Stevenage continued their recent good form with a point after a goalless draw at home to AFC Wimbledon this afternoon.
Whilst there were no goals at The Lamex Stadium, the draw sees Boro increase their recent unbeaten run to four and made it just one defeat in eight games in the closing stages of the season.
Darren Sarll made just the one enforced change from last weekend’s win at Morecambe with Jake Mulraney returning from injury to replace Aaron O’Connor.
Needing points to guarantee their playoff place, AFC Wimbledon enjoyed the best of the early possession but it was Stevenage who had the early chances.
On five minutes Jake Mulraney found space down the left and whipped in an early cross which visiting ‘keeper Kelle Roos just beat Greg Luer to. Moments later Ben Kennedy made himself space in the box and turned but could only fire over.
Darius Charles was part of the visiting team but on nine minutes nearly gifted Boro a goal. His loose-back pass was latched onto by Luer but out came Roos with an essential sliding challenge.
Gradually the Dons came into the game with Francomb thwarted by a brilliant back-tracking Dean Parrett as the winger looked to shoot, whilst Tom Elliott sent a towering header wide from a left-wing cross.
Ten minutes before the break Stevenage hit the Dons on the counter and nearly took the lead. Electric pace from Mulraney saw the QPR loanee burst into space and his early cross was touched back by Kennedy for Luer, whose shot on the turn was charged down by Roos. A massive save.
Dean Parrett blazed over after charging through midfield at the start of the second half, before Elliott again had a chance with a header at the other end, but nodded tamely at Jones.
Greg Luer was replaced on 57 minutes by the returning Adam Marriott and six minutes later the substitute nearly found himself on the scoresheet. Michael Tonge threaded the ball through midfield, Marriott dummied, Kennedy laid it back and Adam smashed just wide.
AFC Wimbledon threw on Adebayo Azeez and Adebayo Akinfenwa as the half progressed but generally this was another game where defences were on top, leaving chances scarce.
Sean Rigg twice scuffed at goal in the closing stages, making it easy for Jones and that was pretty much that as late pressure from both sides broke down.
A draw concludes Stevenage’s home games this season and – with Plymouth scoring a late equaliser at Cambridge – ensures AFC Wimbledon make the playoffs, much to the delight of the travelling supporters.
The final game of the season is away at Accrington Stanley next weekend, where Boro will hope to end 15/16 on a high and dent Stanley’s hopes for automatic promotion. Tickets for this game can be found at www.borotickets.co.uk.
Stevenage: Day, Henry, Wilkinson, Wells, Franks, Pett, Tonge, Parrett, Mulraney (Lee 75), Kennedy (Conlon 81), Luer (Marriott 56)
Subs not used: Day, Johnson, Adams, Gorman
AFC Wimbledon: Roos, Fuller, Robinson, Charles, Kennedy, Francomb, Bulman, Reeves (Smith 38), Rigg, Elliott (Azeez 59), Taylor (Akinfenwa 75)
Subs not used: Shea, Fitzpatrick, Sweeney, Murphy
Referee: Charles Breakspear
Attendance: 4,011 (1,191 away)