Goals galore and history made as Boro round off EFL Trophy campaign with victory…
Steve Evans made six changes from the side that beat Wycombe at Adams Park on Saturday, including the notable return of Aaron Pressley after a spell on the sidelines through injury.
Stevenage’s high press and intensity paid off as early as the fourth minute when Jake Forster-Caskey’s wide free-kick deflected in off Palace defender Joe Sheridan and into the net.
Boro continued to contain Palace in their own half, leading to a foul on Stevenage midfielder Jake Forster-Caskey. What followed was a thing of beauty as the former England Under 21 international struck the ball into the top right-hand corner, doubling Boro’s lead in the process.
Crystal Palace got back into it with just over a quarter of an hour played after Ashby-Hammond’s misplaced pass left the goal open for an ambitious chip that Malcolm Ebiowei took to get one back for the Eagles.
A headed goal after twenty minutes from Ola-Adebomi took the visitors level.
But yet again, Stevenage were attacking with pace. Harvey White’s spectacular effort from outside the area flew into the top corner to regain Boro’s lead into the break.
At the start of the second half, there was one change as the Gaffer opted to take off Terence Vancooten for Louis Thompson.
Much like the first half, the second half featured a calm and confident Stevenage, which led to doubling the lead early as Aaron Pressley scored within the six-yard box, with an assist from substitute Thompson.
Stevenage made two more substitutions with fifteen minutes to play. Taye Ashby-Hammond made way for schoolboy Max Woodford, who becomes Stevenage’s youngest-ever player at just fifteen years, six months and nine days.
Seventeen-year-old David Hicks also came on for his Boro debut, replacing Jake Forster-Caskey in midfield.
Aaron Pressley doubled his tally for the day, scoring from the following set piece, before being replaced by the previous youngest-ever player, Makise Evans.
Woodford made a brave clearance with his fists from a corner in injury time to the roar of the home faithful.
Boro have made it four wins on the bounce and are unbeaten in six. Onto Saturday.
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