Boro boss Graham Westley admitted it was great to welcome back David Bridges into the first team fold during the club s 2-1 win over Chelmsford in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round on Saturday. The 27-year-old has been sidelined for more than three mont

Boro boss Graham Westley admitted it was great to welcome back David Bridges into the first team fold during the club's 2-1 win over Chelmsford in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round on Saturday.

The 27-year-old has been sidelined for more than three months with a serious hamstring problem but came on as a substitute at Melbourne Park and helped his side steal an injury time winner through Peter Vincenti.

"It's wonderful to have David Bridges back - he is such a big player for us," said Westley, whose side has never lost when Bridges has played.

"He only had five or 10 minutes out there but to see him back in a Stevenage shirt and the aura that he brings to the side is great news for us.

"We all know that he gets goals from midfield and he will be a big asset to us."

Westley also praised his side for their second half performance as goals from Charlie Griffin and Peter Vincenti saw Boro book a place in the FA Cup first round where they will face Port Vale.

"I think any fourth qualifying round tie is going to be a difficult occasion," added Westley. "Chelmsford know their way around the FA Cup and it certainly was not an easy afternoon.

"I thought our back four was not giving us enough of a platform in the first half and the ball retention was poor.

"But credit to our lads though as I thought they were tremendous in the second half.

"We worked much harder to work the ball into wide areas and change play after the break. I think on the balance of play we deserved to go through."

Westley believes that Griffin was lucky to escape a more serious injury following Simon Glover's two-footed lunge on him in the second half which saw the player given his marching orders.

"It was the correct decision. I thought it was a hard horror tackle and he deserved to be sent off.

"He (Griffin) is very sore and there is a lot of blood around the ankle as well. He is probably a lucky boy though that it was not more serious.