Stevenage show their Ruthless Streak
Stevenage Borough 9 Jets 0
Herts Senior Cup - Quarter Final
3rd February 2010
Stevenage showed their ruthlessness tonight when, after being kept goal-less for just over half an hour, they scored three goals in the closing stages of the first half, and added a further six in the second half as they relentlessly attacked the Jets goal.
Stevenage, currently leading the Football Conference and in the Quarter-Finals of this year's F.A. Trophy (as well as being the current F.A. Trophy holders) and a full 5 levels above Jets in the football pyramid, showed their respect for the Herts Senior Cup competition and to Jets by fielding a very strong team for this quarter final tie. Borough's leading goalscorers this season, Charlie Griffin. Yemi Odubade and Lee Boylan all started as did their latest signing Tim Sills, who joined them from Torquay United in mid-January and who has been a prolific goalscorer throughout his career, most famously with his goal in last year's Conference play-off final that sent Torquay United back into the Football League.
Despite the final scoreline, Jets started the game pretty well and deserved to at least still be level at the half hour point. In fact, Jets created some good chances and could easily have taken the lead. After 5 minutes Luke Beardsworth provided a through ball under pressure that gave Lee Armitt a one-on-one opportunity which Lee fired narrowly wide.
Jets then had their best spell. Luke Beardsworth went close himself with a header on 20 minutes and then had a terrific shot that needed the Borough 'keeper to be at full stretch to turn it over the bar for a corner. Jets then went close with a header from the corner. Jets were pushing and there was a feeling that they could grab the lead here. Then, on 32 minutes, Lee Armitt made a great run down the line and cut inside before sending in a deadly cross which was just cleared by the Borough defence.
That, however, was as good as it got for Jets and Borough's superior quality showed through with the first of their goals coming, against the run of play, in the 35th minute when Yemi Odubade fired in a curling shot into the corner of the Jets goal. New signing Tim Sills added the second four minutes later with a low shot into the bottom corner and then Jets first half work was completely undone when Stevenage were given a fairly soft penalty when Jets 'keeper Sam Styles brought down Charlie Griffin and Lee Boylan converted from the spot. HT 3-0 Stevenage.
Jets substituted Tim O'Mara and Spencer Bellotti for Wayne Gladdy and Lee Inch at the start of the second half. This was a pre-planned substitution to give as many Jets players as possible the experience of playing in this game.
Stevenage upped their game in the second half, and showed a level of performance and ruthlessness that has taken them to the top of the Conference in recent weeks. They made it four in the 46th minute with a well worked corner. The cross went to the far post before being headed back across goal and finished off by leading scorer Charlie Griffin.
The second half proved to be a personal goal-fest for Griffin as he score five of Borough's six second half goals. After Ronnie Vincenti scored their fifth on the hour with a finish on the volley after a great cross in, Charlie Griffin added the remainder in the 62nd, 77th, 80th and 84th minutes, a combination of goalmouth scrambles and good finishing shots.
For Borough, a very comfortable victory in the end after a challenging first half an hour. For Jets, it is important not to forget the great results we achieved to get this far, and there is a lot to learn not only from the quality and fitness of the Stevenage team but also from their lack of concessions and what was an admirable ruthlessness.
If Stevenage field a team of this quality for the remainder of the competition then they must be very, very strong favourites to retain the trophy.
Jets team: Styles, Bywater, Grace, Brown, Ingham, Harding, L.Inch, Roberts, Gladdy, Armitt, Beardsworth. Subs Used: O'Mara, Bellotti. Subs not used: O.Deamer, Wyatt, Duce.
Stevenage Borough Website Match Report
Stevenage Comet Newspaper Report
