Vincenti signs for Woking

30/07/2009 by sgmboro Leave a Comment

Peter Vincenti has left the club to join Woking. The Cards have confirmed that the Jersey born midfielder/striker will join the Blue Square South club on a three month loan deal. It makes sense for all parties involved really. Although Westley gave Vincenti a new contract at the beginning of the summer, the former Millwall player doesn’t look likely to be in the first team plans at Broadhall Way. Woking need players and in Vincenti they’ve got someone who is always 100% committed. He may just find his level down there.

We’ve seen flashes of PV’s potential in the 18 months or so he has been here. Fantastic goals against Woking and Crawley stand out, while late winner’s against Kettering and Ebbsfleet in the FA Trophy Semi-Final also seem to be Vincenti’s trademark.  Since Peter Taylor signed him from Millwall he has become a sort of cult hero at Broadhall Way. The supporters admired his professionalism in handling being told by Westley he wasn’t needed and the way he forced himself back into the first team, ending the season starting the Trophy Final at Wembley. However, for all his commitment, PV isn’t the most technically gifted of players. He also lacks a bit positionally and may suit BSS football better.

Funnily enough his first game as a contracted Woking player could be against Boro on Saturday when Graham Westley’s side travel to Kingfield for their last pre-season friendly. It’s amazing to think that the new season is just 9 days away. It doesn’t seem long ago at all we were celebrating winning the Trophy at Wembley against York. To be honest, this year’s pre-season has flown by. The first game against Chelmsford only seems like it happened yesterday, but it is now over two weeks ago. Boro seem to have had a more compact pre-season this year than in previous years, opting to play less friendlies. I wonder if that will have a positive effect on the team’s start to the new campaign?

Before the Woking game though there is a game on Friday night against Southend United at Broadhall Way. Boro will be looking to bounce back after 2 straight defeats and 3 games without a win. Of course results aren’t that important when it comes to pre-season friendlies, but the team will not want to go into the Tamworth game on the back of a run of defeats. Southend will also be looking to finish their pre-season campaign on a high. It’s the Shrimps’ last game before they open their League 1 season at home to Huddersfield Town.

Overall, it’s been a positive pre-season for Steve Tilson’s side. They began with 4 straight victories, although they were all against non-league teams. Two defeats followed against Ipswich Town and more disappointingly Dagenham & Redbridge. However, they bounced back with a 1-0 win in mid-week over scum Barnet. A late goal from Francis Laurent was enough to give the Essex side victory over their weaker opponents. I expect Southend to be at full strength tomorrow night. That may mean that Tilson hands debuts to new loan signings Matt Heath and former Boro loanee John White. Other familiar names to the BHW crowd will be another former Stevenage loanee in Lee Barnard and ex Woking striker Kevin Betsy.

Stevenage will be without Mitchell Cole, who was stretchered off in the 2-0 defeat by Peterborough United on Tuesday night. Cole is suspected to have broken a bone in his foot, although the club haven’t confirmed anything regarding his latest injury. It’s a disappointing blow for both Boro and Cole, but what Stevenage have this year is strength in depth and either Joel Byrom or Yemi Odubade look likely to profit from Cole’s absence. Other than Cole’s injury, Boro have had a healthy pre-season, so far! However, Graham Westley will not want any more names added to the Stevenage treatment room ahead of the Tamworth game next week. I expect Westley to put his first eleven out for the Southend game, before playing his ‘fringe’ players at Kingfield on Saturday.

Stevenage Squad

Ashley Bayes, Chris Day, Lawrie Wilson, Scott Laird, Ronnie Henry, Jon Ashton, Mark Roberts, Mark Albrighton, Eddie Odhiambo, Michael Bostwick, Stacy Long, Peter Vincenti, David Bridges, Chris Doyle, Darren Murphy, Andy Drury, Joel Byrom, Yemi Odubade, Jerome Anderson, Lee Boylan, Charlie Griffin, Chris Beardsley

Prediction: Boro 1-2 Southend

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Peterborough friendly – Live Text Updates

28/07/2009 by sgmboro 1 Comment

Peterborough warming upStevenage are up against Peterborough tonight at Broadhall Way. Updates from the game will be live here.

