Full time: Stevenage Borough 2 Crawley Town 0

Blue Square Premier

Stevenage Borough 2

Crawley Town 0

TWO second half strikes from Michael Bostwick and Lee Boylan fired Stevenage Borough to three points and condemn a battling Crawley Town to defeat.

The Reds worked hard but failed to turn their possession into chances and the game ended with Borough a step closer to automatic promotion and the Town’s play-off dream slipping away.

Adam Quinn was again missing from the Crawley line-up with a calf strain while Ben Smith had only recovered from his bug enough to take his place amongst the substitutes.

Danny Forrest came into the side in place of Lewis Killeen as the Reds packed the midfield with intention of frustrating Borough into mistakes.

Stevenage started strongly and much of the first 10 minutes were camped in the visitors half. A long ball forward almost found Yemi Odubade but Simon Rusk was on hand to clear the danger.

Joel Byron fired in a long range effort that was straight at Simon Rayner.

But Crawley started to gain a foot hold in the game and Thomas Pinault continued his recent good form as Town started to dictate play.

Nevertheless they failed to turn their possession into chances, with Sam Rents twice delivering poor balls when the Reds had got men forward into promising positions.

Borough’s left back Scott Laird struck a fierce shot just over the bar after Michael Malcolm had given the ball away in his own third.

Rusk was booked for hauling down Odubade on 40 minutes as the forward looked to be through on goal. The home supporters were baying for a red but the fact the incident was so close to the touchline saved the Crawley full back.

Danny Forrest has struggled to get in the Reds side in recent weeks but he was the hero just before half time with a fabulous clearance off the line after Rayner had spilled Byrom’s free kick.

The Stevenage players were out for the second half very early and within three minutes they were ahead.

Michael Bostwick struck a curling shot from 25 yards that deceived Rayner and flew into the middle of the net to give the home side a deserved lead.

Forrest made way for Lewis Killeen as Evans attempted to change the game but it was Borough who almost doubled their advantage forcing Rayner to produce one of the saves of the season to deny Stacy Long’s goal-bound header.

Long the flashed a low cross across goal but no one was on hand in a white shirt to tap the ball home.

Town were almost level when they tested Chris Day for the first time with 20 minutes remaining. Rent’s free kick deflected kindly off the wall for Barry Cogan whose shot seemed to be heading for the top of the net but Day flicked the ball over bar with a strong right hand.

Moments later Rents had a low shot saved as Town enjoyed their best spell of the game but the lack of cutting edge in the final third hurt Crawley who were unable to turn the possession into chances.

In injury time an error from Eddie Hutchinson almost allowed Lee Boylan to settle it but the substitute shot wide.

But with everyone committed forward Boylan was given another opportunity to seal the points when, one on one with Rayner he slotted the ball into the bottom left corner.

Crawley Town: Rayner, Rusk, Rents, Hutchinson, Broadhurst, Forrest (Killeen 55), Ademeno, Pinault, Malcolm, Wilson  (Smith 70), Cogan.

Unused subs: Jordan, Killeen, Napper, Carter, Smith.

Stevenage Borough: Day, Laird, Ashton, Long, Odubade (Albrighton 78), Byrom (Cole 73, Boylan 87), Roberts, Bridges, Beardsley, Bostwick, Henry.

Unused subs: Bayes, Drury.

Referee: Andy Hendley

Attendance: 2230