Another clean sheet, another home win and another memorable night at the Lame

A goal 10 minutes in by Louis Thompson put them in front and a superbly organised and determined defence brought them the win.

It was Wrexham's second loss of the season but the stats on the Boro side were more eye-catching.

A sixth clean sheet in the league, seven in total, a fourth home win and only one goal conceded in five home matches, that from the penalty spot.

All that was thoroughly deserved and lifts Boro up to ninth.

It was a quick turnaround for both clubs and both made four changes.

Boro manager Alex Revell opted to bring Jamie Reid back in while there was a second start for Jake Young.

Dan Phillips and Eli King were the others to come in.

Dan Kemp, Tyreece Simpson, Elliott List and Harvey White made way.

A big crowd meant a big atmosphere as the game kicked off and it got louder when Boro took the lead on 10 minutes.

Louis Thompson picked it up in the middle of the park after Reid had done well to win the ball back and find him.

There was an option to his right but instead he decided to shoot and although it didn't have oodles of power, it was hit superbly and placed perfectly to the right of Arthur Okonkwo's diving right hand.

The Lamex was bouncing and the home side were on top and almost made it two four minutes later.

Jamie Roberts spotted the run of Phillips who stepped inside his marker and slid it across to Reid.

He struggled to get the ball out of his feet and his effort was blocked.

It ran loose to Dan Butler though and his clout low towards goal needed the keeper to palm it away.

And any fears that without White in the side set-piece delivery would be poor was reckoning without King.

He put one corner in that caused havoc and moments later a free-kick was placed and paced almost perfectly for Nathan Thompson to meet.

From there though the pace went out of the game. It was never uncomfortable for Boro but you felt they were in completely cruise control.

They still could have doubled their lead just before half-time after a wonderful flowing move that involved Roberts, Phillips and Reid.

It ended up at King's feet but instead of sweeping it in, he got underneath it and chipped it over the bar.

Wrexham's chances were limited, their best one after just two minutes when a drive from Steven Fletcher clipped the crossbar on its way over.

He was presented with another chance when Murphy Cooper fluffed a clearance straight to him. Nathan Thompson made sure that any sight of goal was quickly snuffed out.

But Stevenage must have known that the visitors' expensively assembled squad would have their moments, especially with big hitters Paul Mullin, Ollie Palmer and Elliot Lee on the bench.

The trio arrived on 66 minutes after possession for the Red Dragons had often floundered on the organised Boro defence.

Palmer forced Cooper into a save while Carl Piergianni needed to head away from under his own bar as Mullin closed in.

But as the match approached the last 10 minutes, Stevenage suddenly found more of the ball, just taking a bit of the sting out of the away attack.

 

There was still late pressure because of course there was.

But with Dan Phillips, Jordan Roberts and everyone else in white shirts snapping into tackles, there was little for Wrexham to grasp onto.

Match details

Stevenage (1) 1 Wrexham (0) 0

Stevenage: Cooper, Wildin, Butler, N.Thompson, Piergianni, Roberts, Reid (Simpson 75), Phillips, L.Thompson, King (White 75), Young (Kemp 60).

Subs (not used): Ashby-Hammond, Freeman, Freestone, Aboh.

Goals: L.Thompson 10

Booked: Butler 27

 

Wrexham: Okonkwo, O'Connell, O'Connor (Palmer 66), McClean (Lee 66), Marriott, Evans (Cannon 45+3), Dobson, Revan (Mendy 84), Scarr, Fletcher (Mullin 66), Barnett.

Subs (not used): Burton, Brunt.

Goals: 

Booked: O'Connor 39, Cannon 68

 

Added time: 4+5

Referee: Will Finnie (Luton)

Attendance: 5,704 (including 850 from Wrexham)