Cambridge City 1 Stevenage Boro 1 Boro s pre-season campaign was pegged back at Milton Road last night when they were held by Cambridge City. After the excellent win against Brighton on Saturday, manager Graham Westley decided to shuffle his pack with o

Cambridge City 1 Stevenage Boro 1

Boro's pre-season campaign was pegged back at Milton Road last night when they were held by Cambridge City.

After the excellent win against Brighton on Saturday, manager Graham Westley decided to shuffle his pack with only Lawrie Wilson, Joel Byrom and Stacy Long surviving from the starting line-up that saw off the Seagulls at the weekend.

As you would expect at this stage of pre-season, the result was a more disjointed performance although Boro still should have claimed victory thanks to a Lee Boylan penalty midway through the second half.

But City hit back with a spot-kick of their own when Jon Ashton shoulder-charged Neil Midgley inside the area with the striker making no mistake from the resultant penalty.

Boro almost got off to a dream start but Jon Ashton could only direct a header off target following Stacy Long's free-kick while Boylan almost profited from some good work down the right flank by Yemi Odubade but the former Cambridge United striker's effort went wide.

But Boro were not having it all their own way and City would have been in front at the break but for an inspired piece of goalkeeping from Ashley Bayes.

The former Crawley man showed he will be keeping Chris Day on his toes as first choice goalkeeper with a wonderful save to parry Midgley's powerful drive away from danger just before the break.

Lawrie Wilson once again pushed his claims for a starting place come the start of the Blue Square Premier season and it was his run and pass that almost released Chris Beardsley but the Boro forward was just beaten to the ball by Cambridge shot-stopper Zac Barrett.

From the resultant corner, however, David Bridges was fouled by Dave Theobald and the referee pointed to the spot. In the absence of regular penalty taker Mitchell Cole, Boylan stepped by and sent Barrett the wrong way to give Boro the lead.

It was an advantage they could not hold though when Mark Albrighton misjudged a long ball over the top allowing Midgley to get in behind the Stevenage back four.

In trying to cover for his defensive partner, Ashton hunted down the City forward but only succeeded in giving away a penalty, which Midgley hammered home to seal a deserved draw.

Boro (4-4-2): Bayes, Wilson, Ashton, Albrighton, Odhiambo, J Anderson (Beardsley 46), Byrom, Bridges, Long, Odubade, Boyan (Doyle, 75).