Stevenage Borough

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Bridges: Netted the winning goal

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Wrexham 0-1 Stevenage

Graham Westley's Stevenage Borough maintained the pressure on league leaders Oxford with a hard-fought victory over Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground on Tuesday evening.

Stevenage had a good chance to open the scoring in the fifth minute when Chris Beardsley raced onto a Ronnie Henry through ball but the forward struck his effort wide of goal.

Wrexham gave the visitors a scare in the 13th minute when a Mike Williams diving header was cleared off the line by defender Jon Ashton.

Neither side was able to push on the final third of the pitch as both sets of defenders looked solid when called upon.

However, the match sprung to life in the closing stages of the half when on-loan Wrexham midfielder Luke Holden charged down a clearance from Ashton and saw his goal-bound effort partially blocked by Chris Day and cleared from under the bar by defender Mark Albrighton.

Stevenage struck just moments later after forcing a corner on the break. Defender Scott Laird swung in a curling cross which was flicked on by Ashton and headed home by midfielder David Bridges.

Wrexham were frustrated by a solid Stevenage defence after the half-time break but had a glorious opportunity on the hour mark.

Andrew Mangan found strike partner Matty Wolfenden with a cross from the right but the second-half substitute saw his header saved acrobatically by Boro goalkeeper Chris Day.

Stevenage also had a chance to put the result beyond doubt in the closing stages but Tim Sills saw his header hit the top of the bar.

Wrexham piled forward in search of an equaliser but Mark Jones fired wide with an effort from the edge of the box and Stevenage 'keeper Day did well to hold on to a deflected shot.

Wrexham bookings: None.

Stevenage bookings: Ashton, Bridges.

Ref: Jake Collin (Merseyside).

Att: 2,319.