Dino Maamria hails Stevenage’s patience and quality in narrow Yeovil win

Stevenage boss Dino Maamria hailed his side’s patience and quality after they saw off a stubborn Yeovil thanks to a second-half strike from Alex Revell.

Maamria felt his side had dominated from the first minute and deserved more goals in a crucial 1-0 victory that keeps Stevenage in touch with the League Two play-off places.

Yeovil were earlier left incensed after the linesman had ruled out a Tom James free-kick on the hour mark for offside.

But Maamria instead chose to concentrate on his own side’s performance rather than comment on the controversial moment in the game.

“In the first half, we were very good,” he said. “Actually, I thought we were better in the first half than the second half.

“The only thing we lacked in the first half was a goal.

“I thought, first half we totally dominated the game, we played on the front foot and what I asked them before the game was the total opposite of what we did last week.

“And that’s go on the front foot and show people that we intend to go and win the game.

“In the second half, it was a great finish by Rev (Alex Revell).

“But we had to keep composed. Games like these end up a frustrating nil-nil. We might score in the first minute, we might score in the last minute, but we’ve got to be patient.”

Yeovil began the brighter and Alex Dobre’s driven left-footed shot flashed past Paul Farman’s far post.

The hosts were growing into the contest though and only a superb reflex save from Nathan Baxter – via a deflection – denied Michael Timlin, while Johnny Hunt struck the post.

But Yeovil were left aggrieved after the break when James’ free-kick went straight in, only for the linesman to rule it out for offside with top scorer Alex Fisher in close attendance.

It proved a turning point as Stevenage captain Revell’s smart run and finish from debutant substitute Jordan Gibson’s cross proved decisive with 18 minutes remaining.

Yeovil manager Darren Way said: “It was no different from our goal against Carlisle. That’s what Tom James does really well from that wide area.

“He makes good contact with the ball, it’s on target, the keeper’s position was wrong, and we find ourselves punished.

“To go down the other end in a short spell of time and concede like we did, we were disappointed with that.

“I’ve always felt, certainly as an attacking threat, we spent all of pre-season where we were very effective in the final third, working on that.

“I just feel that, away from home, good solid results are based on clean sheets. And that’s what we’ve done well when we were having our good run of form – and we’ve got to get back to that.”