Altrincham Preview

February 28, 2009 Leave a Comment

Not much of a preview, just a short blog today as I don’t have much time. Boro travel to Manchester this afternoon to face Altrincham as they look to extend their unbeaten run further. Last season saw PT’s Boro win convincingly there, while the season before Mark Stimson’s side lost on the opening day. I’m pretty confident that we can record another win up there this time around with Boro flying at the moment, while Alty are sitting comfortably in mid-table for a change.

“Altrincham were a very unfortunate side to lose 3-0 at our place. We went ahead, but they played themselves back into the game and made it uncomfortable for us. They are a well managed side, and their manager is a very thoughtful person. He changes his formation with extreme regularity in games, and you have to be watchful of them.” Westley on Altrincham

This season the Manchester side have proved to be tricky opponents and are much harder to beat than in previous seasons. Their last game, like ours was a 1-0 win over Woking and while they have struggled against the top sides in the division they are picking up points against the teams around them and are not fighting a relegation battle this season. Alty have a couple of players to watch out for in Chris Senior and Colin Little while they have just brought in Northwich captain Michael Welch on loan.

Boro have injury doubts over Darren Murphy and Ronnie Henry while Chris Day could return after a recent virus. Ashley Bayes has kept 2 clean sheets though since coming in so could retain his place anyway. Boro should win. They should win comfortably, but this could also be the game where we slip up. We need to keep winning to keep pace with the teams around us like Cambridge, Oxford and Kidderminster and I’m confident we will.

Prediction: Altrincham 1-3 Boro

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Boylan goal secures vital victory

February 25, 2009 Leave a Comment

Lee Boylan’s strike on the hour may just be one of the most important goals scored at Broadhall Way this season. The one goal was enough to see off a Woking side, who lacked any sort of attacking threat, but gave a honest performance which may help them in their fight against relegation in the coming weeks. Boro weren’t great, certainly not up to the standard of recent weeks where they have blown their opponents away with an attacking, flowing style, but sometimes you need to dig results out in adverse conditions and Boro did that last night. It was what is called a ‘professional’ performance.

Graham Westley decided to stick with the same side that beat Forest Green on Saturday in the Trophy. Ashley Bayes kept his place in goal with No 1 Chris Day still struggling. Woking, who are finding it difficult in front of goal at the moment came to BHW looking for a draw and their team selection reflected this. Gilchrist gave Danny Knowles a debut in goal, after his move from Weymouth and partnered loan signing Rob Elvins up front with French striker Wilfried Domoraud.

Boro were fairly dominant throughout and had the clearer chances to score. Woking were reduced to long range efforts and didn’t really trouble Bayes all night. At the other end, the attacking quartet of Steve Morison, Lee Boylan, Mitchell Cole and Andy Drury were doing their best to open the scoring, but were not clinical enough in front of goal to give Boro a deserved lead. In the second half it was more of the same, although the home side lost a bit of their rhythm with Ronnie Henry and Darren Murphy both going off injured. On came Lawrie Wilson and Jon Ashton, the latter for his debut.

Woking were working hard, but couldn’t keep Stevenage from coming back into their half and the dominance finally paid off when Boylan latched onto a pass from substitute Wilson and finished clinically to give the Hertfordshire side the lead. It’s very important for both Boro and the player that Boylan keeps fit in the run in. His goals could be vital as we approach the last 10-12 games and if we are to get in to the play-offs then we need that “fox in the box” type of striker. Boro held on to their slender advantage, although they could of extended their lead further had Steve Morison not wasted his chance late on. In the end though it didn’t matter and Boro have now gone 16 games unbeaten, winning their last 9. Bring on Altrincham on Saturday!

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Woking next up as FGR are brushed aside

February 24, 2009 Leave a Comment

It’s becoming like a weekly occurance, but whoever Boro play at the moment seem to be turned over with relative ease and it was no different on Saturday when Forest Green were comfortably dispatched 4-0. The win sees Boro move into the semi-finals of the FA Trophy and a draw against the winners of Wrexham or Ebbsfleet who play in tomorrow’s replay at Stonebridge Road. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Liam Daish’s side come out on top in that one?Boro’s progress in the Trophy has meant another game has had to be re-arranged. The home game against Cambridge, originally pencilled in for 14th March will now be played on the 7th April with a 7.45pm kick off.

Goals from Andy Drury, David Bridges, Mark Roberts and Steve Morison secured Boro’s path into the semis for the second time in 3 years. The last time Boro reached the semi-finals of this competition, we beat Grays over two legs to meet Kidderminster in the final at Wembley back in 2007. The win on Saturday made it 15 games unbeaten in all competitions. I know that the opponents in this run haven’t been the top sides in the division, but to put a 15 game unbeaten run at any level of football is commendable.

Next up for Boro is the visit of old rivals Woking. The Surrey side are struggling at the bottom of the BSP again this season and have lost their last 3 games, all by one goal. Phil Gilchrist’s side are finding scoring goals hard to come by and with a defence which is always likely to concede, winning games is becoming increasingly difficult. Their last victory was back in January when they beat Northwich 4-1 at Kingfield, but prior to that they were hammered 4-0 by Eastbourne. In previous seasons, Woking have always got out of the relegation trouble pretty comfortably, but this could be the season that ends the clubs’ long stay in the top flight of non-league football.

