Saturday 22 October 2005.

Exeter City 0 Stevenage Borough 1.

FA Cup 4th qualifying round 

NURSE A TONIC

By MATT SAUNDERS

STEVENAGE manager Graham Westley said he was delighted with his side's victory as the Conference heavyweights clashed for a place in the first round proper.

A second half header from Barry Laker was enough to book a passage into the first round proper for Borough in a scrappy game.

Westley said: "It was a great result for us. They have started the season well and had a lot of confi dence so the boys had to be professional and it was an excellent performance.

"We had to keep our shape, be disciplined and plan a counter-attacking game and that worked well for us today. It is a nice distraction to be playing an FA Cup tie, but we will be doubly focussed on the league again next week."

Stevenage keeper Alan Julian leapt superbly to tip the ball past the post in the opening minutes when Dannie Bullman almost headed into his own net from a Billy Jones corner.

Exeter created few chances in a scrappy first half. Andy Taylor's long-range free-kick was com fortably taken by Julian. Borough striker Jon Nurse was a thom in the side of the Grecians' defence. He darted into the box and drilled a shot just over the bar after a powerful run.

Exeter should have taken the lead midway through the half when Chris Todd thumped the ball over the bar from only three yards out.

Stevenage always looked a threat in attack. Darryn Stamp forced Paul Jones to make a save with a shot from ten yards and Nurse was only denied by a desperate lunge from Billy Jones after he burst through the centre.

For an FA Cup tie it was scrappy affair and strangely lacking in passion during the first period. Stevenage took the lead just before the hour mark. George Boyd's free-kick was met by Barry Laker and his glancing header flew past Jones.

The goal stunned Exeter but it was no more than Stevenage deserved. The Grecians brought on Lee Phillips as a third striker but they rarely troubled well-organised Stevenage.

Taylor thumped a long range free-kick over the bar and Billy Jones fired wide as Exeter hunted an equaliser. Jon Challinor struck a low shot at the keeper from the edge of the box in the closing stages, but there was no way back.

Manager Alex Inglethorpe said: "We are disappointed. I thought in the first 45 minutes we couldn't have done much more. Their keeper made an unbelievable save and we had a lot of pressure."

STAR MAN: Jon Nurse (Stevenage)

Referee Bob Desmond

Attendance 3421.