Boro progress in FA Cup

October 30, 2008 Leave a Comment

It took two attempts, but Stevenage will be the team travelling to the Walkers Stadium a week on Saturday to face Leicester City in the first round of the FA Cup. This comes after the Blue Square Premier side beat Horsham 4-1 at Woodside Road last night. Graham Westley decided to recall Scott Laird and Ronnie Henry back to the starting eleven in place of Lawrie Wilson and Luke Oliver. Anaclet moved to right back. Gary Mills and Anthony Thomas also started in place of John Martin and Mitchell Cole.

Horsham started similarly to how they began the 1st match at Broadhall Way on Saturday, looking tidy at the back and good going forward. After a few half chances at either end, Horsham got the goal they arguably deserved from Lee Carney who again impressed in midfield. Carney shot superbly from the edge of the box giving Day no chance of stopping it. Carney is certainly a player who I think could do a job in the Blue Square Premier. He has a good engine and although he seems to get himself involved with referees and some over the top tackles, I think he could be a good battling midfielder in this division.

Horsham went into the break with the lead and were looking very comfortable. Boro again had been poor. They looked incapable of retaining possession and lacked any sharpness upfront. At the interval Westley brought off Laird in favour of Peter Vincenti. Boro began to get back into the game, slowly, but surely creating more chances and keeping possession far better. Morison was now coming into the game more and more and it looked like Boro could get back into the game. Boro missed a succession of chances before Daryl McMahon finally equalised with a sweetly hit shot. That gave the team a huge lift and within a minute Boro had taken the lead with Callum Willock finishing after more good work from McMahon.

Horsham fell apart after the two quick goals and the extra fitness of the full-timers was now beginning to have an effect as Stevenage added two more goals before the end of the 90. Callum Willock, who had come on for Thomas and Morison were working well together up front and it was that partnership which made the two next goals. Willock laying on Morison for the 3rd and Morison crossing to Willock for the 4th which sealed the win and gave Boro a flattering 4-1 victory. Next up Woking on Saturday.

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Horsham Preview (The Replay)

October 28, 2008 Leave a Comment

After a disappointing home draw on Saturday against Horsham, Boro have it all to do tomorrow night when they travel down to Worthing to face the Hornets in the FA Cup 4th Round Qualifying Replay. The reward for the winner is a trip to the Walkers Stadium and a chance to play League 1 ‘giants’ Leicester City in the next round. On Saturday, Horsham were the better of the two sides and could consider themselves unlucky not to come away with one of the shocks of the round. The Sussex side led until 10 minutes from time when Scott Laird’s shot nestled nicely into the bottom corner to give Boro an equaliser.

Steve Morison was reported to be struggling with an injury last week and was touch and go whether he was going to play on Saturday. He of course did, but didn’t look himself so there could be a doubt whether he will start at Woodside Road. I’d expect Graham Westley to recall Scott Laird to the starting 11 after a good cameo appearance last time out. That could mean Eddie Anaclet moving to right back or onto the bench with Lawrie Wilson continuing to play. Ronnie Henry could also be recalled to the starting 11 with both Mark Albrighton and Luke Oliver finding it difficult to perform consistently at the back.

Horsham manager John Maggs must of been delighted with how his team performed against Stevenage at the weekend. They didn’t fear playing at Broadhall Way and looked to attack at every opportunity. I was very impressed with their two central midfield players. They seemed to control the game and although Martin and Bostwick gave them too much space, both players utilised it well. Lee Farrell proved last season that he can score goals in the FA Cup and will be a threat again tomorrow. Sigere showed on Saturday that he still could cut playing at Conference level so our defence which has been a bit shaky will need to be on their guard.

I think it will be a very open game in what could be blustery conditions on the south coast. Boro will need to get the ball down and play some football, like they did against Burton and Altrincham earlier in the season and I’m confident that if they do that then they should win the game. If we can draw while not playing well then there’s every chance if we play to our full potential we can win the game. Now the draw has been made, it gives both teams that extra incentive to try and win the game and I think Boro will do just that and go into the Woking game at the weekend knowing that a trip to Leicester City awaits.

