Stevenage Borough 1 Tamworth 1

A Lee Boylan penalty was not enough to win the game for Stevenage Borough as they came away from their first league fixture with a draw against newly promoted Tamworth. Coupled with the loss of  Joel Byrom after two yellow cards, it was a first day full of ups and downs for Borough.

Stevenage couldn’t have asked for a better start to the first half as they took a handle of the game and signalled their superiority for the first twenty minutes. Borough were soon ahead albeit through the penalty spot.

It was the first goal to be scored in the Blue Square Premier and it was created by some more free flowing football, leading to a foul on Scott Laird by Michael Briscoe. With Mitchell Cole only on the bench Boylan stepped up to send Danny Alcock the wrong way and slot Borough into the lead.

Borough continued to press and almost doubled the lead when Darren Murphy chased down Alcock and nicked the ball from him with a sliding tackle. The ball seemed to be heading goalwards but needed another touch and as the big Irishman got straight up and lunged in once more, it was a toss-up as to whether it was a corner or a free kick.

The kick was taken from the six yard box, much to the confusion of the press, and Bradley Pritchard latched onto the ball, clear of the Borough defence and slotted the ball over Chris Day. In the grand scheme of things it seemed harsh after the way Borough had performed, but by the end of the half it certainly appeared to be a fair reflection of the game so far.

The second half saw less of a Tamworth threat as Borough went on to dominate proceedings while not putting the goalkeeper to the test too much. Michael Bostwick saw his free kick rocket just over the bar5 and Byrom followed suit shortly after. Mark Roberts and  Charlie Griffin both had chances which also missed the target when in good positions and it looked as though Borough would get the breakthrough they deserved.

Borough may have thought they were about to take the points when a superb effort from Bostwick got turned onto the bar when it appeared to be dipping just underneath.

Ultimately Borough will be disappointed not to have taken the win, although they will be sure to point to the fact that Tamworth were not a bad opposition to come up against. They made life difficult for Borough and the result was marred only by Byrom being sent off deep into stoppage time for a second bookable offence.

It may not have been the result the players hoped for, but it is not a bad start for Borough who will look to push on against Hayes & Yeading on Tuesday evening.

Stevenage Borough (4-4-2) C Day - R Henry, M Bostwick, M Roberts, S Laird - A Drury (Sub: J Ashton, 90), D Murphy, J Byrom, S Long (Sub: M Cole, 57) - C Griffin, L Boylan (Sub: Y Odubade, 90)
Substitutes Not Used: A Bayes, C Beardsley

Sent off: J Byrom (two yellows)

Attendance: 2130