We were all thinking of Lee – Sarll
YEOVIL TOWN ................ 1 BOREHAM WOOD .......... 0
EMOTIONAL Darren Sarll said Yeovil’s first match since the death of their captain Lee Collins was a “tough day” for the club.
Tom Knowles’ goal gave them a hard-earned win over Boreham Wood at Huish Park, where fans left floral tributes outside the stadium before kick-off.
“The strain over the last two weeks has been huge,” Glovers boss Sarll said. “We know we’ve got so many battles to go through and steps to take. We took a big one today.”
Collins, pictured, who was 32, was found dead in his hotel room on March 31. Concerns for his welfare were raised after he did not turn up to training that day.
Sarll and his players remained on the pitch after the final whistle of the National League match, embracing each other and talking rather than returning straight to their dressing room.
The manager explained: “Being out in the fresh air probably cooled me down a bit. If I’d have gone in the dressing room I would have bubbled over. We were all thinking the same thing. We were all thinking about Lee.”
Yeovil defended well after Knowles’ 28th-minute goal to secure an eighth victory in the Glovers’ past 14 games, although they are still ten points off the play-off positions with ten games left to play.
Sarll added: “Their desire and determination was fitting. I’ve always said Lee was the glue in our dressing room and he’s stuck us so tightly together.
“We wanted people who would fight for this football club. We’re doing that. We’re fighting as hard as we can – we’re fighting our own emotions at the minute.”
Boreham Wood captain Mark Ricketts handed flowers to Yeovil skipper Carl Dickinson before kick-off, and in the end the hosts paid tribute to Collins by taking all three points.
Yeovil: A Smith, Dickinson, Wilkinson, Sass-Davies, Kelly, Knowles, Worthington (Murphy 83), Neufville, Skendi (Quigley 90), J Smith, Reid (Lee 83). Not Used: Hunt, Dagnall.
Booked: Knowles, Worthington, Kelly, Neufville. Goals: Knowles 28.
Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Ilesanmi, Champion, Fyfield, Ricketts, Mafuta, Murtagh (Rhead 57), Whitely, Smith, Tshimanga, Marsh (Stephens 87). Not Used: Green, Woodards, Pearce.
Booked: Fyfield.
Referee: Adrian Quelch (Berkshire).