Lewis Orford marked his Stevenage debut with a goal and two assists as the Boro beat Crystal Palace U21s 5-2, making it three wins from three in the Vertu Trophy and securing top spot in their group.
With Stevenage performing so strongly in EFL League One, Orford had to bide his time for his debut having signed on loan on deadline day. The 19-year-old midfielder made the most of it, completing the full 90 minutes and showing his composure on the ball, setting up two goals before adding his own in stoppage time.
Orford will now hope to be involved again this Saturday in EFL League One action as Stevenage host Bradford City in a second-versus-third meeting, with the Boro aiming to extend their run of seven straight home wins to start the 2025/26 season.
In League One, Michael Forbes’ Northampton Town were beaten 1-0 by Reading in their second away match in three days. Forbes was solid defensively, leading his side in clearances, but Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan’s first league goal of the season proved decisive. The 21-year-old centre-back has now completed six full matches in just 17 days for club and country.
In the Enterprise National League, Fin Herrick’s run of clean sheets came to an end, but Boreham Wood’s unbeaten streak continued as they were held to a 2-2 draw away at York City despite leading twice. Matt Rush’s tenth and eleventh goals of the season were cancelled out late on in both halves. The result leaves The Wood a point behind leaders Rochdale, who have two games in hand.
Finally, in the EFL Championship, Kaelan Casey was on the bench as ten-man Swansea City were narrowly beaten 1-0 at home by QPR. The Jacks have now won just once in eight league matches, leaving them 16th in the table, five points from both the Play-Off positions and the relegation zone.
