‘THAT WAS FOR OUR CAPTAIN’
IN an emotional return to Huish Park, Yeovil Town secured all three points and a clean sheet in the first match since the death of club captain Lee Collins.
Manager Darren Sarll praised his players’ courage to not only to take to the field but to produce a performance the centre-back would have been proud of, describing his brave Glovers as “incredible” with Tom Knowles’ solitary first-half strike securing a fitting three points.
“Everyone knows how tough it has been,” Sarll said. “They are a brilliant group and they really stuck together.
“They are incredible people. I spoke quite a lot [before the match] but I tried to get my focus on the game. We are at work now and we want to win. Lee and I both came here to win. I thought defensively we were good, and we were strong.
“I also want to say I thought Boreham Wood’s class today was something else, their respect was top draw. It has brought a lot of teams together, but today’s desire and determination were very fitting. I said Lee was the glue of our dressing room and today he held us together.”
Knowles’ effort was enough to secure victory from what was a relatively even game, in which the hosts’ limited the Wood to minimal chances.
It was a scrappy start after an emotional wreath presentation from Wood manager Luke Garrard, but neither keeper was tested early on.
On 28 minutes, it was the Glovers took the lead with an excellent team goal. Matt Worthington found Albi Skendi in space on the right-hand side, who picked out Knowles to fire home. It capped an emotional moment as the players celebrated together to remember their team-mate.
Centre-back Luke Wilkinson made a return to the side for the first time since January and he was influential in keeping Wood at bay who struggled to create clear-cut chances to trouble Adam Smith.
Wood showed renewed vigour after the break with Tyrone Marsh connecting with a cross on 65 minutes, but he was only able to head over the bar.
As both sides began to tire, it became more open, and Knowles almost scored a second as he connected with the ball in a scramble in the box. The midfielder felt he was fouled but the referee waved his penalty appeal away.
As time ticked on, Yeovil defended resolutely and held on for an emotional win in which they all marked with some time to themselves on the pitch after the full-time whistle. Yeovil now sit 15th in the National League – three points behind Wood.