Match Report:

Beford Town FC v Stevenage Borough FC

Friendly match

Saturday 28th July - 3:00pm

Saturday saw Boro on their travels once more, this time up to Bedford. They were looking to put their problems at Arlesey behind them, the thought of another defeat to a lower division team was unthinkable, or was it?

Fairclough has made a point of being very experimental this pre-season, and yet again he chopped and changed using trialists, regulars and different formations. To start this match, he chose a 5-3-2 formation with Sturgess and Hamsher playing wing-backs alongside a back three of Arnott, Goodliffe and Trott. McMahon, trialists Peter Fear and Clarke took up the midfield spots and the two up front were Illman and Williams.

Although the home side had a promising opening 5 minutes, it was Boro who took the first half initiative. Nearly all of the football was played in the Bedford half, a lot of it promising. Clarke was running well, Sam dictated the play, and the back 3 were moving as one. It was to be the Eagles who opened the scoring, Slim knocking the ball past Wilkerson after Goodliffe was caught in possesion.

Boro though came back at Beford pushing their keeper, and probably the man-of-the-match, to make some good saves. Eventually though the ex-Don, Peter Fear, equalised just before half time to make the game much more exciting.

Half Time Score : 1-1

As seems the way now, Boro changed nearly the whole team for the second half. All but Hamsher were subbed off, and the second half has a whole new look to it. Sodje in fact looked good in the air and will be a force at both ends of the pitch in that respect. Steve Pope also had a fine strike at goal from the back post after a left wing free kick but again the keeper was equal to the task.

Ex-stripe Ross Harrison was the man to hit back on 60 minutes, Abbot used his arm to block a free kick. Harrison duely slotted the ball home. DJ Campbell was a constant threat at the other end, and I am hoping he will be a real star next year.

Harrison was given the salt to rub in the already bleeding Boro wound. On 81 mins, he finished us off with a deft lob over the head of Dearden. 3-1 and the game was lost.

The first half team plus Walters, DJ, Deano and Sodje seems to be what the gaffer will choose next season as his favourite 11, but of course there could still be a few surprises.

But for a few good saves in the first half, it could have been a whole different ball game, but it was not to be.
Played three, lost three for Boro.

Full Time Score : 3-1

 Up the Boro!

Written by Turbo – stevenageborofc.cjb.net’s own die-hard Boro fan!