Terry fancies netting the winner in 17-goal thriller

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GLOVERS' boss Terry Skiverton hopes to score the winning goal in a 9-8 thriller at Huish Park on Saturday.

The team that earned Yeovil Town promotion to the Football League in 2003 will reunite to face a Terry Skiverton Select XI in the manager's testimonial match.

Gary Johnson will lead Conference-winning side, while Colin Lippiatt will take charge of the Select XI.

The match, with a 3pm kick-off, signals the culmination of a year of hard work from an organising committee aiming to commemorate in style the former club captain's decade at Yeovil.

Skiverton said that he wants the game to be different from other testimonials in which he has played.

He hopes the talent on display will be able to entertain fans, as well as make the event a high-scoring affair.

"I have been to a few testimonials before and played in a few," said Skiverton.

"It was just pre-season friendlies against another team. It was not too serious, nobody was enjoying themselves and the fans wanted to watch a game of football.

"But I want to reward the fans for the loyalty they have shown me over the years and I wanted to give them something they can have a bit of fun with, rather than coming and watching a serious game.

"My dream is for the game to be 8-8 and then we get a penalty at the end, where I score. It would be something like that where it is more fun and a nice little taster for the fans to see players that they do not see down at Huish Park."

Skiverton has promised a late surprise for fans at the game and thanked them in advance for their support.

He also praised the work of his testimonial committee and the public response to events organised in his name.

Skiverton said: "The committee have been excellent. Eric Carvill and Clive Gibbs, who are the two main people on that committee, have worked their socks off for it.

"They are on the phone to me all the time and everyone underneath those two has been absolutely magnificent.

"Everybody has done their part. There are people who are local businessmen, as well as supporters and representatives from supporters' clubs.

"It is really nice to know that when people have been ringing around for all the events that we have had that the response has been magnificent.

"If there is one thing I would like to say, it is I am really proud of the achievements that I have made when people are willing to come out to support me like that.

"It really means a lot to my family and I and everyone who is connected with me."

Skiverton said he is nervous to be turning out on Saturday but that players were looking forward to being involved.

"I am really nervous to be honest," he said. "There has already been a bit of banter and a lot of people are excited to come down.

"I think it will be very rare if we see the Conference-winning team with Gary Johnson in charge ever again."