Stevenage Football Club secure automatic promotion to Sky Bet League One with a victory over Grimsby Town...
It was the final home league fixture of the season, and the stakes were as high as ever in front of a sold-out Lamex Stadium. Boro knew that victory against Grimsby would secure automatic promotion to Sky Bet League One. Steve Evans named an unchanged starting eleven from Tuesday’s triumphant win in Swindon.
The opening two minutes were extremely chaotic. Carl Piergianni’s header into a dangerous area was tapped into the net by Jamie Reid, but the linesman raised his flag for offside. Then, up the other end, The Mariners had a flurry of corners that were defended successfully by Boro.
After ten minutes there was a stoppage in play as Carl Piergianni and Michael Bostwick clashed heads, and the latter was forced off through injury. Luther James-Wildin replaced Bostwick and occupied the right-hand side of the back three.
Stevenage were creating some offence after twenty minutes as Alex Gilbey had an opportunity to shoot on the volley, but his effort flew over the bar from the edge of the area.
Stevenage were defending well, which gave them the licence to break on the counterattack on the half-hour mark. It was Jamie Reid who took aim on goal, but his effort was saved, and Boro won a corner.
Dan Sweeney had two headed efforts from two corners, with the first going out for a corner, and the second being smartly denied by Max Crocombe in goal.
The final ten minutes of the first half were rather quiet, with neither goalkeeper being challenged. Grimsby’s Harry Clifton tried his luck from range, but his effort sailed wide before the referee blew for half-time.
At half-time, Steve Evans changed his back five into a back four, as Kane Smith was replaced by Jake Forster-Caskey who slotted into midfield alongside Jake Reeves and Alex Gilbey.
Boro were applying pressure ten minutes into the half as they looked for a vital opening goal. Jake Reeves’ cross met the head of Carl Piergianni whose effort fell comfortably into the hands of Max Crocombe.
After threatening the Grimsby defence, Stevenage took the lead after fifty-seven minutes. Jordan Roberts’ pinpoint cross found Jamie Reid inside the area who nodded home as The Lamex Stadium erupted. They don’t call him ‘Big Goal Reidy’ for nothing.
Grimsby were not going to go down without a fight though, as they looked to spoil Boro’s fun. Harry Clifton’s mazy run led to him having a shot on goal, but Thimothee Lo-Tutala was able to watch it roll wide.
Stevenage were not satisfied with their one-goal advantage though, as they soon doubled their lead with twenty-five minutes to play. Luther James-Wildin won the ball high up the pitch, allowing Jamie Reid to back-heel it back to James-Wildin who composed himself on the edge of the area before calmly finishing into the bottom right corner.
All three home stands were in fine voice soon after as their side were just twenty minutes away from automatic promotion.
Steve Evans’ men continued to press high up the pitch and create chances with over ten minutes to go. Carl Piergianni came close to grabbing a third, but his header sailed just wide.
With five minutes to go, plus additional time, Evans made his next substitution as Jordan Roberts came off to a standing ovation and was replaced by Jake Taylor to see out the game.
Four additional minutes were to be played as the Boro faithful excitedly anticipated the final whistle. Stevenage did everything they could to comfortably see out the final five minutes. Evans made one final change as Daryl Horgan replaced Jamie Reid who also received a great ovation.
Finally, the long-awaited full-time whistle was blown, and Boro had done it. A 2-0 win over Grimsby meant that Stevenage Football Club were promoted to Sky Bet League One. Celebrations lasted hours after full-time as Stevenage had completed the season objective.
Attendance: 6,533 including 678 away supporters.
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