Race for the Playoffs: 27 April

Stevenage Borough 1-2 Northwich Victoria
22 April 2008
Broadhall Way, Stevenage

This was to prove the final nail in the coffin; the bullet to the wounded animal if you will. With Exeter winning, Stevenage HAD to win this game if they wanted a chance on the final day to try and edge their way into the playoffs. And they didn't. Dino Maamria, a man who took Stevenage to the playoff final in 2005 by virtue of his two goals against Hereford, returned to haunt his former side and in doing so, ensured his Northwich side would survive the drop with a game to spare.

It's galling to think that two defensive blunders cost two goals, and then Daryl McMahon was given twenty minutes to change the game from midfield. And he nearly did. Scored one with a free-kick, and had one other free-kick well saved. At the end of the day, Boro' knocked on more than one occasion, were slightly wasteful but just weren't value for a win. Into the final day, then, with nothing to play for...

Halifax Town 1-2 Stevenage Borough
26 April 2008
The Shay, Halifax

... and another game with an opponent needing to win to stay up. Stevenage, due to their recent form, were out at 3/1 for the win here. A team that was once 15 POINTS inside the playoffs; an inexcusable fuck-up. But pressure off, an adventurous 3-5-2 set-up and three points which were pyrrhic to say the least. But what have we learned now? That a football season can be a VERY LONG time; that Daryl McMahon was cruelly underused in the run-in; that Steve Morison is a total legend who continued to give 110%; and that Peter Taylor may not be manager next season if a meeting on Monday 28 April produces a result that the NLP believes is the case. Interesting times, but forgive while I retire to the IPL for the forthcoming weeks...














... shit, it's on Satanta. Gah!