League One: Peterborough 0-0 Stevenage
Tuesday evening at London Road saw 19th in League One take on 18th. It showed, as Peterborough and Stevenage played out a goalless draw high on perspiration, low on inspiration.
In front of 6,565 hardy supporters, including 500 who made the trip up the A1 from North Hertfordshire, the sides earned a point apiece, in an instantly forgettable match.
Captain and striker Harry Leonard could have put the home side ahead in the 11th minute, but steered his effort wide of Stevenage keeper Dan Barden’s far post.
As the home side dominated Posh No7 Harrison Jones saw his header fly wide of Barden’s left-hand woodwork seven minutes later.
As we reached the half hour mark, with Luke Williams side commanding proceedings, Posh pressed for an opener, with Bolu Shofowoke’s right footed shot fizzing past Barden’s far post.
With Championship side Millwall finalising a deal to sign Stevenage’s highly-rated No1 Filip Marschall it appeared there would be a vacancy for a first choice keeper. Hence the visitors starting with No2 choice goalkeeper Barden.
However, whether it will be Barden, or perhaps even Premier League champions Arsenal’s fourth choice shotstopper Tommy Setford for the 2026-27 season we were to find out on the night the summer transfer window closed. Either way everyone in football wished Barden well after full his recovery from testicular cancer back in 2022.
Peterborough didn’t have it entirely their own way, with Stevenage forward Oliver Sanderson testing Posh keeper Alex Bass, who did well to block. As we edged towards half time, Ethan Williams effort for Peterborough flew wide as the sides went into the break goalless.
Williams went close twice in a matter of seconds following the restart, but the Posh No10 couldn’t find a way past former Arsenal academy keeper Barden in the Stevenage goal.
As the clock ticked down after an evening of endeavour if not end product, Leonard skied Peterborough substitute Chris Con-Clarke’s cross into the box.
