Big problems for Yeovil today with Chris Sparks and Jamie Pitman suspended in addition to the cast of what seems like thousands but is probably more like half-a-dozen senior players on the injured list. The team virtually picked itself in the end although once again Jason Eaton had to be content with a place on the bench, along with head coach Steve Thompson and three reservists, including new signing Ellis Willmot.

The proceedings began on a sombre note today, with the crowd immaculately observing a minute's silence in remembrance of ex-Yeovil player and local boy Paul Muir, who died last week, aged 35.

Yeovil had the best of the early pressure, passing the ball with confidence across the pitch, which although is beginning to look heavy is standing up to the rigours of the season far better than it did at this time last year. Evidently the work done on the playing surface in the summer is paying off. The Glovers forced a couple of early corners which came to nothing, Rob Cousins shooting wide off one, but it wasn't to be long before their early dominance was to be rewarded.

In the 7th minute Ben Smith managed to beat the Boro offside trap we have all come to know and dislike over the years and fizzed over a perfect cross onto the head of the Adrian FOSTER who's header found the back of the net via the post, leaving keeper Chris Taylor with no chance. A couple of minutes later some overhead trickery from Warren Patmore let David Piper burst through the visitors defence, but the wing-back's shot skimmed over the bar. Patmore himself came close just after, but his snap shot from inside the area was screwed wide.

Gradually however the visitors were beginning to come back into the game. Yeovil seemed content to defend deeply, too deeply for this reporter's peace of mind and judging by the comments from around me too deeply for most of the crowd as well. Yet for all of the possession Boro enjoyed for the rest of the half, actual chances created were few and far between. The dangerous Carl Alford was being expertly shepherded by Terry Skiverton at the back with Kevan Brown and Dean Chandler assisting and mopping up where necessary.

In what was becoming a rare Yeovil attack Rob Cousins hit the post after Paul Tisdale put him through, but the final word in the half went to Boro. An Alford flick on found Danny Hockton with only Tony Pennock to beat. The Boro forward rounded Pennock but pushed the ball too far wide of the goal before trying to cut the ball back into the net from an acute angle. Dean Chandler had time to clear off the line.

More of the same in the second half: Stevenage were having most of the play but not really hurting the home side for all of their possession. That final killer pass just wasn't coming off for them. Then, in the 51st minute, disaster struck for the visitors. Lee Howarth received the ball out wide and deep in his half. His cross-field pass was intercepted by the lurking Adrian FOSTER who probably couldn't believe his luck while he was shooting past Chris Taylor to make it 2-0 to The Glovers.

Stevenage were stung and tried to hit back immediately, Danny Hockton forcing Tony Pennock into an excellent reaction save shortly afterwards. Michael Love shot weakly wide when in a good position inside the Yeovil area, and when Tony Pennock saved a free-kick from just outside the box it seemed that the home side had weathered the storm.

Wrong! On the 71st minute mark Danny Hockton's cross-cum-shot was parried by Penock in the Yeovil goal, but only as far as Ryan KIRBY, who shot into the empty net to make it it 2-1 and to set up a nailbiting final quarter for both sets of fans.

I said to the boys before the game, I can do all the talking I like, at the end of the day, you've got to go out and produce the goods. You've got to play with the heart and commitment, the determination, the ability, the intelligence, all the things that go towards making a good performance. It's a whole package, and some players can lack certain parts of that package. But the commitment was 100% today, and that's the way it's got to be in every game.

The thing with Carl Alford, is that he is obviously a very good player - he's top scorer in the Conference. Our plan was to keep him out of the box, and in the first half we did that very well, as we played much higher than normal. In the second half, we got pushed deeper and deeper, partly due to the fact that they were basically on top during the second half, and partly due to a very strong wind. I felt it pick up in the second half, and I think it was hard to play against that wind. It was a real battle out there, although without them creating too many real chances. So, yes I've got to be pleased about the way we dealt with a very good striker.

In terms of possession, we needed to have more possession, but in terms of clear cut chances, I don't think that after that five minute period after they scored that they created another clear cut chance. I'm obviously pleased about that. I would like to have had a bit more possession than we had in the last 20 minutes, because obviously when the other team has got the ball they can score a goal, and we've got the ball they can't. But they didn't have the clear cut chances, and I think that was down to a combination of us defending well, and them putting in some poor crosses when they were in some good positions.

Adrian Foster's were priceless goals. If you look at his goals per game record, I expect it is very good. I'd pat him on the back for his goals, but with his booking, he kicked it away and he'd gone to get it, but I could sort of understand the referee booking him, but he'd only kicked it away a tiny bit. He'd realised his mistake right, but that seems to be enough nowadays. I'm annoyed that he's been booked because I'm going to be missing a valuable player for two games. He's probably out for the Trophy, and so he's a hero and a sinner all in one day.

C0MMENTS

MATCH RATING - 7.2 (Out of 10)
Performance 7.5
Entertainment 7