After bouncing back from a 0-4 away league defeat by Sutton United the previous Saturday with a 2-1 win away to Buckingham Town in the delayed 1991-92 season final of the Buckingham Charity Cup in midweek, United suffered their first home league defeat in 4 games with this loss at Buckingham Road.
With Cliff Hercules suspended and Darren Collins injured, The Ducks lacked the killer instinct in front of goal and although they were also missing Paul Benning, Steve Grenfell made a welcome return after a long lay-off.
Stevenage took the lead in just the 5th minute when Richards curled over a cross and Smith glanced a header past United keeper Tim Garner.
The Ducks' passing game, though nice to watch, brought little reward as the final pass continually went astray but they equalised in the 22nd minute with a goal to savour. Nick Ashby sent a great ball down the left flank to John Lawford who crossed waist high into the box and Phil Heath thundered a stunning right foot volley into Stevenage (and future Ducks) keeper Richard Wilmot's bottom right hand corner.
Their joy was short-lived, however, as the visitors went back in front just 3 minutes later when Debnam threaded a pass through a static United defence for Marshall to beat the on-rushing Garner from 20 yards.
Despite strong pressure from The Ducks in the second half, Stevenage held onto their lead but the hosts went close to salvaging a point late on when Dave Sansom set up Andy Robinson whose first time volley from 30 yards dipped inches over the bar. It just wasn't United's day in front of goal.
Match report courtesy of David Figg (aka Brains)
