Stevenage 0 : 2 Notts County

A wily, well drilled Notts County side beat took a deserved three point on Saturday with a 0-2 win at Broadhall way against a lack-lustre Stevenage side.

Stevenage named a side containing 1 enforced change, Joel Byrom for the injured John Mousinho who will be out for a week to ten days with a hamstring strain. I was surprised (and slightly disappointed) not to see Josh Walker starting alongside Bostwick.

Stevenage came out of the blocks quickly and were awarded a penalty on 6 minutes for a foul by Krystian Pearce on Craig Reid. Reid was through on goal and Pearce was adjudged to have made contact with him from behind and brought him down. Any contact was slight but I don’t understand once the penalty was awarded why a red card for stopping a goal-scoring opportunity didn’t follow. Reid stepped up himself to take the penalty, but his shot was a side footed effort neither powerful nor well directed and was easily Stuart Nelson in the County goal.

Stevenage forced a number of corners and free kicks over the next 5 minutes but the delivery was not good enough to threaten a well drilled County back-line. The game became increasingly scrappy between 20 and 30 minutes, with neither side able to string together any decent sequences of possession and neither keeper overly extended. Defences were on top and attackers were getting frustrated. On the half hour Charlie Allen was booked for a foul on Jon Ashton and then immediately substituted and replaced by Alan Judge.

This foul woke Stevenage up. Stacy Long had a shot easily saved by Stuart Nelson, shortly followed by a shot from Charles which was blocked away for a corner. Overall though Stevenage looked short of ideas, County had done their homework and were very solid down the left hand side neutralising the threat of Henry and Wilson.

Notts County grew in confidence towards the end of the first half. Neil Bishop forced a save from Chris Day and then on the stroke of half time Jeff Hughes should have put County in front but Day made a second fantastic save. Stevenage didn’t not heed the warning and from the resulting corner a goal-mouth scramble ensued. Stevenage had several chances to clear their lines, but failed to do so meaningfully and Lee Hughes showed his usual calm head in the box to slam home the loose ball from close range. Cue the usual drunken uncle at a wedding dance. No more than County deserved for their first half performance.


Stevenage made 2 changes at half time in an attempt to claw their way back into the game. Chris Beardsley replaced Scott Laird (which Charles reverting to right back and Beardo taking his usual striking role.) Josh Walker replaced the ineffective Joel Byrom in central midfield.

Within 5 minutes of the restart Craig Reid missed a gilt edged chance to draw Stevenage level, shooting over the bar from 12 yards out when put clean through. Small consolation for the Stevenage fans is the fact that he is getting in goal-scoring positions a lot more often of late, his movement has really improved.

County made them pay soon after Ben Burgess nodding in an excellent Jeff Hughes cross un-marked at the far post. 2-0 down looked like a mountain to climb for Stevenage who could have played for days and not scored against a County side who were just too clever for them.

Jon Harley was booked for a cynical old pros challenge on Lawrie Wilson to stop him escaping down the right hand side. Harley had an excellent game and gave excellent banter value to the east terrace checking with them exactly how far back he had to go for the throw in and thanking us for our help showing him the right place. He was replaced on 60 minutes by Montano, presumably to counter the threat of the yellow card.

On 70 minutes Lee Hughes was replaced by Karl Hawley for County and Craig Reid was replaced by Byron Harrison for Stevenage. Neither keeper was troubled in the last 20 minutes, Stevenage struggling in vain to create any decent openings and becoming increasingly frustrated. Chris Beardsley was booked for a foul on Neal Bishop on 80 minutes.

A deserved win for County in the end, they were clever and well organised punishing Stevenage errors clinically without ever over exerting themselves or leaving themselves vulnerable. My man of the match on the day would be Gavin Mahon who swept up a lot of ball in front of the back 4 and showed excellent distribution.

Stevenage need to improve their threat down the left hand side and generally show more ideas in attack. I’d like to see Myrie-Williams or Robin Shroot starting on the left hand side, Long can be a danger when played as a central midfielder behind the strikers but on the left he gives us very little both in attack and defensive support. They should also look to improve their set piece delivery/shooting. There was very little threat today.

Attendance: 3434