2007–08 Stevenage Borough F.C. season

The 2007–08 season was Stevenage Borough F.C.'s 14th season in the Conference National. This article shows statistics of the club's players in the season, and also lists all matches that the club will play in the season. Their 8th place finish in the 2006–07 season meant it was their fourteenth successive season of playing in the Conference National. It was also Mark Stimson's second start to a season as manager at the Hertfordshire club, although he resigned to join Football League side Gillingham in October 2007. In November, he was replaced by Peter Taylor. However, after failing to make the play-offs, Taylor resigned at the end of the season.

After the FA Trophy success at the end of the club's 2006-07 campaign, as well as retaining the majority of the first-team at the club, Stevenage started the 2007-08 season well,

breaking a new club record when the defence kept 8 consecutive clean sheets. However, following Stimson's departure, five first-team players joined Stimson's new club, Gillingham, meaning the club struggled to maintain its early season form. New manager Peter Taylor attempted to re-build the squad mid-season, but missed out on the play-offs following a defeat against Northwich Victoria in April 2008.

The club were knocked out of the first-round in both the FA Cup and the FA Trophy following defeats against Dorchester Town and Exeter City respectively. Steve Morison was the club's top goalscorer after scoring 22 goals during the season, all 22 of which were scored in the league. Morison was also named as Player of the Year for the season.

Match results

Legend

Pre-season friendlies

On 8 June 2007, Stevenage Borough announced that their pre-season campaign would provisionally consist of ten friendlies to open the 2007–08 season.

However, slight amendments were made to the list on 16 June.

Conference National

The 2007–08 Conference National fixtures were released on 2 July 2007, with Stevenage Borough to open their campaign against Crawley Town at the Broadfield Stadium on 11 August 2007.

FA Cup

The Fourth Round Qualifying draw for the 2007–08 FA Cup paired Stevenage Borough with Conference National rivals Salisbury City. The match was played at Broadhall Way on 25 October 2008, and resulted in a 0-0 draw. Chief executive Bob Makin was in-charge for the match following the resignation of Mark Stimson, in a game that saw Matthew Tubbs miss a penalty for Salisbury in the 90th minute. The draw meant that a replay would take place on 30 October at Broadhall Way. Stevenage ran out 1-0 winners in the replay thanks to a goal from Mark Molesley in the second-half, his only goal for the club. John Nutter also missed a penalty after Molesley was adjudged to have been fouled in the box. The draw for the First Round Proper was made on 31 October, with Stevenage facing a trip to St James Park to play Exeter City on 10 November.

Stevenage fell at the First Round proper stage of the FA Cup as they lost 4-0 to Exeter City in front of 3,513 spectators. Wayne Carlisle gave Exeter the lead after just twenty minutes following good work from Matthew Gill. The home side doubled their lead just before the interval, with Jamie Mackie latching onto a mis-placed backpass from Mark Arber. Steve Basham scored from the penalty spot on the hour mark, and Matt Taylor headed in the fourth, converting George Friend's cross.

FA Trophy

Stevenage Borough entered the 2007-08 FA Trophy at the First round stage as defending champions of the trophy, and were paired against Conference South side Dorchester Town at the draw on 26 November 2007. The match was played at the Avenue Stadium on 15 December 2007, which resulted in a 2-1 defeat for Stevenage. Jones Awuah gave Dorchester the lead early in the second-half, but Mark Arber equalised on the hour-mark. John Docker then scored a 90th minute penalty after John White had impeded Wesley Fogden.

Season statistics

Starts and goals

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See also

• 2007–08 in English football
• List of Stevenage Borough F.C. seasons

External links

• Stevenage Borough F.C. official website
• Stevenage Borough F.C. on Soccerbase