Stevenage held to a draw despite a battling performance...
Stevenage returned to The Lamex Stadium for the final home game before Christmas, as they were met with Gary Caldwell’s Exeter City. Boro were in third place ahead of kick-off and had a good opportunity to remain in the top group of promotion hopefuls.
The gaffer made six changes from Tuesday’s dramatic win over Port Vale as Nathan Thompson, Dan Sweeney, Jake Forster-Caskey, Nick Freeman, Louis Thompson and Kane Hemmings all returned to the starting eleven.
Boro started the brighter of the two sides as they looked to take an early lead. Nathan Thompson played a pin-point pass to Luther James-Wildin on the right who delivered a looping cross to Dan Butler at the back post, but he was unable to guide his header goalward.
After twenty minutes, Dan Butler was tripped right on the edge of the area, to give Stevenage a free kick in a dangerous position. A cross was sent into the area, but Vil Sinisalo was able to collect.
Very little action occurred in the 18-yard areas over the next twenty minutes as the sides struggled to create any clear-cut chances. Boro were patient and hardworking but had nothing to show for it as half-time approached.
The hosts came close five minutes before the break as Jamie Reid and Exeter’s goalkeeper raced for a loose ball, with the latter getting there just in time. The ball then fell to Hemmings who tried his luck from thirty yards, but his effort hit the chest of Sinisalo.
Shortly before half-time, former Boro man Jack Aitchison received his second yellow card of the afternoon, reducing Exeter to ten men for the entirety of the second half.
As the fourth official indicated two minutes of added time at the end of the first half, Stevenage found their opener. Dan Sweeney’s cross met the head of Carl Piergianni who made no mistake from his headed effort as it floated into the far corner.
Ahead of the second half, Exeter made a change with Yanic Wildschut coming on for Kyle Taylor, and it proved to be a good swap as Wildschut equalised within minutes of entering the field of play.
Before the hour mark, Boro made their first chance as Nick Freeman made way for Jordan Roberts who was looking to make an impact of his own.
Stevenage were on top after Exeter’s equaliser as they looked to regain their lead. Kane Hemmings had the ball in the area and looked to square it, but the visitors cleared the danger.
Boro kept pushing and pushing for that second goal and had twenty minutes to do so. Jamie Reid found plenty of space on the left-hand side of the area, before laying it off to Jordan Roberts who fired over from close-range.
A double Boro change was made with fifteen remaining as Harvey White and Elliott List were introduced in place of Jake Forster-Caskey and Kane Hemmings.
List had an opportunity to give his side the lead as ten minutes remained, but his powerful effort from inside the area forced Vil Sinisalo into a smart stop.
It was all Stevenage in the closing stages of the game as the hosts look to win it late on. Nine minutes of added time were displayed as Boro pushed on.
Stevenage had a free kick on the edge of the area deep into added time, with Harvey White stood over it, but the midfielder’s ball into the box was collected by the Exeter stopper.
No matter how hard Boro tried they just could not find the back of the net late on, as the referee blew his final whistle to give the sides a point each.
Stevenage will now prepare for a trip to Barnsley next weekend before welcoming Northampton Town to the Lamex on Boxing Day.
Attendance: 4,007 inc 352 away supporters.