January was another interesting month at the Lamex Stadium. After an unbeaten December and with Stevenage now in the shake up for the League 1 play-offs, Graham Westley was a wanted man. GW and his team were snapped up by Preston North End after weeks of uncertainty over his future. A new era has begun at Stevenage with Gary Smith appointed as the new manager.

Luke Freeman was heavily involved in the winner

stevenage 1-0 notts county | stewart (og) 12
fa cup | lamex stadium | 4,439

A Damien Stewart own goal was enough to earn Stevenage a place in the 5th round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history and gave Gary Smith a winning start as Boro manager.

Robbie Slater has taken Craig Foster to task over Fozzie's article/analysis of Melbourne Victory's Coaching appointment.
Fozzie's article is intelligent, well thought out and something we need in this country - even if you don't agree with it's sentiment.
It adds to our football intelligence, it makes us think.

December was another unbeaten month as Stevenage continued their climb up the League 1 table. There was also progress in the FA Cup as the Boro progressed into the 3rd round of the FA Cup after a professional display against non-league Stourbridge.

Boro progress into 3rd round of FA Cup

A comfortable win away at Stourbridge sent Stevenage into the 3rd round of the FA Cup and a tie with Reading at the Madjeski Stadium.

Southern League Premier Division side Stourbridge finally ended their greatest ever FA Cup run at the hands of League One Stevenage at the War Memorial Athletic Ground earlier today, thanks to two goals from Chris Beardsley and a late third from Robin Shroot.

Stourbridge started with the same eleven that defeated Plymouth Argyle in the First Round, with the exception of influential midfielder Sean Geddes who missed the game through suspension – his place taken by Drew Canavan.

A perfect 10. Or an imperfect 10. But I hope you're enjoying this so far.
So @sweirz has set me this challenge on Twitter:
A Scotland international XI made up of players that have never played for the Old Firm. And no Anglos.
So Scotland players drawn exclusively from non-Old Firm Scottish clubs.

Shroot has impressed whilst on trial at Stevenage

Robin Shroot is finally a Stevenage player. After 2 weeks on trial and four pre-season friendlies, Shroot has managed to convince Graham Westley that he is worth taking a gamble on. A two year contract has been agreed and the former Birmingham City winger will go into tonight's friendly at Hampton & Richmond as a permanent member of the Boro squad.

The term must win is used too much over the course of the season, but tomorrow's game at Sixfields is just that for both ourselves and Northampton. Three points for the Cobblers would probably all but confirm their safety and a place in next season's League 2 with so many other sides nervously looking over their shoulder into the non-league trap door.

Lawrie Wilson: Looked to have won the game for Boro

Stevenage 2-2 Accrington (Harrison 7, Wilson 78, Gornell 88, Procter 90)
BBC Report | Westley Interview

This isn't going to be the most positive, pleasurable post I've ever written for this site in the two and half years of its existence.

After the excitement of the Newcastle win 3 weeks ago, Boro's latest FA Cup game didn't quite have the same effect despite a good performance in front of a sold out Lamex Stadium. On paper it was always going to be a tough game with Reading having a steady season in the Championship but this was the FA Cup and you always felt anything could happen.

Stevenage 3-1 Newcastle (Williamson og 50, Bostwick 55, Barton 90, Winn 90)
Highlights | BBC Report | Westley Interview

It doesn't get any better than that does it? To be honest, I was happy enough in just getting the opportunity to play Newcastle again after what happened in 1998, but I never thought that we would beat them and progress into the 4th round of the FA Cup for the second time in our history.

Gillingham 1-0 Boro (Akinfenwa 38)
Match Report | BBC Report

It may be a new year, but it was the same, old story for Boro. Adebayo Akinfenwa's first half header was enough to give the Gills their 5th victory in a row, whilst extending our winless run in the league to 5.