SWINDON Town’s hopes of automatic promotion from League One suffered a huge setback as they were stunned by relegated Yeovil Town this afternoon.

James Berrett got the only goal of the game for the Glovers with a 25-yard strike just before the hour mark as former Swindon boss Paul Sturrock masterminded a shock win on his return to the County Ground.

Many would have expected an easy win for the Robins following victories over Rochdale and Peterborough last week but they were far below their best against a Yeovil side who earned just a 10th league win this term.

Mark Cooper’s men were unable to make the most of second-placed Preston’s draw at Port Vale on Friday night and now looked destined to finish in the play-offs following a big win for third-in-the-table MK Dons at home to Leyton Orient.

There was little suggestion of how the game would pan it in the opening exchanges, with Swindon in the ascendancy from the off, completely outclassing a Yeovil side who offered nothing as an attacking threat.

However, for all their dominance, the home side could only huff and puff up top and it took just under 20 minutes for the first genuine chance to arrive.

Yeovil keeper Artur Krysiak rushed from his line to gather a long ball but was beaten to it by Nathan Byrne out wide. He flicked the ball back to Jon Obika but his volleyed effort on the angle flew into the side netting, although there were three Yeovil players on the line ready to clear.

Midweek hat-trick hero Ben Gladwin then looked to have picked up where he left off against Rochdale with a sublime curling 20-yard strike but he was only denied the opening goal by the post.

Gladwin, Obika and Nathan Byrne then all fired speculative efforts from distance high into the Town End before Yeovil carved out their first chance five minutes before the interval. When it came, it was the closest either side had come to breaking the deadlock.

Keiffer Moore was left unmarked at a corner and threw himself forwards to get his head to the ball, forcing home stopper Wes Foderingham into a fine stop at full stretch as a drab half ended goalless.

Yeovil came out with much more purpose after the restart and had a glorious chance to open the scoring but the unmarked Josh Sheehan was unable to control a low cross three yards in front of Foderingham.

But the visitors did not have to wait long to get their goal as they stunned the County Ground just before the hour mark. Berrett collected the ball in space 25 yards out and tried his luck with a low drive, which just beat the despairing Foderingham and nestled inside the post.

Swindon’s response was swift and the hosts could not believe that they had not drawn level within three minutes.

Firstly, Massimo Luongo saw a powerful shot blocked by Byron Webster and, from the resulting corner, Obika lashed at goal, with the ball deflecting off a Yeovil player onto the bar and down onto the line before eventually being cleared.

Swindon chased an equaliser gamely in the closing stages but never really threatened to get one, with the best chances they could muster being a John Swift effort into the side netting, while Yaser Kasim saw a free-kick palmed over the top by Krysiak in stoppage time.

SWINDON TOWN: Foderingham, N Thompson (capt), Stephens, Ricketts, Byrne, Rodgers (Swift 73), Luongo, Gladwin, Toffolo (Kasim 60), Obika, Smith (Williams 63). Subs not used: Belford C, Barthram, Barker, Hylton.

YEOVIL TOWN: Krysiak, Shepherd, Webster (capt), Arthurworrey, Smith, Grant (Leitch-Smith 86), Twomasi, Berrett, Kingsley, Sheehan, Moore (Ugwu 86). Subs not used: Weale, Hayter, Hoskins, Ralph, Eastman.

Referee: Jeremy Simpson