United went with the same starting line up for the ninth game in a row for the visit of Yeovil as they looked to bounce back from a hard-fought defeat against Nottingham Forest in their previous home game.

Scott Dobie came back on to the bench, giving the manager cover in defence, midfield and up front, should it be required, from his selection of substitutes.

The Glovers started the game in determined mood, preventing the home side from getting in to their flow, and the first shot in anger didn't come until the 8th minute when Bridge-Wilkinson fed the ball out to Hackney. He cut inside, but dragged his 22-yard shot well wide as it scuffed off the top of his boot.

Chris Lumsdon and Grant Smith created space in midfield on 13 minutes, turning their markers and opening a gap, and Bridge-Wilkinson showed for the pass on the edge of the area. He took a touch, but his shot was straight at Begovic and was easily gathered by the big keeper.

Forbes did well to take the ball off the toe of Danny Graham in the 14th minute, when Hackney sent a low cross across the face of the 6-yard area. The United striker was waiting, but the Yeovil defender had tracked back well, and did enough to get it clear.

The Cumbrians went close to taking the lead in the 22nd minute when Bridge-Wilkinson flung a corner in to the near post. Livesey had made a good run, and his header was angling towards the back of the net until Peltier stepped across to nod it clear.

United came even closer on 24 minutes when a floated ball in to the box caused all sorts of problems. Bridcutt got a head to it, but it spooned up in to the air, dropping for the unmarked Danny Livesey. He volleyed early, but it was difficult to control, and bounced high towards the far post. Grant Smith rushed in on the follow up, but there were enough Yeovil bodies on hand to marshall it away.

John Ward's side had started to impose themselves, and Hackney showed his speed in the next attack when he got behind the back four and headed for the bye line. His low volley was testing, but Forbes was able to stretch out a leg and get it away.

The Glovers took the lead from absolutely nowhere with their first shot on target in the 38th minute, when Marcus Stewart was given space in midfield. He had options left and right but, with space in front of him, he struck a left foot shot that took a wicked deflection off Livesey before nestling in the back of the net.

Bridge-Wilkinson had a volley blocked when he arrived late in the area, in the 40th minute, when Hackney sent a dangerous cross towards the far post. Peter Murphy then had a downward header blocked on the line by the prostate keeper, as United upped the pace in search of an equaliser. It was an excellent block, as it looked to all intents and purposes that the central defender had found the goal.

Lumsdon then dinked a ball over the top, finding Hackney in a good position, but the flying winger sent his first time volley at Begovic, making the save easy for the diving keeper. Hackney was involved again just before the break when he ran from deep before again sending it right at the keeper, as he reached the edge of the box.

Half Time: United 0 - 1 Yeovil

Scott Dobie replaced Grant Smith during the break, and the the Cumbrians started on the front foot, with Lumsdon finding neat passes through the centre for Graham to chase, but Yeovil were sitting deep, and defending in numbers, making it hard for the home side.

United kept plugging away, but Yeovil were resolute, almost fashioning a chance of their own in the 60th minuet when Marvin Williams stuck close to Owusu, feeding off his flick. Horwood had to get across quickly, and got enough in to the block to make it easy for Westwood.

Lumsdon sent a left foot 20-yard drive narrowly over on 63 minutes, when Hackney carried the ball across the line of the 18-yard box, and Jamie Peters tried to beat Westwood at his near post at the other end as things opened up a bit more in midfield, but there was little happening in the way of clear cut chances until Danny Graham took control of a difficult ball in to his midriff in the 68th minute. He struck the resulting shot cleanly, but Begovic was able to palm it away as he spread himself in front of the shot.

Livesey nodded wide in the 71st minute, from 8-yards out, when he rose highest to meet a Taylor nod in to the box, but it was always going to be a difficult chance as he came under pressure from Forbes and Guyett.

United got themselves back on level pegging with 15 minutes left to play when a decent spell of pressure led to a corner. Bridge-Wilkinson sent it in, and Peter Murphy executed the perfect header when he thumped it low, through a gaggle of bodies, and in to the bottom corner.

Yeovil should have reclaimed the lead in the 82nd minute when Kirk found himself clean through, with just Westwood to beat. His volley was clean, but the United keeper came to the rescue again with a superb reaction save, with his left leg. Horwood was able to complete the clearance, sending United on the attack.

Hackney curled a weak effort wide in the 85th minute, as the Brunton Park crowd raised the decibels in hope of a winner, and there was a real comedy moment in the 87th minute when Begovic forget to check behind as he rolled the ball out for a long kick. Graham stole it, but there were defenders quickly back in numbers to prevent him from shooting.

United claimed all three points in dramatic fashion when substitute Gary Madine set Scott Dobie up with a volley with his first touch of the game. The youngster chested a long ball in to the box down in to his path and the Cumbrian born striker didn't disappoint with a wonderful strike that flew in to the bottom of the net.

It was a wonderful way to the end the game for the home side as they kept their hold on second spot and kept the automatic promotion dream well and truly alive.

Goals

United - Murphy (75), Dobie (90)

Yeovil - Stewart (38)

Bookings

United - Raven (81)

Teams

United - Westwood, Raven, Livesey, Murphy, Horwood, Taylor (Arnison 90+3), Lumsdon, Bridge-Wilkinson, G Smith (Dobie 46), Hackney (Madine 90), Graham. Subs - Howarth, Joyce.

Yeovil - Begovic, Guyett, Forbes, Owusu, Stewart, Bridcutt (Kirk 67), Peters (Downes 67), Bircham (Maher 80), Peltier, N Smith, Williams. Subs - Lynch, Church.

Away fans - 215