Dagenham & Redbridge 3 Stevenage 2
Stevenage fell at the first hurdle in this season’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, beaten by the odd goal in five to League two Dagenham & Redbridge at Victoria Road on Tuesday evening.
Stevenage made five changes from Saturday’s Npower League One clash against Shrewsbury Town. In came Steve Arnold and Oliver Risser for their debuts as well as Patrick Agyemang, Bondz N’Gala and Filipe Morais.
It was an opening 45 minutes to forget for Boro with uncharacteristically untidy defending allied with some poor ball retention seeing them two goals behind at the break.
Woodall opened the scoring, heading smartly home from a right-wing cross, but parity was restored when Roberts shot home from close range after Agyemang had headed a Morais corner back across the goal.
Scott edged the home side back in front with a smartly taken effort from eight yards before Spillane made it three from the spot, after Roberts had been adjudged to have hauled him down.
Gary Smith added the attacking threat of Marcus Haber for the start of the second half, reverting to a 4-4-2 set up. Stevenage were far brighter, dominating possession with real purpose but Chris Lewington in the home goal was largely untroubled until substitute Robin Shroot somehow curled a shot in from tight on the right that eluded defenders and goalkeeper to nestling in the far corner.
Risser almost drew Boro level when he connected with a freekick from Boro’s thirds substitute, Luke Freeman, but his effort found the side netting.
Arnold – Gray, Roberts, N’Gala, Charles – Morais, Grant (Sub: Haber, 46), Risser, Tansey, Rogers (Sub: Shroot, 62mins) – Agyemang (Sub: Freeman, 71). Substitutes not used: Ball, Comminges. Stevenage (4-5-1)