8 Goal Thriller At The Lamex

Boro continued their fantastic unbeaten home run after a 5-3 victory over Gateshead this afternoon. In wet and windy conditions both teams struggled to really get hold of the game and kicking against the wind certainly seemed to affect Boro at times during the first half.

It was a rare opportunity for Graham Westley to name the same team as last Saturday after an impressive performance against Port Vale. This meant Andy Drury played in his free role position as well as playing a rare consecutive game. Despite coming off against Vale last week Scott Laird recovered from injury to play also.

Gateshead had several names Boro fans may remember such as former Burton & Rushden striker Daryl Clare, former Sunderland defender Darren Williams and former Newcastle trainee Phil Cave.

Charlie Griffin had Boro’s first chance of the game after Mitchell Cole latched onto a cross field pass to deliver a fantastic cross which Griffin couldn’t quite get on the end of. The difficult conditions and an FA Cup replay to look forward to on Tuesday seemed to affect Boro from hitting any real stride and in the end it took an own goal from Charlie Griffin to really wake up Graham Westley’s team.

Boro to their credit and a slight blunder by the Gateshead centre half James Curtis were gifted the equaliser as the defender headed his back pass too short and Griffin lifted the ball smartly over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net. There seemed to be some new belief in the ranks leading up to half time after another good run from Mitchell Cole his shot was saved from keeper Farman but Cole’s rebound fell to Yemi Odubade who smashed the ball into the roof of the net to give Boro the lead, finally. Boro’s third was a fairly sloppy goal to concede from Gateshead’s part as Scott Laird’s cross found Charlie Griffin’s head and the ball was glanced just over the line before the Gateshead defender made sure as he tried to clear off the line.

The conditions improved slightly after the break however the wind was now in Boro’s favour as it continued to blow. In the second half Boro replaced Ronnie Henry with Eddie Odhiambo after the former Boro captain seemed to have picked up a knock and Chris Beardsley replaced Andy Drury to freshen things up a little.  At 3-1 you felt Stevenage were never going to lose the game, but as it turned out that it wasn’t going to be as easy as we all thought. Boro did have the better of the chances during the second half as Bostwick and Cole both missed half chances. With a 2 goal cushion Gateshead were gifted a lifeline as Daryl Clare scored from close range to make it 3-2 with 20 minutes still to go. Clare is known for scoring goals wherever he has been and showed today without playing too well he was still able to score goals.

Boro pushed again to try and restore the 2 goal lead and they were able to do so as they were given a free kick 25 yards out which Cole and Griffin showed interest in. Griffin shot low and hard and was fortunate that the wall jumped over the ball and it fired into the bottom corner past Farman in the Gateshead goal. Griffin’s second hat trick of the season and 10 goals now for the season for a player who has at times been criticized. Peter Vincenti was brought on to replace Yemi Odubade and Westley again chose to play him right wing which baffled me when they had Stacey Long raring to go on the bench who may of suited that position a bit more comfortably.

Surely now the game was over! However, Gateshead had other ideas and were given a free kick of their own which was fired straight at Day who could only save to Daryl Clare who poked the ball home to give Gateshead more belief however sloppy defending again from set pieces could of cost us dearly. The game was decided deep into injury time as Boro saved the best til last when Michael Bostwick hammered a long distance shot into the top corner to put the game beyond any doubt.

Overall a great game for the neutrals and those attending Boro for the first time. A result mostly down to the conditions. It also showed that when we turn it on we are able to score goals, however making sure we do not concede sloppy goals is key for tough upcoming games starting on Tuesday night against Port Vale.

Lopo