Prediction: Horsham 1-3 Boro

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Leicester City Away

October 26, 2008 Leave a Comment

If Stevenage improve on their performance from yesterday and beat Horsham at Woodside Road on Wednesday evening then their reward in the First Round of the FA Cup will be a trip to play Leicester City at the Walkers Stadium. Both Leeds and Leicester were the prize draws in the first round draw which was made this lunchtime by ex Arsenal defender Martin Keown and former Tottenham player and manager Ossie Ardiles.

Leicester, now managed by Nigel Pearson, have had a good start to life in League 1 after being relegated on the final day of last season. They currently sit 4th in the table behind table toppers Scunthorpe, Leeds and Millwall. After topping the table early on, the Foxes are now having a dodgy spell and have drawn their last 3 games, including yesterday’s 0-0 at home to Northampton Town. Players of note include both Barry Hayles and DJ Campbell who have played for Boro previously. City also have youth England internationals in Joe Mattock and Jack Hobbs (on loan from Liverpool) and defender Michael Morrison who joined the club in the summer from Blue Square Premier side Cambridge United.

What this draw does is give both sides an extra incentive to get to the first round. The Boro players will want a chance to perform on the big stage and I would of thought this is a game that TV companies may be interested in covering. Horsham though will also be up for this game now and if they play as well as they did yesterday then Boro could find it tough to get through. If we do get through what a game it will be in just two weeks time!

Other ties that caught my interest were Wycombe being drawn away against AFC Wimbledon. Peter Taylor’s side will not find that easy. Mark Stimson and his array of ex Boro players are also away from home against Bury. Barrow make one of the longest trips of the round when they travel down to Eastbourne Borough. Grays also have a long distance trip to Carlisle. There is an interesting all Conference tie between Kidderminster and Cambridge and Ryan Kirby’s Harlow Town have a home tie against League 2 Macclesfield Town.

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At least we aren’t Rushden!

October 25, 2008 Leave a Comment

Well it was another poor performance and nearly an embarrassing result against Ryman Premier side and FA Cup specialists Horsham, but a late Scott Laird strike saved Boro’s blushes and put them into the hat for the First Round draw tomorrow afternoon. Unlike Blue Square Premier rivals Rushden who were knocked out by lowly Evesham today. Horsham came out and played a counter attacking style looking to break forward at every opportunity. They didn’t seem to be afraid of visiting a team 2 divisions higher and seemed to show more commitment throughout. Boro again lacked movement and didn’t finish off the chances that did fall to them.

Graham Westley decided to stick with the same team as last week with just Mitchell Cole replacing the injured Tommy Black. Surprisingly Eddie Anaclet kept his place at left back. I thought he did well last week against Salisbury and deserves a run in his normal position of right back, but that just wouldn’t be the Graham Westley way of doing things would it? Seriously though why makes things hard for ourselves. Scott Laird may have his weaknesses defensively, but he isn’t a bad left back and the team looks so much more balanced with a left footed player playing at left back.

For the first 20 minutes Boro were strolling around as if they only had to turn up to beat Horsham. There didn’t seem to be any urgency and although we had chances which we should have done better with, the visitors had the best chance of the opening exchanges when their no.6 Lee Carney hit a shot just wide. Eventually though Boro did score thanks to Mitchell Cole. The ball broke out to Cole on the left and he shot across goal to give Boro the lead.

Instead of galvanising the team to push on and get more goals, Boro sat back and allowed the Sussex side get back into the game. A lack of communication by both Luke Oliver and Eddie Anaclet let Sigere go through on goal and he finished well to equalise. Horsham now looked up for the game and our midfield pairing of Bostwick and Martin were giving their midfield too much space in behind. They scored again before half-time after more poor defending. Alex Haddow was given too much space on the left hand side before setting up Sigere who was allowed to turn and lay on Farrell who put Horsham in front. Boro were booed off at half time.

Tactically again the midfield seemed all over the place. McMahon, Drury and Cole drifted all over the place in the second half and make little impact in the game. John Martin had a nightmare today and I was shocked when Westley took off Bostwick instead when he brought on Anthony Thomas who had been warming up for about 20 minutes before coming on. Westley also brought on Laird and Willock as he searched for an equaliser and the team looked better once Laird had come on. Boro threatened more on the left and it was Laird who got the equalising goal when his shot nestled nicely into the bottom corner. The celebrations were more of relief than anything else, but Boro will have to improve and quick if they are not to be beat in the replay on Wednesday evening at Worthing’s Woodside Road.

