Next stop Hitchin
Posted by sgmboro on 16/07/2008
After last night’s impressive performance away at Gillingham, Boro are again on the road tomorrow night when they face Hitchin Town at Top Field. The Canaries, managed by former Stevenage striker Darran Hay, have begun pre-season well after they beat crisis club Luton 4-1 on Monday night. With QPR on Saturday I expect the Boro team will be more of a reserve line up, meaning players like Liam McDevitt and Luke Cole have another chance to impress Graham Westley.
McDevitt was one of the stand out performers from last night’s victory over Gillingham. He partnered Luke Oliver in the first half and kept strikers Simeon Jackson and Gary Mulligan reasonably quiet. Most of the Gills’ chances came from their midfield with Andrew Crofts hitting the post and Adam Miller going close with a toe poke. This pre-season will be particularly important for McDevitt as he tries to force his way into Boro’s first team. With only 3 out and out centre halves currently at the club then there is certainly a place if he performs well.
Setanta have also announced that 3 of Boro’s matches in September and October will be screened live, meaning changes to kick off times. The trip to Grays, originally a Tuesday night is now 2 days later on Thursday 25th September 2008. The home game against Mansfield is also to be shown on TV, but doesn’t affect the fixture schedule. The trip to Eastbourne though has been changed and will now be on Sunday 12th October at 1.30pm. This was originally a 3pm kick off on the Saturday. The full amended fixture list can be seen here.
There has also been an amendment to the pre-season fixture list with the game at Hendon now being played at Wembley FC’s Vale Farm ground instead of the clubs’ Claremont Road ground. The pitch at Hendon’s home hasn’t recovered in time to play the match.
Lastly ex Boro striker Tes Bramble may find it a bit harder to find a new club after he was banned from driving after being found guilty of drink driving. Bramble apparently only had a provisional license and no insurance and has been banned for 3 years as a result. I suppose he has an excuse for not turning up to that trial at Kettering a few weeks back!
