Stevenage Borough 1 Millwall 2

Stevenage Borough lost their first game of the pre season but could be happy with their performance as they matched League One Millwall throughout the game. Their opponents, who narrowly missed out on promotion to the Championship last season, were hard pushed to get the victory and it took two goals from their new acquisition to secure the win.

Things couldn’t have got off to a better start for Millwall and their new summer signing. With barely a minute registered on the clock Steve Morison latched on to a hopeful ball that split the Borough rearguard. Morison proceeded to remind Borough fans what they would be missing as he slotted the ball past Chris Day to give the Lions the lead.

Borough were not fazed by this and despite some heavy tackles by Gary Alexander, which on another day could have seen the midfielder exiting the field for two yellows, Borough fought hard and were back on terms halfway through the first half.

Lawrie Wilson continued to show the doggedness and determination that fans are coming to expect from the marauding midfielder. When he once again burst into the Millwall box, Scott Barron was adjudged to have fouled him and the referee promptly awarded the spot kick. Mitchell Cole stepped up to coolly roll the ball home, sending goalkeeper David Forde the wrong way in the process.

Both sides had chances to take the lead with the remainder of the half and the best for both teams came from headers in the area. Morison nearly doubled his tally with a neat header down at the far post, but Day was equal to it, getting his body behind the ball and gathering it well to save. Michael Bostwick meanwhile found himself in acres of space and his bullet header whistled just over the bar from a corner.

After the half time break, both sides came out wanting to break the deadlock. Tackles were made which were not for the faint hearted as the will to win was apparent. After a few yellow cards were finally dished out , Millwall went on to get their second.

It was no surprise that it was that man again, Morison, who scored. After another ball had beaten the defence and Day had rushed out to meet his former team mate, Morison simply lifted the ball over the Borough stopper and watched it bounce into the net before adopting a familiar celebratory pose with his arms stretched out wide as he faced his new adoring public.

Neil Harris replaced Alexander and within a few minutes of being on the pitch he had been involved in an altercation with Bostwick and nearly extended the lead. He arrived at the far post with a header that looked destined for the net only for Day to once again deny the Millwall attack.

Borough by no means laid down after the goal and fought to get a foothold in the game. Both Cole and David Bridges had shots from the edge of the area that were unlucky not to find the back of the net. With just four minutes left on the clock Lee Boylan had the best opportunity of the half to level the game, but his left footed shot rose over the bar after some good work by Wilson.

It was a tough workout for Borough, one that will surely help them in their quest for fitness and match sharpness as the new season draws ever closer. With the performances they have been showing in their recent friendlies, the match against Peterborough, where we shall see another old boy in George Boyd, will certainly be another mouth-watering prospect.
 

Stevenage Borough (4-4-2) C Day - R Henry, M Bostwick, M Roberts(Sub: J Ashton, 81), S Laird - L Wilson, D Murphy(Sub: L Boylan, 81), J Byrom(Sub: D Bridges, 61), S Long(Sub: C Beardsley, 69) - C Griffin(Sub: Y Odubade, 75), M Cole

Stevenage Scorers: Cole 23
Millwall Scorers: Morison 2, 63

Booked: Murphy, Henry