FC Boro

Stevenage made it into the draw for the second round of the FA Cup after a superb performance up at Port Vale. Boro dominated the game in long spells and were unlucky not to win the game comfortably. Vale looked poor and I think underestimated the task ahead of them. Boro manager Graham Westley will be delighted with his side’s performance after ripping the League 2 club apart for the majority of the game, but will be frustrated that missed chances again cost his side winning away from home for the second weekend in a row.

In my opinion Westley named his strongest side available to him. Cole started on the left and was a constant threat. Bostwick partnered Bridges in midfield while Andy Drury returned from injury to play on the right. Charlie Griffin again partnered Yemi Odubade up front. Port Vale had the experienced Jason Jarrett in midfield while former Northampton striker Marc Richards partnered loanee Lewis Haldane in attack for the home side. There were a few names that I could recognise in their side, but to be honest most of them I had never heard of.

Boro dominated the game right from the kick off. Yemi was again a threat in behind the Vale defence while Laird and Cole were linking up well down the left. Andy Drury was given a bit of a free role which allowed Yemi to run on either flank. It seemed to work as the Vale defence struggled to keep track of the Nigerian. For all of our possession though, we couldn’t turn it into goals. Again, we missed chances which ended up costing us at the end of the half. Mitchell Cole had a great chance in the first half, but his shot went wide of the post, while Yemi went close with a shot at the near post. Later on in the half David Bridges had a superb chip hit the bar.

Boro had deserved to be ahead, but it was the league side that went in front when a hopeful shot from Adam Yates ended up in the back of net due to an error from Chris Day. The shot moved about a bit, but I’m sure Day will think he should of done better and saved the shot. Boro went in at half-time, unfortunately 1-0 down.

To Port Vale’s credit they attacked as soon as the second half kicked off. Chris Day had to be at his best to stop a Marc Richards header doubling the home side’s lead. Stevenage reacted well to that though and began to play like they had done in the first half. Cole and Yemi again had the beating of their markers in the second period while Bostwick was bossing the midfield. He just seemed to be everywhere yesterday and was my man of the match. Ronnie Henry also impressed on the right and most of Boro’s attacks came from that area in the latter stages of the game. Boro were creating plenty of opportunites now. Vale just couldn’t get the ball out of their own half.

Even though Boro were the dominant force it looked like the goal just wouldn’t come. Charlie Griffin was guilty of missing 3 big chances as Boro pushed for the equaliser. Griffin failed to convert a Yemi Odubade cross and went even closer a few minutes later when he screwed a shot wide after a good build up. Westley threw on supersub Vincenti to try and force a goal and his physical presence added another dimension to Boro’s play. However, the goal still wouldn’t come and GW had to take Ashton and Drury off to bring on Byrom and Odhiambo. Boro continued to attack and finally got their reward a minute into injury time when a Cole cross was met by Griffin who headed home, much to the relief of the away following.

“We didn’t finish the job, but we are still in the hat” Micky Adams on yesterday’s 1st round tie. I didn’t think they started the job?

In the end a frustrating draw against a side a division higher than ourselves. I wasn’t impressed with Port Vale at all and although I think the replay will be a tougher game, I think we can look forward to it in the hope we can win the game and go into the second round. One thing did stand out from yesterday’s game though. We need a finisher. We needed one last week against Kettering and we needed one even more yesterday afternoon. Our build up play yesterday was a joy to watch and we played Port Vale off the park, but we need an Alford or an Elding or a Morison to finish off what we create. Bring on November 17th.