The last home friendly of pre-season ends in a draw...
For the first time this season, the sun was shining down at the Lamex. Stevenage faced newly promoted Millwall in the final home game before the real stuff starts again.
Darren Sarll made two changes from the side that fell to defeat at the weekend. Alex Samuel and Tom Conlon came into the team, looking to add some pace and flair to the performance.
The Lions had the first real chance of the game within the first five minutes. Aiden O’Brien managed to turn and shoot inside the box, before a strong arm from Joe Fryer was there to parry it wide.
Boro’s first chance of the game came from a Dale Gorman corner, whose whipped cross was met by the head of Luke Wilkinson. The defender was unlucky not to see his effort hit the back of the net.
15 minutes in, a free kick from the halfway line was well worked, and fell to Joe Martin on the edge of the six yard box. The defender’s effort was on target, but the Millwall goalkeeper saved comfortably.
An instant counter attack then came from Millwall. Jed Wallace raced through the midfield, before playing an inch perfect ball through to Onyedinma, whose effort was from a tight angle and saved by Fryer.
Alex Samuel was causing all sorts of trouble for the Millwall back four. His work rate and pressing meant the attacker never gave the opposition a moment’s peace.
Good work from Samuel, led to Harry Beautyman finding himself with an opportunity six yards from goal. The goalkeeper was out and brave enough to smother the effort.
Moments later, it was Samuel involved again as he nutmegged his defender out wide, and earned a free kick. The resulting set piece was cleared, but only to Samuel, who battled his way through the defence and saw his shot go just wide of the post.
The second half carried on where the first half left off. Chances at either end and both goalkeepers answering the strikers’ questions.
Just a few minutes into the second period, Joe Fryer made an outstanding save to deny Elliott’s header from finding the back of the net. The Millwall forward must have thought he’d opened the scoring but Fryer was there yet again.
An hour gone, and Joe Fryer seemed to be having the game of his life! This time reacting well to a deflected Wallace effort, after the midfield had found himself through on goal.
Numerous changes were made as the game lost its flow. Neither side could break the deadlock and the game finished 0-0. Competitive game as both sides looked ready for the new season.
Starting XI: Fryer, Martin, Franks, Wilkinson, Henry, Samuel, Conlon, Gorman, Beautyman, McKee, Newton.
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