On-song Parrett calls tune for Boro
BOSS Graham Westley claimed Stevenage have been preparing for the eventuality of the playoffs for weeks, despite only securing a top seven spot with this win.
Dean Parrett’s fourth goal of the season was enough to secure the points against a Carlisle side who secured their Football League status last week.
Stevenage are guaranteed to finish in sixth position and Westley feels that is a commendable achievement.
He said: “We knew the play-offs could be there for us. We’ve been playing ok and been building towards them for a while, so this isn’t really a landmark.
“We showed composure in possession and it was good to see a goal crafted from what we’d talked about during the week.
“It was a pleasing performance, even though I was disappointed to our reaction after going ahead, but we’ve spoken a lot in there about how we can improve going forwards.
“It was a good team goal, Deano arrived in the right area, took the chance early and that’s been enough to win the game for us.”
Boro almost took an early lead through Andy Bond, who saw his volley cleared off the line.
Chris Beardsley has struggled for goals this season and it showed as he completely miskicked inside the area after 25 minutes following Chris Whelpdale’s cutback.
Good play from Whelpdale and Tom Conlon led to another chance for Beardsley, who was denied by a last-ditch intervention by Danny Grainger.
Just before half-time Whelpdale drew a great save from Mark Gillespie with a rasping drive from the edge of the box.
After a profligate first half Parrett eventually broke the deadlock a minute into the second as he finished clinically from the edge of the box, following Tom Pett’s pass. Carlisle’s first chance arrived on the hour and they should have scored as Brad Potts blazed over after a great run and cross from Kyle Dempsey.
With 15 minutes remaining Pett almost added a second but his strike cannoned off the post. And despite failing to add a second, Stevenage held on for a comfortable victory.
Carlisle manager Keith Curle said: “I won’t dress that up, I’m not happy with the performance.
“This performance typifies what’s needed at the football club and a lot of honest hard work needs to be done.
“Stevenage didn’t reinvent the wheel, they just did the right things more consistently than us.
“We were static in our play and looked lacklustre all over the pitch.We just didn’t perform and the fans deserve better after paying good money.”