A goal by Dan Kemp midway through the second half, followed by a debut strike from Gassan Ahadme, gave Stevenage a 2-0 win at home to Northampton Town that sent them top of League One.
The visitors to the Lamex are still searching for their first win of the season but had frustrated Boro for large parts of the contest.
Resistance Finally Broken
A free-kick from Phoenix Patterson in the 67th minute was sent to the back post for Charlie Goode to nod back across goal. The partial clearance was put back into the box by the head of Jordan Houghton, with Kemp arriving to flick it in.