FC Boro

Stevenage are actually in action tonight as they travel to Nene Park to face Rushden & Diamonds in the Setanta Shield. What team will be put out nobody knows and to be honest not to many could care either. I’d expect Graham Westley to treat it like a reserve fixture and play players that are on the fringes of the first team or just coming back from injury. If you are making the trip then don’t expect to see the Morisons and Coles in Northants. The fixture comes just 4 days before Boro’s, arguably, biggest game of the season when they face Leicester City at the Walkers Stadium and I’m sure the key players will be rested for the weekend.

Last season Boro played just the one game in the Setanta Shield, losing away against Woking. Again the teams that day weren’t the strongest and then manager Peter Taylor wanted to keep his players fresh for the next league game against Rushden on Boxing Day. Aldershot won last season’s competition, completing the double after also winning the Blue Square Premier.

Tonight’s game is the first time back at Nene Park for former Diamonds’ boss Graham Westley. He was generally liked during his time in Irthlingborough so I think he’ll get a warm reception. Rushden may play a stronger team than Boro with plenty of the Diamonds’ players seeming to have a point to prove to manager Garry Hill and no game at the weekend to worry about.

There was another game involving Stevenage last night as the Youth side played Thurrock in the first round of the FA Youth Cup. Unfortunately Boro went down 3-2 against their Essex opponents, meaning that there will not be a repeat of the Cup run the team enjoyed last season, when they were eventually knocked out by giants Chelsea. Losing against lower league opposition is a big setback for Boro and manager Colin Read. I wonder if the changes made to the Youth set up over the summer has had any effect and could be the reason for the early knock-out?