A WEST Country cup tie produced a rare night of sportsmanship and good manners in the tarnished world of professional football last night.
With the half-hour mark approaching and Yeovil Town and Plymouth Argyle drawing 0-0, the home side “accidentally” scored a goal after attempting to give the ball back after an injury.
Shocked and embarrassed by the home goal, the Glovers invited Plymouth to score from the subsequent kick-off after the referee admitted that he was powerless to cancel Yeovil’s opener.
As the 6,217-strong crowd at Huish Park watched in disbelief and bewilderment, Argyle strolled up the pitch and equalised in what must be the easiset goal in footballing history. John Fry, the Yeovil chairman, said: “I have never seen anything like it before, it is definitely a good one for ‘What happens next?’.
“The crowd was behind it and it all went the right way for Yeovil in the end as we won 3-2.”
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Far from turning on their side during the sudden-death, Carling Cup first-round tie, Yeovil fans were supportive.
Alastair King, a member of the official Green and White Supporters’ Club said: ““When it went in the back of the net, the Plymouth side tried to reason with the referee, but there was nothing he could do as there was no foul play and it was a legitimate goal.”