Back to winning ways..
Stevenage romped to a 5-1 win at the hands of Chesterfield as Darren Sarll’s men came up with a Christmas cracker just two sleeps before the big day.
With a last league win coming towards the back end of October, Saturday’s entertainment was the perfect early Christmas present for Stevenage fans, players and staff alike.
The usual suspects were involved in the goals – Danny Newton and Matty Godden both with braces whilst Dale Gorman scored his second of the season in what was the team’s best performance of the season to date.
Darren Sarll made three changes to the side that lost at Exeter the previous weekend with Dale Gorman, Danny Newton and Terence Vancooten all recalled to the XI. There was also a change in formation as the team lined up in a 4-3-3 with McKee, Smith and Gorman playing in the middle.
After a McCourt volley that flew over just a minute or so into the contest, it was all Boro for the majority of the first half as chance after chance would come a red and white shirt way.
Alex Samuel was the first to make an impression inside the Chesterfield area – rolling his man before firing into the side netting.
The post came to Chesterfield’s rescue 5 minutes in as Matty Godden’s close range flick was saved by Eastwood before rolling up and onto the bar.
It was Godden again just moments later, blasting over from 6 yards out after the ball fell kindly to him inside a crowded box. It felt a matter of time before the scoring would open as Stevenage bombarded the Chesterfield area.
There was aggression all over the pitch from the Boro players, winning the ball high up the pitch and pressing from the front.
With 12 minutes on the clock, the deadlock was finally broken as Danny Newton turned home Alex Samuel’s cross to make it 1-0.
The game continued the same pattern right until Dale Gorman, on his return to the team, made it 2-0. Bursting through from midfield, the Northern Ireland international picked up the loose ball before calmly rolling it past Eastwood in goal.
Having created virtually nothing all game, Chesterfield began to press as the game approached half-time. Ronnie Henry was in position to provide a crucial double block on the goal line before Joe Fryer was on hand to make a quick fire double save.
Unable to stem the tide, those minutes of madness came back to bite Boro as Dennis headed in on 41 minutes to make it 2-1.
Despite the setback, the Super Boro went right up the other end and thanks to a kindly deflection on Danny Newton’s cross/shot, it was 3-1 before half-time.
With a two goal lead, the next one was always going to be vital. Joe Fryer came up with the same of the match minutes into the restart as he palmed away Rowley’s stinging strike from just 8 yards out.
That save only became more crucial in the following exchanges as Matty Godden got in on the act to make it 4-1. Latching onto Vancooten’s long punt upfield, Godden streaked away from his marker before applying a trademark finish into the bottom corner.
With a comfortable lead, Darren Sarll’s men continued to push and make life difficult for the visitors. Both Danny Newton and Matt Godden were denied by Eastwood as Boro went looking for more.
Alex Samuel came off to a fantastic reception as he was taken off for Ben Kennedy and it didn’t take long for the recently recovered Stevenage starlet to make his mark.
Receiving the ball out on the right, he took it past a couple of Chesterfield players before sliding the ball through for Godden to score his second and Stevenage’s fifth.
That would be Godden’s last action of the game as youngster Jamie Gray came on to replace him and with just 5 minutes to go, Danny Newton came a balls width away from his hat-trick after Kennedy played him in on the break.
Not to worry though, Boro would hold out to record their biggest victory of the season ahead of two consecutive away trips over Christmas.