Stevenage made it back to winning ways with a 2-0 win over Swindon Town for the final Tuesday night game of the season…
With just a point and a place separating the two sides before the start of play and with the Play-Offs still just about in-sight, Dino Maamria and his men recorded a crucial victory thanks to Alex Revell’s first half header and Ilias Chair’s late cherry on the cake.
The Manager named two changes to the side that lost to Bury just four days prior, recalling Michael Timlin and the freshly available Ben Nugent to the starting XI.
During his pre-match press conference, the Manager called for a fast start and that is exactly what he got as it was Stevenage who made all the early running.
Immediate pressure was forced upon the Robins goal as Michael Timlin and Alex Revell had early opportunities as Boro bombarded the opposition box.
A breakthrough wasn’t forthcoming though and Swindon soon settled down. Keshi Anderson forced a superb save from Farman after 25 minutes and seconds later, Matty Taylor drove a dangerous low fizzer across the six-yard box that needed just a telling touch.
Midway through the second half and the play was in the balance. Michael Timlin saw his second long range shot of the game fly just past the post and Alex Revell failed to find the target with his header following fine work from James-Wildin who blasted past his marker before chipping it up for the back-post.
Second time lucky though, Revell made it count. Racing onto a brilliant corner from Joel Byrom, Stevenage’s number 9 stooped low to steer the ball home and make it 1-0. The goal lifted Boro’s spirits and had two superb opportunities in the proceeding minutes. Ilias Chair forcing a save from Vigouroux after racing onto a clever pass from Guthrie and before the half was out, Revell almost grabbed his second with another header – this time skimming along the crossbar.
Stevenage started the second half the stronger of the two sides and Chair could have made for a more comfortable evening as he arrived late into the box to connect with Guthrie’s pass – his flick towards goal not quite coming off.
Paul Farman came up huge in the second half as he thwarted Swindon with a number of brilliant stops. The keeper twice denying Anderson around the hour mark as he first saved a stunning free-kick before getting down low to palm away a rasping shot that was heading for the bottom corner. Guthrie forced Vigoroux into two top saves of his own as he first beat away a stooping header before seeing the striker’s shot wide as he galloped into the box.
With just five minutes remaining, Ronnie Henry entered the fray for his 500th appearance and with the skipper’s help, Stevenage had to see out the contest with it resting on a knife edge.
Thankfully, with the goalkeeper advanced as Swindon desperately hunted for an equaliser, Ilias Chair was able to provide the moment of the game as he scored a wonder-goal from inside his own half to confirm the victory.