After the disappointment of going out of the FA Cup against Port Vale in midweek, Stevenage� bounced back with a good, solid win over Forest Green Rovers.� Westley's side began the game 5 points adrift of leaders Oxford United at the top of the Blue Square Premier table and with them beating Barrow at the Kassam Stadium,� the 3 points were even more important as Boro try to keep at pace with Oxford in the run up to Christmas.

If you missed the first game against Port Vale, well tonight was more or less the same, but without� the dramatic injury time equaliser. Boro again were the better side for the majority of the game, but failed to convert their chances and ended up losing the game due to an error by captain Mark Roberts.

If the Boro players weren't already up for the FA Cup first round replay against Port Vale tomorrow night, they will be now after Vale captain Tommy Fraser's stinging attack on the Conference side. League 2 Port Vale were outplayed by the� Hertfordshire club when they visited 9 days ago. Boro were unlucky not to win the game in the original tie, but missed several chances and had to settle for another chance to beat their League opponents.

Boro continued their fantastic unbeaten home run after a 5-3 victory over Gateshead this afternoon. In wet and windy conditions both teams struggled to really get hold of the game and kicking against the wind certainly seemed to affect Boro at times during the first half.

It was a rare opportunity for Graham Westley to name the same team as last Saturday after an impressive performance against Port Vale.

It's back to league action this weekend as Gateshead make the long journey south to play Stevenage in a fixture which was last played in 1998 with� the 'Tynesiders'� winning the game 2-1 at the International Stadium. Boro though won the reverse fixture earlier that season 6-1, so I doubt the Gateshead fans have that fond of memories of Hertfordshire.

Port Vale's trip to Broadhall Way for their 1st round replay against Boro next Tuesday will be streamed live on the FA website. It's great news for the club as they are now due to receive� £33,750 for the game being broadcasted live, even though it isn't on TV. It's an unexpected bonus for Phil Wallace and the club, who after losing the Setanta TV money in the summer have now received this income as well as part of the £1m the Premier League gave to the Conference earlier in the season.

Stevenage made it into the draw for the second round of the FA Cup after a superb performance up at Port Vale. Boro dominated the game in long spells and were unlucky not to win the game comfortably. Vale looked poor and I think underestimated the task ahead of them. Boro manager Graham Westley� will be delighted with his side's performance after ripping the League 2 club apart for the majority of the game, but will be frustrated that missed chances again cost his side winning away from home for the second weekend in a row.

Stevenage embark on another FA Cup journey this weekend as they travel up to Stoke to face League 2 side Port Vale. This time last year we were preparing for another trip up the M1, that time it was to Leicester, who comfortably beat us 3-0 at the Walkers Stadium. Now though, Boro are a much improved and experienced team.

Reports over the weekend linked former Boro favourite and now Peterborough forward� George Boyd with a £6m move to Tottenham. Boyd has been arguably the Posh's best player in their first season in the Championship so far and his recent form is thought to have alerted Premier League clubs to making an offer.

Stevenage will get home this evening and wonder how they didn't end up taking all 3 points after a dominant second half performance. Although Kettering had a couple of opportunities� in added time, the second half was mostly at the other end as a host of Boro players missed chances to give the Hertfordshire side the victory.

Boro face arguably their biggest game of the season against 3rd place Kettering Town at Rockingham Road this weekend. Graham Westley's side, who currently sit 2nd, are six points behind table toppers Oxford United while Kettering are a point further back of Boro, but have a game in hand. 3 points in Northamptonshire would give Boro a bit of breathing space as they challenge for top spot.

Boro made hard work of it, but made it through safely to the 1st round proper of the FA Cup after beating Chelmsford City at Melbourne Park. Graham Westley named a strong side, knowing that the Blue Square South side would be no pushovers. Eddie Odhiambo came back into the side on the left wing while Yemi Odubade once again partnered the in form Charlie Griffin upfront.

Boro have a break from league action this Saturday as the FA Cup campaign starts against Chelmsford City. It was only a few months ago that Boro faced Chelmsford in a pre-season friendly where Charlie Griffin and Chris Beardsley both scored Boro won by 2-1.

Chelmsford find themselves in 11th place in Conference South despite winning 3 of their last 5 league games.

I haven't got an internet connection until the weekend, but thought I better put something up tonight after a superb result and performance away at Luton Town. I arrived about 45 mins before kick off after finding somewhere to park in the ghetto! The atmosphere was electric in the ground. The Boro fans can be very proud of themselves tonight.

With Luton, Cambridge and Oxford all dropping points, Stevenage missed a big oppoortunity to close the gap on the leaders of the Blue Square Premier after being held at home by lowly Grays. The Essex side came into the game after a run of 3 straight defeats, but frustrated Westley's side all evening.

It's Grays at home tonight and Boro are bang in form after an impressive couple of results on the road. It's a far cry from the team from 12 months ago. Boro were struggling to get consistent results and as a result were stuck in mid table. It looked the same at the beginning of this campaign, but Boro have been hard to beat in recent weeks and their strong character has come through to pick up some vital points against Rushden & Mansfield.

Boro came from 2-0 down to defeat in form Mansfield on Saturday� with an inspirational performance� at Field Mill. A difficult place to go and to go 2-0 down after just 16 minutes you felt that it was going to be a frustrating afternoon. Two goals from striker Kyle Perry gave Mansfield a dream start one which they never would of dreamt of losing.

