Timlin hits stunner for under-par Stevenage

DINO Maamria believes Stevenage were only at 60 per cent fitness as his side secured back-to-back home victories with a win over Morecambe.

A 25-yard curling effort from Michael Timlin was enough to secure the points for Boro but leaves Morecambe rooted to the bottom of the table.

Stevenage lost out 3-1 to Norwich City in the Carabao Cup earlier in the week, with Maamria now targeting points against Forest Green on Tuesday.

“It’s a valuable three points,” said Maamria. “We knew today was going to be a tough game, and people would expect us to just turn up and win, but it doesn’t work like that.

“They have had a bad start and were fighting for their lives. We were cruising for most of the game, apart from between 45 and 60 minutes when it was a bit messy.

“I thought we were probably at about 60 to 70 per cent of our maximum because of our game at Norwich.

“That’s probably my fault because I picked a strong side for that game, and it showed.

“But, we showed a lot of positives, a lot of winning habits and it’s a very good result – we finished the game strong. Now, we’ll regroup and get ready for Forest Green on Tuesday.”

After a scrappy first half, Stevenage took the lead on the stroke of half-time, with Emmanuel Sonupe’s cross falling to Timlin outside the box and the midfielder firing into the top corner.

Morecambe truggled to break down a resolute Stevenage, with their best effort coming from a Liam Mandeville freekick which fell just wide.

Guthrie, Scott Cuthbert and James Ball all went close for the home side, but despite the missed chances Boro saw the game out to secure all three points.

Shrimps manager Jim Bentley commented after the game: “We should have taken something from it.

“I thought first half it wasn’t a very good game, there was nothing in it and I thought we had the better chances really, working their keeper, but there wasn’t much in it.

“That was a fantastic strike from the edge of the box and then all of a sudden, we were 1-0 down.

“We played some excellent football, we had a big shout for a penalty but couldn’t find that goal.”