Three goals in the opening nine minutes of the second half proved crucial as Stevenage reached the third round of the FA Cup at King’s Lynn Town. 

The BBC were at The Walks with the sole intention of witnessing another famous afternoon in the grand old trophy. 

And at 0-0 at half-time, the tie was well poised, with Stevenage guilty of not taking their chances. 

However, a double from Luke Norris and one for Jamie Reid put the League Two side in command and they closed out a comfortable 3-0 win with no more panic. 

There were five changes from the side that beat Arsenal in the Papa John's Trophy. 

Taye Ashby-Hammond, Luther James-Wildin, Carl Piergianni, Luke Norris and Jamie Reid all came in with Aaron Chapman, Jake Reeves, Dean Campbell, Kane Smith and David Amoo stepping out. 

For those that prefer it another way, that was three changes from the draw at Grimsby Town on Saturday. 

Stevenage knew they would be met by a raucous crowd but, to their credit, they had them silenced in the opening 15 minutes. 

They also had a very big shout for a penalty during that spell, Reid looking like he was tripped as he stepped inside the defender. 

King’s Lynn’s hopes weren’t helped by an early injury to Theo Widdrington but Boro had their own problems later on when Terence Vancooten limped out to be replaced by Reeves. 

Boro had more of the possession in the better areas but they were guilty of not providing a clinical finish at the crucial moments, the ball too often running away from the man in red. 

When they did get into a good position, Reid was denied by a fine save from Paul Jones, the goalkeeper kicking the ball over the top despite his body moving in the opposite direction to the ball. 

The Linnets did have chances on the break but they were guilty of not putting the best of them on target. 

Gold Omotayo headed wide under the attentions of Piergianni while Joshua Barrett fired low past the post after Vancooten had been robbed in the middle of the park. 

As the half ended, there was the worrying sight of Dan Sweeney hobbling. 

Nine minutes after the resumption not only was he moving comfortably again, Stevenage had suddenly decided to implement the clinical option. 

Norris got the first with a lovely first time, side-foot finish from the edge of the area but the big credit went to Reid who had spun off his defender to create the space on the left-hand side. 

That was on 49 minutes and three minutes later Norris had his second, this time with a firm header from inside the six-yard box as he met a James-Wildin cross. 

Reid then killed the hopes of the home side off with a deserved goal, and a well-executed one too. 

This time he spun clear of his man in the left-side channel and cut inside, finishing it off with a deft bending effort to the left of Jones. 

From there it was a professional as it comes from Boro. They kept possession, perhaps when they would have passed it under normal circumstances, but they restricted what attacking threat was left in the home side. 

Chris Oxlade-Chamberlain sliced one high and wide and Michael Clunan did the same in their few sights of goal. 

There was never even the slightest hope of a comeback and Boro will be happy to take their place in Monday's draw.

 

Stevenage: Ashby-Hammond, James-Wildin, Clark, Piergianni, Sweeney, Norris, Roberts, Vancooten (Reeves 39), Read (Taylor 81), Gilbey, Reid (Amoo 81). 

Subs (not used): Chapman, Campbell, Smith, Earley, Rose. 

Goals: Norris 49, 52, Reid 54 

 

King's Lynn Town: P.Jones, Denton, Crowther, Coulson, Clunan, Widdrington (Oxlade-Chamberlain 18), Omotayo, Barrett, Hargreaves, A.Jones (Charles 79), Scott (Walker 69). 

Subs (not used): Callen-McFadden, Fleming, Knowles, Blair, Stephens, Ponticelli. 

 

HT: King's Lynn Town 0 Stevenage 0 

Referee: Andrew Kitchen 

Attendance: 4,203