Next up for Boro is a trip to Field Mill and Mansfield Town. Graham Westley's side are 3 matches unbeaten since the 2-1 defeat at the Kassam Stadium against leaders Oxford United on the 22nd August. Tomorrow's game� will be a big test for the team. Down the years, Stevenage never seem to play well or get results at 'big' grounds and Mansfield will be no different.

Stevenage continued their recent improvement, brushing aside Eastbourne Borough 2-0 at Broadhall Way. Boro dominated the game throughout and could of won by more had the 3 strikers of Boylan, Cole and Beardsley had their shooting boots on.

Westley named a 4-3-3 formation with Michael Bostwick, Joel Byrom and Stacy Long all starting in midfield.

After a summer full of optimism, Stevenage hosted newly promoted Tamworth at Broadhall Way on the 8th August hoping to start the new season with a bang. However, the Lambs had different ideas and frustrated the Hertfordshire side all afternoon. Stevenage took an early lead thanks to a Lee Boylan penalty, but never really got going and were punished late on in the second half when BBC columnist Bradley Pritchard equalised with a cool finish.

Crawley are the latest club to introduce 'variable' admission prices after Kettering and Stevenage's new price initiatives' in the last 12 months. Crawley have 'banded' their games so that games against teams like Histon and Salisbury will be a lower price than 'premium' games against the likes of Cambridge and ourselves.

Boro returned to action at Histon just 2 days after the victory over Rushden on Saturday. Graham Westley named a strange side and formation to try and counter the strong, physical Histon threat. Mark Albrighton started alongside Mark Roberts and Jon Ashton while Laird and Henry were given freedom as wing backs.

It wasn't pretty, but Stevenage got back to winning ways beating Rushden & Diamonds 2-1 at Broadhall Way. Unfortunately though the game won't be remembered for the football, but for the horror tackle by Michael Corcoran on Lawrie Wilson which will probably see the in form right midfielder miss the rest of the season.

Rushden & Diamonds are next up for Boro as they look to bounce back from their defeat last weekend to Oxford United. The 2-1 loss at the Kassam Stadium was Boro's only� defeat of the season so far although the Hertfordshire club have also only won 1 match out of the 5 played. Rushden have faired slightly better recording 2 wins,� 2 draws and� 1 defeat in their opening 5 games.

One of the more puzzling tactical decisions from Graham Westley so far this season has been his reluctance to give new midfielder� Stacy Long� a run in the team, especially as the creative side of Boro's game is not quite where it should be. It's been more� long ball than Long.�

Stacy moved to Broadhall Way in the summer after a successful spell at Ebbsfleet United.

Issue 25 of The Broadhall Way is released this Saturday when Rushden & Diamonds are the visitors to Stevenage.

It promises to be another packed issue with all your usual favourites including; The Worrier, Kenfish, Away Amazed, Two Hats, The Last Goalscorer Society and the Thinker...

Plus also in this issue.

It's been an interesting several months, a mixture of high, low and unbelievable moments which seem to be a regular occurrence as a Boro fan!�

We finished last season well with a long unbeaten run and another Trophy win. However the 4th May 2009 will not be a day to remember as we surrendered a 3-1 lead at The Abbey.

Oxford United stay top of the Blue Square Premier after beating Boro this afternoon. Goals from Alfie Potter and Adam Murray were enough to give the U's victory although one of their former strikers, Yemi Odubade hit back late on, but it was too little too late for Graham Westley's side.

Westley dropped Lee Boylan in favour of a 5 man midfield which welcomed back Joel Byrom after an impressive substitute appearance against Ebbsfleet on Tuesday night.

A trip to table toppers Oxford United awaits Stevenage Borough as� Graham Westley's side� look to build on the first win of the season in midweek against Ebbsfleet. The Kassam Stadium is not an easy place to go at this level and Boro's record there in the past 3 seasons highlights that point even further.

Three goals, three points, a clean sheet� and a good performance to go with it as Boro crushed Ebbsfleet 3-0 tonight at Broadhall Way. Graham Westley's side continued their steady improvement and showed a clinical edge in front of goal this evening to win the game and install some confidence into the side ahead of the trip to Oxford on Saturday.

Today was another game where Stevenage were held by opposition you would expect to be beating if your side are serious challengers for promotion. It hasn't been the start that Graham Westley would of been hoping for. After last season started slowly, they ended the campaign strongly to finish the season in the play-offs and it looks like Westley may have to repeat the trick again this season to try and win promotion.

But that's about it after another disappointing performance saw Stevenage leave Church Road, with just a point. Hayes & Yeading were the better side throughout and if they had taken their chances in the second half it could of been the home side celebrating their first 3 points in the Blue Square Premier.

I don't know who exactly will feature for Boro in this year's Totesport.com combination league, but the fixtures have been released none the less. Wycombe will be the first opponents of the new reserve season at Broadhall Way before an away fixture at Portman Road against favourites Ipswich Town.

After weeks without a game, Boro are back in action again tomorrow night when they travel down to Church Road, Hayes to play Hayes & Yeading FC. It will be Stevenage's first ever fixture against the club formed in 2007, but many fans will have fond memories of the trips to Hayes in the mid to late nineties, when former Aldershot� boss Terry Brown used to manage the Middlesex club.

I'm pretty sure that Graham Westley's idea of a good start to the new season wasn't drawing at home against newly promoted Tamworth. It was a poor game and a poor result which will hardly help bring back the 2130 supporters that turned up at Broadhall Way yesterday afternoon.

Surprisingly Mitchell Cole returned to the squad and was named on the bench.