AFTER a 1-0 victory over Southend United at Huish Park on Saturday, Yeovil Town manager Terry Skiverton stopped short of calling Dean Bowditch his "fox-in-the-box" – but he clearly believes that the returning goal hero will make a big difference to the Glovers in the remainder of this Coca-Cola League One campaign.

Bowditch scored on his Town debut against Tranmere on the opening day of the season but then spent three months out of action after dislocating his shoulder. He made his comeback ahead of schedule against Southend – and scored within seven minutes of coming on as a substitute.

"That's two goals in 75 minutes now, not that I'm counting!" joked Bowditch after his dramatic introduction. "It was the perfect way to come back after so long out and the script just seemed to be written for me.

"I was just in the right place at the right time and the ball hit my bad shoulder on its way into the net, which is a bit ironic."

Yeovil have missed Bowditch's clinical finishing during his enforced absence and wasted a string of opportunities on Saturday before the former Ipswich Town marksman broke the deadlock.

Skiverton was excited at the prospect of fielding the 23-year-old in his Yeovil line-up before the start of the season, only to be robbed of his services when he fell awkwardly under a challenge from Tranmere's Shaleum Logan.

Bowditch's return ahead of schedule will finally allow the Glovers to call on the man the manager claims is the most natural goalscorer in his squad. The evidence supported Skiverton's view on Saturday as Bowditch nearly added a second goal just minutes after his first, being denied by former Town goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall.

After three months out of action, the Hertfordshire-born hit-man can surely only improve over the coming weeks. Bowditch waited for his chance from the bench on Saturday as Jon Obika was handed the lone striking role in the absence of the injured Sam Williams.

Skiverton was forced into a further re-shuffle as Nathan Jones, Shaun MacDonald and Terrell Forbes were also ruled out. Forbes was unable to play after feeling ill in the pre-match warm-up, with Stefan Stam drafted into defence. The late drama did not affect the Glovers, as they dominated the first half against a Southend side also hit by an injury crisis.

Yeovil captain Craig Alcock came close to an opening goal on 17 minutes when he met Scott Murray's corner with a thumping header which cannoned back off a post.

Ten minutes later the impressive Mildenhall rescued his side with a smart save, keeping out Murray's low shot with his feet. The goalkeeper also saved well from Obika, while Steven Caulker headed just over from another corner.

Southend were at full stretch, and on-loan Swindon Town defender Sean Morrison overstepped the mark on his debut on the half hour.

A sublime pass from Ryan Mason sent Obika racing clear and Morrison pulled him back just outside the penalty area. Referee David Phillips judged the offence a professional foul and showed the Plymouth-born player a red card to reduce the Shrimpers to ten men.

Mason curled the resulting free-kick just wide of the target, but Yeovil continued to create chances and Mildenhall again denied Murray before the break.

Town's best chance fell to Andy Welsh, after a dreadful error from Alan McCormack, but the winger lifted his shot over the crossbar from close range.

In the second half Murray was guilty of wasting a great chance when his control let him down at the crucial moment, but the Glovers kept pouring forward.

Mason drilled a shot narrowly wide after a neat turn on the edge of the area, while Welsh was thwarted by a last-ditch tackle from Anthony Grant. Mildenhall excelled himself again on 64 minutes when he smothered Mason's shot after the midfielder was sent up by Alcock's pinpoint pass.

With 20 minutes left, Skiverton decided to introduce the predatory Bowditch in the hope of finding the finishing touch his side had been missing. It took him less than seven minutes to make an impact, although he knew little about the goal. Obika smashed a volley at goal and the ball deflected off Bowditch's shoulder past a helpless Mildenhall.

"It really doesn't matter how he scored the goal – it just matters than he scored," Skiverton said. "He just has the knack of being in the right place at the right time."