Boro beat Dover to progress into next round

31/01/2010 by sgmboro Leave a Comment

Stevenage are still on course to retain the FA Trophy after they comfortably saw off Dover Athletic at Broadhall Way. Although the Conference South side took the lead through Shaun Welford, Boro never really looked in danger of going out and goals from Tim Sills, Chris Beardsley, Michael Bostwick and Yemi Odubade secured Boro’s passage into the quarter finals where they could face last year’s finalists York or even title rivals Oxford United. York narrowly beat Corby Town, while Oxford travelled to Chelmsford and won 3-1. There was a shock as AFC Wimbledon were knocked at home out by Workington.

The consequence of progressing into the quarter-finals  is that the top of the table clash against Oxford on the 20th February will now have to be re-arranged. Of course it’s still possible that we could play Oxford on that date, but it won’t be in the Blue Square Premier. The league game will now be played in midweek which will undoubtably draw a bigger crowd. I think with the fixture now sure to be in either March or April, there will be more significance on whoever wins the game.

Despite the comprehensive victory, GW was unhappy with the performance.

“I was disappointed in us to be honest. I think that the level of work-rate that we showed this afternoon was below the level that we are capable of and I don’t think our dominance of the game was consistent enough. They came and put in a spirited effort, but I felt we are better than we were this afternoon. It was disappointing to concede and we didn’t do enough damage going forward.” Westley on the performance against Dover

I think it’s good that the players are being kept on the ground and are not becoming complacent with their recent form, however GW has also got to keep morale up and make sure the players continue to be consistent. I think the players showed another side to their game yesterday. Of course it was disappointing to go 1-0 down, but the team upped their performance and worked hard for the equaliser. They didn’t just fold and feel sorry for themselves, they got back into the game and in the end were too good for Dover.

Boro now have a week to prepare for their next Blue Square Premier game which is a tricky trip to Tamworth. Stevenage were held by the Lambs on the opening day of the season and Gary Mills seems to have got himself a very hard working side who are difficult to beat. They like playing against the ‘bigger’ sides and showed that when they beat Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium recently. Tamworth also have a striker in good form. Iyseden Christie has scored 2 in 2 of his last BSP appearances and would like nothing more than adding another to dent Boro’s title hopes.

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Stevenage v Norwich Reserves LIVE text updates

27/01/2010 by sgmboro 7 Comments

The Stevenage reserves are back in action tonight against Norwich Reserves at Broadhall Way. Graham Westley has decided to give a host of first team players a run out against the League One leaders. Tim Sills has another run out, while regulars like Yemi Odubade, Lee Boylan and Scott Laird are all scheduled to play. There could also be a debut for Darragh Ryan. There will LIVE updates from here from 7.00pm.

FULL TIME: Boro 0-2 Norwich

BORO: Bayes, Odhiambo, Laird, Maamria, Albrighton, Odubade, Ryan, Vincenti, Boylan, Griffin, Sills
SUBS: Cornhill, Birri, Greene, Rayner

NORWICH: Rudd, Francome, Wiggins, Stephens, Whitbread, Adeyemi, Gill, McVeigh, McNamee, McDonald, Kelly
SUBS: Steer, Gordon, Ball, Dawkin, Clarke

Just about to kick off at BHW. Norwich boss Paul Lambert is here keeping a close eye on his reserve side. Meanwhile for Boro, Ashley Bayes captain’s the side and for anyone that wants to know Darragh Ryan’s squad number, well it’s 12.

