AFC Stamford 2-1 Stevenage

With a mere two weeks pre-season training behind them, Stevenage lost their third summer friendly, 2-1 to last season's Northern Premier League Division One champions.

After an intense few days of fitness work at the club's training ground HQ, Bragbury End, Boro's players and staff will be more interested in reaping the benefits of such hard work.

While the defeat will be frustrating to fans, ramping up the squad's fitness levels prior to league action returning in early August, is all that really matters.

Yet, while the most important factor for the Lamex outfit will be further minutes in the legs of the Stevenage squad, judging on their disjointed performance against Stamford, it is clear Boro will need to step up their preparations ahead of the start of their League One season next month.

In front of 389 supporters at the Zeeco Stadium on Saturday, Jake Forster-Caskey made it two goals in a week when the former England U21 international grabbed Stevenage's first half equaliser against a spirited AFC Stamford side.

On an afternoon of extreme weather which saw a torrential downpour of biblical proportions halt the start of the second half at the Zeeco Stadium, Boro boss Steve Evans would have been more concerned about injuries to two of his players.

As the storm passed and the game restarted, Terrance Vancooten and Elliot List picked up injuries that will concern the Stevenage's manager.

Speaking to Nub News after the match, Evans played down the injuries saying that the pair would be assessed, after List received an Achilles knock.

In a hard-fought pre-season game, Stamford went ahead in the 21st minute through Miller, which beat Boro keeper Taye Ashby-Hammond.

The visitors levelled 240 seconds later to make it 1-1, through Forster-Caskey, who notched his second of the week, following his late goal at Top Field during Boro's 3-0 victory over Hitchin Town.

However, Graham Drury's side went ahead in the 75th minute through Trey Charles. The former Canary slotting home at the back post after a goalmouth scramble in a crowded penalty area, following Jon Challinor's corner, to seal victory for Stamford.

See Nub News on Sunday for boss Steve Evans reaction