Stevenage earned League One promotion for the second time in our history thanks to a runners-up finish in the 2022-3 League Two campaign. Boro’ thus return to third class after nine full years in League Two. The atmosphere in the small Hertfordshire town is thus once again reaching the pinnacle as fans can’t wait to watch their team battling much more famous and popular (and richer if you want) teams at this level.
Considering the magnitude of such success, we have asked the football experts at bettingpicks4you to help us revive the team’s whole campaign to see the crucial turning points of the season
Strong pre-season rounded with a terrible loss
Stevenage began pre-season on 2 July 2022 when they dispatched Jersey Bulls 4-0. We claimed two big scalps later on, beating the likes of West Bromwich Albion and Derby County without conceding a single goal in these affairs. We managed a streak of five wins and two draws in seven exhibitions before the very last test on 26 July against Stamford. It ended in a shocking 5-0 defeat. But we must say that the first XI players did not play on the occasion. The unofficial final check came seven days before the start of the season and it saw Boro’ play out a goalless draw to higher-division Peterborough United on the road.
Brilliant start to the season
Boro’ fans could hardly imagine a better start to the season than the one we had. Four wins and one draw from the inaugural five games in League Two was a run that includes a big 2-1 win over Stockport County in matchday two; capped by a super late comeback and Reid’s winner in the fifth minute of added time at the Lamex Stadium.
The first loss in Matchday Six
The team’s maiden defeat came in the sixth round as we fell 1-0 away at Salford in late August. Nevertheless, Boro responded in style; beating Crewe Alexandra and Newport County in successive outings before falling again, this time to Bradford (3-0). It was the team’s toughest loss all season.
Nevertheless, Stevenage showed character once again; bouncing back with a streak of four consecutive wins. They were especially impressive at the Lamex Stadium; beating Harrogate, Sutton, and Swindon without conceding a single goal during this streak.
Our maiden home defeat of the season came in Game Week 15 when Boro fell 2-3 to Northampton Town in an eventful affair; all three late goals coming within the final seven minutes of the match.
A streak of 13 games without a defeat
The loss to Northampton was quickly forgotten as Stevenage responded just three days later with a massive 0-1 victory away at Doncaster Rovers. This win initiated the team’s marvellous run of 13 successive matches without a loss in the league. The run involves a great defensive effort in a goalless draw away at red-hot Leyton Orient on Boxing Day. It was this particular result that proved Stevenage’s highest League One promotion ambitions and quality.
The toughest period of the season
The aforementioned streak came to an end on 11 February when we lost 2-3 at home to Bradford City. February was by far the worst month in the entire season for us. We lost three and drew one league game, before beating AFC Wimbledon on the last day of the month. We then blew hot-and-cold, mainly collecting points in front of our home fans by the end of the season.
That was good enough to keep Boro in second place in the standings; on track for League One promotion and at a safe distance from the playoffs contenders. Stevenage’s best-ever finish in English football was sixth place in League One in the 2011-2 season. Can we make a step forward this time around?
