Rotherham United 0 Stevenage
Stevenage left New York Stadium with a comfortable victory on Friday afternoon, the scoreline reflecting a performance that grew increasingly authoritative as the second half progressed.
The opening exchanges were relatively even, with D. Phillips collecting a booking in the thirteenth minute and Jasper Pattenden following him into the referee's notebook three minutes later. A late first-half card for L. Freestone suggested a feisty contest, yet Rotherham failed to translate any early energy into genuine attacking threat.
The game shifted decisively after the break. Ar'jany Martha put Stevenage ahead in the fifty-fifth minute, capitalising on space that the home side had been unable to close. Dan Gore made it two seven minutes later, finishing with composure, and Reece James extended the advantage to three in the sixty-second minute. Rotherham offered little in response, and a double substitution involving Jordan Houghton and D. Kemp in the sixty-seventh minute failed to alter the dynamic.
Beryly Lubala and Jamal Baptiste came on as Stevenage managed the remainder of the game without significant difficulty. Dan Gore added a second late on, in the eighty-eighth minute, before Josh Benson and C. Goode received cards deep into stoppage time, lending a fractious edge to an otherwise controlled afternoon for the visitors. H. White was also booked at the same stage.
Stevenage were the sharper, more organised side throughout and deserved every point.
Recap generated from the event timeline. Editorial team review by request. How we use AI.