Stevenage Borough F.C. season 2008–09

The 2008–09 season was Stevenage Borough F.C.'s 15th season in the Conference National. This article shows statistics of the club's players in the season, and also lists all matches that the club will play in the season. Their 6th place finish in the 2007–08 season meant it was their fifteenth successive season of playing in the Conference National. It also marked the return of Graham Westley as manager, who had previously managed the club for three years between 2003 and 2006. Westley was appointed following the resignment of Peter Taylor in May 2008.

Westley completely overhauled the squad in the summer transfer window and brought in no fewer than twelve players in an attempt to mount a serious Conference National title challenge. The squad failed to gel immediately and Stevenage started the season poorly, losing 3 out of their first 4 games and conceding 13 goals in the process. However, the return to form of marksmen Steve Morison and strong signs of the squad coming together saw an up-turn in form for Stevenage from September onwards. A 24 game unbeaten run stretching from December 2008 to April 2009, as well as winning crucial games towards the latter stages of the season, ultimately meant that Westley's men made the Conference National play-off semi finals. Despite taking a 3-1 lead into the second leg, Stevenage lost 4-3 overall on aggregate to Cambridge United.

The club also featured in the final of the FA Trophy at Wembley Stadium for the second time in three years, where they won 2–0 against York City. Steve Morison was the club's top goalscorer after scoring 30 goals, with 22 in the league, 1 in the FA Cup and seven in the FA Trophy. Mark Roberts, who joined the club in November 2008, was named Player of the Year.

Match results

Legend

Pre-season friendlies

On 5 June 2008, Stevenage Borough announced that their pre-season campaign would consist of ten friendlies to open the 2008–09 season. Stevenage Borough began their pre-season schedule on 15 July 2008 with a trip to Priestfield Stadium to play Gillingham, managed by ex-Stevenage manager Mark Stimson. Stevenage fielded two entirely different sides each half, playing a mixture of youth players, first team regulars and a trialist in the form of Tom Youngs. Stevenage won the match 1-0, thanks to a Steve Morison lob early in the second half. Two days later Borough travelled to nearby Hitchin Town and again used the maximum number of players available. Stevenage won the game 4-2 despite trailing 2-0 at the interval. Four second-half goals courtesy of Daryl McMahon, Mitchell Cole, Anthony Thomas and Steve Morison secured victory.

Stevenage then hosted three Football League sides at Broadhall Way within the space of six days. Firstly, Borough entertained Queens Park Rangers on 19 July. Stevenage went down 3-1 to a strong QPR side with striker Iyseden Christie scoring Borough's solitary goal. Next up at Broadhall Way was Peterborough United who annually visit Stevenage as part of the deal that took ex-Borough winger George Boyd to London Road in January 2007. Stevenage lost the game 2-0. Wycombe Wanderers, managed by another former Stevenage manager, Peter Taylor, inflicted a third pre-season defeat on Stevenage with a 2-1 reverse. A day later, the majority of the squad that did not feature against Wycombe, got a chance to prove themselves against Conference South outfit Bognor Regis Town. Despite leading 2-0, thanks to goals from Lee Boylan and Craig Westcarr, Bognor Regis scored two goals in quick succession just before half-time to level the match. This match was followed by two more friendlies within the space of two days; first a comfortable 6-0 victory against Isthmian League Premier Division side Boreham Wood, followed by a 3-1 win at Northwood. Stevenage entertained League One outfit Leyton Orient in their final home pre-season fixture; Steve Morison scoring Stevenage's goal in the 18th minute. On 5 August, four days before the start of the new Conference National season, Borough travelled to Slough Town for their final pre-season fixture. Stevenage ran out 7-1 winners, with Lee Boylan scoring five of the goals.

Conference National

The 2008–09 Conference National fixtures were released on 2 July 2008, with Stevenage Borough due to open their campaign against Wrexham on 9 August 2008.

