Stevenage vs Torquay - 18th September
Posted: 11 Sep 2010, 16:47
So, we travel to London on Saturday as we visit the Lamex Stadium, formerly known as Broadhall Way, home of Stevenage FC. This is their first season in the Football League, after romping to the Conference title last season. They won the league, ahead of rivals Luton, by 11 points. As we all well know, they would have made their Football League bow in the previous decade, but at the time, there ground wasn't up to standard, so we luckily kept our place.
LAST 5 SEASONS.
2005/06 - Conference - 6th place - 69 points
2006/07 - Conference - 8th place - 70 points
2007/08 - Conference - 6th place - 79 points
2008/09 - Conference - 5th place - 81 points - LOST IN PLAYOFF SEMI FINAL.
2009/10 - Conference - 1st place - 99 points
As you can see, the club have steadily improved as each year has gone on. Their points tally has bettered as each season has gone by, and that all culminated in the club winning the Conference by 11 points last season. They would have smashed the 100 point barrier, but as Chester were kicked out of the League, they had their points from those two games chalked off.
HEAD TO HEAD.
Torquay wins - 3
Stevenage wins - 0
Draws - 1
These two clubs have only ever met 4 times. And all four of them were recent. When we were in the Blue Square Premier, we met them 4 times, over the two seasons. In our first year, we did the double, winning 4-2 at Plainmoor, and 3-1 at Broadhall Way. The following season, we won 3-0 at Plainmoor, before drawing 0-0 at Broadhall Way. That was the last time we have met Stevenage. I hope we can continue our unbeaten record against Stevenage next weekend, and come away with atleast a point.
FORM. [LAST 6 GAMES]
LWDLDL
Their last 6 games haven't gone too well, but you can't really expect miracles from a side getting used to league life. Their first League defeat came at the hands of Bradford. They beat Stockport 3-1 to win a League game, at the 3rd attempt. Since then, they have drawn at Aldershot, lost against Brentford in the Johnstones Paint Trophy, and drawn at home to Crewe 1-1. Today they lost 1-0 at the hands of Cheltenham.
SUMMER TRANSFERS.
During the summer, there wasn't really that many transfers in and out of the Lamex Stadium. Only five players came in, while 4 left. I get the impression that manager Graham Westley has confidence in the squad he built from last year, to see how they cope in the League. The players who joined are Peter Winn [Scunthorpe], Darius Charles [Ebbsfleet], Luke Foster [Mansfield], Robbie Sinclair [Salisbury] and John Mousinho [Wycombe]. The players who left were Andy Drury [Luton], Mitchell Cole [Oxford], Eddie Odhiambo [Newport], and Mark Albrighton [Kidderminster].
PROBABLE LINE UP.
This is the side that started their match at Cheltenham:
---------------------------------------------Chris Day------------------------
Ronnie Henry------Mark Roberts------------Jon Ashton---------Scott Laird
---------------Lawrie Wilson----Michael Bostwick---Joel Byrom-------------
---------------Tim Sills----------Charlie Griffin--------Yemi Odubade-----------
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
For me, there are two players that will need watching next week. Charlie Griffin is a well known scorer in the non-league, and he has hit 3 league goals so far this season. This means to me that he has so far successfully stepped up, and although he is in the twilight of his career, he could be a handful for Branston and Ellis.
The other man to watch for me is central midfielder Michael Bostwick. He had a good season last time around, and was attracting offers from League 1/Championship sides. However, he showed some loyalty to Stevenage and has stayed on for the start of this season. I would imagine he is the engine room of the team, and he starts the attacks and helps the defence out aswell. He scores goals too, and he has already scored a cracker from 25 yards in the victory over Stockport.
PREDICTION:
Well, I am really looking forward to this one. I am sure that our fans will give Tim Sills a great reception if he's in their squad, and I also think that we will come out with our unbeaten record against Stevenage intact. I'll pump for a 1-1 draw.
LAST 5 SEASONS.
2005/06 - Conference - 6th place - 69 points
2006/07 - Conference - 8th place - 70 points
2007/08 - Conference - 6th place - 79 points
2008/09 - Conference - 5th place - 81 points - LOST IN PLAYOFF SEMI FINAL.
2009/10 - Conference - 1st place - 99 points
As you can see, the club have steadily improved as each year has gone on. Their points tally has bettered as each season has gone by, and that all culminated in the club winning the Conference by 11 points last season. They would have smashed the 100 point barrier, but as Chester were kicked out of the League, they had their points from those two games chalked off.
HEAD TO HEAD.
Torquay wins - 3
Stevenage wins - 0
Draws - 1
These two clubs have only ever met 4 times. And all four of them were recent. When we were in the Blue Square Premier, we met them 4 times, over the two seasons. In our first year, we did the double, winning 4-2 at Plainmoor, and 3-1 at Broadhall Way. The following season, we won 3-0 at Plainmoor, before drawing 0-0 at Broadhall Way. That was the last time we have met Stevenage. I hope we can continue our unbeaten record against Stevenage next weekend, and come away with atleast a point.
FORM. [LAST 6 GAMES]
LWDLDL
Their last 6 games haven't gone too well, but you can't really expect miracles from a side getting used to league life. Their first League defeat came at the hands of Bradford. They beat Stockport 3-1 to win a League game, at the 3rd attempt. Since then, they have drawn at Aldershot, lost against Brentford in the Johnstones Paint Trophy, and drawn at home to Crewe 1-1. Today they lost 1-0 at the hands of Cheltenham.
SUMMER TRANSFERS.
During the summer, there wasn't really that many transfers in and out of the Lamex Stadium. Only five players came in, while 4 left. I get the impression that manager Graham Westley has confidence in the squad he built from last year, to see how they cope in the League. The players who joined are Peter Winn [Scunthorpe], Darius Charles [Ebbsfleet], Luke Foster [Mansfield], Robbie Sinclair [Salisbury] and John Mousinho [Wycombe]. The players who left were Andy Drury [Luton], Mitchell Cole [Oxford], Eddie Odhiambo [Newport], and Mark Albrighton [Kidderminster].
PROBABLE LINE UP.
This is the side that started their match at Cheltenham:
---------------------------------------------Chris Day------------------------
Ronnie Henry------Mark Roberts------------Jon Ashton---------Scott Laird
---------------Lawrie Wilson----Michael Bostwick---Joel Byrom-------------
---------------Tim Sills----------Charlie Griffin--------Yemi Odubade-----------
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
For me, there are two players that will need watching next week. Charlie Griffin is a well known scorer in the non-league, and he has hit 3 league goals so far this season. This means to me that he has so far successfully stepped up, and although he is in the twilight of his career, he could be a handful for Branston and Ellis.
The other man to watch for me is central midfielder Michael Bostwick. He had a good season last time around, and was attracting offers from League 1/Championship sides. However, he showed some loyalty to Stevenage and has stayed on for the start of this season. I would imagine he is the engine room of the team, and he starts the attacks and helps the defence out aswell. He scores goals too, and he has already scored a cracker from 25 yards in the victory over Stockport.
PREDICTION:
Well, I am really looking forward to this one. I am sure that our fans will give Tim Sills a great reception if he's in their squad, and I also think that we will come out with our unbeaten record against Stevenage intact. I'll pump for a 1-1 draw.
