2012–13 Stevenage F.C. Season

The 2012–13 season was Stevenage F.C.'s third season in the Football League, where the club competed in League One. This article shows statistics of the club's players in the season, and also lists all matches that the club played during the season. Their sixth-place finish and subsequent play-off semi-final defeat during the 2011–12 campaign means it was Stevenage's second season of playing in League One, having only spent two years as a Football League club. The season also marked the third season that the club played under its new name – Stevenage Football Club, dropping 'Borough' from its title as of 1 June 2010. It was manager Gary Smith's first start to a season as Stevenage manager, having been appointed in January 2012. However, Smith was sacked in March 2013 following a run of 14 defeats in 18 games. His successor was Graham Westley, returning for his third spell in-charge of Stevenage, having previously managed the club for three years from 2003 to 2006, and then four years during his second-spell from 2008 to 2012.

Ahead of the season, there were wholesale changes involving the playing squad. Eight players were released in May 2012, including Ronnie Henry, subsequently ending his seven-year association with the club. With a number of players out of contract, further departures were revealed as Chris Beardsley, Joel Byrom, Scott Laird and John Mousinho all rejected the offer of contract extensions at Stevenage, and all four ended up signing for Preston North End, who at the time were managed by Westley. Three more first-team players left Stevenage before the start of the new campaign, both Michael Bostwick and Lawrie Wilson made the step up to the Championship, signing for Peterborough United and Charlton Athletic for respective undisclosed fees; while Craig Reid signed for League Two side Aldershot Town for a five-figure fee. Smith's first three signings of the close season were announced at the end of May, with goalkeeper Steve Arnold joining from Wycombe Wanderers, as well as midfielders James Dunne and Greg Tansey signing from Exeter City and Inverness Caledonian Thistle respectively. Five more players joined the club before the start of pre-season, and Lee Hills and Matt Ball were further additions following successful trials. In terms of transfer activity during the season, both Don Cowan and Rob Sinclair left the club on free transfers. Strikers Patrick Agyemang and Dani López were signed before the close of the summer transfer window, while defenders Andy Iro and Ben Chorley were acquired mid-season.

Despite the squad overhaul, Stevenage began the season positively, going on an eleven-match unbeaten run, six of which victories, to open the new campaign. Following the club's 2–1 home victory over Portsmouth in late October 2012, Stevenage found themselves in second place, just a point behind the league leaders at the time. However, Stevenage were defeated heavily in three of their next four matches, conceding four goals in each of the three defeats. Sitting in fifth position at the start of December, Stevenage would go on to win just five league matches out of the remaining 25, although did secure notable victories over promotion-chasing Brentford and Sheffield United. A run of 14 defeats in 18 matches ultimately resulted in Smith's sacking on 20 March 2013, ". Captain Mark Roberts briefly took caretaker charge, before it was announced that Westley would be returning for a third spell in-charge of the club, joining on 30 March. The club ended the season in 18th position in League One, with 54 points.

Stevenage also competed in three cup competitions during the season. The club opened the season by beating AFC Wimbledon in the League Cup, and as a result won a League Cup fixture for the first time in their history. They lost to Premier League side Southampton at Broadhall Way in the Second Round. The club fell at the first hurdle in both the Football League Trophy and FA Cup, losing 3–2 away to League Two opposition in both competitions; firstly to Dagenham & Redbridge in the Football League Trophy, before losing to Rotherham United in the FA Cup.

Winger Lucas Akins, who had joined the club in August 2012 for an undisclosed fee, was the club's top goalscorer for the season with ten goals, all of which came in the league. Akins also played in all 46 of Stevenage's league matches during the campaign, the only Stevenage player to remain ever-present during the league season. Another pre-season signing, James Dunne, won the Player of the Year award, as well as being voted Players' Player of the Year, for the season.

Squad details

:Last updated on 27 April 2013. The squad at the end of the season.

Players information

Management

*Manager: Graham Westley
*Assistant manager: Dino Maamria
*Fitness coach: Neil Withington
*Physiotherapists: Paul Dando

Match results

Legend

Pre-season

In May 2012, Stevenage announced that their pre–season campaign would consist of eight friendlies to open the 2012–13 season.

A home fixture against Championship side Peterborough United was later added to the list of friendlies. In early July, the club announced that Stevenage would be travelling to Dublin to play two further pre-season friendlies, against St James's Gate and UCD respectively.

