Goals from A-Jay Leitch-Smith and Rhys Oates gave Morecambe three valuable points at the Globe Arena.
The Shrimps looked in for a comfortable victory after going two goals up after 48 minutes but a second half Yeovil onslaught and a goal from Olufela Olomola’s goal made for a nervous finale with the Shrimps forced to defend valiantly.
Boss Jim Bentley made one change to the side that drew at Newport with Mark Halstead coming in for the injured Barry Roche.
And it was Halstead who would go on to claim the man-of-the-match award with some fine late saves, many from Yeovil full-back Tom James who produced a number of stunning free kicks.
A hectic start saw both teams on the front foot with Oates denied by a last-ditch challenge and Rhys Browne the Glovers’ principal attacking threat. He sent over a couple of dangerous crosses from the right, one of which was headed narrowly wide by the diving James. The fast start was matched by some equally frenetic challenges with James and Olomola booked for the visitors, while Sessi D’Almeida was lucky to avoid censure for a tackle on Aaron Wildig. Oates’ final ball lacked composure when he was well placed but there was nothing rushed about Leitch-Smith’s goal.
A lovely run enabled him to collect Liam Mandeville’s pass before he turned and curled a left-footed effort past Nathan Baxter. He should have doubled his tally 11 minutes later when referee Peter Wright deemed Mandeville had been nudged by Browne and awarded a spot-kick. However, Baxter guessed correctly and dived to his right in keeping out Leitch-Smith’s effort from 12 yards.
An offside flag ruled out Vadaine Oliver’s header before Halstead preserved Morecambe’s lead at the break, acrobatically turning over Bevis Mugabi’s close-range attempt.
Three minutes into the second half and the Shrimps seemed set fair for three points when Oates doubled their lead.
Set free down the left, he cut inside, breezed past D’Almeida and saw his 20-yard shot somehow elude Baxter with the ball taking a nasty bounce as the keeper looked set to save.
However, that was the signal for an onslaught from the visitors as Morecambe dropped deeper and Halstead was forced into action. Two fine saves thwarted James and Wes McDonald before Yeovil halved their deficit midway through the half. A long ball between the Shrimps’ centre-halves was collected by Olomola, who finished clinically to set up a tense final quarter.
Halstead made a routine stop from Browne as the visitors set up camp inside the Morecambe half. That pressure, coupled with some nervy Morecambe defending, saw Yeovil pour forward with Halstead far too busy for the hosts’ liking. Two James free-kicks from distance were kept out by the Shrimps’ keeper, though luck was on his side in added time when Omari Patrick’s shot struck the woodwork and Donnellan missed a good chance from close range as Morecambe hung on for the points.
Morecambe: Halstead, Mills, Lavelle, Yarney, Conlan, Mandeville (Ellison 69), Cranston, Wildig, Oates (Kenyon 81), Leitch-Smith (Old 90), Oliver. Subs: Szczepaniak, Oswell, Mendes Gomes, Hedley.
Yeovil Town: Baxter, James, Mugabe, Donnellan, Dickinson, Browne, D’Almeida, Gray (Pattison 50), McDonald, Olomola (Patrick 84), Arquin (Zoko 76). Subs: Nelson, Rogers, Mahmutovic, Santos.
Referee: Peter Wright.
Attendance: 1,406.