1 min: We’re under way and it looks like Scott Laird is playing at centre back tonight alongside Albrighton.
3 mins: Good start by Norwich who are keeping possession well, but have yet to create a chance.
5 mins: Norwich create the first opportunity and come close to the opener with McDonald’s shot hitting the post.
7 mins: Lee Boylan has Boro’s first chance, but his shot from distance is blocked by Whitbread.
8 mins: Vincenti shoots this time, again from distance, but it goes wide.
9 mins: Boro get a free-kick which is taken by Yemi and finds Griffin who glances the ball over the bar.
11 mins: Boro corner is headed by Maamria, but is cleared off the line by Wiggins.
14 mins: It looks as if Charlie Griffin is playing out on the right tonight with Sills and Boylan up top.
15 mins: GOAL!!! Norwich score the opener after McDonald fires in under Bayes.
16 mins: Darragh Ryan has to take the blame for that goal. He lost possession to McVeigh who found McDonald who scored.
19 mins: The game has got a bit scrappy since the goal.
21 mins: McNamee is pulling the strings in the Norwich midfield.
24 mins: Norwich are using the long ball to good effect and McDonald looks their biggest threat.
26 mins: A Wiggins cross finds McDonald, but his effort is easily saved by Bayes.
27 mins: Boro free-kick taken by Yemi finds Vincenti who heads the ball into the side netting.
28 mins: Sills has done little so far…
29 mins: The man who scored the Norwich goal also scored Norwich’s winner last night away at Walsall.
31 mins: A good move by Norwich ends with a shot from Wiggins being well saved by Bayes.
33 mins: Ryan is outmuscled by McDonald who sets up Kelly to shoot, but Bayes is again equal to the effort.
36 mins: A long ball is flicked on by Sills to Boylan who heads just wide.
37 mins: Boro win a free-kick 25 yards out. Griffin takes it, but it’s poor and hits the wall.
38 mins: Quite a few Norwich supporters have made the trip down for tonight’s game.
41 mins: GOAL!!! Griffin shoots for Boro, but it’s saved. Norwich counter and Gill feeds McDonald who scores again.
43 mins: Norwich attack again and win a corner off Yemi.

HALF TIME: Boro 0-2 Norwich

46 mins: We’re back under way with Norwich comfortably in front. They’ve made a change with Clarke coming on for McDonald.
47 mins: The Boro defence will be happy that McDonald has gone off. He’s been their biggest threat.
49 mins: It’s been a dull start to the second half, however, Griffin has gone down injured. Doesn’t look good.
50 mins: Griffin gets back up on his feet.
51 mins: Anthony McNamee is still running the show. Looks a class above.
52 mins: A long ball aimed for Sills is dealt easily by Whitbread.
54 mins: Norwich win a corner, but it comes to nothing.
57 mins: Odhiambo makes a surging run down the right and finds Maamria who’s cross is too deep for Sills to connect to.
59 mins: Boro attack again, but this time Sills’ header from Yemi’s cross is well saved by Rudd. Best chance of the 2nd half.
60 mins: From the resulting corner, Yemi whips it in, but it is dealt with by Rudd, just.
61 mins: The pitch seems to be cutting up quite a bit.
62 mins: Albrighton makes a mistake which allows Kelly to go through, but Laird clears.
63 mins: McNamee comes off and is replaced by Dawkin.
64 mins: Long ball by Laird goes straight to the goalkeeper. Too much long ball this evening.
67 mins: Norwich enjoying a good spell of possession.
69 mins: Sills has been marked out the game tonight by Stephens.
70 mins: Boylan gets forward and crosses, but no one gets the vital touch that’s needed.
72 mins: Boylan shoots from 20 yards, but it goes harmlessly wide.
74 mins: Griffin has a shot which is well saved. From the resulting corner Sills glances the ball wide.
78 mins: Wiggins gets forward, but skies his cross high and wide.
80 mins: Corner to Norwich. The ball goes into the box and is headed by Whitbread. Boro clear.
80 mins: There are some handball claims against Griffin, but it’s waved away.
82 mins: Norwich have dominated possession in the second half, but chances have been at a premium.
83 mins: A minute after saying that Gill has an effort which flies over the bar.
85 mins: Mis-timed tackle by Francomb on Odhiambo. Booked.
86 mins: Free-kick about 25 yards out from Yemi Odubade is easily saved by Rudd.
88 mins: Neat football by Norwich forces a corner off Ryan.
90 mins: Two minutes to be added on.

FULL TIME: Boro 0-2 Norwich

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Long brace enough to beat Kettering

24/01/2010 by sgmboro 1 Comment

Two goals from in form Stacy Long were enough to give Stevenage another 3 points, this time at the expense of Kettering Town. In what was a scrappy and physical contest, Stevenage had to wait until just after the hour before Long smashed in his first. Kettering threw everything into trying to nick an equaliser, including sending up Nathan Abbey, but in doing that were caught on the break with Long again scoring after rounding the goalkeeper.

