QPR next up for Boro

Stevenage beat BGB Southern side Hitchin Town last night to record their second win of pre-season. After winning at Gillingham on Tuesday, confidence was high going into the game at Topfield. Graham Westley decided to adopt a similar approach to the game with 2 sides in either half. The first half team was a “reserve” line up, although it did feature Lee Boylan and Mark Albrighton who didn’t play at Gillingham on Tuesday night. The second half team was the more stronger of the two and after being 2-0 down at half-time, recovered to win the game 4-2.

Goals from Ian Draycott and Russell Ball had threatened to upset Boro’s pre-season record, but once GW brought on the likes of Steve Morison, Mitchell Cole and Daryl McMahon, the game swung heavily in Boro’s favour and in the end ran out comfortable winners. It’s good to see Mitchell Cole looking like he is getting back to somewhere near his best. Last season Cole had a difficult time with injuries and lack of form, but both the summer break and the England “C” games seem to have done him the world of good.

Anthony Thomas also opened his account for Boro last night with a 30 yard “thunderbolt”. Thomas has been arguably the most promising of the new signings so far this pre-season and seems to have developed a good understanding with Steve Morison. When Thomas left Barnet, some of their fans said that he should of stayed at Underhill and that he was capable of doing the unexpected. Should be interesting to see how he performs at a level below this season.

Tomorrow afternoon sees our first home game of pre-season against the “richest” club in the world, QPR. The Championship club are likely to bring a strong squad up to Broadhall Way including new signings Matteo Alberti and Samuel Di Carmine. Meanwhile Boro may opt to play a stronger team for the majority of the game and maybe bring the other squad members on at some point. It’s the first home game of Graham Westley’s second stint at Broadhall Way and he feels like he has never been away.

“It doesn’t feel as though I’ve been away. The fans were really good at Gillingham, even though it was an away game, and very welcoming.”

It’s another busy week ahead for Boro. After QPR tomorrow, George Boyd’s Peterborough United visit Broadhall Way. A trip to Hendon 2 days later follows before Peter Taylor returns to Stevenage with his new Wycombe Wanderers side.