Kane Smith and Max Clark grab the goals on an entertaining afternoon to give Boro all three points...
After a 1-0 victory against Rochdale on Tuesday, Boro returned to The Lamex four days later with Carlisle United the opposition. Steve Evans decided to field the exact same starting eleven and subs as Tuesday, in order to not change a winning team.
Stevenage started the game brightly on a clear afternoon in Hertfordshire. Danny Rose got his first shot off inside a minute but it was deflected wide. Then, just a couple of minutes later Arthur Read took aim from the edge of the area and was denied by the post.
Carlisle came back at Stevenage a few minutes later as penalty claims were heard loud and clear from the away end. The ball then fell to Jack Armer who fired over the bar.
Sixteen minutes in, after playing some delightfully entertaining football, Stevenage grabbed the opening goal. The ball bounced on the eighteen-yard line before Kane Smith’s right-footed strike deflected into the bottom corner to open the scoring and open the right-back’s account for the season.
The next twenty minutes of the game remained in Boro’s favour with the team staying switched-on defensively as well as displaying some wonderful football. Luke Norris received the ball to his feet inside the area but his effort sailed over.
Just before half time, Stevenage were able to double their lead. The ball fell to Max Clark on the left-hand side whose effort was blasted into the bottom corner past Tomas Holy in goal. With Smith and Clark both on the scoresheet, it was proving to be a good day for the wing-backs.
However, Carlisle managed to get one back on the stroke of half time. Kristian Dennis was there at the back post to meet Jordan Gibson’s cross and nod home to halve the deficit.
As the second half got underway, Stevenage remained the dominant side despite conceding moments before the interval. Unfortunately though, Danny Rose went down holding his leg ten minutes into the half and Evans was forced into a change. Jamie Reid was brought on, adding fresh legs to the attack.
Boro almost increased their lead through the substitute soon after. Arthur Read burst through on the counter attack before playing in Jordan Roberts on the left wing. Roberts then laid it off to Jamie Reid who attempted to curl his effort in the far post but fired wide of the mark.
Steve Evans then made a further two subsitutions with Dean Campbell and Jake Taylor replacing Arthur Read and Jordan Roberts.
Former Boro man Jordan Gibson looked to be the danger man for Carlisle with fifteen minutes remaining. His free-kick looked destined for the far low-corner but flew just inches wide of the post.
The Cumbrians were not willing to give in with just one goal between the sides. Jack Armer took aim from the edge of the area, but Taye Ashby-Hammond got down quickly to collect.
The final five minutes were far slower than usual as Stevenage kept a hold of their ball to hold onto their one-goal advantage.
Finally, the referee blew his whistle for full time to send Boro home with yet another three points after a dominant display. Now onto the Carabao Cup on Tuesday as we await the arrival of Peterborough United.
Attendance: 2514 with 331 Away