No regrets from Stevenage manager Dino Maamria after just missing play-offs

Posted Sunday, May 05, 2019 by PA

There were no regrets for Stevenage manager Dino Maamria even though his side’s 2-0 win over Cheltenham was not enough to sneak into the play-offs.

Stevenage came into the game knowing they needed a win and for results to come their way, and goals from Joe Martin and Jordan Gibson in the second half secured the former.

The results did not fall in their favour, with Stevenage eventually finishing 10th, but Maamria was thrilled at the way his side have finished the campaign.

He said: “What’s important was for us to win and it’s our fifth win in six, which is a fantastic way to finish the season.

“Unfortunately we’ve run out of time, but that doesn’t take away from the effort and the football we’ve played in the last few weeks, which has been fantastic.

“We have scored 15 goals in six games and conceded three, so it’s been awesome.”

Stevenage could have made life easier for themselves, but Kurtis Guthrie missed a penalty he had won himself in the first half.

Maamria added: “At half-time, I emphasised I wanted to play the game, not the occasion and we did that in the second half and easily won the game.

“The first half it was a big day for us and maybe we lacked concentration to finish the chances we had, and the penalty as well.

“We knew we had the quality to go forward in the second half and score, which we did.

“Joe Martin has been immense since he came back into the team and it’s good for Jordan Gibson to score his first goal of the season too.

“As a team performance, it was good and one for the fans.”

Stevenage could have made life easier for themselves, but Kurtis Guthrie missed a penalty he had won himself in the first half.

Stevenage were the better side after the break, with Martin striking first from a corner, before Gibson doubled the lead.

Cheltenham boss Michael Duff promised that the Robins would be much-improved next season after a disappointing season, finishing 16th.

He said: “I went on the coach to say a quick thank you to the travelling fans.

“It means a lot to the players and it’s not cheap following a team around, especially when we have been as bad as we have away from home.

“It’s just a little thank you and hopefully they can see we are trying to improve. We need to get better away from home next year, no doubt about it.

“Poor decision-making cost us.

“The two chances they had first half were two whacks down the pitch and then the first goal was from a set-play, first contact, second contact goal. We were the makers of our own downfall.

“I didn’t think there was a lot in the game, personally.”