Yeovil Town favourite Marek Stech went from hero to villain by gifting Swindon Town a soft penalty that set them on their way to a dismal defeat against their promotion rivals.
On an evening where the uneven Huish Park pitch played a bigger role than it should, the keeper's reckless barge on Gary Roberts gave the visitors an unnecessary advantage.
Once behind, Gary Johnson's Glovers shows few signs of getting at least a leveller after struggling to create a clear chance throughout the game.
Victory for Swindon took them to third in npower League One, whilst Yeovil looked nervously over their shoulders at the teams chasing the top six.
Gavin Williams started ahead of Ben Gordon on the left wing, with Johnson revealing Sam Foley would not have beaten the Welshman to the starting XI even if he had passed a late fitness test on his hip.
However, less than a minute had elapsed before Gavin Williams entered referee Keith Stroud's book for a late challenge on Nathan Thompson.
Former Glover Andy Williams was presented with a chance to break the deadlock after two minutes but fired at Marek Stech when Ed Upson was dispossessed on Yeovil's right and the cross found its way to the other side of the box.
Jamie McCallister's fourth minute clipped right-footed pass found Joe Edwards in space but the bounce of the ball was unkind and his shot looped over the bar.
On eight minutes Alan McCormack's long ball released Adam Rooney who beat Dan Burn for pace but not strength and his shot was weak.
James Hayter superb knock launched a Yeovil counter on 17 minutes, finding Paddy Madden. The Irishman cut infield and his shot from the edge of the box deflected into Wes Foderingham's arms.
The Glovers attacked immediately again, Madden this time squaring for Hayter who somehow controlled with his head but volleyed high and wide.
As the pitch cut up and neither side found rhythm, the half became one of few chances. On 43 minutes a Swindon free kick from Kevin Dawson's foul dropped in the Yeovil area, Darren Ward reacted quickest but his shot ricocheted off target.
McAllister lasted four second half minutes, limping off to be replaced by Ben Gordon just moments after picking up his tenth booking of the season for flailing an arm at Andy Williams.
Gary Roberts shoulder-barged Dawson off the ball on 55 minutes and rifled home but the 'goal' was disallowed for the foul.
On 62 minutes Stech did well to turn away Adam Rooney's flick from Roberts' cross and Simon Ferry's follow-up was blocked.
The stopper punched clear a 65th minute free kick and Alan McCormack could not get over the ball with his subsequent volley. At the other end, Madden was given was a sight of goal but was denied by a superb last-ditch Thompson block.
After 75 minutes substitute James Collins turned and shot, Stech parried and Luke Ayling was on hand to hook clear.
However, the Czech Republic gloveman changed the course of the game on 77 minutes, blocking and clattering Roberts as he challenged for possession in the box. Adam Rooney confidently dispatched the following penalty, beating Stech's dive.
On 79 minutes when Yeovil were unable to clear their lines and Stech spilled Adam Rooney's first time effort before falling on the rebound.
Collins rounded off another disappointing night for the Glovers by breaking free seconds before the final whistle and drilling beyond Stech. MATCH STATS
Yeovil Town (4-4-2) - Stech; Ayling, Webster, Burn, McAllister (Gordon, 49); Dawson (Young, 79), Upson, Edwards, G. Williams (Cook, 62); Madden, Hayter. Unused subs: Blizzard, Stewart, Maksimenko, Fletcher.
Bookings: Williams (foul), Dawson (foul), McAllister (foul), Burn (foul).
Swindon Town (4-4-2) - Foderingham; Thompson, Flint, Ward, McEveley; McCormack, Ferry (Collins, 70), Miller, Roberts (De Vita, 83); A. Rooney, A. Williams (L. Rooney, 90). Unused subs: Bedwell, Devera, Waldon, Ferguson.
Goals: A. Rooney (pen 77), Collins (90+3)
Bookings: McCormack (foul), Thompson (foul).
Ref: Keith Stroud (Wiltshire).
Att: 5,027.
