Dead-eye Davies sends Yeovil to Wembley - Sport - Evening Standard
       

Dead-eye Davies sends Yeovil to Wembley

Arron Davies capped one of the most remarkable play-off fightbacks with the goal that booked Yeovil their first trip to Wembley.

The Wales striker kept a cool head three minutes into the second half of extra-time to fire home the goal that consigned 10-man Forest to another season in League One.

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Marcus Stewart celebrates as Yeovil go through to the play-off final at Wembley

Yeovil manager Russell Slade, a Forest fan, said: "I'm pleased but exhausted. When they scored early in the second half I thought we had a mountain to climb.

"But the chances never stopped coming and we kept on the front foot throughout the whole night. Brian Clough said it only takes a second to score a goal — and so it proved."

Forest, aiming to return to Wembley for the first time for 15 years, should have read the warning signs from the first half as Yeovil produced some slick football prompted by Marcus Stewart.

Goalkeeper Paul Smith deflected the ball over the bar when Stewart followed up Lee Morris's first effort.

But he was powerless to stop Davies opening the scoring.

Davies picked up Stewart's pass just inside his own half and set off on a lung-bursting run that ended with him cutting in from the right and drilling a low 25-yard shot into the bottom corner.

But the game looked over two minutes into the second half as Scott Dobie headed home Lewis McGugan's left-wing corner at the far post.

But an incredible final 10 minutes turned the game on its head.

First, substitute Jean-Paul Kalala tried his luck from 30 yards only to see his shot bounce off the post, back on to defender Alan Wright and into the net.

With three minutes remaining, Yeovil were level as right back Andy Lindegaard swung over a cross that was headed gleefully into the net by Stewart.

The occasion clearly got to Forest substitute David Prutton. He had already been booked for a late challenge when another mistimed tackle on Yeovil skipper Nathan Jones sent Colin Calderwood's men into extra-time with 10 men.

Forest contributed to their own downfall within a minute of the restart. After Wes Morgan's header lacked the power to reach his goalkeeper, Lee Morris picked up the loose ball, coolly rounded Smith and slotted into the bottom corner.

Forest were back in it two minutes later when Gary Holt arrived after a knock-down and slammed home.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST: (4-4-2) Smith; Curtis, Chambers, Breckin, Wright; Perch, McGugan (Prutton 62min), Gary Holt, Commons; Lester (Morgan 85), Dobie (Grant Holt 76).

Booked: Commons, Prutton. Sent off: Prutton.

Scorers: Dobie 47, Gary Holt 93.

YEOVIL TOWN: (4-3-3) Mildenhall; Lindegaard, Forbes, Guyett, Jones; Barry, Cohen (Kalala 74), Davies; Gray, Morris, Stewart.

Booked: Cohen, Davies, Morris, Lindegaard, Jones.

Scorers: Davies 22, 109, Wright 82 (og), Stewart 87, Morris 92.

Man of the match: Arron Davies.

Referee: Graham Poll

Cooke downs Dons

Substitute Andy Cooke was the hero with two second-half goals for Shrewsbury, who booked their League Two play-off final spot against Bristol Rovers with a 2-1 win at MK Dons.

He scored either side of a Keith Andrews strike to make it six winless games in the play-offs for Dons boss Martin Allen, who endured successive defeats in the League One semi-finals with Brentford.

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