Stevenage Boro 3 Tamworth 0 THIS routine victory ended Boro s run of four games without a win in April. And Saturday s defeat condemned the visiting Lambs to almost certain relegation in the process. Boro boss Mark Stimson sprang a surprise by leaving Jon

Stevenage Boro 3 Tamworth 0

THIS routine victory ended Boro's run of four games without a win in April.

And Saturday's defeat condemned the visiting Lambs to almost certain relegation in the process.

Boro boss Mark Stimson sprang a surprise by leaving Jon Nurse and Paul Hakim on the bench with towering centre-half Luke Oliver playing up front alongside Steve Morison.

Both Oliver and Morison got on the scoresheet in the second half after Mitchell Cole had fired Boro into an early lead.

It did not all go the home side's way with Tamworth failing to convert some decent chances.

The prelude to the first Boro goal on 10 minutes was actually Michael Touhy hooking a shot across Alan Julian's goalmouth.

Boro launched a lightning fast counter attack with Adam Miller, back in central midfield alongside Mark Beard, feeding Cole to place the ball past Jose Veiga into the far corner for a lovely finish.

Julian preserved the lead when he grabbed Taino Atieno's shot at the second attempt and Boro also escaped when the keeper, skipper Ronnie Henry and Jake Edwards all converged on the ball.

Boro's keeper also kept out a fierce hit from Jake Edwards when the burly striker outmuscled Henry, Santos Gaia clearing the danger.

The vision of Cole and Miller provided the best moments for Boro during the half.

Beard's effort was pushed behind after more good work by Cole, and Morison could not direct a Miller free-kick on target.

And Morison turned in a Cole cross following a short corner but the flag was raised for offside.

The open nature of the contest continued after the break with half-chances at either end.

Boro grabbed the all important second goal 10 minutes into the half with Oliver heavily involved.

Oliver won the initial header from a Miller cross before strike partner Morison laid it on a plate for the 6ft 7in man to tap home.

After gaining an immediate reprieve following more confusion in the home defence, the rest of the game was fairly comfortable for the home side until the latter moments.

Substitute Stuart Lewis again buzzed around effectively and his superb pass over the top picked out Morison who could not supply the finish.

Lewis himself was denied by Veiga after Cole played him in before Morison fired over in the next attack.

A third goal looked imminent and it duly arrived 10 minutes from the end as Oliver returned the ball at the far post for Morison to tap home.

Tamworth's late pressure did not yield a goal as sub Matt Williams' deflected free-kick was well kept out by Julian and Daryl Taylor's shot bobbled against the foot of the post.

Stimson said: "It was an emphatic victory in the end but we had to work hard for it and Alan Julian pulled off a couple of good saves to keep us in the lead at 1-0 up.