Grays Preview

December 8, 2008 Leave a Comment

After Saturday’s victory at Lewes, Boro are back in action tomorrow night when they host Grays Athletic at Broadhall Way. Both sides recorded away wins at the weekend with the Essex side beating York City 1-0 at KitKat Crescent. Grays, now managed by former Fisher boss Wayne Burnett, are currently 22nd in the Blue Square Premier table having won just 18 points so far this season.

The problem so far this season for Grays seems to be the away form. Before Saturday’s win at York, Grays had lost 10 away games in the league in a row. At home, they have only lost 2 of the 9 games they have played at the Recreation Ground, one of them being against Boro in September and the other coming against the other Borough, Eastbourne. Financial problems have also caused the club to release some of there prized assets. Mark Molesley has already left the club and it’s rumoured others may follow in January.

Boro have Mark Albrighton available again, but I doubt he’ll start with Mark Roberts impressing since his move from Northwich. I expect GW will stick with the same defence that kept a clean sheet at the weekend, but to be honest who knows? Peter Vincenti may be in line for a start after his cameo appearance in place of either Gary Mills or Lawrie Wilson. Steve Morison should continue up front, although his ankle injury is still troubling him apparently.

Again, like the Lewes game at the weekend, this is a big game for Boro and certainly a winnable one. Both sides will be confident going into the it after recent away victories, but I’m confident that we can come out as winners in this one. Our record against Grays is actually pretty good and although the football will probably be in the air stuff, I think we will still win and close the gap on the teams above us as we push for the play-offs.

Prediction: Boro 2-1 Grays

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Boro back to winning ways

December 8, 2008 Leave a Comment

Yesterday saw Stevenage’s first win in 6 games in all competitions as they beat Lewes 2-0 at the Dripping Pan to move up to 11th in the Blue Square Premier. I didn’t go to the game, but the general feeling after reading around the websites and reports is that it was a “professional” performance and a grinding victory rather than a comfortable away win. This is what Graham Westley had to say on the win when talking to 3CR.

“It was a solid performance. We’ve not been on the best of runs recently and it was important for us to do a professional job and I thought over the ninety minutes we were solid strong and organised. The pitch was never going to allow good football and you had to be direct and we went about our job in a professional way.”

It sounds like a typical Westley performance, but to be honest them sort of performances are needed at times during the season. I’m a big believer in playing nice, passing football and I do think you can win trophies playing that way, but you have to have a plan B and adapt to different situations. Boro did that yesterday and in the end come away with the 3 points.

It was good to see Steve Morison’s name flash up on Soccer Saturday, especially as it was from the spot. Some players may have given the responsibility to someone else after his recent record from 12 yards, but Morison didn’t and scored his 12th league goal of the season.

On the one hand I’m happy that we can go to places like Lewes and Woking, on difficult playing surfaces and grind out wins when they need to be, but we lack consistency when playing at home. In all honesty we should be beating teams like Northwich, Eastbourne and Histon at BHW. Yes, Histon are playing very well and were probably one of the best teams we’ve played this season, but they are only part-time and a club like ours should not be getting beat, comfortably by a side who only train twice a week.

Lets see if we can win at home for a change on Tuesday night when we host Grays at Broadhall Way.

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