Goals from Jordan Roberts and Jamie Reid round off an enjoyable afternoon at The Lamex...
Stevenage returned to The Lamex Stadium with six games to go until the end of the season. At the start of the day, Boro were fifth in the table and level on points with the automatic promotion places so a win would be vital. Steve Evans made three changes from the 1-1 draw against Hartlepool on Easter Monday as Jake Reeves, Jake Forster-Caskey and Kane Smith came in for Terence Vancooten, Michael Bostwick and Luther James-Wildin.
Inside four minutes, Stevenage took the lead and got the home crowd excited in the early stages. Jake Forster-Caskey’s free-kick was sent into a dangerous position as Carl Piergianni squared it to Jordan Roberts who fired home from close range.
Despite Boro being in control early on, AFC Wimbledon grabbed an equaliser after just ten minutes. The Dons’ star-man Ali Al-Hamadi received the ball inside the box before neatly turning and finding the far corner of the goal with his effort.
The first twenty minutes of the game involved chances from both sides, with Stevenage coming agonisingly close to regaining their lead. Kane Smith carried the ball forward before squaring it to Jamie Reid on the six-yard line, but the striker was unable to get the finishing touch on it as the score remained level.
The remainder of the first half had far less to write home about as both sides looked to get the ball down and play their football. Just before the interval, The Dons looked destined to take the lead with a header bouncing across the face of the goal, before Kasey McAteer’s strike from the edge of the area flew wide.
The second half got underway, and it remained an incredibly tight game. Both sets of supporters got behind their sides well, in the hopes of encouraging a goal.
Eventually, the first meaningful chance of the half occurred on the hour mark as Stevenage regained their lead. A loose defensive header was picked up by Jamie Reid who lobbed the ball over Nik Tzanev to grab his side’s second of the afternoon.
Steve Evans made his first two substitutions of the afternoon with just over twenty minutes to go as Jake Reeves and Kane Smith made way for Jake Taylor and Luther James-Wildin respectively.
With over ten minutes remaining, Boro were largely in control and came close to doubling their lead. Jake Taylor sprinted to the back post in search of a goal but could only hit the side-netting.
Stevenage had just five minutes plus additional time to hold onto their lead and pick up a vital victory. On came Michael Bostwick in place of Jake Forster-Caskey to see the game out.
Four minutes of added time was displayed by the Fourth Official as Boro supporters hoped and prayed. The Dons’ had a long throw-in sent into box in the closing stages, with Ali Al-Hamadi firing inches wide in dramatic fashion.
Eventually, the final whistle was blown, and The Lamex Stadium erupted as an absolutely vital three points was picked up in the race for promotion. Boro return to The Lamex in three days’ time as they welcome Doncaster Rovers.
Attendance: 4,062 including 694 away supporters.