George Boyd made both Peterborough United goals on his return to Broadhall Way as Peterborough United claimed a fourth successive pre-season victory with a 2-0 win over Stevenage Borough.
Manager Darren Ferguson handed a start to trialist Shaun Batt from Fisher Athletic for the friendly clash at Broadhall Way and he showed an impressive turn of pace in the early moments. However, it was one-time Stevenage favourite George Boyd who had the crowd talking as he skipped past Eddie Anaclet and delivered a pinpoint cross to the feet of Aaron Mclean, but the striker's shot was blocked by the offside Scott Rendell.
Stevenage came very close to breaking the deadlock on 11 minutes as a low cross from Scott Laird picked out former Cambridge front man Lee Boylan, but his close-range shot rebounded off the foot of the post. Current U's management team Paul Carden and Gary Brabin were both in the stands watching on.
A snap-shot from Boyd whistled past the far post on the quarter hour mark after Rendell had flicked Callum Reed's looping cross into his path. Charlie Lee saw a fierce 25-yard shot blocked by Mark Albrighton on 25 minutes as Posh found some room in midfield.
Trialist Paul Coutts was using the ball well when in possession and was certainly not afraid to get a shot in, firing goal-wards from just outside the area only for the ball to take a wicked deflection off Ronnie Henry and roll out for a corner kick.
Goalkeeper James McKeown made a brave stop to deny the pacy Anthony Thomas after the striker had showed excellent trickery to beat Charnock with skill before bursting into the penalty area.
The deadlock as broken on 39 minutes and it was Boyd at the heart of it once more, sending the full-back Ancaclet this way and that before pulling the ball back to MCLEAN who had the simple task of rolling the ball past Russell and into the gaping net.
It was 2-0 to Posh moments later as Boyd played a one-two with Mclean before seeing his shot squirm through the grasp of Russell, Boyd chased it, turned the goalkeeper and squared the ball into the path of RENDELL who tapped home from two-yards.
Posh made a double substitution at the break with Dean Keates and Craig Mackail-Smith introduced from the bench. Coutts was growing in stature as the game progressed and he showed great awareness to slot the ball into the path of Mackail-Smith on 59 minutes, but the striker's shot was cleared off the line by the retreating Gary Mills.
Boyd received a standing ovation as he was withdrawn, while Coutts was given a warm round of applause from the Posh visiting supporters behind Russell's goal. Hyde saw a shot blocked before Rendell's down-ward header was easily claimed by Russell as Posh continued to threaten.
Final Score: Stevenage Borough 0-2 Peterborough United
Posh: Mckeown, Westwood, Charnock, Williams, Coutts (sub Hyde 61min), Batt, Boyd (sub Potter 61min), Lee, Reed (sub Keates 46min), Rendell, Mclean (sub Mackail-Smith 46min).
Stevenage: Russell, Anaclet, Laird, Henry (sub Oliver 37min), Albrighton, McMahon, Cole (sub Bridges 75min), Bostwick (sub Wilson 66min), Mills, Thomas (sub Christie 44min), Boylan (sub Westcarr 66min).
Referee: D Deadman
