LAST-GASP GLOVERS MAKE IT SIX OF THE BEST
YEOVIL secured a sixth consecutive home win thanks to a last-minute strike from substitute Tom Knowles against Dagenham & Redbridge who just could not find net at Huish Park.
The Glovers are now 12 points above the drop with this their eighth victory in 12 matches to quash relegation worries.
Yeovil manager Darren Sarll was pleased to see his side take the last-gasp opportunity and knows just how important those moments are.
He said: “I thought for someone just enjoying football it was a really good game. I thought they had some really good chances, and I am not naïve enough to think it was one-way traffic. I thought we controlled the second half, without creating many chances. It was a wonderful strike and it is those moments which make all the difference.
“I am so pleased for Tom and it has been unlucky for him that he hasn’t started the past two games. If you have forwards on form and a goalkeeper on form, you have a chance. I thought Adam Smith was magnificent today.”
The Daggers, six points above the drop, had the better of the opening 20 minutes and Paul McCallum forced an excellent save out of Adam Smith at his near post when he burst through on seven minutes.
However, Daegnham keeper Elliot Justham was also in fine form and produced a stunning double save following good work in the box from Albi Skendi.
On 22 minutes, the midfielder played the ball to Alex Bradley whose shot was saved before Murphy latched onto the rebound only for the home side’s top scorer to be denied by Justham, who pushed the ball out for a corner.
It was an even first half full of chances, but it somehow remained 0-0 at the break with some excellent defensive work from both sides and Yeovil’s Jimmy Smith was integral in the defensive midfield role in keeping the visitors at bay.
The home side came out with renewed vigour and enjoyed more of the possession, but without testing Justham and as the half wore on the visitors upped the pressure.
Both McCallum and Callum Reynolds wasted glorious opportunities to take the lead with Smith hadving to be at his best to deny McCallum on 70 minutes.
As the match ticked into the last minute, Reynolds’ rash challenge on Reuben Reid just on the edge of the box resulted in a second booking. And it was to be an even more costly decision as Tom Knowles took the free-kick and produced a moment of brilliance. His inch perfect free-kick sailed into the top corner and snatched the three points for the home side, who now sit within touching distance of the top half.