FULL TIME: Boro 0-2 Peterborough

BORO: Bayes, Wilson, Laird, Roberts, Ashton, Cole, Bridges, Bostwick, Long, Yemi, Boylan
SUBS: Day, Henry, Albrighton, Odhiambo, Vincenti, Murphy, Drury, Byrom, Anderson, Beardsley, Griffin

POSH: Lewis, Lee, Zakuani, Pearce, Williams, Boyd, Coutts, McLean, Batt, Rowe, Diagouraga

1 min: Boyd cross shot easily dealt with by Bayes
4 mins: Snap shot by Long saved by Joe Lewis in the Posh goal
12 mins: GOAL FOR POSH! Long ball over the top finds Batt who slots home
14 mins: Cole goes off injured with a suspected broken foot and is replaced by Chris Beardsley
16 mins: High cross from the right by Wilson easily cleared away
20 mins: A flap by Joe Lewis results in Long hitting a looping shot over the bar
22 mins: Corner for Peterborough, headed just wide by Zakuani
23 mins: Volley by Yemi just goes over the bar
29 mins: Game calming down a bit after a lively first 20 mins. Bayes tries to take on McLean!
36 mins: It’s turning out to be a typical pre-season friendly. Nothing to report from the last 10 minutes
38 mins: Long free-kick searching for Beardsley who knocks Lewis over. Free-kick given to Peterborough
39 mins: It can’t be long until the new season…the referee is having a nightmare
43 mins: Shot by Batt from the right diverted wide by Roberts
44 mins: Clash of heads between Ashton & McLean

HALF TIME: Boro 0-1 Peterborough

45 mins: Henry & Byrom on for Ashton & Yemi
47 mins: Pressure from Bearsley allows Zakuani to concede a corner
48 mins: Resulting corner punched clear by Lewis
52 mins: Bostwick fires a 30 yard plus shot which just goes over the bar
54 mins: Cross by Batt finds McLean, who’s shot is parried by Bayes
55 mins: Another shot by McLean is saved by Bayes. Corner for Peterborough
56 mins: Batt runs at the Boro defence and his shot goes behind again for another corner
58 mins: Quick from to Lee who surges forward and shoots wide. Peterborough are dominant
59 mins: Late tackle by Long on Batt. Free-kick to Posh. Taken short to Boyd who shoots wide
61 mins: Long ball by Bayes finds Wilson who wins a corner of Williams
62 mins: Peterborough substitution. Diagouraga off for McRae. Williams off for Martin
65 mins: Long shot by Byrom tipped over by Lewis
66 mins: Boro substitution. Bostwick off for Albrighton
68 mins: Cross by Long flicked to Wilson who fires over from 9 yards
69 mins: Corner for Boro falls to Byrom who shoots straight at Lewis. Roberts follows up, but is offside
70 mins: Boro substitution. Beardsley off for Griffin
73 mins: Roberts concedes a corner, which results in McRae shooting over
75 mins: Boylan booked after colliding with Lewis
76 mins: Boro substitution. Wilson off for Eddie Odhiambo. Ref still having a shocker
79 mins: Stevenage win a corner. Easily caught by Lewis
80 mins: Short backpass nearly gets Boylan in, but Zakuani recovers
81 mins: GOAL FOR POSH! 20 yard strike from Lee settles the game. No chance for Bayes
82 mins: Boro substitution. Long off for Doyle. Peterborough substitution. Batt off for Mills
83 mins: Boro substitution. Boylan off for the returning Peter Vincenti
86 mins: Great touch by McLean sets up Boyd who’s shot is tipped wide by Bayes
90 mins: 2 mins to be added on
90 mins: Cross shot from Lee tipped wide by Bayes

FULL TIME: Boro 0-2 Peterborough

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Peterborough Preview

27/07/2009 by sgmboro Leave a Comment

George Boyd returns to Broadhall Way again tomorrow night, this time though he’s a Championship player, a title Phil Wallace always said he was. What now seems like an annual fixture, Boyd’s Peterborough make the trip down the A1(M) to Stevenage to take on Graham Westley’s side. Posh were promoted for the second time in as many seasons last time around and Darren Ferguson is building something very special at London Road. The fixture down the years has always been a reasonably close encounter, although Boro have not come out on top on many occasions. Last season’s friendly at Broadhall Way saw the then League 1 side win comfortably by two goals to nil.

