Stevenage 1-3 Coventry City (Friendly)
The Lamex Stadium on Broadhall Way in Stevenage has been on my radar for some time now. My earliest memories perhaps drawn to January 1998 and the fourth round of the FA Cup when Stevenage Borough (as they were known until 2010) drew with Newcastle United, before controversially losing in a tight replay at St James Park. The name Giuliano Grazioli etched into every fans memory who were there that day, the on loan striker levelling to cancel out Alan Shearer's early goal in front of the Sky cameras.
Since, Stevenage have grown from non-league minnows to football league regulars (they even later beat Newcastle) and now play in League One, the third tier of English football, having gained promotion in 2023 they spent last season largely under the stewardship of the larger than life Steve Evans, before Alex Revell took over a side that punched above themselves towards the top half of the table.
I recently watched Coventry City in the semi-final of the FA Cup at Wembley. Mark Robin's side were gritty but outclassed, before I made an early exit to beat the traffic back north, Manchester United were 3-0 up and cruising but no sooner had I left the stadium were the Sky Blues fans cheering, the game eventually ended in a classic 3-3 draw before the Red Devils won through on penalties. Reminder never to leave early again.
The Venue
Easily located within a stones throw of the A1, the Hertfordshire town of Stevenage sits on junction 7 and the ground is placed on a roundabout opposite an industrial park that includes a Burger King, a Nandos and a rather large and modern looking M&S.
I parked north of the stadium and walked down the carriageway and through the underpass to the ground, a modern looking venue which internally has some quirks. The East Terrace with its triangular commentary position on half way, each end is low roof, seated whilst the Main Stand, where i'm sat, offers a good view up close and personal, although I did have to move as a rather large bloke was sat next to me.
The Game
Both teams featured some young guns but Stevenage started brightest, capitalising on a sloppy mistake, new signing from St Johnstone Dan Phillips set his sights from the edge of the area and shot low and hard to open the scoring with just a couple of minutes played.
The home side were good value, chasing everything down and not giving the opposition an inch, some misplaced passes and touches too many it looked like Coventry were a week or two behind the Boro in their pre-season preperation but an error by the home sides trialist goalkeeper gave Justin Obikwu a sniff of danger, the keeper dwelling on the ball for the speedy Obikwu to nip in, he went down inside the box, picked himself up, and placed the penalty home for a leveller.
That gave Coventry some new found confidence and shortly after, Bobby Thomas headed home from a corner and as half time approached, Coventry broke as from a Stevenage corner, Obikwu set free down the left, he found Tavares who made no mistake.
The Score
Stevenage had chances in what was a really open game, they hit a post through Appere whilst Freeman whistled wide in the second half. Obikwu a constant menace at the other end, went close with a header before his replacement, Mason-Clarke produced a carbon copy and fine save from the hosts shot stopper.
Coventry ending the game with eleven new changes and the dominant force of the two as Stevenage also thew on their youngsters, a good work out on an entertaining nights evening, both sides you feel will be happy with what they achieved.
The Stars
At just twenty-years-old, Trinidad & Tobago international Obikwu was a constant menace with desire, pace, and has a knack of being in the right place to get his shot off. He was electric at times up front and in 17-year-old Kai Andrews who shown one or two neat touches in midfield, the futures bright for the sky blues.
Also impressing, left footed centre half Liam Kitching, beside left back Jay Dasilva who shown pace, aggression and passion whilst the exciting Tatsuhiro Sakamoto made a late cameo, he was trumped however by the silky smooth midfielder Jack Rudoni, a recent signing from Huddersfield, the tall blonde playmaker looked a talented footballer and very elegant in possession.
For Stevenage, all hail new signing Dan Phillips in an attacking midfield role, quick to press and always forward thinking. Jordan Roberts was another who impressed with driving powerful runs from the left whilst the slight looking creative number ten Dan Kemp also looked like a real attacking threat.
There was even time for a fifteen year old substitute to make an appearance as ginger haired midfielder Ryan Docherty got some experience on the pitch, an old boy who works for the clubs academy telling me "he's a chirpy Irish boy who plays number ten" one i'll certainly be keeping an eye on in future years.
The Verdict
Two good progressive football sides, Stevenage don't mince with it in their own half but in the attacking third play some attractive stuff and have threat out wide and from midfield. Coventry have an abundance of talent and are relatively strong in midfield themselves, with the likes of Ben Sheaf, Jamie Allen, Jack Rudoni all near on the ball, they also have some pace out wide and some big targets from set plays as their squad depth aims to cover all bases.
I'll be expecting Mark Robins side to have a serious playoff push this season whilst the Boro, well they'll be just fine in League One with some good players at their disposal.
The Teams
Stevenage: Trialist, Luther James-Wildin (Owen Cochrane 84), Dan Sweeney (Nathan Thompson 68), Carl Piergiani, Nick Freeman (Trialist 68), Louis Appere, Dan Kemp (Elliot List 68), Jordan Roberts (Ben Thompson 68), Lewis Freestone (Kane Smith 46), Harvey White (David Hicks 84), Dan Phillips (Ryan Docherty 75).
Coventry City: Bradley Collins (Ben Wilson 65), Jack Burroughs (Milan van Ewijk 65), Bobby Thomas (Joel Latibeaudiere 65), Liam Kitching (Luis Binks 65), Jay Dasilva (Jake Bidwell 65), Josh Eccles (Ben Sheaf 65 (Ryan Howley 83)), Jamie Allen (Jack Rudoni 65), Kai Andrews (Kasey Palmer 65), Fabio Tavares (Tatsuhiro Sakamoto 61), Justin Obikwu (Ellis Simms 65), Aidan Dausch (Ephron Mason-Clark 65).
7:00pm Kick Off. Tuesday 23rd August 2024, Broadhall Way, Stevenage (att 1,737).
Comments