FA Trophy holders, Stevenage, ease past Dover Athletic.
Stevenage Borough 4-1 Dover Athletic
The FA Carlsberg Trophy
Third Round Proper
3pm, Saturday 30 January 2010
Broadhall Way, Stevenage Borough FC
Winning clubs will receive £7,000 from The FA prize fund
Click here for results Stevenage continued their fine form in this season’s FA Carlsberg Trophy with a convincing 4-1 victory over Dover Athletic in the Third Round Proper at the Lamex Stadium.
The Conference Premier leaders initially fell behind to Shaun Welford’s strike, but goals from Tim Sills, Chris Beardsley, Michael Bostwick and Yemi Odubade saw Stevenage romp in to the Fourth Round Proper.
Graham Westley’s team started the tie as bookmakers favourites to win this season’s FA Trophy, but would have expected a tough afternoon against a disciplined Dover side.
Andy Hessenthaler’s team, third in the Conference South, are in the middle of a promotion push themselves and were aiming to keep up the winning mentality that had seen them defeat Dartford, Havant & Waterlooville and Fleetwood Town so far in this season’s competition.
However, Stevenage took the tie to them from the outset, with Stacy Long, Beardsley and Sills all missing early opportunities to open the scoring. The hosts were made to pay for their wastefulness infront of goal when Welford gave Dover the lead, against the run of play, on 28 minutes.
The striker powerfully headed beyond Stevenage goalkeeper Chris Day, after good work on the wing from James Rogers.
However, Dover were ahead for just six minutes as Stevenage finally converted their greater possession in to goals. Tim Sills equalised from close range, before Beardsley showed superb close control to bring down Ronnie Henry’s cross and fire beyond Dover goalkeeper Ross Flitney one minute before half-time.
Michael Bostwick extended Stevenage’s lead on 57 minutes and the hosts passage in to the Fourth Round Proper was confirmed when Long crossed to Yemi Odubade, who volleyed home at the end.
