A delighted Darren Sarll hailed his players after Stevenage came back from behind to beat Luton 2-1, thanks to a last-minute winner from Matty Godden.
Trailing 1-0 at half-time, Boro stepped up their performance levels in the second half and it took all the way until the 96th minute before Godden scored, prompting wild scenes at the Lamex Stadium.
“It was an exhausting finale but obviously one that we are very pleased with. For them to come out on top was just rewards for the people they are and the effort they put in.
“It took us too long to understand what was needed, Sarll added. “We have got a lot of experience at this football club with players and staff but it took too long. We needed to be a little bit more direct today, we have seen some performances where we have passed the ball better but I actually thought what was needed today was to try and expose spaces in-behind the full backs to move us up the pitch.”
Connor Hunte’s header tied things up early in the second half but it was the final ten minutes that provided the most drama, as both sides had a whole host of chances to wrap the game up.
With Luton pushing hard in added time, Tom Pett was able to expose the space left behind as he broke away to set Godden up for winner.
“I am delighted for Matty, he has probably waited five games for that type of chance. That is the type of chance that we signed him off and it is the type of chance he is renowned for taking.
“It was an excellent piece of play by Tom Pett. He carried the ball so quickly and calmly up the pitch, moved the centre half, manipulated him and slipped him in.
“I have been speaking a lot about the quality of people we have at our football club and I thought the result today typified that. It has probably been fourteen months since we came out on the right side of a situation like that but it was well worth the wait and in a local derby it was even more satisfying.”
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