West Ham United loanee Joseph Anang helped Stevenage to make it four games unbeaten in all competitions, playing his part in a 2-2 draw against Exeter City on Saturday afternoon.
Due to the October international fixture window, the 21-year-old goalkeeper was the only West Ham player to have a match for their adopted club, but once again performed well to keep the Boro’s positive recent run of form going at the Lamex Stadium.
Stevenage did fall behind inside the opening ten minutes when a Terence Vancooten slip allowed Exeter’s Sam Nombe – on loan from MK Dons – to race towards goal and place a low finish beyond Anang, who had little chance.
Home forward Elliott List did equalise from close range a quarter-of-an-hour later, but Exeter regained the lead shortly after half-time when Matt Jay nodded Joshua Key’s cross past Anang at the back post.
But soon after List fired Stevenage level once more with a powerful left-footed drive from just inside the area, setting up a grandstand finish at the Lamex.
And it was Anang who came to his side’s rescue in the closing stages, producing an excellent save from Nombe’s low shot and helping marshal a strong defensive effort under waves of increasing pressure to secure his side a valuable point.
Stevenage and Anang will now hope to keep their positive run of results going when they travel to second-from-bottom side Oldham Athletic on Saturday afternoon.
Prior to the weekend, the Boro had tasted victory last Tuesday in the Papa John’s Trophy, 2-1 away at Oxford United – a match in which fellow Hammers loanee Nathan Holland played the final half-an-hour off the bench for the U's.
With his Oxford side leading 1-0 at the time, Holland was denied by a superb save from West Ham teammate Anang, before Stevenage struck twice inside the final 15 minutes through Jamie Reid and Luke Norris to all but end Oxford’s hopes of progression.
And last Tuesday evening also saw defender Frederik Alves enjoy his third start in Sunderland colours, with the Black Cats more comfortable than the scoreline might suggest in a 2-1 win over Lincoln City at Sincil Bank.
Having started every game in their cup competitions so far, Alves will hope to be involved once more when Sunderland play their second Papa John’s Trophy group-stage match at home to Manchester United U21s on Wednesday.
