![The Comet: Manager of Stevenage FC Dino Maamria before the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO]( "The Comet: Manager of Stevenage FC Dino Maamria before the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO")
Manager of Stevenage FC Dino Maamria before the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2018 Danny Loo Photography - all rights reserved)
Boro’s third home win in a row saw them boosted to fifth in League Two, as Maamria’s side put a disappointing 1-0 loss at Exeter City on Tuesday behind them.
Goals from Kurtis Guthrie, Ben Kennedy and Emmanuel Sonupe cancelled out Sammie Szmodics’ first minute tap-in for a well deserved three points.
![The Comet: Michael Timlin of Stevenage takes the camera of club photographer Jim Steele during celebrations of their third goal in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO]( "The Comet: Michael Timlin of Stevenage takes the camera of club photographer Jim Steele during celebrations of their third goal in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO")
Michael Timlin of Stevenage takes the camera of club photographer Jim Steele during celebrations of their third goal in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2018 Danny Loo Photography - all rights reserved)
Speaking after the game, Maamria said: “It was different class.
“After the first 25 minutes we were fantastic. We played at a high tempo, attacked on the front foot, passed the ball well, defended with resilience and billiance.
![The Comet: Emmanuel Sonupe of Stevenage celebrates his goal in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO]( "The Comet: Emmanuel Sonupe of Stevenage celebrates his goal in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO")
Emmanuel Sonupe of Stevenage celebrates his goal in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2018 Danny Loo Photography - all rights reserved)
“We could have scored six or seven and no one could have complained. We were relentless.
“When we don’t do well I criticise the experienced players but today I have to say they were brilliant. They managed the game so we stayed in it, then we could go and win it.”
![The Comet: Emmanuel Sonupe of Stevenage makes it 3-1 to Stevenage FC in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO]( "The Comet: Emmanuel Sonupe of Stevenage makes it 3-1 to Stevenage FC in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO")
Emmanuel Sonupe of Stevenage makes it 3-1 to Stevenage FC in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2018 Danny Loo Photography - all rights reserved)
Conceding after just one minute hinted at a tough afternoon for Boro, who struggled to settle as the crowd grew frustrated with their lack of forward play.
However, their Moroccan boss was impressed with his player’s response, and commitment to their new style of play.
![The Comet: Ben Kennedy of Stevenage celebrates scoring his penalty in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO]( "The Comet: Ben Kennedy of Stevenage celebrates scoring his penalty in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO")
Ben Kennedy of Stevenage celebrates scoring his penalty in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2018 Danny Loo Photography - all rights reserved)
Maamria said: “I always say in the dressing room, things happen, we have to react to it.
“We want to pass the ball and play from the back, I know this football club isn’t familiar with it.
![The Comet: Ben Kennedy of Stevenage scores a penalty after Steve Seddon was fouled in the box in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO]( "The Comet: Ben Kennedy of Stevenage scores a penalty after Steve Seddon was fouled in the box in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO")
Ben Kennedy of Stevenage scores a penalty after Steve Seddon was fouled in the box in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2018 Danny Loo Photography - all rights reserved)
“We want to play good football and win games. Even after the goal we conceded we kept doing that.
“Look at Manchester City, it even took Pep Guardiola a year or two years to play his type of football. But I’m not Pep Guardiola and we haven’t got the same players. What I’m saying is, it’ll take time to get to grips with how we want to play.”
![The Comet: Steve Seddon of Stevenage runs at the defence and gets a shot on goal in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO]( "The Comet: Steve Seddon of Stevenage runs at the defence and gets a shot on goal in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO")
Steve Seddon of Stevenage runs at the defence and gets a shot on goal in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2018 Danny Loo Photography - all rights reserved)
Both Alex Revell and Guthrie had to leave the field in the second-half with injuries, and Maamria - who lamented the lack of protection for his players from the officials - said Revell was in hospital with a suspected broken finger, while Guthrie had dislocated his shoulder.
![The Comet: Manager of Stevenage FC Dino Maamria on the touchline in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO]( "The Comet: Manager of Stevenage FC Dino Maamria on the touchline in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO")
Manager of Stevenage FC Dino Maamria on the touchline in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2018 Danny Loo Photography - all rights reserved)
![The Comet: Danny Newton of Stevenage shoots wide in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO]( "The Comet: Danny Newton of Stevenage shoots wide in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO")
Danny Newton of Stevenage shoots wide in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Colchester United at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2018 Danny Loo Photography - all rights reserved)
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