Dan Sweeney's header is followed by a Luke Norris brace as Stevenage pick up yet another three points at The Lamex Stadium...
Stevenage returned to The Lamex after going on their travels to Crawley and picking up a 2-1 victory in Sky Bet League Two three days prior. Steve Evans made three changes from that encounter, with Luther James-Wildin, Michael Bostwick and Luke Norris returning to the starting eleven.
Neither side were able to play much of their football in the opening fifteen minutes, with the ball spending a lot of the time in the air and both teams battling hard.
Boro were growing into the game after twenty minutes and were appearing to be the side on top. Saxon Earley was lively on the left-hand side, whipping in a dangerous cross, but the danger was cleared.
Just before the half hour mark, Stevenage opened the scoring from a set-piece. Alex Gilbey’s free kick from the left-hand side found Dan Sweeney lurking on the edge of the area, as his headed effort flew through everyone and found the bottom left corner to grab the first goal of the evening.
An excellent day for the defender who was announced as Boro’s Player of the Month for September prior to the game.
Sutton looked to answer back five minutes later, with The Yellows attacking in front of the travelling away support. Craig Eastmond’s shot from the edge of the box fell to Omar Bugiel on the six-yard line, but the striker knocked his effort over the bar.
Craig Eastmond picked up the ball once again in an attacking position, before taking aim at Boro’s goal from outside the area and firing high and wide. Then, just before half-time Joe Kizzi tried his luck but failed to challenge Ashby-Hammond as the referee blew his whistle to send Boro into the break with a one-goal lead.
The sides came out for the second half and within just three minutes, Boro doubled their lead. Jordan Roberts delivered a high cross to Danny Rose whose headed effort was well saved by Lewis Ward. However, the goalkeeper could only parry it out to the lurking Luke Norris who simply struck low and hard past the Sutton stopper to get his second goal in three days.
Norris looked full of confidence after his goal and was hungry for more. With his back to goal and under some pressure, the striker neatly turned inside the area and took aim, but Lewis Ward denied.
With twenty minutes still to be played, Norris’ hunger for goals was on clear display as the striker made it three for Stevenage. Danny Rose carried the ball forward before setting it off to Norris who powerfully curled his effort past Ward from twenty-five yards to earn his second of the evening.
Unfortunately, Luke Norris’ evening was cut short soon after as a boot to the face left him with a bloody nose and he was subsequently replaced by Jamie Reid up top.
With less than ten of the ninety minutes to go, Sutton’s Jon Barden was involved in a nasty collision with a teammate and was in extreme discomfort with his ankle, which caused some concern around The Lamex. The match was at a standstill whilst the Sutton man received treatment and was eventually stretchered off to an ambulance. Fifteen minutes of added time were to be played.
After one hundred and two minutes of football, Steve Evans brought off some tired legs with Michael Bostwick, Jordan Roberts, Alex Gilbey and Luther James-Wildin being replaced by Jake Reeves, Jake Taylor, Arthur Read and Kane Smith.
Finally, the referee blew for full-time to send Boro fans home happy and award Stevenage Football Club with yet another three points at The Lamex Stadium. Don’t go anywhere though, as football is back at The Lamex this Saturday with the arrival of Swindon Town.
Attendance: 2471 with 160 away.