YEOVIL Town manager Terry Skiverton was quick to praise his medical team after Dean Bowditch netted the winning goal against Southend United on his return from injury.

Bowditch had been out of action since dislocating his shoulder on the opening day of the season against Tranmere Rovers.

The former Ipswich Town striker subsequently underwent surgery and was expected to be out until the New Year. But he came back ahead of schedule to net the only goal of the game against the Shrimpers – scoring with the aid of his bad shoulder.

"We all know what Dean can do, and we got robbed of him earlier on this season when he got his injury," Skiverton said. "Special credit has to go to my physiotherapist, Simon Baker, who has got Dean back around two and a half to three months earlier than he should have done.

"It's credit to Simon and 'Doc' Simmonds, who are behind the scenes. They have done a fantastic job in the rehab of all the players.

"It isn't just Dean. Stefan Stam has been out for nearly a month and a half and not played any football, but has come in and played 90 minutes.

"There's people like Scott Murray as well who came back in today. I'm not having people coming in now and saying I can only give you 60 minutes. They're coming in, ready to play a full game."

Murray was recalled after striker Sam Williams dropped out with a groin injury, while Stam returned at very short notice.

Terrell Forbes was originally named on the Yeovil team-sheet but succumbed to illness just 20 minutes before kick off.

Skiverton added: "It was in the warm-ups to be honest. He came back out, he gave it a go. Terrell is a very honest lad.

"He came back in and he said I really apologise, gaffer, but I can't carry on. To be fair, the poor bloke was nearly in tears.

"I was quite surprised really, because Terrell is a big strong person, and he felt like he'd let the team down.

"But I let him know that I've done that a couple of times myself. It was the best thing for him. Terrell has been fantastic for me this year."

Ryan Mason was again named man-of-the-match for Yeovil after another impressive performance playing just behind lone striker Jon Obika. The on-loan Spurs teenager tormented Southend with his passing and movement, with the Shrimpers' defender Sean Morrison being sent off after Mason sent Obika racing clear.

Skiverton added: "I think that sometimes our supporters don't realise the way that we are trying to play football. We're not just going to lump it in the box and go long. We're going to play a technical game, which is to move people about, and, when that final ball is ready, it will present itself.

"We're not going to try and force it. The way that Southend played was very difficult. They played a 4-4-1 and they were very difficult to break down. They sat in their holes. But we still created loads of chances.

"I felt that the areas that Ryan Mason picked up, that they couldn't pick him up, and he was always dangerous."