Goals from summer signings Jordan Roberts, Kane Smith and Dan Sweeney give Stevenage a 3-0 victory on a warm evening in Hitchin...
Following an exciting weekend on the sunny island of Jersey, which saw a 4-0 victory for Boro, Stevenage arrived at Top Field to face neighbours Hitchin Town in the second pre-season friendly of the campaign.
The first sight on goal came for Boro, playing in the all-purple strip, just under ten minutes in. Carl Piergianni rose highest in the Hitchin area and got his head onto Arthur Read’s cross, but the centre-back’s effort sailed just over the cross bar.
Jamie Reid was the next man to grab an opportunity on goal after a superb through ball from fellow attacker Jordan Roberts. Reid took aim from the right-hand side but fired high and wide of the mark.
After a dominant first twenty minutes, Stevenage eventually broke the deadlock. Jordan Roberts managed to head in Arthur Read’s corner to grab the opener and the former Motherwell winger’s second goal in as many games.
With ten minutes to go until the break, Boro continued to look sharp and positive. Jordan Roberts had the ball in the back of the net after receiving it from Jamie Reid, but the linesman raised for offside.
Then, just a few minutes later, Stevenage doubled their lead through what can only be described as a sensational hit from Kane Smith. The former Hitchin Town man took aim from outside the area with his effort smacking against the underside of the crossbar and flying into the back of the net.
The second half soon got underway and Steve Evans opted to keep the exact same eleven on the pitch. After the interval, Hitchin were seemingly tougher to break down which led to a rather quiet twenty minutes of football.
After sixty-eight minutes Luke Norris chested the ball down and attempted the half-volley but his effort is fired over the bar.
Steve Evans then made eight changes with Ashby-Hammond, Reeves, List, Campbell, Vancooten, Rose, Williams and Jack Smith all being brought on. Elliott List almost had an immediate impact on the game, but his low driven effort was well kept out by the Hitchin stopper.
With ten minutes remaining, Boro came agonisingly close to getting the third goal of the game. Danny Rose’s header was denied by the Hitchin keeper with the rebound falling to Elliott List, whose shot was blocked by a Hitchin defender and eventually cleared.
Stevenage then wrapped up the victory with Dan Sweeney rising highest from a corner, just like he did in Jersey, and hammering the ball into the back of the net with his head.
The full-time whistle was blown immediately after the third goal, sending Stevenage home with another victory to their name as Evans' men continue to prepare for the 2022/23 campaign.
Attendance: 680.