Yeovil Town fell to a cruel 1-0 defeat to Chesterfield at the Technique Stadium.
Despite creating better chances throughout, a wonder strike from Jim Kellerman was the difference between two evenly matched teams.
The Glovers huffed and puffed until the end, but the hosts hung on for a narrow victory.
Darren Sarll made three changes to the side that was held by Maidenhead. Jordan Barnett & Matt Worthington returned to the midfield in the place of Lawson D’Ath & Alex Bradley, whilst Olufela Olomola missed out entirely with Adi Yussuf returning to the side against his former club.
Yeovil were firmly on top in the opening stages of the game, and it only took six minutes for a chance to fall. Charlie Wakefield lobbed Scott Loach with his header, but as it trickled towards goal, Knowles was beaten to the ball by a Chesterfield defender.
With 15 minutes on the clock, the Glovers really should’ve been in front. Jordan Barnett’s delivery was met brilliantly by Luke Wilkinson who saw his effort somehow saved by Scott Loach!
It took until the 23rd minute for Chesterfield to create an opening for themselves. Former Chesterfield player Grant Smith well saved Laurence Maguire’s header.
Following the chance, the hosts grew into the game more but did little in terms of a goal threat.
At the other end, Knowles was a continued thorn in the Chesterfield side, hammering the crossbar in the 44th minute after an effort from the right channel.
Completely against the run of play, the hosts found a way in front via a spectacular strike from Jim Kellerman from around 25-yards which left Smith stranded.
After a bright and dominant start to the first half, the same couldn’t be said about the second, with the hosts enjoying a lot of the ball, but doing very little with it.
It took until the hour mark for Yeovil to go close again. After a foul on Wakefield, captain Wilkinson stepped up for the free-kick 20-yards from goal and fired narrowly wide.
Yeovil’s best chance to equalise fell to Adi Yussuf who really should’ve levelled the scoring as the ball dropped to him inside the six-yard box following a long throw.
Despite pressure from the Glovers and several attacking changes, it wasn’t to be for the Glovers who fell to a defeat in Derbyshire.
Yeovil Town: Smith; Williams, Wilkinson, Barclay, Little; Staunton, Worthington (D’Ath), Barnett (Lo-Everton); Knowles, Wakefield, Yussuf (Reid)
Bookings: Barclay
Subs not used: Evans, Bradley
