Stevenage fell to a frustrating 1-0 defeat at home to Salford on Saturday, in a game which Boro did everything but score, backed behind an incredible home support...

With the fight for survival heightening with every remaining game, the Boro fans got behind the team from the first minute until the last, which seemed to translate onto the pitch as Stevenage pushed the agenda in horrific conditions, right the way through the contest.

Boro got off to a strong start in the game and looked to use the high winds blowing towards the Salford goal to their advantage. James-Wildin was first to take aim at goal, arriving late from 25 yards out and forcing Letheren down quickly to parry away his stinging effort.

James Wilson was first to come close for Salford in the first half, bending a left footed shot just wide of Farman’s far post on 20 minutes.

Charlie Carter has been in fine goalscoring form recently, and could have added to his tally four minutes later after receiving the ball just inside the box, before letting off a low shot that the Ammie’s stopper was able to get down and smother.

Dan Kemp came close to testing Letheren with a deep free-kick, that, with a bit of help from the wind, came close to dipping just below his crossbar.

Stevenage were playing with an intensity and purpose both on and off the ball that had not always been seen this season and had the visitors on the back-foot for almost all of the first half.

However, it was Salford who made it count as on a swift breakaway, Ibou Touray found Brandon Asante with a pin-point cross, who headed past Farman to make it 1-0 just past the half hour mark.

Boro’s heads didn’t drop though and the team kept plugging away until the half-time whistle, Carter again with another decent chance, taking aim from 18 yards but this time his shot deflecting wide for a corner.

The second half started very much like the first, with Stevenage applying all the pressure but just unable to find that goal. Carter played Kemp in down the right hand side, and after beating his man down the outside, forced a fine save from Letherhen to keep Salford ahead.

Boro fans thought they drew level moments later, as Kemp and then Lakin both had chances to score from close range, but the first was blocked before the second rattled wide in agonising fashion.

Craig Mackail-Smith replaced Elliott List after 60 minutes and was almost presented with a golden opportunity to make an immediate impact, getting to the ball ahead of the Salford goalkeeper but unable to create the opening the score.

Cassidy curled a strike wide on 72 minutes and as the pressure continued to mount, Dean Parrett came on for Dan Kemp. Despite having all the territory, the breakthrough wasn’t forthcoming and David Parkhouse replaced Charlie Lakin with 10 minutes to go as Graham Westley’s final roll of the dice.

Stevenage kept throwing everything at it, whilst restricting Salford to virtually nothing, but in the end it wasn’t enough as the visitors first half goal condemned Boro to defeat.

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