Defeat in Stamford for our Stevenage youngsters...
Boro travelled north up the A1 for the final pre-season test against non-league outfit Stamford AFC. The starting eleven consisted of five first-year scholars, three second-year scholars as well as Alfie Williams, Jack Smith and a trialist.
The opening five minutes went in favour of the Lincolnshire side as they soon took an early lead. The ball was delivered into the Stevenage area before a Stamford attacker’s glancing header flew into the back of the net.
Boro’s youth slowly grew into the game as they looked to keep a hold of the ball and create more chances. Theo Alexandrou drove down the left wing before taking aim, but his effort was fired over.
However, the strength of Stamford proved to be too much for the youngsters as ‘The Daniels’ doubled their lead after twenty minutes through a simple tap-in past Rylee Mitchell.
Struggle for the youngsters unfortunately continued in the first half as Stamford grabbed a third goal after a defensive mishap allowed their forward to grab his second of the evening.
The second half got underway and the difference in size and power between the two sides continued to show. Despite Jaden Ogwuazor’s last-ditch challenge, A Stamford player was at the right place at the right time to slot the ball past academy keeper Rylee Mitchell.
Unfortunately, Stamford made it five with twenty-five minutes still remaining. The Stamford number fourteen burst through on the counter attack before calmly knocking the ball past Mitchell.
Academy scholars Sam Tinubu and Harry Gilzean were brought on in the second half and both played their part in getting stuck in. Young midfielder David Hicks was also brought on and displayed a great engine in the middle of the park.
Alfie Williams’ shot crashing against the post was the final chance of the game as the referee’s whistle concluded a challenging ninety minutes. A good run-out for the Academy boys as attention now turns to the First Team this Saturday as the 2022/23 Sky Bet League Two campaign gets underway.
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