Peterborough are a progressive club that, under the ownership of Darren McAnthony, have propelled into the second tier of English football. For years Peterborough were just another one of those football league sides that just hover around the bottom 2 divisions and never really look like getting relegated or joining the big time. Since McAnthony has come in though, Peterborough have never looked back. Barry Fry moved upstairs and allowed Keith Alexander to come in. Together they decided to invest in the best young talent in the non-league and it’s worked a treat. Signings like Aaron McLean, Craig Mackail-Smith and George Boyd have excelled at London Road and are key players for Posh going into the 2009-2010 season in the Championship. That trend looks like continuing too as Peterborough have recently snapped up two of Crawley Town’s promising young players.

Tomorrow night’s fixture is without doubt Stevenage’s most difficult game of their pre-season campaign. Peterborough are also now the highest profile team that we’ll face this pre-season, when in previous years they have just been a division or two higher. I expect Graham Westley to put another strong side out to start with and then bring on his ‘fringe’ players as they game goes on. Westley said after the last game that he more or less knows his strongest side, but there will be players out there tomorrow night trying to force their way into the manager’s plans for the Southend game and then Tamworth a week later. Jon Ashton is one of them players that seems to have lost his place alongside Mark Roberts and he’ll need to be in fine form to dislodge Michael Bostwick from that centre back position.

As far as I know, Boro will be at full strength as there have been no injuries since the Millwall game, even though there were some very strong challenges in that game. Tomorrow night’s game will be another competitive one, although I think it will be less heated than the Millwall game. It really depends if Darren Murphy starts or not. Murphy has had a lively pre-season where he seems to have lost his temper on a number of occasions. He squared up to a player at Chelmsford and was in another altercation with a Millwall player on Saturday. That is one side that Murphy will need to sort out this season.

It should be a good game and I guarantee there will be goals of some kind. Peterborough should be too strong for Boro and I expect them to win the game comfortably. You might even see George Boyd score at Broadhall Way for a change?

Stevenage Squad

Ashley Bayes, Chris Day, Lawrie Wilson, Scott Laird, Ronnie Henry, Jon Ashton, Mark Roberts, Mark Albrighton, Eddie Odhiambo, Michael Bostwick, Stacy Long, Peter Vincenti, David Bridges, Darren Murphy, Andy Drury, Mitchell Cole, Joel Byrom, Yemi Odubade, Jerome Anderson, Lee Boylan, Charlie Griffin, Chris Beardsley

Prediction: Boro 1-3 Peterborough

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Boro 1-2 Morison

26/07/2009 by sgmboro Leave a Comment

It was always going to happen wasn’t it?

Steve Morison returned to Broadhall Way for the first time since his summer move to League 1 Millwall and fired both goals as the South London side beat Boro to condemn Graham Westley’s side to their first defeat this pre-season. Morison started the game for his new employers and was given a warm reception by the Boro fans as he wore the number 9 shirt for the Lions. Boro started with in a 4-4-1-1 formation with Stacy Long playing just behind Charlie Griffin. Mitchell Cole and Lawrie Wilson operated the wings, whilst Joel Byrom partnered Darren Murphy in centre midfield. Ex Millwall players Chris Day and Michael Bostwick faced their former club.

Although Stevenage were beat yesterday, the performance showed enough to give the Boro fans some optimism with the first game of the new season just 2 weeks away. Millwall were a lot more professional than Brighton were a week ago and I expect that Kenny Jackett’s side will be in with a shout of promotion from League 1 again this season. With just two weeks until Tamworth visit Broadhall Way, then there isn’t a lot of time left for Graham Westley and his staff to get the squad prepared. So far they have looked good this pre-season. It’s been a far more settled summer this year and I think that will help the club when the begin the campaign. That ‘running’ start may just happen this season?

Next up for Boro is a home game against Peterborough United on Tuesday night. After that they face Southend on Friday night before travelling down to Woking for their last pre-season game.

The 3 next games will not be easy. The two home games are against established league sides and they both will be looking for promotion in their respective leagues this coming season. The Woking game isn’t just a ‘friendly’ against a Conference South club. The rivalry between the clubs may have mellowed in recent years, but there will still be an edge to the game next Saturday. Boro will be looking to hit top gear by the time Southend visit Broadhall Way, so that should be a good game to go down and watch.

In other news, former Boro goalkeeper Dean Greygoose has retired from the game. Greygoose, now 44,  made 23 appearances for the club from 2001/2002. He most previously played for Bury Town, but has decided to call it a day after an amazing 27 year long career. Another ex Boro player making a move this summer is Santos Gaia. The Brazilian FA Trophy winner has decided to join Truro City after being released by Weymouth. He joins former Exeter City teammate’s Leslie Afful, Danny Clay and Barry McConell.

