Big Match Preview: Stevenage v Tranmere

3 August 2018

Come on you Boro...

Key Matchday Info...

Tickets for are available from just £15 adults, £5 for kids and you can even bring a family of three for just £20.

If you want to secure your place ahead of the game, tickets are available up until 5pm on Friday in the club shop or 11am on Saturday online from borotickets.co.uk.

Prices remain the same price on matchday and will be available from the turnstiles or Ticket Office for both Stevenage and Tranmere supporters. See all prices here.

The second batch of Season Tickets are now available for collection. This includes all those fans who bought before 22nd July but please note, it is not too late to sign up for the season. Find more info here.

Bringing an U12 for the First Time? Please let us know.

We are delighted to announce that a brand new Kids Zone and Boro Busker will be a regular part of our Matchday experience going forward! Find out more here.

Starting on Saturday we also have brand new Junior Fan Passports for all our young supporters to enjoy and update with each and every visit to the Lamex Stadium. More information can be found here.

Tranmere fans - take a look at our Away Fans section of the website ahead of Saturday's game. With a large crowd expected, we request that supporters make their way to the turnstiles in good time.

The Broadhall Suite will be open to HOME & AWAY fans from midday.

Don’t forget to pick up a copy of our new-look programme, priced at the usual price of £3.

The Club Shop & Ticket Office are open from midday through until kick-off. Pop into the store before the game gets underway and browse our newest selection of replica kit, training wear and #WeAreStevenage t-shirts.

The Astute Family Challenge returns at half-time… All the details can be found here.

There will be free parking available across the A602 in Fairlands Valley car park. Please note not to park in the nearby retail parks.

Get to the game with our Arriva Shuttle Bus service which runs from the Bus and Railway Station to The Lamex Stadium for just £1.50 return.

The bus leaves the stations at 12:54, 13:19, 13:44, 14:09 & 14:34 before the game and then at 16:40, 17:00, 17:20 & 17:45 from the stadium.

Any questions or queries? Please let us know and don't hesitate to ask.

Onto the game…

It is finally here! After months away, Stevenage return to competitive action to face newly promoted Tranmere Rovers at the Lamex Stadium.

It has been a summer of change as 15 new players have joined the club ready to challenge for promotion under the stewardship of former player, coach and Stevenage legend, Dino Maamria.

Four wins and two narrow defeats against Premier League opposition made for a positive pre-season as performances encouraged and players stayed injury-free for the most part.

Tranmere will hoping to ride the crest of a wave like so many National League play-off winners in recent years who have found instant success in League Two.

The Super White Army will travel to the Lamex Stadium in their numbers as get ready to watch their team in the EFL for the first time in four years.

Team news…

The news from the treatment room is that on the whole, the squad is showing a clean bill of health with just a few doubts going into the game. James Ball, Emmanuel Sonupee and Mark McKee are all working hard to ensure they get back to full fitness for Saturday.

Tranmere on the other hand have a number of injury concerns including Liam Ridehalgh (Knee), Adam Buxton (Double Hernia), Evan Gumbs (Leg), Ollie Norburn (Shin) and Scott Davies (Hip).

Officials...

Referee: Charles Breakspear

Assistant Referee 1: Kevin Howick

Assistant Referee 2: Stephen Finch

Fourth Official: Paul Kelly

View from the camp...

Stevenage boss, Dino Maamria:

“I think Tranmere can be a dangerous team. We know very well the teams that get promoted from non-league are always strong and they know what winning looks like, they will be hard working, they will do the basics very well and we have got to be up for it.

We have got to overpower them, we have got to match everything they have got and play on top of that. I think we are ready for the game and I am looking for to it.”

Read/Watch the manager's full pre-match press conference.

Previous meetings...

Stevenage and Tranmere have an almost identical head-to-head record with two wins a piece and four draws from eight meetings between the two sides.

Six of those eight games came in Sky Bet League One between 2011-2014 and tomorrow’s match-up will be the first in over three years.

Last time out a late Charlie Lee equaliser meant for a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw at the Lamex Stadium.

Online coverage...

Live match commentary will be available for UK iFollow subscribers so make sure you sign up to listen to every game. If you are based outside of the UK & Ireland, you can stream the game LIVE!

Make sure you are following our Twitter account throughout the day as we bring you the very latest from the Lamex Stadium.

iFollow subscribers will also be able to access full match highlights along with all the post-match reaction on Sunday.

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Match Reports

REPORT: Stevenage 2-2 Tranmere

4 August 2018

A crazy first game back..

Stevenage were made to settle for a 2-2 draw against Tranmere Rovers in a barnstormer of an opening day of the 2018/19 season.

