STEVENAGE BOROUGH v BARNET

Monday 25 March 2002

The Season So far

Stevenage aren't having the best of seasons in the League so far, but have reached the Semi-Final of the FA Trophy where they face Morecambe.

Wayne Turner (who played 61 games for Barnet between 1998-91, scoring seven goals. He was also chief coach for two years) has recently replaced Paul Fairclough as Manager, even though the results were improving. So, with Barnet having a new management structure in place as well, it should be an interesting encounter.

Interestingly, Stevenage's Highest win and defeat (until this Saturday gone) were consecutive matches, both at home, a 1-4 defeat to Woking was follwed by a 4-1 victory over Forest Green Rovers a week later, both at the beginning of February.

Their last home game was a 3-1 defeat to Dagenham & Redbridge and we know what happened to them at Underhill!! Their highest defeat of the season was just this Saturday gone, losing 6-1 to Farnborough.

Defender Greg Heald may be an injury doubt for Barnet. Heald, who is suffering from a back problem, was forced to miss the midweek mauling of Dagenham with Lee Pluck taking his place, although he did play the whole 90 minutes on Saturday. Rob Sawyers remains doubtful with the shin injury which has ruled him out of the last three matches.

Stevenage Injuries as on 19/03/02, from Boro watch

Matt Fisher, Hamstring, out for unknown
John Dreyer, Calf, out for two weeks
Simon Wormull, Shin, out for two weeks
Martin Williams, Thigh, out for one week

Jude Stirling and Sam McMahon are also struggling with injury and their fitness will be assessed in the build-up to the clash.

From the Other Side

The following preview is from an unofficial Stevanage site, Boro watch

The first Conference Hertfordshire derby to be held at Broadhall Way has had a slight delay from New Year's Day, when many Boro' fans battled to save the pitch from the night frost in front of the Sky cameras, but to no avail. But this time, the game goes ahead, and surely nothing can stop it!

Barnet, after a brief dip in form, and a change in personnel, are now climbing back up into the top half of the table. Boro' will be at least 16th, but will hopefully pick up three points against Farnborough to move back within touching distance of the top half.

However, it seems not a good time to play the Bees, following their destruction of Dagenham & Redbridge at Underhill last Tuesday, which (not including their game against Telford this weekend) saw them win their fourth successive game. The last game they lost was at home to Farnborough Town on the 19th February. Excluding the Telford game, Barnet have picked up 13 points from a possible 18, which has contributed to their league form.

Boro' do hold one crucial element against them, however, and that is the 3-0 win at Underhill back in December. But, times have changed, as well as managers, and it is unlikely that the reverse fixture at Underhill will count for much. Even so, it will boost morale, and Boro' just need to be on form to get the result they need.

Last Six Matches

All
L W W D L L

Home
D W L W W L

Away
L W L L D L

Below is Barnet and Stevenage's league details based on their Home and Away performances.

The current Stevenage team was founded in 1976 after Stevenage Athletic folded. They played in the Chiltern Youth League, followed by the Wallspan Combination League. In 1980 they moved to Broadhall Way, owned by the Borough Council, adopting the 'Borough' in their name.They also joined the United Counties League this year, then in 1983 moved across to the Servowarm Isthmian league Div.2 North which they won.

They also lost the Herts Senior Cup Final to Barnet 0-4. They were relegated back to Division 2 North in 1986/87season, but with Paul Fairclough coming in as Manager in 1990/91 they won the League with an impressive 107 points, scoring 122 goals. With the league re-named the Diadora they won Division 1 in 1991/92 and finished seventh in the Premier the following season. 1993/94 saw promotion again, this time to the Conference, finishing fifth in their first year. In their second year in the Conference they won the title, but promotion was not to be as their ground was not up to League standard, although ironically it was by the start of the season. A certain team named Torquay were saved from the 'dreaded drop'.

The next season saw them finish third and reach the 3rd round of the FA Cup, losing 0-2 away to Birmingham City. Another great cup run next season saw them up against Newcastle United at Home. After a 1-1 draw they lost the replay 1-2 away. With a certain Victor Green as Chairman, Paul Fairclough lost his job, followed by several successors, but returned when the coast was clear in the summer of 2000.