Three goals see off ten man Grimsby...
Stevenage picked up their first Sky Bet League Two win of the season thanks to goals from Newton, Smith and Kennedy. The win means Stevenage remain unbeaten through the first few games of the campaign.
For our second home league game of the season, Darren Sarll made one change from the side who drew at Colchester. Tom Pett came in for Harry Beautyman, whilst Matt Godden and Danny Newton continued their strike partnership up top.
Within the first five minutes Boro had the first chance of the game. It was none other than Ronnie Henry who found himself driving towards goal from the right, before dragging his shot agonisingly wide of the far post.
Stevenage were dominating the first quarter of an hour. Brilliant build up play from Pett just outside the box, before dummying a pass through to Samuel. The Welshman’s shot was blocked, before the resulting corner met Franks’ head who unfortunately couldn't convert.
Just before the half hour, a Luke Summerfield free kick from the edge of the box had Stevenage hearts in mouths. Joe Fryer looked to have saved comfortably before spilling the ball onto the post, the young keeper managing to grab ahold of the ball before it crossed the line.
The hosts gave themselves a deserved lead on 36 minutes through Danny Newton. The boisterous striker with a brilliant piece of skill inside the box to score a wonderfully finished lob over the Grimsby goalkeeper. Boro were looking confident and likely to score another.
A minute before half time, Jonathan Smith doubled Stevenage’s tally, scoring on his home debut. A loose ball in the box led to Smith finding himself in the right place at the right time, as the midfielder poked home into the bottom right.
The second half started as the first left off, with Stevenage in control of the game and looking comfortable with the ball at feet. Grimsby’s frustration was becoming increasingly apparent, and was proven just before the hour mark. The Mariners’ number ten Sam Jones saw red after an elbow in the penalty area.
Matters were made worse for Grimsby only a few minutes later. Substitution Ben Kennedy entered the field and immediately made an impact. Picking the ball up from the right, the forward jinking past a number of defenders before finding the net with a calm, finessed finish into the far corner.
The visitors pulled one back with 10 minutes to go, but Stevenage continued to control the ball and saw the game out to finish 3-1. A first three points of the season for Boro.
Starting XI: Fryer, Henry, Wilkinson, Franks, Martin, Samuel (Kennedy 59), Gorman, Smith (Conlon 79), Pett, Godden (McKee 79), Newton.
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