Graham Westley named Mitchell Cole at left back, with Scott Laird serving the last of his two match suspension. Mark Roberts returned to league action alongside Jon Ashton. Darren Murphy missed out so Michael Bostwick came into midfield with Stacy Long and David Bridges. Tim Sills had to settle for a place on the bench with GW prefering to stick with Beardsley, Boylan and Yemi up top. Kettering started the game in a 4-5-1 formation with Jean Paul Marna up front on his own. Lee Harper obviously would have been happy to take a point.

The game began slowly with Boro unable to break down the Kettering backline. The visitors had packed the midfield as well so it was difficult for Boro to get their passing game going. More often than not, the home side had to resort to playing the long ball over the top for either Boylan or Yemi to run on to. Stevenage did start getting into the game though after about 20 minutes. A well worked move ended with David Bridges shooting from just outside the box, but it failed to trouble Abbey in the Kettering goal. With Boro beginning to get into their stride, the team suffered a blow when Jon Ashton was forced off after a clash of heads with Andre Boucaud. I initially thought the worse when they both went down instantly, but both walked off to get treated. Westley brought on Byrom and moved Bostwick moved back.

The second half began much like the first. Boro probed, but couldn’t find a way past the Kettering defence. Yemi was being marked out the game and was taken off by Westley about 10-15 minutes into the second half. Tim Sills came on for his debut and made an instant impact when a crossfield ball from Bridges was headed down by Sills to Long, who finished superbly first time. A massive sigh of relief went around Broadhall Way. I felt that we could relax now, knowing how good our defensive record is this season.

Kettering threw everything forward, trying to get an equaliser. Kwemi Appiah came on to partner Marna, but still they couldn’t find a way through the Boro defence. In truth Chris Day didn’t really have a save to make in the game. The Poppies won a corner late on and allowed Nathan Abbey to go up. There was no one in the Kettering half when the kick was taken. However that failed to materialise to anything and within minutes Boro had broke up the other end with Long running through and rounding Abbey, Kanu style, before sliding the ball into an empty net. The points were ours.

3 points gained and another tricky home out of the way. Stevenage weren’t brilliant yesterday, but they dug deep against a physical Kettering side and took their chances when they came. It was a scrappy game that maybe last season would have ended in a draw, but at the moment these are the games that Boro are winning and they will need to keep that up if they are to win promotion this season. Next up is Dover at home in the FA Trophy before a tough trip to Tamworth.

Lastly, here’s a link to James Cannon’s photography work for the Kettering game. James is a contributing photographer to Stevenage and also runs a blog on his work which can be accessed here. The work is of a very high standard and is well worth a look.

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Kettering Preview

22/01/2010 by sgmboro Leave a Comment

So it’s back to league action this Saturday when Kettering are the visitors to Broadhall Way. It’s been a long 3 weeks since Boro beat Cambridge 4-1 to go top of the Blue Square Premier. In that time we have had games against Wrexham and Eastbourne postponed as well as have the FA Trophy game against Vauxhall Motors called off twice before finally getting the go ahead on Tuesday night, in a game which Boro won comfortably. Westley’s side will be looking to continue where they left off after that good win in midweek against Vauxhall Motors.

The Trophy tie on Tuesday night was the ideal preparation for the team ahead of tomorrow’s big game. After nearly 3 weeks without a competitive fixture, a lot of players would have needed an extra game or two to get back into the swing of things again and that 90 minutes against Vauxhall Motors would have done the squad the world of good. Kettering though is a much tougher task for the leaders of the Conference. Although they’ve been very inconsistent since the departure of Mark Cooper, they are still a good side in this division and will not make it easy for us.

The visitors have only won 2 of their last 6 games in the league. Their last win was only in the week when they travelled to Ebbsfleet and won 2-1 thanks to goals from James Dance and Jean Paul Marna. Previous to that, Harper’s side had lost to Histon and Salisbury, been held to a 0-0 draw against Tamworth and been knocked out of both the FA Cup and FA Trophy by Leeds and Barrow respectively. Scoring goals have been a problem since Cooper’s departure and their failure to secure Anthony Elding after his release from Crewe hasn’t helped.

