It looked set to be a perfect afternoon for Borough at Aggborough on Saturday. Two goals to the good and well in control of this important encounter until a moment of madness midway through the first half saw midfielder Darren Murphy shown the red card for an injudicious and totally unnecessary challenge and from that moment on it was a tale of woe for Stevenage.

 

Despite a spirited performance from the ten men, a three goal blast from the home side early in the second half put the match beyond Stevenage’s grasp and ended a proud unbeaten run that stretched back to November last year.

 

Borough started brightly and earned their reward after seven minutes when Steve Morison did well to hold the ball up on the left edge of the area, turn his defender and fire in a pin-point cross to the far post for Lee Boylan to rise and power a header past Adam Bartlett.

 

With the lead established Borough were happy to sit back and concede territory, ceding ascendancy but were rarely troubled by the home side. They doubled their advantage midway through the first half after a calamitous mistake from goalkeeper Bartlett. He appeared to have plenty of time to deal with a backpass, but dallied on the ball allowing Morison to close him down. His hurried clearance went straight to Mitchell Cole, and although the midfielder’s first effort was blocked he showed great composure to collect the loose ball and slot it home from a tight angle.

 

Stevenage were cruising comfortably towards the victory that they needed until referee Ray Lewis intervened on the home side's behalf in the 25^th minute. Darren Murphy went in strongly, although to most people's minds fairly,on Russell Penn, the Kidderminster players surrounded the referee and after restoring calm he showed the Irishman the red card, despite the linesman, who was much closer to the action, advising a yellow.

 

Further woe came Borough’s way shortly before the interval when Ronnie Henry was stretchered from the field of play with what appeared to be a calf injury, Mark Albrighton coming on at right back. Just as it appeared that Stevenage would hold out until the interval the home side struck back. A corner was swung in from the left that was only half cleared and Matthew Barnes-Homer was on hand to head home from close range.

 

The second period began in much the same vein with Kidderminster on the front foot and within three minutes they had restored parity. An excellent cross from the right from substitute Martin Brittain found Russell Penn unmarked at the far post and he made no mistake from close range.

 

In a rare foray forwards Borough almost edged back in front. Gary Mills swung a corner in from the right, Mark Roberts challenges for the ball, which falls to Morison whose low drive is parried by Bartlett and scrambled clear by Mark Creighton. Moment later smart interplay between Morison and Boylan saw Borough’s leading marksman clear wide on the right and his powerful dipping half volley had Bartlett back peddling frantically, but fortunately for the goalkeeper it landed on the roof of the net.

 

But just as Stevenage appeared to be restoring some modicum of calm Kidderminster struck again. A rare mistake from Roberts allowed the ball to bounce and Justin Richards seized on the loose ball in a flash, raced in on goal and calmly slotted it past Chris Day. With half an hour left on the clock the portents were worrying for Borough. Worry turned to alarm on 61 minutes when Brittain met a cross from Chris McPhee at the far post with a stunning volley that gave Day on chance.

 

Westley sent on Peter Vincenti for Scott Laird with 25 minutes remaining and changed to a back three and for a while it was Borough’s turn to chase the game. Boylan crashed a shot against the bar from a tight angle and Michael Bostwick’s follow up effort was goal-bound until it struck a defender, but there was to be no way back.

 

STEVENAGE BOROUGH (4-3-3) C Day – R Henry (Sub M Albrighton, 41), J Ashton, M Roberts, S Laird (Sub: P Vincenti, 64) – M Bostwick, G Mills, D Murphy – S Morison, L Boylan (Sub: C Willock, 87), M Cole. Substitutes not used: A Bayes, J Mendes. Booked: Laird. Sent Off: Murphy.

Attendence: 2115 (away 209)