A performance that had everything but a winner in the capital…
Steve Evans made just the one change from Good Friday’s goalless draw against Bolton Wanderers, with captain Carl Piergianni returning from suspension in place of Kane Smith.
Smith and Dan Sweeney both travelled but were not included in the eighteen, with the latter missing out due to ongoing family matters – but still attended the game to show support to his teammates.
Steve Evans was also absent, but only from the touchline as he served the final game of his suspension.
Luther James-Wildin returned to his favoured right-back position after his central defence outing on Friday, with Terence Vancooten, Carl Piergianni and Dan Butler completing the back four.
Alex MacDonald and Finley Burns continued their partnership at the base of the Stevenage midfield, backing a front four of Nesta Guinness-Walker, Ben Thompson, Jordan Roberts and Jamie Reid.
A following of over a thousand Boro’ fans behind the goal roared their team on in a game that could be integral to Stevenage’s play-off push with six games to go.
Chances were few and far between for both sides in the first half, with Tennai Watson’s threatening low cross the biggest chance of the first quarter of an hour, which fortunately for Boro’, evaded everyone inside the box.
Nesta Guinness-Walker’s deep free-kick on twenty minutes was aimed at the head of Carl Piergianni but put just too much power on his delivery.
Ben Thompson picked up the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Daniel Kanu on the halfway line, before Jamie Reid’s shot on target was deemed offside by the linesman on the far side.
Charlton’s Watson was next in the referee’s book for a foul on Dan Butler on the corner of the hosts’ penalty area, but Alex MacDonald couldn’t make the most of the resulting set piece opportunity.
The teams went in level at the break, after a first half which saw Stevenage with the sole shot on goal between the two sides.
With both Oxford United and Lincoln City winning in their games elsewhere, Steve Evans freshened things up during the interval. The manager switched to two strikers up front as Nick Freeman, Louis Thompson and Vadaine Oliver were introduced for Burns, Guinness-Walker and Ben Thompson.
The change almost paid off immediately as Nick Freeman carried the ball high up the pitch on the counterattack before sliding in Dan Butler, whose cross was headed just wide of the mark by Jordan Roberts.
Taye Ashby-Hammond was forced into his first save of the game after Freddie Ladapo should have done better from close range, heading straight at the Stevenage stopper. Boro’s number one was called into action again minutes later, saving well from an audacious Alfie May effort from distance.
Just before the hour mark, Jamie Reid had a golden opportunity to put the visitors ahead. Alex MacDonald’s cross from the right was knocked down by the head of substitute Vadaine Oliver at the back post, but Jamie Reid found himself just under the ball as he headed over from inside the six-yard box.
The chances continued to come for Stevenage as the half-time changes were seeming to make a difference. Luther James-Wildin found space 25 yards from goal and tried his luck, only to fire over. Nick Freeman then found himself inside the Charlton box with the ball at his feet who could only fire wide on the half volley.
Harvey White and Kane Hemmings were introduced for Jamie Reid and Jordan Roberts with fewer with twenty minutes to play, as Stevenage continued to look for a way past this Charlton defence.
With ten minutes to go, it took a last-ditch Terence Vancooten clearance in his own six yard box to keep Charlton at bay for the time being, before down the other end Harry Isted did well to save Vadaine Oliver’s back post header.
Harry Isted would tip another good Vadaine Oliver header past the post in the final few moments, before Carl Piergianni’s header would fall wide in added time.
A positive performance which had the chances for all three, but Stevenage would have to settle for the second of two goalless draws this Easter weekend.
Att: 14,251 inc. 1,043 away.
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