Rockingham Road has certainly been rocking since Cooper’s departure to Peterborough. The unexperienced Harper has struggled in his new role and has seen his assistant sacked only days after being appointed. Star players such as Exodus Geohaghon, Moses Ashikodi and Francis Green have all left and not really been replaced. Harper made a lot of loan moves before Christmas which has kept them ticking over, but they are not the force they were when we played them back in October.

As for Boro, they have gone from strength to strength since they earned a point against the Poppies. Graham Westley has assembled a very solid squad and has been clever in the January transfer window adding the experienced Tim Sills to his front line as well as Darragh Ryan who can play in a variety of different positions as well as adding cover for Scott Laird. I said when the signing of Sills was announced that I thought he was the final piece of the jigsaw and I still believe that. I think he’ll settle in immediately and the way we play compliments his aerial power.

Tomorrow’s game looks like a straight forward one to call, but I don’t think it will be as easy as the form book suggests. It wasn’t that long ago when Kettering went to Cambridge and Luton and picked up maximum points, plus their display’s against Leeds in the Cup deserved a lot more. I think they’ll also raise their game tomorrow as they always seem to do against us. The fact that we’re top of the league will also add some motivation into Harper’s young side. However, we are playing some really good stuff at the moment and if we remain consistent and focused then beating Kettering shouldn’t be a problem.

Prediction: Boro 2-1 Kettering

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Hayles turns down Boro return

19/01/2010 by sgmboro Leave a Comment

Arguably the best ever player to play for Stevenage has rejected the chance to re-join the club nearly 13 years after he left the club for Bristol Rovers. Hayles went on to play in the Premier League with Fulham as well as successful spells at Millwall, Plymouth Argyle and Leicester City. He is currently with League 2 side Cheltenham Town, as the 37 year old veteran striker begins to wind down his career. According to the Gloucester Citizen, Hayles rejected a chance to sign for Stevenage last summer, opting to move to Cheltenham instead. Now it seems that GW has gone in again to try and bring Hayles ‘home’, but the former Jamaican international has again refused.

Although it would be a dream for many Boro supporters to see Barry Hayles back in a Stevenage shirt, I’m not that disappointed that he hasn’t come back. I don’t really believe players should go back to their former clubs, especially when Hayles had such a legendary status at this club when he was approaching his peak. If he came back now, we would be seeing a player that is declining and struggling to maintain his fitness. Would he even be able to cut it at this level now?

I began watching Boro in 1994 as an 8 year old kid, when Hayles was part of that brilliant side that won promotion from the then Diadora Premier (now Blue Square South). I remember all those glory days when he scored within 8 seconds against Dover in our title winning season, came on to inspire that comeback against Morecambe and his two hat-trick’s against Runcorn, both home and away. He was a class above and you could tell he could easily play at a much higher level. Hayles was a massive part of why we won the Conference title back in 1996, but he wasn’t the whole reason. That team had quality all over the pitch and had more than one player that could and in some cases, did move into the football league.

I’d rather have them memories than have some of a player that came back, but just wasn’t the same. Anyway, it obviously looks like Hayles has the same opinion. He has had two chances to come back, that we know about, but doesn’t seem to want to make a return as a player to Broadhall Way. I don’t know whether it’s because he still wants to play his football in the league or whether the money isn’t good enough or he just doesn’t want to play for Stevenage again after such a successful first period.

I assume the deal for Hayles was looked at prior to the signing of Tim Sills. I can’t imagine us being able to afford both, so I think that GW must have looked into the availability of signing Hayles as an alternative to Sills. To be honest, I think we have done the better deal. I think Sills has much more to offer this team at the moment than Hayles does and he genuinely wants to get Boro into the football league this season. That dream of Hayles stepping out of the Broadhall Way tunnel again is now beginning to fade…..fast.

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Nicholson looking to follow Sills to Broadhall Way

18/01/2010 by sgmboro Leave a Comment

Kevin Nicholson is in talks with Stevenage over a loan move until the end of the season. The experienced left back, who is currently at Torquay, has spoken to Graham Westley about a short term deal and could move ahead of Saturday’s important clash against Kettering Town. If Nicholson does decide to move up to Broadhall Way then he will be following his mate Tim Sills, who signed for Boro in a permanent deal last weekend. Below is what Sills thinks about a possible move for Nicholson.

