Stevenage 1
Charlton Athletic 0
League (League One)

Match report written by Neil Metcalfe, The Comet

There's no place like home for Stevenage as they picked up a third success from four at the Lamex - this one against Charlton Athletic.

Jordan Roberts had fired Boro in front midway through the second half, starring in and finishing off a wonderfully executed counter attack.

And that proved enough to clinch a 1-0 victory and fire them up the table and into the top half.

It still wasn't exactly brimming with attacking flair but one moment of quality did the business, as well as a fifth clean sheet of the league season.

There were two changes from the 0-0 draw against another Athletic, Wigan, on Tuesday evening with two strikers coming in.

Elliott List and Tyreece Simpson got the start with Dan Phillips and Jamie Reid stepping down to the bench.

The big talking point was who was alongside them as substitute, Taye Ashby-Hammond appearing for the first time in the 2024-2025 season.

The hope, again, was more attacking threat from Boro and that starting line-up did give you some hope.

That had long since evaporated when the home side failed to enter the Charlton box until the 32nd minute.

In the end neither side did much in the other's area, Murphy Cooper having to tip one low long-range effort behind while a Carl Piergianni header was deflected behind.

Dan Butler also hit a free-kick down the throat of Will Mannion and Boro did finish the half stronger, forcing a couple of corners, which was where the skipper found himself unmarked to guide his header goalwards.

They were struggling to make things stick when the ball was played forward though, and Charlton were also finding joy down their left with Edwards and Tyreece Campbell getting way too much space.

It was the correction of that after a chat from the bench to Luther Wildin and Nathan Thompson that helped Stevenage have more impact going forward.

Much more was needed though and with Reid and Jake Young waiting in the wings, thoughts during the break were on whether they would be introduced early.

They were, on 57 minutes, but to be honest that was little bit surprising as the start to the second period was full of promise from the hosts.

Kemp lashed a low cross into the near post that Mannion to shovel behind and there were a number of corners that had the keeper stretching to clear.

Charlton did make a switch at the same time, bringing on Chuks Aneke for former home favourite Matty Godden.

And the former MK Dons man, often the scourge of Boro, had a chance within minutes but he lashed over from the edge of the box.

The game changed though midway through the half, all thanks to the quick thinking of Cooper.

He caught the ball and instantly launched the counter by rolling it out to Roberts.

The forward charged up the pitch and had Butler on the overlap but decided to go across the field to Reid, who instantly cushioned it back into the middle.

Roberts was the man there, continuing his run, to lash low beyond Mannion.

There was a noticeable and increased spring in the step after that, Nathan Thompson producing one brilliant block tackle to win a foul and relieve the danger.

At the other end, Young forced Mannion to tip a narrow blaster over the top while Kemp was only denied a first Boro goal by a brave block by Karoy Anderson.

There were nerves around the Lamex as the clock ticked down and four added minutes didn't help.

Piergianni had to clear one from under his own bar, clattering team-mate Butler in his desire to keep the clean sheet.

And that proved to be as close as they came as Boro doggedly kept the visitors out, leaving Alex Revell to milk the applause in front of the East Terrace.