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Boro held at Cambridge while Vincenti plays for Woking?

22/07/2009 by sgmboro Leave a Comment

Cambridge City denied Boro their 3rd straight pre-season victory with a 1-1 draw at Milton Road. After an impressive win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, Stevenage were held to a battling draw by the Southern League side. Boro boss Graham Westley opted to start with a weakened 11, with the likes of Ashley Bayes, Eddie Odhiambo and Mark Albrighton playing the full 90 minutes, while reserve players Jerome Anderson and Chris Doyle made appearances too. Cambridge fielded their strongest side with the 14 contracted players playing as well as a couple of trialists who were out to impress manager Gary Roberts.

It looked like it was going to be another Boro win when Lee Boylan put Westley’s side ahead from the penalty spot. Bridges won the spot kick after being fouled in the area and Boylan stepped up to send the goalkeeper the wrong way. City though didn’t give up and were soon level when Ashton fouled Midgley and the former Canvey Island striker got up and scored from the spot.

It may not of been the result that Stevenage would of hoped for, but it’s another game and another 90 minutes for some players as they continue to get fit and ready for August 8th and the visit of Tamworth. I think the run out against Cambridge has done a lot of the ‘fringe’ players some good. It was their chance last night to prove to GW that they deserve to be in the starting 11, although they’re not quite in the first team plans at the moment.

Another player not quite in Westley’s plans at the moment is Peter Vincenti.

After being awarded a new 1 year contract with a 1 year option, Vincenti has been a bit part member of the squad so far this pre-season. He was an unused substitute last week against Chelmsford before making a late substitute appearance against Brighton at the weekend.

I don’t really know what Westley’s plans are for PV?

I thought that by giving him a new contract last summer that he would have some part to play in the forthcoming season either as a squad player or player with the potential to become a regular. I don’t think he’ll ever be a regular at Broadhall Way, but I do think he’s a useful player to bring off the bench to change a game. He can make a difference when he comes on as a substitute as we saw a few times last season, for example against Kettering at home. However, he has now been sent down to Woking on trial to see if the Blue Square South club are interested in taking the Jersey born player on loan. He played for them last night in a 4-1 friendly defeat by Fulham. Here’s a few quotes from some Woking fans on CardBoard.

“I was impressed with Vincenti, though he didn’t seem to suggest he will score a bucket load of goals. That said, it’s only 1 game and I would be happy if he signed on loan.” Cardsharp

“Someone who actually chased down the keeper, can’t remember seeing us do that once last season.” Sicknote

“Peter Vincenti (sp?) looked lively and committed.” Meerkat

It sounds like PV put in a very typical performance last night. He does lack a bit in technical ability, but never fails to put in 100% and I think would be a very astute signing for Woking. I can see him being a big target man for a quicker striker and that’s something that would work very well in the Conference South. It’s wait and see for Vincenti.

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Boro beat Brighton plus preview of Cambridge City game

20/07/2009 by sgmboro Leave a Comment

Stevenage continued their impressive start to pre-season with a 2-1 victory over Brighton. I didn’t get to the game, but after reading the reports on the forum and Comet it sounds like it was a well deserved win over the League 1 opposition. Even some Brighton players, media and fans on their message board have stated that Boro were well worth the victory and the team looked good enough to be a league side.

“Defeat this early to a sharp, lively and energetic Stevenage Borough outfit need not put a dampener on things. The Conference side were good value for their win.” Brighton Argus

Things are looking really good at Broadhall Way at the minute. It reminds me of the ‘buzz’ that was around the club when Mark Stimson’s Stevenage went top early in the 2007/2008 campaign. Graham Westley’s new signings seem to have settled in straight away and the team is improving all the time. Stacy Long seems to be the name that keeps cropping on the forum. I said when he signed that he would be a good signing as he is a technically gifted player, but if I’m honest, I couldn’t see where he fitted in the current team? However, he has begun his Boro career superbly with a good cameo appearance on Wednesday at Chelmsford as well as starring on Saturday. I think he’ll be an important player in the coming season, which doesn’t bode well for Peter Vincenti?

Next up for Boro is a trip to non league opposition on Tuesday night. This time it’s Cambridge City at Milton Road and I expect it will be a mixed squad that face the Southern League side. With Millwall on Saturday, GW will not want to over exhaust his players so I think it will be a ‘reserve’ team to start, before more first teamers come in at the later stages. Players like Peter Vincenti, Eddie Odhiambo and Jerome Anderson may get their chance to impress after limited action so far this pre-season and they are 3 players that need to prove the most.