There will no doubt be a tinge of disappointment after Ball and Byrom put Boro into a 2-0 lead, only for the newly-promoted visitors to claw their way back into the game.

Taking into account the fact that Johnny Hunt was dismissed in the second half after receiving two yellow cards, there was plenty to be encouraged about as Maamria’s new-look Stevenage side picked up their first point of the season.

The Manager named nine debutants for the first game of the Sky Bet League Two opener with only Kennedy and Revell part of last season’s squad.

At a sun-soaked Lamex Stadium, it was the visitors who got off to the stronger of starts as they enjoyed the lion’s share of possession inside the opening 20 minutes. It didn’t turn into much in terms of goal-scoring chances though as a stingy Stevenage defence were able to keep the forwards quiet.

Indeed, it was Stevenage that struck first with the team’s first real attempt of note as James Ball sent the Boro supporters wild with his first for the club.

After Tranmere failed to clear their lines inside the box, the ball fell beautifully for Ball who rifled the ball home past the helpless Davies in goal.

Before long, it was 2-0 and the Lamex was temporarily in dreamland. Joel Byrom marking his return to the club with a beautifully measured curling effort

It is fair to say the one-two punch left Tranmere reeling somewhat but it didn’t take them long to find a route back into the contest. With just over 30 minutes gone, Oliver Norwood was released through on goal and one cool swipe of the boot later, it was 2-1. The Super White Army who packed out the away stand feeling like they finally got what they deserved.

Both teams came out for the second half unchanged and after just a few minutes of the restart, Revell and Timlin both had opportunities to extend the lead within a matter of minutes. Revs failing to connect with a clever ball into him whilst Timlin fired over from the resulting rebound.

James Ferry replaced James Ball early into the half and within minutes Tranmere found an equaliser. Poor defending at fault after Stevenage failed to clear a clipped free-kick into the box, Norwood on hand to grab his second of the game from less than a yard out.

Last year’s Player of the Season, Danny Newton soon entered the fray for Reid much to the encouragement of the Stevenage supporters.

Eager to get back into the lead, Dino Maamria wasn’t hanging about with his substitutions as he made his third and final change not long after the hour mark as Sonupe came on for Timlin.

For ten minutes Boro got back on top of the game as they were able to sustain a period of pressure on the Tranmere defence. Revell and Timlin both miscued difficult chances before Newton was denied on the goal-line following good work out wide by Sonupe. It felt like a potential turning point with the game so finely in the balance.

Norwood should have grabbed his hat-trick with just over ten minutes to go on two occasions, both from close-range and both over the bar as the game got more and more stretched.

Revell came a whisker away from his first of the season as he attempted a deft flick at the near-post but instead of finding the far corner, it fell just wide of the post.

In the dying minutes, it was Stevenage that looked the more likely to find a winner but it just wasn’t to be our day as Newton headed fine following a Byrom corner that was flicked on from his strike partner, Revell.

So, a share of the spoils to start the season ahead of next Saturday’s first road trip to Crawley.

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Ticket News

Don't miss the Season Opener this Saturday!

1 August 2018

Get your tickets for Tranmere clash...

Tickets are available at newly REDUCED prices for the soon upon us, opening game of the Sky Bet League Two season.

Stevenage kick off the new campaign at home for ninth season in a row and recently promoted Tranmere Rovers are our first visitors to the Lamex Stadium.

It has been a busy summer at the club but now it is time to do it on the pitch - don't miss the big kick-off on Saturday August 4th, 3pm.

This season we have made a number of changes to our matchday prices including REDUCTIONS in the East Terrace.

We now have a new £15 ‘one price’ policy for Adults and Concessions which represents a 25% discount on last season’s matchday prices for Adults and a 16% discount for Concessions.

Advance prices are now a thing of the past too so it doesn't matter whether you buy in-advance or on the day of the game.

Come as a family? Family ticket packages have also been slashed in price and are now extended to the East Terrace.

See full prices below.

	Adult:	Concessions:	U18:	U12:	Family of 3 (1 Adult & 2 U12s)	Family of 4 (2 Adults & 2 U12s)
East:	£15	£15	£10	£5	£20	£35
West:	£22	£20	£15	£10	£30	£45
South:	£22	£20	£15	£10	N/A	N/A

Purchase your tickets early from either borotickets.co.uk, over the phone on 01438 223223 or by visiting the club shop and get behind the Super Boro as we strive for success once again.

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Stevenage FC

Standings

Big Match Preview: Stevenage v Tranmere

REPORT: Stevenage 2-2 Tranmere

Don't miss the Season Opener this Saturday!

Tickets ON SALE for season opener