Stevenage Football Club kicked off their Pre-Season Friendly schedule with a thrilling victory over the Inaugural Jersey Bulls...
After thrice going behind during a pulsating Pre-Season encounter, Stevenage kept fighting back to level things up through Carter (penalty), Newton and Nugent before Jersey boy Kurtis Guthrie netted the winner in added time.
Gaffer Dino Maamria named five trialists for the first 45 minutes with Stokes, Carter, Fielding, Digby, Reid and Smyth making up the remainder of the team.
It was the home-team Bulls got off to a flyer at a sunny Springfield Stadium in St Hellier. Despite Boro dominating the opening minutes, Jersey forward Fraser Barlow opened the scoring with a neat finish from inside the box on their first attempt at goal.
Stevenage dominated the play thereafter but struggled to create regular goalscoring chances. Boro levelled things up just prior to the half-hour mark via the penalty spot after a Bulls handball, with Charlie Carter opening up his Stevenage account with an arrowed spot-kick into the bottom corner.
Cuthbert, Nugent, Iontton and Sonupe entered the fray after the break but it was once again the Bulls that retook the lead, this time through a stunning strike from Bickley at a narrow angle.
The setback spurred action as Stevenage went on the attack to find another leveller. Sonupe spurned a decent opening created by himself, as he took on a number of Bulls to drive into the area before skewing his effort wide.
Hometown boy Kurtis Guthrie was amongst a slew of subs on the 60th minute that included Danny Newton, youngster Jack Smith and Joel Byrom. Within a minute of the changes, Stevenage levelled again, this time through Newton who fired in from close range following a melee inside the area.
The lead didn’t last long though. Le Quense finishing in style after being played through on the right handside of the box. It was a wild match though, best demonstrated by Stevenage’s third equaliser, a sensational strike from centre-back Ben Nugent who hammered home from the best parts of 30 yards.
Former Stevenage stalwart and current fitness coach Jon Ashton joined the action with 20 minutes to go and never looked out of place. Then, with minutes to go, Kurtis Guthrie - who received a superb ovation from the home crowd - gave Stevenage the lead for the first time on the day, finishing expertly after both receiving and applying a deft touch to put the striker in.
A successful end to a successful trip for Stevenage who head back to Hertfordshire on Sunday to resume a busy Pre-Season Schedule. A special thanks to our hosts Jersey Bulls who certainly played their part on and off the pitch on a special day for the Island club.
ALL THE GOALS! 🎯 #WeAreStevenage pic.twitter.com/zv03HFU40G
— Stevenage FC 🔴⚪ (@StevenageFC) July 6, 2019
Attendance: 975 (72 Stevenage supporters).
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