Our take on today's defeat at The Lamex Stadium...
The League One campaign was very much coming to its business end as Stevenage had just nine games remaining in their thrilling race for the play-offs. The opposition, Leyton Orient, sat six points behind Stevenage going into this game.
The gaffer made just one change from Wednesday, as Louis Thompson replaced the suspended Carl Piergianni. A second change was forced ahead of kick off though as Taye Ashby-Hammond suffered a slight knock in the warmup and was replaced by Craig MacGillivray between the sticks.
Boro looked lively after seven minutes as they created their first chance of the afternoon. Luther James-Wildin was awarded plenty of space on the right wing as he swung in a dangerous cross, but an Orient defender cleared the danger out for a corner.
The resulting corner was taken short to Nick Freeman whose looming ball into the danger zone forced goalkeeper, Sol Brynn, to tip it over the crossbar.
Leyton Orient created their first real chance after sixteen minutes and took the lead as a result, through Max Sanders. The ball was played to the Orient man inside the area allowing him to fire into the bottom left corner and give his side the advantage.
Five minutes later, the momentum was back in Boro’s favour and they even had the ball in the back of the net via Jamie Reid. However, the referee deemed there to be a handball in the build-up as the score line remained 1-0 to the visitors.
Orient saw little action going forward for the remainder of the half as Stevenage worked hard to get themselves back in it. The hosts saw a lot of the ball but were unable to carve out a clear enough chance to find an equaliser as the half-time whistle was soon blown.
Ahead of the second half, The Gaffer opted for four substitutions as he looked to turn the game on its head. Nathan Thompson, Jake Forster-Caskey, Nesta Guinness-Walker and Elliott List were all introduced in place of Luther James-Wildin, Louis Thompson, Dan Butler and Vadaine Oliver.
The changes seemingly made a difference as Boro looked incredibly lively in the early stages of the second half. Nesta Guinness-Walker and Elliott List appeared especially threatening with their pace and trickery.
A couple of half chances came Stevenage’s way ten minutes into the half as Jamie Reid and Nick Freeman both fired efforts wide of the post from the edge of the area.
Orient applied the pressure when they could, but Stevenage were standing firm to prevent a two-goal deficit.
With fifteen of the ninety minutes to go, a fifth Stevenage change was made as Ben Thompson made way for Alex MacDonald in the middle of the park.
Just ten minutes were left to play as Stevenage remained a goal down at The Lamex Stadium, but they were attempting everything in their power to get an equaliser. Several balls were sent into the area, but they just could not find their way into the back of the net.
Despite the several stoppages in the second half, just three additional minutes were indicated by the Fourth Official as Boro remained a goal down.
Little action occurred in either area as it became a hard-fought battle between the two sides chasing the play-offs. The referee then blew his final whistle to conclude a frustrating afternoon in Hertfordshire.
Onto Carlisle.
Attendance: 5,650 including 1,374 away.