FA Cup

The Fourth Round Qualifying draw for the 2008–09 FA Cup paired Stevenage Borough with Horsham of the Isthmian League Premier Division. The match was played at Broadhall Way on 25 October 2008, and resulted in a 2-2 draw. Mitchell Cole opened the scoring just after the half hour mark, latching onto a Luke Oliver header and powerfully finishing past Horsham goalkeeper Paul Seuke. The lead lasted all of a minute, with former Borough man Jean-Michel Sigere slotting the ball past Chris Day. Horsham took the lead just before the interval, when Sigere sent Lee Farrell through on goal to give the visitors a lead to defend going into the second-half. However, Stevenage equalised late into the second period, thanks to a low-drilled effort from substitute Scott Laird. The draw meant that a replay would take place on 29 October. The draw for the First Round Proper was made on 26 October, with the winners of the replay travelling to the Walkers Stadium to play Leicester City on 8 November.

Stevenage ran out 4-1 winners in the replay, thanks to a sixteen minute spell late in the second half that saw Borough score all four of their goals. However, it was Horsham who took the lead through a Lee Carney strike mid-way into the first half to give the hosts a deserved one-goal margin. Daryl McMahon equalised for Stevenage twenty minutes before the end, before setting up striker Calum Willock to slot home and subsequently give the visitors the lead. Willock then turned provider, setting up Steve Morison for an easy finish a minute before the added extras. The scoring wasn’t over though as Morison repaid the favour as his cross found Willock who promptly netted to complete the rout.

Stevenage fell at the First Round proper stage of the FA Cup as they lost 3-0 to Leicester City at the Walkers Stadium. Lloyd Dyer gave Leicester the lead following good work down the right flank by Matty Fryatt. Fryatt was on hand to give the League One side a two-goal advantage after the break, before Andy King completed a comfortable victory for the hosts.

FA Trophy

Stevenage Borough entered the 2008-09 FA Trophy at the First round stage, and were paired against Hertfordshire rivals St Albans City at the draw on 24 November 2008. The match was played at Broadhall Way on 13 December 2008. Stevenage ran out eventual 4–1 winners, with Andy Drury opening the scoring just before the half-time interval after good work from Lee Boylan. Despite having many chances to double their lead in the second-half, Stevenage were made to rue missed chances when Gary Cohen equalised for the visitors 10 minutes before the end. The equaliser seemingly spurred Stevenage on, and Steve Morison put Borough 2-1 up with a curling effort from just inside the area. The game was sealed five minutes later by Lee Boylan following a fatal mistake by St Albans goalkeeper Paul Bastock. Morison sealed his brace in injury time, to put a gloss on what was a tough encounter.

The Second Round draw was held on 15 December 2009, and Stevenage were drawn against either Farnborough or Wingate & Finchley. The match between Farnborough and Wingate was played on 18 December, which Farnborough won 3-1 to set up a second round clash between Farnborough and Stevenage at Cherrywood Road. The tie meant that Graham Westley would be pitting his wits against the club he had previously managed for four years between the years 1999 and 2003. The game had initially been scheduled to be played on 10 January 2009, but was postponed after an early-morning pitch inspection. The match was re-scheduled to be played on 13 January 2009. The draw for the Third Round was made on 12 January, and providing Stevenage saw off the challenge of Farnborough they would be at home to Conference National leaders Burton Albion. Stevenage comfortably eased into the Third Round with a two goal victory. First half goals from Mark Roberts and Lee Boylan put Stevenage in the driving seat, and although Farnborough carved out some chances for themselves in the second half, the result was never really in doubt.