It was also revealed that due to the first-team's pre-season tour to Dublin, the club would instead be sending a Stevenage XI side, composed of trialists and youth players, to the arranged fixture against Hitchin Town on 24 July.

Similarly, Stevenage sent a Stevenage XI side to play Colney Heath on 31 July, as opposed to the first-team as first announced. The last of Stevenage's pre-arranged friendlies, against Barnet, scheduled to be played on 10 August, was also cancelled due to the 2012 Summer Olympics. Instead, it was announced that Stevenage would play Queens Park Rangers in a "behind closed doors" friendly on the same day.

Stevenage's first pre-season fixture was an away trip to Conference South side Boreham Wood on 14 July, with the game ending in a 1–1 draw. Stevenage fielded two entirely different teams in each half, playing a mixture of first-team players and trialists. The home side took the lead on the half hour mark when Inih Effiong cut in from the left wing before firing into the bottom left hand corner of the goal. Shortly after the interval, summer signing Marcus Haber headed in a Filipe Morais corner to restore parity, with the game ultimately finishing at one goal apiece. The club's next pre-season fixture took place four days later, on 18 July, as Stevenage welcomed Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur to Broadhall Way. Tottenham won the match 2–0, courtesy of second-half goals from new signing Gylfi Sigurðsson and youngster Iago Falqué. Similarly to the match against Boreham Wood, Stevenage fielded two different teams in each half, with the second-half team featuring a number of trialists. The club then embarked on their pre-season tour of Dublin, arriving on 20 July and playing their first match a day later — beating St James's Gate 7–0, courtesy of four goals from midfielder Robin Shroot, a brace from Michael Thalassitis, and a free-kick from Greg Tansey. The second, and final, game of the tour took place three days later, on 24 July, with Stevenage beating UCD 4–3 at the UCD Bowl. Marcus Haber opened the scoring when he headed in Filipe Morais' cross. The hosts replied by scoring goals either side of the interval, before Stevenage equalised through Robin Shroot. UCD replied instantly when Daniel Ledwith's left wing free-kick evaded everyone, before Shroot scored his second of the game with fifteen minutes remaining with an individual effort. Greg Tansey scored what proved to be the winner with a curling free-kick five minutes from time to ensure Stevenage won both of their games in Dublin. The team returned to England a day after their victory over UCD, and, at the end of the week, hosted an Arsenal XI side. The game ended goalless in front of a crowd of 1,068, with Arsenal's Serge Gnarby having the best effort of the game, seeing his shot rebound off the crossbar. Stevenage then lost 4–2 away to Bishop's Stortford, fielding a mixture of first-team players, trialists and members of the youth team, with Filipe Morais and Robin Shroot scoring for the away side. Three days later, on 4 August, the team drew 1–1 with Championship side Peterborough United. Greg Tansey scored Stevenage's goal, before Lee Tomlin equalised late-on. A 2–1 win over St Albans City at Clarence Park followed, both of Stevenage's goals coming from Robin Shroot. The club's final friendly, a "behind closed doors" match against Queens Park Rangers in Harlington, ended 2–2, with Stevenage coming from two goals down to draw, courtesy of second-half goals from Luke Freeman and Robin Shroot — Shroot's tenth goal of pre-season.

*Note: Stevenage goals come first.

League One

The 2012–13 League One fixtures were released on 18 June 2012, with Stevenage opening their league campaign at home to Carlisle United on 18 August 2012.

The game ended 1–1, meaning Stevenage had drawn their opening league fixture for a fourth consecutive season. Carlisle took the lead with just twenty minutes remaining, substitute Danny Cadamarteri neatly setting Matty Robson free down the left wing, who drove the ball across goal and into the bottom corner of the net. The home side equalised two minutes before time, substitute Lucas Akins' shot was dropped by goalkeeper Adam Collin, and another substitute, Robin Shroot, was there to tap the ball in from close range. Three days later, on 21 August, Stevenage faced Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road, in the club's first away game of the campaign. The game ended 1–0 in Stevenage's favour, their first win of the league season, with Lucas Akins scoring his first goal for the club mid-way through the first half after the home side had failed to clear Luke Freeman's free-kick. The team then travelled to Oldham Athletic four days later, on 25 August, and secured a second straight 1–0 away win. The only goal of the game was scored in the first-half, from the penalty spot, by Lucas Akins after Marcus Haber had been fouled by Oldham goalkeeper Alex Cisak.

