Boro progress in FA Cup

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.