The result meant that Stevenage would play Burton Albion on 31 January, who had previously disposed of Farsley Celtic and Salisbury City in the two previous rounds. Stevenage emphatically won the match 4–0 at Broadhall Way. Stevenage took a deserved lead into half-time after the prolific Steve Morison put Borough ahead following good work by Mitchell Cole down the left-wing. Burton forced two good saves from goalkeeper Chris Day just after the break, but it was Stevenage who doubled their lead thanks to a low-drilled, deflected effort from Mitchell Cole. This forced Burton to push forward, meaning Stevenage were able to exploit the Brewers on the counter-attack. Minutes later, Steve Morison added to his tally with a timely lob over the helpless Kevin Poole. The day was rounded off in injury-time when David Bridges sent a rasping effort beyond the outstretched hand of Poole.

The Monday after the match against Burton, the Fourth-Round draw handed Stevenage a home tie with another Conference National side in the form of Forest Green Rovers. The match was to be played on 21 February 2009. Again, Stevenage ran out comfortable 4–0 winners at Broadhall Way. Stevenage started strongly and took the lead mid-way into the first-half, courtesy of a curling Andy Drury free-kick. Similarly to the previous round against Burton, Borough forcefully built on the 1-0 lead taken into the break. David Bridges doubled Stevenage's advantage fifteen minutes after the interval with a glancing header. The game was then put beyond doubt, thanks to another goal from a set-piece; this time Mark Roberts powerfully heading past Ryan Robinson. The final goal came from marksmen Steve Morison, his fifth goal in four FA Trophy appearances. Lee Boylan got to the by-line and pulled the ball back for Morison, who secured another four goal victory in the FA Trophy.

The semi-final draw was made on 23 February 2009, with Borough due to play the winner of the tie between Ebbsfleet United and Wrexham. The replay between Ebbsfleet and Wrexham was played on 24 February, and ended with Ebbsfleet winning 3-1 to set up a two-legged semi-final clash against Stevenage, with the first leg being played on 14 March at Broadhall Way. In what was a close and tense affair, Stevenage took a one-goal advantage into the second-leg after a 3-2 victory in front of a crowd of 2,344. Borough started the game well, and were a goal to the good after just five minutes, thanks to another strike from Steve Morison. Just after the half hour mark, Borough doubled their advantage after some poor defending by the FA Trophy holders; with Scott Laird captialising on a loose pass to send Lee Boylan in on goal to clinically finish past Lance Cronin. However, despite being two goals to the good, and looking relatively comfortable, Ebbsfleet managed to half the deficit in the second-half, after Neil Barrett stooped low to head past Chris Day in goal. Minutes later, the tie was all-square when Stacy Long sent a 20-yard dipping volley into the top right hand corner of the net. The setback spurred the home side on and with ten minutes left on the clock David Bridges rose powerfully to thunder a header past Cronin and ensure that Stevenage had a lead to defend going into the second-leg at Stonebridge Road.

The second leg, played a week later on 21 March 2009, was equally as tight as the first leg, with Stevenage winning the game 1-0 after a Peter Vincenti strike deep into injury time. The 1-0 win meant that Stevenage won 4-2 on aggregate and consequently booked their place at Wembley Stadium for the second time in three years, where they would play York City on 9 May.

Stevenage defeated York 2-0 in the final of the FA Trophy in front of 27,102 at Wembley Stadium to taste FA Trophy success for the second time in three seasons. Stevenage dominated the game, but had to be patient to break down a resilient York City outfit. Steve Morison broke the deadlock, in what turned out to be his last game in a Stevenage shirt before moving to Millwall, tapping in after Mark Roberts had knocked the ball down from an Andy Drury corner mid-way into the second-half. Lee Boylan doubled the lead in injury-time, scooping the ball over York goalkeeper Michael Ingham to ensure a successful 2008-09 FA Trophy campaign.

Season statistics

Last updated on 19 July 2009.

Starts and goals

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Transfers

In

Out

Loans in

Loans out

See also

• 2008–09 in English football
• List of Stevenage Borough F.C. seasons

External links

• Stevenage Borough F.C. official website
• Stevenage Borough F.C. on Soccerbase