Stevenage 1 Morecambe 1

Last updated : 08 February 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Controversial new manager Graham Westley rang the changes in extraordinary style as he introduced no less than eight new players to his starting line-up.

The former Farnborough manager, in his first Conference game in charge of Stevenage, introduced seven players from his former club along with former Sunderland keeper Lionel Perez.

The combination appeared to work early on and the home fans soon got used to the new faces as Stevenage settled to become the brighter of the two teams.

With points a necessity in their battle against relegation Stevenage piled on the pressure and new boy Danny Carroll fired a warning shot with his eighth minute header that flew just over the bar.

Just a minute later Stevenage made the breakthrough. A teasing ball in from another new signing, Steve Watson, set up Justin Richards with the Stevenage front man sliding the ball home from close range after his first shot cannoned back off the top of the bar.

Morecambe were chasing points for their own in a bid to make the play-offs and made the perfect reply when they pulled level just five minutes later.

Stewart Drummond saw a free-kick saved superbly by Perez, but Stevenage failed to deal with the resulting corner and Michael Stringfellow got enough on the ball to glance home the leveller with just 14 minutes on the clock.

The game ebbed and flowed but chances were at a premium with Carroll going close with another header that flew just over the bar in the 35th minute while Danny Carlton forced another fine save from Perez in added time.

The second half began in the same low-key fashion with both teams unable to make the vital breakthrough.

Jims Bentley did force another good block from Perez with a far-post header just seven minutes into the half, while Adriano Rigoglioso should have done better when he shot just wide from the edge of the box.

Indeed Rigoglioso had Morecambe's best effort of the second half when he unleashed a thundering drive in the 64th minute which cannoned back off the post and was scrambled away to safety by the home defence.

Stevenage had their chances with Richards missing a sitter at the far post early on while in the 70th minute Simon Wormull fired in a cross from the left which evaded keeper Craig Mawson and bounced back off the top of the bar.

In a game destined for deadlock the final clear-cut effort fell in injury time when Richards broke clear for the home side and with just Mawson to beat, he saw his effort cannon back off the legs of the keeper.