FC Boro

Stevenage’s recent upturn in form continued at Cambridge today as Mitchell Cole’s 90th minute penalty earned Boro another point in their pursuit to break into the play-offs. After the hard earned draw at Oxford last weekend and convincing victory at home to Rushden on Boxing Day, confidence is high again in the Boro camp as they prepare for the return trip to Nene Park to face Rushden on New Year’s Day.

Things didn’t start well though as Scott Rendell scored, again, against Boro to give the U’s the lead. It was a comfortable finish for the striker on loan from Peterborough, but it was poor defending from Stevenage. Dan Gleeson was allowed far too much time to get a cross in after a corner and Rendell showed his predatory instincts to put Cambridge in front. Although United looked dangerous going forward, I always felt Boro could counter and score themselves. The defence of Hatswell and Bolland didn’t look secure all afternoon and maybe if Boro had Morison and Boylan fit, then it could of been a different game. Willock had a poor game and failed to win anything in the air all day, which was where most of the play was. The overall team performance and work ethic was good, but the style of play is still long ball crap.

Cambridge nearly doubled their lead midway through the first half when a run down the right by Wilmott found Rendell who’s shot was saved only to the feet of Holroyd who scored with the rebound. However, as the U’s were celebrating their second, it was disallowed for offside, although the game should of been stopped earlier when the ball was knocked out of play by Wilmott. Boro also had chances up the other end with both Willock and Bridges going close.

After half time, it was Boro that came closest to scoring again when an Andy Drury free-kick looked like nestling in the corner, but Danny Potter tipped it around the post. Bizarrely, the referee then failed to give a corner. It was one of the many poor decisions the man in black made all afternoon. Cambridge had another chance to seal the 3 points later on in the half when Holroyd went clear after an Albrighton mistake, but Day made himself big and saved low down. That was about all Cambridge threatened after that and once Anaclet was replaced for Anderson, Boro seemed to improve and look more balanced going forward. Cole was also getting into the game more now, cutting in from the left and looking to supply Willock.

Despite Boro’s efforts, 90 minutes ticked by with Cambridge still in front, until David Bridges surged into the area before being fouled by Gleeson, who was then sent off after protesting about the decision, to give Boro an injury time penalty. Mitchell Cole, who was captain for the day, wrong-footed Potter and sent the 406 travelling Boro fans into raptures. It was what Boro deserved after a hard working performance. If Westley was an attack minded coach then we could of possibly gone on to win the game when we had a corner late on, but instead Vincenti and Cole kept the ball in the corner to try and save the point. Job done at the end of the day and Rushden next on Thursday. It is coming together slowly and hopefully with some new arrivals in January we can push on in the New Year and try and get into the play-offs come May?