Morecambe 1 Stevenage Borough 3

Last updated : 23 October 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Stevenage took the points in this clash of the Conference play-off hopefuls thanks to three second-half goals.

Boro were forced to come from behind after conceding a goal after just 35 seconds, but kept their cool and showed their spirit to fight back strongly and run out deserved winners.

It was Keiron Walmsley who gave the home side a dream start with a sensational goal from 30 yards out that flew past Andy Woodman.

The game then became a scrappy affair with no real clear-cut chances until Morecambe's Adam Sollitt was forced to make his first save of the afternoon on 35 minutes when he blocked from Brian Quailey.

Stevenage were then denied a 41st minute equaliser when Anthony Elding was flagged offside after poking home the rebound after Sollitt fumbled Danny Bulman's free- kick.

Stevenage came out strongly for the second half with danger man George Boyd pulling a shot wide and Sollitt saving sharply from Jason Goodliffe after a goalmouth scramble before the game was turned on its head by two Boro goals in three minutes, both stemming from Bulman corners.

On 56 minutes a Barry Laker header across goal found the unmarked Goodliffe who headed past Sollitt at full stretch and from an almost similar situation moments later Matt Hocking sent a looping header over Sollitt that was adjudged to have crossed the line despite the best efforts of David Perkins, who thought he had headed to safety.

Morecambe, who had been below their recent best, then came back strongly and applied a great deal of pressure. Walmsley fired over the bar on the run and substitute Terry McFlynn clipped a right-foot shot just wide of the left-hand post.

The Irishman finally forced Woodman into a save with a volley seven minutes from time but as Morecambe threatened Boro broke away and scored a third two minutes into injury time.

Bulman was involved once again with a storming run down the right wing after breaking up a Morecambe attack. He fed Boyd who in turn played the ball inside to Jon Brady and he drove the ball into the roof of the net to clinch the three points for the visitors.