TOWN showed every quality needed to be promotion challengers in carving out a precious victory at Huish Park.
Attractive and dominant in the first half as Andy Booth and the excellent Mark Hudson put them two goals up, they had to draw on all their reserves of resilience in the second to secure the three points.
Fuelled by Lee Johnson's diving headed goal just 98 seconds into the second half, Yeovil powered forward in search of an equaliser and would surely have prevailed against a team with less guts.
Town showed immense endeavour and determination in the face of massive pressure and, while it was nail-biting stuff for the 600 fans who made the long journey to Somerset, they were rewarded with a tremendous victory to take their side back into second place in the table.
The only disappointment for manager Peter Jackson and his battling charges was the late dismissal of hero Hudson, which means he'll miss Saturday's Galpharm derby against Bradford.
Sliding in to retrieve a ball which he'd overrun, he was harshly booked a second time by Worcester official Steve Dorr, even though he did catch the chasing Johnson first.
It was rough justice on Hudson, who did more than anyone to establish Town as a bright assault force in the first half when Yeovil simply couldn't cope with the flair and fluency on offer.
Every time Town got near the box, Yeovil - without Efe Sodje (knee injury) - looked extremely shaky at the back and their defending for both goals conceded was woeful.
The first came in the 11th minute following excellent build-up work by Pawel Abbott and Andy Holdsworth and, when Danny Schofield ran the ball into the box, Yeovil were at sixes and sevens leaving Booth with a tap-in for his seventh of the season and third in two matches.
Abbott went close with an overhead kick as Town kept up the pressure, but Yeovil hit back and twice went close as Pablo Bastianini and Matt Harrold hit post and bar respectively in a strangely lacking 21st minute for Jackson's men.
Those lapses apart, it was all Town and Hudson was at his combative best, winning the ball time and again and setting up any number of dangerous attacks with support all round.
It was only fitting, after Booth had rattled the bar with a trademark header on 26 minutes, that Hudson should score the second after 38.
Nathan Clarke provided the initial cross and, when Booth headed it back, there was once again mayhem in the home back line.
Two potential clearances were missed as Abbott challenged and Gary Taylor-Fletcher then had a snap-shot parried, but Hudson was on hand to steer in his third of the campaign.
Hudson almost added another three minutes later following another classy attack involving Taylor-Fletcher, Abbott and Holdsworth and, at that stage, it was one-way traffic.
All Town needed to do was keep it quiet in the second half for 10 or 15 minutes and the job would have been done, but Johnson's strike from a cross by substitute Kevin Gall completely changed the complexion of the game.
Suddenly Yeovil were transformed and Town, as so often happens, got pinned back around their 18-yard line defending too deep.
While there were half chances on the break for Booth and Schofield, Yeovil dominated and Town had to dig deep to keep them at bay.
Jackson sent on Tony Carss to bolster the midfield for the closing stages, leaving only one up front, and Booth had to be deployed as an extra centre back because Yeovil sent skipper Terry Skiverton up front.
Booth, who won everything in the air, was magnificent and Clarke, bravely throwing himself into all sorts of challenges, had his best half of the season in front of Paul Rachubka, who saved smartly from Bastianini's header and a fierce drive from substitute Arron Davies.
There was to be no glory for the Glovers, however, and the joy was clear for all to see as Town celebrated with their fans at the final whistle.
This was a landmark win.
When Mark Hudson fired Town into a two-goal lead just seven minutes before half time, you got the impression it was going to be Town's day. It rewarded a powerful and entertaining first-half show from Peter Jackson's side which they matched with grit and determination in the second as Yeovil piled on plenty of pressure
Paul Rachubka Helped by the woodwork twice, he saved smartly from Bastianini and sub Davies as Yeovil piled on heavy late pressure Rating: 7/10
Andy Holdsworth Made some tremendous tackles in the second half as Jones pushed forward dangerously. Attacked excellently in the first half Rating: 8/10
Danny Adams Played his part in a gruelling second half defensive effort with some bludgeoning tackles around the box Rating: 7/10
David Mirfin Stood up to the second half pressure superbly. Made several key covering tackles in the first half, too Rating: 7/10
Nathan Clarke Wonderful defending in the second half, bravely throwing himself at just about every ball. Near to a top-man marking Rating: 8/10
Gary T-Fletcher Isolated at times on the right flank but he worked hard. Took a heavy first-half blow to the head from Fontaine Rating: 7/10
Jon Worthington Got through a mountain of work and made two exceptional covering tackles in the second half as pressure built Rating: 8/10
Mark Hudson Harshly sent off seconds from time but earlier he was outstanding. Scored the winner in his best game for the club so far Rating: 9/10
Danny Schofield Teed up the first goal for Booth and kept the home side on edge with his tricky runs. Put in some superb crosses Rating: 8/10
Andy Booth Won everything in the air, scored and hit the bar. Brilliant in defence too and another pushing for top mark Rating: 8/10
Pawel Abbott Isolated in the second half, but his first-half running was excellent and he was involved in creating both goals Rating: 7/10
mark hudson
His day ended in disappointment with a sending-off, but he should be proud of his contribution to a great win for Town. Combative and creative, was the best player in either side
Rob, Denby Dale:
DECIDED to go at the last minute and the result made my weekend!
England winning at football and rugby union, doing well in the cricket and Great Britain coming up with a storming win in the rugby league was good enough.
But Town's result was above all those at this stage of the season.
November is usually a very bad month for us, but if we can beat Bradford and Forest, I reckon we're going up.
Jenny, Meltham:
I FELT sick for Mark Hudson getting sent-off because he had a great game, as did Clarkey.
I'm afraid the ref lost it towards the end, just like I lost my fingernails watching Town hanging on.
Brilliant result, though, and we deserved it overall.
Bring on Bradford!
Simon, Mirfield:
ANDY BOOTH is a legend.
His performance was superb and I reckon the difference between the two sides.
Yeovil couldn't cope with him in the air and, when he went to the back to cover their skipper, he did a brilliant job in defence.
Boothy is a big part of our side and other teams just don't like having to deal with him.
Great to see the lads clapping the fans at the end. Real team
