Stockport County 2
Stevenage 0
Play-Offs (Semi-Final 2nd Leg)

Match report written by The Boro

ONE STEP TOO FAR AS STEVENAGE LOSE IN PLAY-OFF SEMI AT STOCKPORT

Stevenage’s wonderful season ended in a whimper - as their play-off hopes were ended by a rampant Stockport County.

Already a goal up from the first leg, the Hatters had put the game to bed inside the opening 30 minutes, thanks to goals from Louie Barry and Kyle Wootton clinching a 2-0 win, 3-0 on aggregate.

Stevenage did rally after the break but could not find the breakthrough that may at least have given some late hope.

One result does not define the season though and while this will sting, there will be time in the future to reflect on a great season.

Alex Revell made two changes from the side that had started Saturday’s 1-0 loss at Broadhall Way, both of them came in the middle of the park as Dan Phillips and Jordan Houghton replaced Harvey White and Louis Thompson.

The duo coming out moved to the bench where they were joined by Beryly Lubala, the potential need for a striker putting him ahead of Dan Butler.

Hopes were high that Boro could turn round the first-half deficit, especially after the 3-1 win in December.

That afternoon had seen County start brightly and this was no different.

Filip Marschall had to beat away a Barry shot in the third minute and then there was another opportunity for the on-loan Aston Villa, this time the shot on the run was always going high and always bending over.

The biggest difference between this and the league game though was Stockport kept coming and got their noses in front on 14 minutes.

A cross-field ball from Dan Phillips was easily cut-out by Tayo Edun and he went forward.

He was taken out by the recovering Phillips but the referee played advantage, and most of the Boro team had momentarily stopped expecting the free-kick.

Barry picked it up and when he has that space, he rarely misses, the slight bend taking it wide of Marschall and settling any nerves among the home crowd.

They doubled the lead 14 minutes later.

Adama Sidibeh was able to easily turn Charlie Goode and win a corner. The set-piece was played short and Odin Bailey was allowed to cross for Wootton, with the makeshift centre-half’s effort clipping Carl Piergianni on the way into the top corner, right of the keeper.

Stevenage found it difficult to get hold of the ball but they did fashion an opening on 44 minutes.

Dan Kemp had the first sight but instead fed Phillips who got it onto his left foot. The shot that followed though was lacking any sort of power and easy for Cory Addai to drop onto.

Half-time brought no changes to personnel or tactics, at least for Boro who continued to play more of a 4-2-3-1 rather than the 4-4-2 of late.

They probably didn’t even have a flea in their ear, just a reminder of what was needed to be a Boro player.

Whatever actually happened, it did have an effect as Stevenage were brighter after the break.

Jordan Roberts had been forced wide by a Dan Phillips pass but still clipped a cross towards Jamie Reid, too close to the keeper though.

He also won a corner as he tried to get onto a ball through the gaps but the only chance fell to Goode, who sadly took the advice of the Boro fans behind the goal and had a go from distance.

He hit the scoreboard high above the Railway End.

Stevenage could not wait too long to force a change though and it came on 63 minutes with a quadruple switch.

However, as the quartet waited to come in, Boro should have scored.

Matt Phillips swung in a cross from the right and Goode found himself totally unmarked six yards out and in a central position.

He seemed to think he was offside though as the shot lacked any conviction, Addai knocking it away with his left leg.

The changes were designed to keep Boro on the front foot and turn the screw more on County.

And yet it was the hosts who had the best spell over the next few minutes, culminating in far too much time and space afforded to Ollie Norwood. Not needing a second invitation, he let fly from 25 yards and it forced the leaping figure of Marschall to push it away from the top corner.

Stevenage did keep going until the end and Thompson should have done so much better when he got in behind Wootton, down the Boro right. He only needed to pick someone out in the middle and he did, unfortunately they were wearing blue.

Matt Phillips did get sight of goal when Jack Diamond was robbed by Luther Wildin. Reid’s back heel allowed the February signing to try and place a shot from the edge of the area wide of Addai. It was too close though.

Beryly Lubala’s clever dinked cross was met by Kemp but his looping header only landed on the roof of the net and a first time Harvey White effort flew over the bar.

There was one last chance for Reid that was too close to the keeper and that was that. bar a pitch invasion that was allowed to get right up to the Boro fans.