Another positive pre-season outing...
Stevenage swept St Neots aside on Tuesday evening as a brace from Alex Revell helped Dino Maamria’s men to a third straight win this pre-season.
After a tight first half where there was little difference on show between the two teams, Stevenage picked it up after the break to score twice without reply and confirm victory.
The boss named four trialists in his team for Tuesday evening’s game against St Neots.
First teamers Cuthbert, Hunt, Sonupe, Byrom, Timlin, Georgiou and Revell joining those in the starting XI looking to earn contracts at the club.
It took just five minutes for Stevenage to take the lead. Neat close control from Georgiou to win the penalty and Alex Revell with a composed finish into the bottom corner to make it 1-0.
Despite the great start, St Neots weren’t without their moments. Former Boro scholar, Claudio Ofosu firing over the bar from the edge of the box with less than 10 minutes on the clock.
Soon after, Saints man Sinclair clipped the outside of the post from distance after a slick team move which allowed the attacker to strike from 20 yards.
Revell and Georgiou both came close in the first half as the latter saw his long range strike palmed away before Revs headed over from close range, after good play from Byrom and Sonupe in the build-up.
Stevenage headed for the dressing room with a 1-0 lead after a closely fought first half.
Right from the off, Boro looked to hammer home their advantage and Sonupe stung the palms of Saints keeper Swan just a few minutes in. A wicked low strike that was heading for the bottom corner, well kept away by Swann.
Stevenage kicked on in the second half and began to dominate proceedings. In the 58th minute Alex Revell grabbed his second of the game with a lovely lofted finish after latching onto a long ball forward from the back.
Two minutes later, it was 3-0. Centre-back trialist rising highest from a corner to head home and all but ensure the win. A raft of second half substitutions meant that by the 70th minute there were no survivors from the first half as youngsters and trialists were given their opportunity to shine.
U18 Harry Draper had a couple of opportunities to score as the game drew to a close and with so many changes comes an inevitable drop-off in organisation, but Stevenage were able to hold firm to preserve the clean sheet and make it three wins out of three this pre-season.
---
