Westley pleased with pre-season

Westley took up an option in May to stay on as Stevenage boss

Stevenage Borough rounded off their pre-season games with a 2-1 win against Southend on Friday, and a 0-0 draw on Saturday at Woking.

Goals from Joel Byrom and Darren Murphy put Stevenage ahead in the first half against Southend, who looked distinctly out of sorts.

Frank Moussa pulled a goal back in the second half, but the Blue Square Premier side ran our worthy winners.

Stevenage now have a free week before hosting Tamworth in Saturday's opener.

Manager Graham Westley told BBC Three Counties Radio: "I thought for 45 minutes we were good. I thought we deserved to be ahead at half-time and played some good football.

"We created some good chances and they were a decent enough side.

"I thought the players emerged with a lot of credit for the first-half. In the second half they definitely upped their game and got us on the back foot.

"I wouldn't say we were fantastic in our response, but we dug in and showed our determination.

"We limited them to the one goal and ran out winners. It was a win that has given the players some confidence."

Saturday's game at Woking was a more languid affair, with the manager making 10 changes to the side.

Westley added: "It was difficult to get anything going in the sense that there were a lot of players playing out of position to make sure that players got 90 minutes.

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"That's not to make excuses for the lads, I think it does affect your fluency when you have people like Beardsley dropping into midfield and Vincenti playing at right-back.

"It was a good work-out and the lads that went out there today got 90-minutes and that was important for them.

"Woking were bright on their own patch and gave as good as they got.

"People might have been expecting more from our lads, but some of them did play last night and probably there was a bit of tiredness and tightness from that.

"As I say, some of them were playing out of position, so it was a functional exercise today."