Cambridge City go into the game after a 1-1 draw against Mildenhall Town. So far, City have played 3 games against Cambridge Utd, Biggleswade Town and Mildenhall respectively and drew with them all. They began their campaign against the other team in Cambridge and held the Blue Square Premier side to a 2-2 draw. City finished 4th last season in the Southern League, but lost out in the play-offs. They are not a bad side, but they shouldn’t give Boro a big problem tomorrow night. City are the lowest team in the pyramid that Boro will face this pre-season and it should mean that GW’s side get a nice workout and a few goals as well which will give the attackers some confidence.

Directions to Cambridge City FC

Stevenage Squad

Ashley Bayes, Chris Day, Lawrie Wilson, Scott Laird, Ronnie Henry, Jon Ashton, Mark Roberts, Mark Albrighton, Eddie Odhiambo, Michael Bostwick, Stacy Long, Peter Vincenti, David Bridges, Darren Murphy, Andy Drury, Mitchell Cole, Joel Byrom, Yemi Odubade, Jerome Anderson, Lee Boylan, Charlie Griffin, Chris Beardsley

Prediction: Cambridge City 1-4 Boro

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Brighton Preview

18/07/2009 by sgmboro 1 Comment

Tomorrow sees the return of football to Broadhall Way as Brighton come to town in the second friendly of the season. It should prove to be a good test for Boro, who began their pre season preparations with a solid win away at Chelmsford on Wednesday night. It will be the first opportunity for many to see the likes of Yemi Odubade, Stacy Long, Joel Byrom, Chris Beardsley and Charlie Griffin in a Boro shirt and it could be the new shirt that they play in tomorrow afternoon.

Brighton, now managed by former Scarborough and Yeovil boss Russell Slade, will bring a strong squad up to Stevenage as they look to build on the win and draw they’ve already managed in their first 2 games of pre-season. They began with a 2-0 victory over Havant & Waterlooville, but were disappointingly held by Worthing most recently. Slade is looking to improve Brighton’s fortunes after the club narrowly avoided relegation to League 2 last season. Some of the signings that Brighton have brought in this summer include former Derby striker Liam Dickinson, Michael Ricketts and ex MK Dons winger Mark Wright. Their squad now has a much more healthier look to it and I expect a top half finish from the Seagulls this coming season.

As for Boro, the same sort of team is expected to start again tomorrow afternoon. Westley picked arguably his strongest 11 on Wednesday and I expect the same again against Brighton. It will once again be another game with changes happening throughout, but that’s always the case in the early stages of pre-season. The only injury doubt I’d say for Boro would be Ronnie Henry. The Boro right back was on the end of some tough tackles against Chelmsford and it’s possible he may have a knock or two. Other than that it should be a full bill of health as far as we are concerned.

This game will give GW and co a good indication of where the team is at regarding it’s fitness levels. I’d expect Brighton to be a bit more sharper considering they have played the one game more and been in training a while longer. It will be a different test to Wednesday night when Boro didn’t really have to get out of second gear to control the game and win in the end. Against Brighton they will have to compete and perform well to win the game, but to be honest at this stage of the season, winning isn’t the paramount objective.

Stevenage Squad

Ashley Bayes, Chris Day, Lawrie Wilson, Scott Laird, Ronnie Henry, Jon Ashton, Mark Roberts, Mark Albrighton, Eddie Odhiambo, Michael Bostwick, Stacy Long, Peter Vincenti, David Bridges, Darren Murphy, Andy Drury, Mitchell Cole, Joel Byrom, Yemi Odubade, Jerome Anderson, Lee Boylan, Charlie Griffin, Chris Beardsley

Prediction: Boro 1-2 Brighton

Lastly here is an interview from the Southwark News about Steve Morison and his move to Millwall this summer. Here’s a quote from Morison from the article.

“I haven’t failed to score less than 25 goals a year in the past 3 seasons and hopefully I can bring goals to the team. I have a decent presence, I’m quite good in the air and I’m reasonably strong. My all round game is not bad and I create goals as much as I score them” Morison on his strengths

It isn’t long until Millwall visit Broadhall Way and we get to see just how well he has settled in with his new team and whether he looks like he can play with them players. Whilst I think Morison will do well at The New Den, I don’t think he’ll be hitting 25 goals a season in League 1. You’re not that good Steve!

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