REPORT: STEVENAGE 6, HARTLEPOOL 1
Boro banished the memory of last weekend’s defeat at Grimsby to record a 6-1 win at home to Hartlepool United on Saturday afternoon.
The main headline came courtesy of Tyler Walker who scored twice on his debut but it was a supreme all round performance from the whole side.
Darren Sarll made three changes to the midweek Checkatrade Trophy defeat at Orient, withMichael Tonge restored to the starting line-up along with Kgosi Ntlhe and Tyler Walker also coming in for the first time as Boro players.
It was a nightmare start for Stevenage. Nathan Thomas bundled the ball home for Hartlepool after only 4 minutes as the defence struggled to clear from inside the box.
Things got better though and as the first half wore on, Boro looked increasingly threatening. Set pieces seemed to be the most likely route to goal with Boro looking dominant in the air but it wasn’t quite sticking early on.
Pressure continued to be applied and Pett levelled things up on 26 minutes after Godden picked him out inside the area, leaving a simple finish to make it 1-1.
Tyler Walker showed everyone why the manager brought him in this week on 30 minutes, picking the ball up out on the right, taking it past his man and curling just wide of the far post.
In was pretty much one way traffic for the remainder of the first half and Boro finally made a set piece count on 43 minutes, Tyler Walker showing off his goalscoring instincts with an overhead kick from close range.
The second half very much carried on in the same vein and it didn’t take long before it was 3-1.Dean Wells first hit the crossbar off a corner but was alive to the rebound for his first of the season.
Minutes later it was 4 as Walker got his second of the game, a wonderful team goal. Nthle showed great bravery to win his challenge deep in his own half, Pett then turned and played in Fox down the left who drilled the ball across for Walker who was ready to pounce.
Pett continued to cause Hartlepool all manner of problems, winning a penalty after he was wrestled down inside the box, Michael Tonge stepping up to make it 5-1.
And finally Godden, who had worked tirelessly all game got the goal he deserved with just over ten minutes left to go. Having been found over the top and with just the on-rushing keeper to contend with, Godden made sure he got to the ball first, heading over Bartlett and into the open net.
Academy graduate, Nathan Kerr came on in the final ten minutes to make his league debut for the club, rounding off a fantastic day all round as Stevenage bounced back from recent defeats with a 6-1 win.