Walsall 1-6 Stevenage Borough: Boro Run Riot in EFL Trophy Rout

Stevenage Borough produced one of the most emphatic performances of the English Football League Trophy group stage, thrashing Walsall 6-1 at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Wednesday, 23 September 2026. The visitors were ruthless from the opening whistle, scoring three times before half-time and adding three more after the break to complete a comprehensive victory.

Match overview

• Competition: English Football League Trophy
• Result: Walsall 1-6 Stevenage Borough
• Stevenage Borough scorers: Jamie Reid 7, 54, Dan Kemp 23, Elliott List 41, Carl Piergianni 76, Harvey White 84
• Walsall scorer: Jamille Matt 70
• Venue: Poundland Bescot Stadium

Stevenage Borough set the tone inside seven minutes. Jamie Reid pressed a Walsall defender, won the ball back high up the pitch, and finished confidently for the opening goal. It was a sign of things to come, as Stevenage’s high press repeatedly forced mistakes from the home side.

Key moments

The second goal arrived in the 23rd minute. Dan Kemp exchanged passes on the edge of the box before curling a shot into the far corner. Walsall struggled to keep possession, and Stevenage’s midfield continued to dominate. The third goal came four minutes before half-time when Elliott List ran onto a through ball and slotted past the goalkeeper.

Any hopes of a Walsall comeback were extinguished early in the second half. Jamie Reid scored his second of the night in the 54th minute, finishing off a sweeping move with a low strike. Walsall did pull one back through Jamille Matt in the 70th minute, a well-taken header from a cross, but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation.

Stevenage restored their four-goal cushion in the 76th minute when captain Carl Piergianni powered home a header from a corner. Harvey White completed the scoring in the 84th minute, arriving late in the box to side-foot home the sixth. The final whistle confirmed a dominant win and a miserable night for the home side.

Tactical story

Stevenage Borough’s game plan was built on intensity. They pressed Walsall’s defenders aggressively, won the ball in dangerous areas, and attacked with numbers. Their front three rotated constantly, making it difficult for Walsall’s back line to pick up runners. Set pieces were also a major weapon, with Piergianni’s header highlighting their aerial threat.

Walsall were second-best in almost every department. They conceded possession too easily in midfield, left gaps between defence and midfield, and failed to deal with Stevenage’s movement in the final third. The one bright moment was Jamille Matt’s goal, but by then the game was already gone.

Standout players

Jamie Reid was the standout performer, scoring twice and leading the press from the front. Dan Kemp was creative and clinical, while Elliott List’s pace caused problems throughout. Carl Piergianni was commanding at both ends, and Harvey White capped a fine team display with the sixth goal.

For Walsall, Jamille Matt took his goal well and worked hard, but he received little support. The Walsall goalkeeper was left exposed by his defence on multiple occasions, and the midfield struggled to gain any control against Stevenage’s energetic engine room.

Group and season impact

The victory puts Stevenage Borough in a commanding position in their EFL Trophy group, with a significantly improved goal difference that could prove valuable. Walsall, meanwhile, will need a strong response in their next group fixture to keep their knockout-round hopes alive. For Stevenage, the performance was a statement of intent: they have the quality and ruthlessness to be a serious threat in this competition.