Stevenage Borough claimed another three points at The Lamex Stadium on Saturday afternoon with a performance that was more professional than pulsating. Mark Roberts gave Brough the lead in the first half only to have it cancelled out by Chris Flood early in the second half. But Borough continued to apply the pressure and were rewarded with goals from Charlie Griffin, his fourth in two matches, and substitute Chris Beardsley.

 

There was only one change from the line-up that comprehensively beat Hayes & Yeading seven days ago with Graham Westley welcoming Scott Laird back from suspension to replace the injured Eddie Odhiambo. Jon Ashton also retuned from his dislocated shoulder suffered at Chester to take up his place on the bench.

 

The visiting side arrived with one plan in mind, to restrict Borough’s attacking intentions. So much so that top scorer Matt Tubbs could only find a position on the bench. Stevenage opened brightly but much of their early play was blighted by some inexplicable decisions from referee Amy Raynor.

 

The first chance of note came on the quarter hour mark when Andy Drury broke into the area, squared the ball across the six yard line for Yemi Odubade, but the striker mishit his effort and James Bittner saved with ease. He almost made amends moments later when he turned and drove a low shot through the crowded penalty area, but it drifted just wide of the far post.

 

The players had a lengthy respite midway through the half as the groundstaff searched for a new corner flag after the original one was broken in a collision with Henry, although such was the sedate nature of play to that time that the interruption was hardly noticed. A beautiful one touch move between Ronnie Henry, Odubade and Drury sent Darren Murphy clear but his first touch was too heavy and Bittner was able to race from his line to smother the ball. An ambitious 35-yard drive from Murphy almost deceived Bittner but it skimmed inches wide of the post, much to the goalkeeper’s relief.

 

Borough got themselves in front three minutes before the interval as Mark Roberts chased a long free kick from Drury and headed the bouncing ball over the stranded goalkeeper. Joel Byrom almost added to the advantage deep into the four minutes injury time, but his shot that appeared to be guided into the far corner took a deflection that sent it wide.

 

Salisbury made a double substitution early in the second half bringing on Tubbs and Chris Flood and with 52 minutes on the clock it was the later who restored parity. The Borough rearguard failed to clear a long through ball and Flood raced on to tap the ball past Chris Day.

 

Borough stepped up the pace without being entirely convincing, although Michael Brough did force Bittner into a smart save with a stooping header from a corner by Drury. But just short of the hour Borough got their noses back in front and it came as no surprise that the architect of the move was Odubade, who had been a thorn in Salisbury’s side all afternoon. He was sent clear down the left by Brough, teased and tormented Jamie Turley before squaring the ball to Charlie Griffin. The striker took one touch before firing a low shot past Bittner.

 

Borough made their own substitution in the 81^st minute with Chris Beardsley coming on to replace Drury and the impact was instantaneous with the striker finding the back of the net within 20 seconds. Odubade fed the ball in from the right and Beardsley fired low past Bittner from a tight angle.

 

STEVENAGE BOROUGH (4-4-2) C Day – R Henry, M Bostwick, M Roberts, S Laird – A Drury (Sub: C Beardsley, 81), D Murphy, J Byrom, M Brough – Y Odubade (Sub: J Ashton, 90), C Griffin (Sub: P Vincenti. 90). Substitutes not used: A Bayes, S Long. Booked: Brough, Laird