Stevenage Borough failed to capitalise on their excellent victory at Cambridge on Boxing Day when they were held to a goalless draw at the Lamex Stadium on Monday afternoon by in-form AFC Wimbledon.

 

Borough generally had the better of the encounter, but were forced to rely on two excellent saves from goalkeeper, Chris Day, to maintain their unbeaten record.

 

With Charlie Griffin still suffering from the injury he picked up during the second half at Cambridge and Mitchell Cole still sidelined manager, Graham Westley, recalled Stacey Long and Joel Byrom to the starting line up.

 

 Both sides had early opportunities to make an impression. For Borough Long was clear through the right channel, but shot weakly at Seb Brown, while for the visiting team Chris Day had to be at his best to claw a header from Jon Main wide of the post.

 

In a surprisingly open game both attacks were enjoying themselves and Chris Beardsley came close to adding to his recent goal haul when sent clear, but Brown made a good stop with his feet from a tight angle. As the half progressed Borough began to enjoy a greater share of possession and pinned Wimbledon back in their own half. Yemi Odubade and Beardsley were beginning to win their battles, while Scott Laird was foraging forwards down the left wing. But the best chance fell to Beardsley who timed his run to perfection to meet a corner from David Bridges, but guided his header wide from five yards with the goal gaping.

 

Byrom was next to gain a sight of goal, set clear by Bridges his low shot was well saved by Brown, but again at the other end Borough had reason to thank Day. There appeared to be no danger when Ross Montague received the ball in the penalty area, but he twisted and turned creating space for a low shot that Day got down well to but could only parry, but fortunately for Stevenage Jon Ashton was on hand to complete the clearance. Moments later Montague came even closer sending a header crashing against the bar.

 

After the break it was a much cagier opening but Beardsley should have put Borough ahead seven minutes in. the striker was sent clear by a superb tackle from Darren Murphy on the half way line, he ran in on goal but his low shot was well saved by Brown.

 

Although Borough continued to hold sway the visiting team had their share of openings. With 20 minutes left on the clock Ricky Wellard broke into the area but his low drive was superbly tipped round the post by Day and with ten minutes left fired a blistering effort inches wide of the upright.

 

Lee Boylan was introduced to the fray with 15 minutes remaining and almost made an immediate impression when he collected a low cross from Henry inside the penalty area and spun and unleashed a drive that looked destined for the bottom corner before Brown plunged to his left to smother the effort.

 

Still Borough pressed forward and from an Obubade corner first Bridges and then Michael Bostwick had chances scrambled clear by the defence, and much as Stevenage pressed the clock ran out with the scoreline still blank.

 

On an afternoon when leaders Oxford United were held at Salisbury, on one level this was an opportunity missed by Borough to close the gap, but it was also a decent point in its own right against one of the best away sides in the division.

 

STEVENAGE BOROUGH (4-4-2) C Day – R Henry, J Ashton, M Bostwick, S Laird – S Long (Sub: M Albrighton, 76), D Bridges, D Murphy, J Byrom (Sub: E Odhiambo, 85) – C Beardsley (Sub: L Boylan, 76), Y Odubade. Substitutes not used: A Bayes, P Vincenti. Booked: