeovil fans as it was they who the Glovers faced in their first ever Football League contest back in August, proved to be stubborn opponents.

But a first-half goal from Gavin Williams was enough to settle the matter in a game which really did not get going and was a bit of a damp squib coming just six days after the Liverpool experience.

But Johnson, speaking after the game, was more than happy to have picked up the three points.

"The one headline I didn't want to hear is 'After the Lord Mayor's Show' syndrome," he said. "That was really important to me and it was important to the boys and I thought we worked very hard.

"There was some great bits of play on occasions and if we had been 2-0 up or 3-0 up we'd have said what a magnificent performance.

"We played some good football, we created chances and were a foot away from having a 3-0 or 4-0 win, but if it has got to be 1-0 that will suffice.

"I'm really pleased that the boys coped with the game today after the Liverpool match. It's a big effort to come down from that high of Liverpool."

Many supporters would suggest that Yeovil's failure to win the Nationwide Conference title back in the 2000-01 season when Colin Addison was at the Huish Park helm possibly hinged on the Glovers' agonising last-minute FA Cup Third Round defeat at Bolton Wanderers. It seemed that the disappointment ran throughout the team and effected the players deeply from there on.

But you get the feeling that Johnson's men of today are made of stronger stuff mentally and that the 'disappointment' of losing to Liverpool will only serve them well in the future and make them more determined to do better and succeed.

And Yeovil had to be mentally strong on Saturday to defeat the defensive-minded Rochdale who began the match with a 4-5-1 formation.

The crucial moment came in the 13th minute when a cracking long pass from skipper Terry Skiverton found Williams, who was playing alongside Kevin Gall in attack, who neatly placed the ball past Rochdale keeper Neil Williams.

Williams, dubbed Super Gav by his adoring fans, has been in good form of late and he could and possibly, should, have added to his tally before the 90 minutes were out. But it was not to be.

It was a pretty dour game to be honest. There are some games where you just wish for the time to tick away so you can make your way home and get yourself tucked up in front of the television and this was one of those. The atmosphere was flat. For all of Johnson's words about the game not being a case of After the Lord Mayor's Show, it certainly seemed as if the crowd was experiencing the Liverpool hangover.

The longer the game went on with Yeovil holding their slender advantage, the more anxious the supporters got about Rochdale grabbing an equaliser and substitute Kevin Townson was unlucky when his speculative 35-yard lob beat Glovers keeper Chris Weale only for the ball to hit the bar.

Last minute substitute Adam Stansfield should have put Yeovil 2-0 up with seconds remaining when he burst through only for his shot to be parried by keeper Edwards. There were strong appeals for a penalty as Stansfield was wrestled to the floor in the ensuing scramble, but referee Lee Probert turned a blind eye.

Johnson said that it was a definite penalty, but then quipped that Yeovil had not had much luck with penalties recently in reference to Harry Kewell's dive for Liverpool which gave them the crucial second goal in their cup victory.

But he added: "Some games are open, some games are not and you have to cope with all of them. The boys are growing up and the 1-0 result is a very good result considering where we've been this week.

"I was very pleased with some of our football. It was top class again and the boys got their tails up as far as wanting to move the ball about. As I said, the next home game after Liverpool was always going to be a tester as to our character and I though the boys worked very hard today."