“As long as it’s right for him, it would be perfect if Kev came too. From the moment he started setting me up, we had a rapport on the pitch and it has turned into a great friendship off it.” Sills on Kevin Nicholson’s possible move to Hertfordshire

Nicholson was very highly rated when he was in the Blue Square Premier with Torquay. In fact a certain Graham Westley said he was the best left back in the non league in his NLP column. GW obviously rates him highly and wants to add his quality and experience to the squad. Nicholson made his name in a 3 year spell at Notts County, where he amassed over 100 appearances, scoring 4 goals. He then joined Scarborough and Forest Green before moving down to Torquay in 2007. He has been a regular in the side for a couple of seasons now, but this season has seen him become a bit more of a squad player.

If Nicholson does join Boro, then I expect him to be a regular in the side at left back and replace Scott Laird. I don’t know why GW wants to add another left back into the squad after signing Darragh Ryan last week, but he clearly feels that is an area that needs strengthening as the team pushes towards their first league title since 1996. I think Scott Laird has done well in that position and can still improve, but I think GW wants an experienced backline and believes Nicholson would add that bit of defensive quality to that position. It’s possible that Laird could be moved further forward if there are injuries to Cole and Long.

In other news, the Barrow game, which was scheduled for just before Christmas has been rearranged for the 9th March. The Wrexham game has yet to be given a new date, but according to the Welsh club, they only have 4 possible dates it could be. I’d expect it to be around March time too.

Boro are in action for the first time since New Year’s Day tomorrow night when they host Vauxhall Motors in the FA Trophy. After nearly 3 weeks without a game, I think GW will play a strong side tomorrow night as he gets his players back into the swing of things ahead of the Kettering game. Saturday’s game is massive, especially after Oxford’s defeat at the weekend against Tamworth. We are definately part of the title race at the moment, but wins against the likes of Kettering are needed to keep the pressure on Wilder’s side.

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Tim Sills is on his way…

14/01/2010 by sgmboro 1 Comment

Reports surfaced tonight that Torquay striker Tim Sills is about to sign for Stevenage Borough. Sills has said on his facebook profile that he is leaving the Gulls after nearly 3 seasons at Plainmoor to join the Blue Square Premier leaders. It’s a great coup for Boro, who are now looking serious title challengers to Oxford United. Graham Westley has identified where we needed strengthening and brought in a proven goalscorer at this level. He has experience in the football league and most importantly knows how to get out of this division.

Sills, as he says himself, is an old fashioned English forward. He’s strong in the air, as Cambridge fans know only too well and is a good finisher. He began his career in the non league with Camberley Town and Basingstoke before moving to Kingstonian. After a prolific season with the K’s, he earned a move to Aldershot Town and was instrumental in the side that nearly got promoted from the Conference at the first time of asking. Unfortunately for the Shots, they were beaten in the play-offs.

After impressing for Aldershot, a £50,000 move to Oxford United followed, but that didn’t quite work out and a handful of games later he moved briefly to Hereford before ending up down at Torquay. Sills was a legend at Plainmoor. He famously played and scored against Cambridge at Wembley in last season’s play-off final. He was also an important part of the team that got promoted to the football league and scored 33 goals in 98 appearances. A record of nearly 1 goal in every 3 appearances is not bad going.

Sills joins Stevenage with the club currently top of the Blue Square Premier. In my opinion, the signing of Sills is the final piece of the jigsaw. The squad looks incredibly strong all over the pitch now and has a good blend of both youth and experience. I think Sills will fit straight in at Broadhall Way. Our style of play suits his and with the amount of service he is likely to receive from the likes of Drury, Long and Cole then he should be in his element. While Griffin has come in and done ok, he hasn’t been prolific enough in front of goal. He has missed some crucial chances, which has cost us some vital points. Sills, like Griffin, is a proven goalscorer at this level and hopefully can give us that bit of quality up top.

However, it doesn’t look likely that Sills will make his debut at the weekend when Boro are penned in to play Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground. Yesterday, Wrexham said the game was about 50/50 and now it’s more likely to be called off as the weather continues to cause havok around the country. A pitch inspection is planned for tomorrow morning to decide whether the game has a chance of going ahead prior to Boro travelling up Friday night. I don’t think it’ll be on and with Sills unable to face Vauxhall in the Trophy due to not being registered at the time of the original fixture, then a home game against Kettering looks likely to be his debut.

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