Stevenage 0
Bolton Wanderers 0
League (League One)

Match report written by Neil Metcalfe, The Comet

The Stevenage of old made a reappearance at the Lamex Stadium - and they very nearly took the spoils against Bolton Wanderers.

It ended 0-0 in the Good Friday encounter, a deserved draw which was full of the effort and spirit that was seen week in, week out at the start of the season.

The only thing missing from the Stevenage performance was that goal.

They find themselves in eighth, one point behind Lincoln City who have jumped into the final play-off space but they will head to Charlton Athletic on Easter Monday with even more confidence than normal.

There were eight changes from the side that rescued a very late point at Carlisle United on Saturday.

Steve Evans brought back Luther Wildin, Taye Ashby-Hammond, Terence Vancooten and Jamie Reid while Nesta Guinness-Walker, Ben Thompson, Kane Smith and Alex MacDonald came in.

It left Dan Butler, Jordan Roberts and Finley Burns as the three to keep their place.

The changes didn't have much of a negative impact though as the freshness allowed Boro to produce a first-half performance that has been missing in recent weeks.

They had the early chances too, Roberts stooping to meet a header which he put over and then Ben Thompson twisting but without enough rotation to put it on target.

That was a theme from the opening 45.

Keeper Joel Coleman produced a good stop to put a low Dan Butler drive behind while he then had to get something on a fierce Guinness-Walker volley after a cross from MacDonald that had originally foxed the keeper.

Reid then had a shot blocked as he attempted to get the ball out of his feet and moments later Smith's half-volley flew a foot or two over.

Bolton had enjoyed the better of the possession through the middle section of the half and they went the closest when a Will Forrester header from a corner came back off the crossbar.

The second half was more of the same, the better chances coming for Stevenage and Bolton enjoying the possession.

Defensively though they weren't really tested and Ashby-Hammond was not called on to make a save.

And the problem for the visiting Wanderers was they needed a win perhaps slightly more than Boro, and it meant they gambled more and left holes.

That always presented the opportunity for a break or the utilisation of space at the other end.

And when Stevenage robbed Bolton deep in their won half, they got the best chance of the game.

With the keeper out of position, Roberts rolled it to his left and to Ben Thompson but a combination of a slip and a scuff sent the ball flying away from goal.

A corner from the right-hand side right at the death was swung in but headed out from under the bar.