Stevenage Boro 1 Weymouth 0 MARCUS CRAWLEY Reports COULD Tuesday night s duo be the central defensive partnership to guide Boro to calmer waters? Santos Gaia and Ronnie Henry kept out the Weymouth attack, supported by the ever impressive goalkeeper Alan

Stevenage Boro 1

Weymouth 0

MARCUS CRAWLEY Reports

COULD Tuesday night's duo be the central defensive partnership to guide Boro to calmer waters?

Santos Gaia and Ronnie Henry kept out the Weymouth attack, supported by the ever impressive goalkeeper Alan Julian, for Boro's second successive clean sheet at Broadhall Way.

The first was in the six-goal rout of Stafford but this attritional win over another promoted side was probably just as satisfying to the Boro faithful.

Brazilian Gaia looked every inch a stereotypical British centre-half as he reigned supreme in the air.

Alongside him for the first time this season, and given his first start of the campaign at centre-back, Henry hardly put a foot right.

The former Spurs trainee was skipper for the night in the absence of Luke Oliver and Jason Goodliffe and the new dad can rarely have had a better week.

Boro boss Mark Stimson said: "I see Ronnie as a leader although he can be a bit hot-headed at times.

"The whole back four and the keeper were rock solid. I think Santos was outstanding and hasn't had a bad game yet this season."

With Julian also producing some top-notch saves, Boro looked infinitely more secure at the back especially during the second period.

Julian's first action was to deny Jason Tindall as Weymouth forced six corners in the opening 20 minutes - 10 in total during the half and an incredible 16 over the 90 minutes.

At the other end, Steve Morison made it just one goal in five games after six in his first three by missing a hat-trick of decent opportunities.

The first came in the opening minute when he miskicked from an inviting cross by George Boyd and he also fluffed his lines when twice confronted by Weymouth keeper Arran Lee-Barrett.

Julian was also in the thick of the action when he thwarted Raphael Nade as Steve Guppy's sloppy ball back put Gaia in strife.

And Nade was inches away from giving his side the lead before Boro grabbed the decisive goal two minutes before the break.

Boyd was the creator and his silky run ended with him popping the ball through for new boy Mark Beard to score his first goal for the club.

Ben Smith's header into the side netting showed the continued Weymouth threat although this was less in evidence during the second half.

Boyd could and should have doubled the lead when Craig Dobson's shot was pushed out by Lee-Barrett.

Weymouth boss Garry Hill threw on all three substitutes and they certainly helped the visitors offer more potency.

Their corner count continued to grow and it was from Weymouth's 14th and 15th of the night that they finally offered some end result.

Simon Downer went close on both occasions as a combination of Julian and Barry Fuller blocked his first effort on the goal-line and minutes later Downer headed just wide from Shaun Wilkinson's centre.

The third sub, Gareth Williams, also had cause to curse Julian as the stopper again showed his worth.

A tense climax could have been avoided if referee Kinseley had seen what most of the crowd had when Lee-Barrett seemingly handled outside of the penalty area.

No punishment was forthcoming from the ref or Guppy, who sent the loose ball inches wide of the inviting net.

Stimson added: "We were missing a key player in the middle of the park in Adam Miller. The two lads (Dwane Lee and Beard) did well but admit they are both not fit enough."

Match Facts

BORO v Weymouth

9......................Goal attempts......................15

4......................Shots on target . .....................4

5......................Shots off target......................11

0......................Hit woodwork......................0

6......................Offsides......................2

11......................Free-kicks......................7

6......................Corners......................16

TEAM: Julian 8, Fuller 7, Nutter 7, Gaia 8*, Boyd 8, Lee 7, Morison 6, Guppy 7, Dobson 7, Henry 7, Beard 7.

SubS not used: Goodliffe, Sullivan, Stamp, Deen, Potter.

BOOKED: Henry 25m, Julian 84m.

ATT: 1,674.

REF: N Kinseley.

n Subs must play at least 20 minutes to earn a player

rating.