Stevenage secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Colchester United in a Club Friendly on Friday evening. The match, played on 1 August 2026, saw the home side make the one goal count after Colchester were reduced to ten men just before the breakthrough.
The turning point came at the 15th minute when Colchester received a red card, leaving them to play the remainder of the contest with a man down. By then Stevenage had already begun to assert control, and the dismissal shifted the balance further. The goal arrived four minutes later at the 19th minute, and here's the thing — it was enough to settle the contest entirely.
Stevenage dominated possession with 74 per cent of the ball, creating 72 attacks compared to Colchester's 39. The visitors managed zero corners while the hosts claimed eleven, a reflection of how completely Colchester were pinched back. To be fair, the red card forced a different shape, but the statistical spread tells you where the pressure lived throughout.
Stevenage carried one yellow card and eight free kicks in their favour, while Colchester accumulated seventeen free kicks against them — the numbers speak for themselves. Possession alone doesn't guarantee results, but 74 per cent with eleven corners suggests sustained pressure rather than sporadic forays forward.
Recent form adds context to the result. Stevenage have won one and drawn one of their last three friendlies, including a 1-0 victory over Millwall on 25 July. Colchester, meanwhile, have lost two of their last three, most notably a 2-0 defeat to Charlton on 28 July.
Final Result: Stevenage 1-0 Colchester United