Substitute John Mousinho struck late to seal a vital victory for Stevenage against play-off rivals Carlisle.

Craig Reid could have put Boro ahead when he fired over from 10 yards while Carlisle keeper Adam Collin did well to save a Jamaal Lascelles' header.

Home keeper Chris Day then kept out a headed effort by Andy Welsh with his legs after the break.

Mousinho latched onto Stacy Long's pass before firing in off the underside of the bar to secure Stevenage's win.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Stevenage manager Gary Smith told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"It was very exciting and this is what everyone is involved in football for.

"Carlisle were a good side and I thought the fans got behind us well.

"The occasion when two good teams come together is exactly what people are after. The games just keep getting bigger now.

"It's been a long, hard season but in the opening 25 minutes it was as enthusiastic and passionate as we've seen in a long time. It showed everyone we're going for this and feel we really have a chance."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Stevenage

  • 16 Day
  • 03 Laird
  • 05 Ashton
  • 14 Roberts
  • 30 Lascelles
  • 02 Wilson
  • 08 Long
  • 24 Bostwick
  • 10 Reid (Slew - 57' )
  • 15 Freeman (Mousinho - 73' )
  • 29 Agyemang (Myrie-Williams - 90' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Julian
  • 11 Myrie-Williams
  • 21 Mousinho
  • 32 Shroot
  • 27 Slew

Carlisle United

  • 01 Collin
  • 02 Simek
  • 05 Livesey
  • 06 Murphy
  • 25 Michalik (Beck - 88' )
  • 04 McGovern (Madden - 46' )
  • 12 Taiwo
  • 16 Cook
  • 17 Noble (Welsh - 46' )
  • 21 Berrett Booked
  • 13 Zoko Booked

Substitutes

  • 03 Robson
  • 07 Welsh
  • 11 Thirlwell
  • 10 Madden
  • 19 Beck
Ref: Malone
Att: 3,438

Match Stats

Shots

7 10

On target

3 2

Corners

6 8

Fouls

10 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +6:01 Full time

Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.

90:00 +5:16

Short corner taken by Stacy Long from the right by-line.

90:00 +2:49

Free kick taken by Adam Collin.

90:00 +2:49 Substitution

Substitution (Stevenage) makes a substitution, with Jennison Myrie-Williams coming on for Patrick Agyemang.

90:00 +2:49

Unfair challenge on Peter Murphy by Patrick Agyemang results in a free kick.

90:00

Foul by Patrick Madden on Scott Laird, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Chris Day.

87:25 Substitution

Substitution Mark Beck is brought on as a substitute for Lubomir Michalik.

87:25

James Berrett takes a inswinging corner.

85:37

Jamaal Lascelles takes a shot. Save by Adam Collin.

85:02

Stacy Long takes the outswinging corner, clearance by Lubomir Michalik.

84:47

Stacy Long takes a shot. James Berrett gets a block in.

82:42

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Peter Murphy by Patrick Agyemang. Free kick taken by Peter Murphy.

82:19

Unfair challenge on Michael Bostwick by James Berrett results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Jon Ashton.

80:37

Effort on goal by Andrew Welsh from outside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the bar.

79:03

Shot from long range by Michael Bostwick goes wide of the left-hand post.

78:32

Tom Taiwo is adjudged to have handled the ball. Jon Ashton takes the indirect free kick.

75:58

Stacy Long provided the assist for the goal.

75:58 Goal scored

Goal - John Mousinho - Stevenage 1 - 0 Carlisle John Mousinho gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the box to the top left corner of the goal. Stevenage 1-0 Carlisle.

72:32 Substitution

Substitution John Mousinho comes on in place of Luke Freeman.

72:17

Andrew Welsh has an effort at goal from close in which goes wide right of the target.

70:54

Michael Bostwick takes the free kick.

70:54 Booking

Booking James Berrett is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

70:14

James Berrett takes the inswinging corner, James Berrett gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jordan Slew.

69:34

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Andrew Welsh from the right by-line, Danny Livesey takes a shot. Save made by Chris Day.

66:40

Patrick Madden produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the target.

65:22

Unfair challenge on Michael Bostwick by Francois Zoko results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Stacy Long.

61:00

Jon Ashton concedes a free kick for a foul on Francois Zoko. Peter Murphy has an effort direct from the free kick.

57:57

Corner taken right-footed by James Berrett, Lawrie Wilson makes a clearance.

56:47 Substitution

Substitution Jordan Slew on for Craig Reid.

55:23

Luke Freeman is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Direct free kick taken by James Berrett.

54:12

Effort from the edge of the area by Patrick Agyemang goes wide of the right-hand upright.

52:22

Inswinging corner taken by Andrew Welsh from the right by-line played to the near post, Header from close in by Peter Murphy misses to the left of the goal.

46:28

Danny Livesey takes a shot. Jon Ashton gets a block in.

46:00

Michael Bostwick concedes a free kick for a foul on James Berrett. Free kick crossed right-footed by James Berrett from left wing, clearance by Lawrie Wilson.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:01

Stacy Long takes the outswinging corner, Danny Livesey makes a clearance.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution (Carlisle) makes a substitution, with Andrew Welsh coming on for Liam Noble.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution (Carlisle) makes a substitution, with Patrick Madden coming on for Jon-Paul McGovern.

45:00 +2:04 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.

43:42

Jon-Paul McGovern fouled by Scott Laird, the ref awards a free kick. Jon-Paul McGovern takes the direct free kick.

40:42

Unfair challenge on Stacy Long by James Berrett results in a free kick. Chris Day takes the free kick.

38:07

Peter Murphy challenges Patrick Agyemang unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Luke Freeman from right channel, clearance by Francois Zoko.

36:34

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jordan Cook by Mark Roberts. The ball is delivered by Jon-Paul McGovern, Headed effort on goal by James Berrett from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.

34:20

Free kick taken by Scott Laird.

34:20 Booking

Booking Francois Zoko receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.

33:57

Francois Zoko gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jamaal Lascelles.

30:41

Patrick Agyemang fouled by Tom Taiwo, the ref awards a free kick. Scott Laird restarts play with the free kick.

29:27

Liam Noble produces a right-footed shot from long range which goes wide right of the goal.

27:12

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jon-Paul McGovern, save by Chris Day.

26:50

Corner taken short by Jon-Paul McGovern.

26:33

Lawrie Wilson challenges Tom Taiwo unfairly and gives away a free kick. Tom Taiwo restarts play with the free kick.

23:17

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Peter Murphy by Patrick Agyemang. Direct free kick taken by Adam Collin.

21:43

Corner from left by-line taken by Stacy Long.

21:06

Inswinging corner taken by Stacy Long, Jamaal Lascelles takes a shot. Save by Adam Collin.

19:29

Corner taken right-footed by Jordan Cook, clearance made by Scott Laird.

19:10

Jordan Cook takes a shot. Blocked by Mark Roberts.

18:26

Scott Laird challenges Frank Simek unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Jon-Paul McGovern from right wing, clearance by Jon Ashton.

15:26

Luke Freeman takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Jordan Cook makes a clearance.

13:11

James Berrett challenges Stacy Long unfairly and gives away a free kick. Luke Freeman delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing.

9:54

Close range strike by Craig Reid goes over the bar.

6:54

Unfair challenge on Liam Noble by Michael Bostwick results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Adam Collin.

4:03

Jordan Cook is caught offside. Chris Day takes the free kick.

1:18

Frank Simek is ruled offside. Chris Day takes the free kick.

0:00

The match gets underway.

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