Rushden & Diamonds 1    Stevenage Borough 1
Smith 90     Morison 32

A goal from Sam Smith three minutes into added time denied Stevenage Borough all three points at Nene Park on News Year’s Day. Borough had led through a Steve Morison first half goal and looked comfortable until a triple substitution from Garry Hill 20 minutes from time revived the home side. Substitute Smith twice struck the bar during Rushden’s late revival before his late equaliser. However, Borough will look back over 75 minutes when they were well on top, but failed to take one of the many chances they created and how they were made to pay late on. 

Stevenage made two changes from the battling draw at Cambridge on Sunday with first-choice strike pairing of Steve Morison and Lee Boylan recovering from injury to replace Callum Willock and Eddie Anaclet. In fact it allowed manager Graham Westley to field the same side that so comfortably saw off the challenge of Rushden at Broadhall Way on Boxing Day.

After their capitulation on Boxing Day it was no surprise that a Rushden side that featured six changes started brightly. But for all their possession Borough were rarely troubled, a Chris Hope header that Morison cleared off the line the best they could muster.

For their part Borough were struggling to match the fluidity of their recent performances, but when they clicked they gave the Rushden rearguard problems. David Bridges came close to getting on the end of a cross from Andy Drury and a low drive from Ronnie Henry troubled Dale Roberts in the Rushden goal.

Just after the half hour Borough got the breakthrough. Morison collected the ball in his own half and set off at pace. He had options either side through Boylan and Drury but opted to go it alone. The striker cruised past Hope, waited for Roberts to come off his line before slotting the ball past him and inside the post for his fifteenth goal of the season.

From that moment on there was only one side in the remaining time of the first period and Borough came close to adding to their lead. Morison crashed a header against the bar from a Drury corner, and moments later from another Drury corner Roberts had a header well saved.

The second period started slowly with chances at a premium with the best three falling to Bridges. First he headed over the bar, then failed to get a meaningful touch as Willock’s shot deflected into his path and finally he was denied by a fantastic save from Roberts.

But from the moment that Hill introduced Rob Wolleaston, Marcus Kelly and Sam Smith the momentum changed. Rushden began to retain the ball in advanced areas and put the Borough goal under pressure. Twice Smith crashed the ball against the Borough crossbar and the visiting team struggled to stem the tide of chances. And just as Borough appeared to have weathered the storm they failed to clear a freekick that was pumped deep into the area and Smith pounced from close range.

The point stretched Borough’s unbeaten run to seven matches and keep them nicely in touch with the play-off positions  

STEVENAGE BOROUGH (4-4-2) C Day – R Henry, M Albrighton, M Roberts, S Laird – A drury, M Bostwick, D Bridges, M Cole (Sub: G Mills, 85) – L Boylan (Sub: C Willock, 59), S Morison. Substitutes not used: A Bayes, L Oliver, J Anderson. Booked: Bostwick
Attendence: 1853 (386 Borough)