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Horsham Preview

October 24, 2008 Leave a Comment

Boro’s opponents this week are Ryman Premier League side Horsham FC in the 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. This time last season Boro were getting ready to travel to Salisbury, where they drew the first game before winning the tie after a replay. Boro went out in the next round after a resounding defeat away at Exeter, but tomorrow’s visitors Horsham did one better than Boro, getting into the second round, losing to Swansea after a replay.

Horsham go into the game on the back of 4 straight wins including a 2-1 victory over Paulton Rovers in the last round. They are currently 12th in the Ryman Premier League winning 5, drawing 1 and losing 6 of their 12 games to date. Looking through their squad list they don’t seem to have many “names” that will be known to Boro fans. The obvious one is Jean-Michel Sigere who spent 18 months at Broadhall Way back in 2001/2002. Sigere is currently on loan at Horsham from Eastbourne Borough. Their manager John Maggs is hoping for an upset this weekend and has commented on the game;

“I know the players are capable of getting a result but it’s not going to be easy. They’re one of the top sides in the Conference, but you’re not going to get an easy side at this stage of the competition whoever you play. I do feel that we can go there and get something from the game. We had some tricky ties in last year’s competition, but we showed that we can perform on the day so why not?”

Boro will not take Horsham lightly. Westley had a reasonably good record in the FA Cup last time he was here and won’t want to be embarrassed against lower league opposition tomorrow afternoon. Tommy Black, Andy Drury and Mark Albrighton could all miss the game through injury. It could mean that Scott Laird returns to the team with Eddie Anaclet moving into midfield. I thought Anaclet did reasonably well last weekend considering he is predomantly right footed and hasn’t played a full 90 minutes for some time. If Black misses out I’d expect Mitchell Cole to partner Morison in attack, with Daryl McMahon keeping his place on the left.

Boro should beat Horsham comfortably and progress to Sunday’s 1st Round Proper draw, but we all know what the FA Cup can throw up. In recent years we haven’t really had a problem against lower league opposition apart from last season in the early stages of the FA Trophy when we were beat 1-0 by Dorchester. However, I think we will see a convincing win tomorrow with plenty of goals and then on Sunday we can look forward to the 1st Round draw with possible away trips like Elland Road or the Walkers Stadium up for grabs.

Prediction: Boro 3-0 Horsham

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Youth team progress & more on Ashton

October 22, 2008 Leave a Comment

The Stevenage Borough Youth team made it through to the First Round Proper of the FA Youth Cup after beating Hemel Hempstead Town by 2 goals to 1. It took 83 minutes for Boro to break the deadlock, but eventually George Brinkman opened the scoring with a close range finish. Tyrone Cazaubon doubled the home sides’ lead just minutes later with a cool finish. Hemel did get a goal back, but it was too late and it’s Boro who will now face Thurrock United in the next round, again at Broadhall Way on November 3rd.

Cambridge manager Gary Brabin has confirmed his interest in Grays’ centre half Jon Ashton. A few days ago, it looked like Boro were leading the race for the former Rushden & Diamonds defender with Ashton being available on a free transfer, due to the financial problems at the New Rec. Brabin has had this to say about his target.

“He’s a quality centre-half and although it’s a position we’re doing okay in, players of that calibre don’t become available very often. I think he’s keen on sorting himself out because they’ve had to cut all the wages at Grays. I’m just surprised it’s only ourselves and Stevenage who have been named as being interested in him.”

I think Boro need Ashton more than Cambridge do, with our defence as it is at the moment. I said the other day that he would be a good signing for us, considering our defensive record so far this season and also has good experience at this level. Cambridge currently have Bolland and Hatswell at the back at the moment and have only conceded 15 goals so far this season. Whoever does sign him in the end will have signed a very capable defender at this level.

Former Boro winger Tyrone Berry could be soon set for a move to Hereford United. Berry, who was one of Peter Taylor’s first signings when he was in charge last season was released by Boro in the summer and has had a number of unsuccessful trials at the likes of Ebbsfleet and Gillingham. However, Graham Turner could give the 21 year old another chance of league football if he impresses while at Edgar Street.

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