The club started September with a 1–1 draw against Shrewsbury Town at Broadhall Way. The away side took the lead after just five minutes; Chris Day spilled Marc Richards' free-kick, and Paul Parry was there to prod the ball into the goal on the rebound. Stevenage equalised twenty minutes later when Darius Charles ran from his own half before striking a curling shot from 25-yards that beat Chris Weale in the Shrewsbury goal. A 2–1 away victory against recently relegated Coventry City followed on 9 September, with the game being televised live on Sky Sports. Coventry took the lead after eleven minutes when loanee David McGoldrick turned on the edge of the area, before striking a curling effort into the top corner of the goal. Stevenage equalised ten minutes later when a counterattack culminated with a Luke Freeman shot being parried into the path of an onrushing Robin Shroot, who swept the ball home from just inside the area. The comeback was completed with twenty minutes remaining, substitute Marcus Haber heading in Darius Charles' flick on from a Freeman corner. Six days later, Stevenage faced newly promoted Crewe Alexandra at Broadhall Way. Crewe started brightly and opened the scoring after just six minutes. A Gregor Robertson free-kick was blocked, but found its way to Max Clayton on the left wing, who rifled the ball across goal where A-Jay Leitch-Smith was on hand to connect from close range. Leitch-Smith doubled Crewe's advantage almost instantly, running on to a neat Chuks Aneke pass before finishing calmly with a low driven shot. Luke Freeman halved Stevenage's deficit midway through the first-half when he unleashed a shot from 25-yards, following good work from Patrick Agyemang and Lucas Akins, which left Crewe goalkeeper Alan Martin rooted to the spot. Former Stevenage loanee, Aneke, was sent-off for Crewe in the second half for a two-footed tackle on Anthony Grant. The home side made their numerical advantage count when substitute Robin Shroot scored with a neat turn and finish with ten minutes remaining. A 3–1 home victory over Walsall followed on 18 September. Robin Shroot had given Stevenage a first-half lead with a tidy finish from outside the area, before Walsall's George Bowerman equalised on the hour mark. The home side restored their lead through Greg Tansey, who scored with a driven shot from 30-yards, his first goal for the club. Lucas Akins sealed the victory late-on, when he steered in Tansey's cross at the back post. A week later, on 22 September, Stevenage drew 1–1 at Doncaster Rovers. Loan signing Oliver Risser headed Stevenage into the lead, before Doncaster's Chris Brown levelled in the second-half. The month ended with a 2–2 against Bury at Broadhall Way. The visitors, under the new management of Kevin Blackwell, opened the scoring through Tom Hopper's looping header. After the interval, Stevenage scored twice within the space of two minutes to turn the game on its head. Marcus Haber headed in Luke Freeman's corner to restore parity, before Greg Tansey scored a curling long-range strike. Bury equalised through second-half substitute Mark Cullen, to ensure a share of the spoils.

Stevenage travelled to second placed Notts County to begin October, securing a 2–1 victory at Meadow Lane. The hosts missed a penalty at the start of the second-half, with Jeff Hughes' spot-kick hitting the post. They were awarded another penalty twenty minutes later; this time Jamal Campbell-Ryce stepped up and duly converted from twelve yards. Stevenage levelled with just seven minutes remaining, Lucas Akins scoring from the penalty spot after Alan Sheehan handled Marcus Haber's goal-bound effort, with Sheehan receiving a straight red card for the offence. Substitute Robin Shroot scored in injury-time to give Stevenage the win, latching onto Haber's lofted through-pass to finish calmly. Stevenage then secured a 1–0 home victory over Scunthorpe United four days later. The only goal of the game came courtesy of Greg Tansey's curling free-kick fifteen minutes from time, enough to earn the hosts their second successive win. The club's unbeaten start to the league season was ended a week later, as they fell to 1–0 defeat away to Colchester United. Stevenage had Anthony Grant sent-off early in the second half for two bookable offences, before Colchester's Sanchez Watt scored the deciding goal with a drilled finish two minutes later. Stevenage recovered from their first defeat of the season by inflicting the first home defeat of the season on MK Dons a week later, with a first-half Lucas Akins strike settling the game and ensuring a 1–0 away victory. Three days later, on 23 October, Stevenage beat Portsmouth at Broadhall Way, winning 2–1. Midfielder Filipe Morais scored his first goal for the club after fifteen minutes, heading in a Lucas Akins cross. The visitors equalised