With Boro flying then I expect another 3 points tomorrow night. Even though Woking will raise their game, as they always do when the come to Broadhall Way, I can’t imagine their team being strong enough to cope with Stevenage at the moment. Morison is scoring goals for fun, while the midfield duo of David Bridges and Darren Murphy keep improving. Them two have been instrumental in this recent run. Andy Drury also deserves a mention after finally getting an extended run in the side. He’s done well to keep his place and is one of the key men for Boro tomorrow night. It should be straight forward, but we know what games against Woking can throw up. It should be good though….

Prediction: Boro 2-0 Woking

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Forest Green Preview

February 19, 2009 Leave a Comment

This Saturday sees the return of the Boro to Broadhall Way as they take on Forest Green Rovers in the FA Trophy, a competition the club won back in 2007. It’s been quite a while since Stevenage last played at home due to the recent poor weather, bit it’s expected that the pitch will be in good enough condition to welcome our Gloucestershire opponents after 2 recent attempts at getting the league game on. Both games in the end had to be called off and has now been arranged for Tuesday March 3rd at 7.45pm.

After last weekend’s 3-0 victory away at Weymouth, Boro moved up to 3rd in the league and are now 14 games unbeaten in all competitions. The midweek fixtures in the Blue Square have changed things slightly with regards to the table, with Cambridge now occupying 3rd place and Boro back in 4th. However, Boro are 3rd in the BSP form table behind only Oxford and leaders Burton Albion, having taken 20 points from the last 24 available. Rovers won their last game just last night, beating struggling Northwich Victoria 3-0 at the New Lawn. Two goals from John Hardiker and another from Alex Lawless gave Jim Harvey’s side the 3 points and helped them climb above Woking in the table, with 2 games also in hand on the Cards.

With FGR playing in the week, then Boro will have a slight advantage in that the players should be fresher. In all honesty though it may be that the Boro players are still a bit rusty after not much competitive football so far this month. Postponements have led to Stevenage playing just the one game so far this month, that being the 3-0 win over Weymouth at the weekend. On the injury front, Graham Westley seems to have a fully fit squad to choose from. A strong reserve side beat Ipswich reserves in the week and some of them could feature against FGR. Jon Ashton could also make his debut after joining last month from Grays.

If Boro can continue to play how they have done in the last month or so then I think they will beat Forest Green pretty heavily. Burton were hammered 4-0 in the last round and there is no reason why a similar score can’t be recorded on Saturday. With Steve Morison in the form of his life at the moment and a settled team around him supplying chances, things are looking up at Broadhall Way and it’s highly possible that Graham Westley and Stevenage will be looking forward to a semi-final draw come 5pm Saturday night.

Prediction: Boro 4-0 Forest Green Rovers

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Football Census Awards 2009

February 19, 2009 Leave a Comment

Football Fans CensusAs you may or may not know Stevenage Borough have received some nominations for the Football Census 2009 Awards due to be announced later in the year. This blog, plus The Broadhall Way fanzine have been shortlisted as well as some writers from both publications. So basically what we are asking for is for you to vote for us via the link below in order for us to get through to the final round.

The nominations received were as follows;

  • Best Non-League Fanzine – The Broadhall Way
  • Best Blog (Online) – FC Boro
  • Best Editor (Either Media) – Paul Pickard (The Broadhall Way)
  • Best Writer (Either Media) – Paul Pickard, Two Hats, Frank Lee Tedious & Keith Bell (All The Broadhall Way) and sgmboro (FC Boro)

If you could get your votes in that would be great.

Thanks for your continued support!

VOTE HERE

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The Broadhall Way – Issue 23

February 18, 2009 Leave a Comment

The Broadhall WayIssue 23 of The Broadhall Way is released this Saturday, 21st February, when Forest Green are the visitors in the quarter finals of the FA Trophy…

Another issue packed with all your usual favourites: The Worrier, Kenfish, Away Amazed, Two Hats, The Last Goalscorers Society and The Thinker…

Plus also in this issue…

- The current results of the Boro Fantasy Fives and Prediction Competition

- The Football Supporters Association tells us why watching football is not a crime

- We have a little chat with David Bridges just to get to know him little bit better

Plus much more and still for only a £1.00

You can get hold of your copy of Issue 23 from WJ Rowe – The Bedwell Fish Shop on Bedwell Crescent, who will have them available from Friday evening or alternatively from one of our sellers on matchday who will be in the Broadhall Suite before the game and by the turnstiles all around the ground from about 2pm. We will also have sellers by the exits at the end of the game as well as in the Broadhall Suite afterwards. Please note that the fanzine will be on sale by the turnstiles OUTSIDE THE GROUND!

If you can’t make the game on Saturday or you want to make sure you don’t miss out on a copy of Issue 23 then you can order your copy or take out a subscription via PayPal. All you need to do is go to your PayPal account and then ‘send money’ and put the amount and our e-mail address ‘thebroadhallway@hotmail.com’.

The costs are:

Single Issue:

UK – £1.60
Eire & Europe – £2.10
Rest of the World – £2.60

Five Issue Subscriptions:

UK – £8.00
Eire & Europe – £10.50
Rest of the World – £13.00

All orders received by 10am Saturday morning will guarantee to have a copy of Issue 23 be sent out to them.

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