Substitute Dan Kemp grabbed the only goal to give Stevenage a vital 1-0 win over League One play-off rivals Reading.
It was a deserved success for the home side, who had seen a multitude of second-half chances go begging before finally finding a way through with five minutes remaining.
A Scrappy, Goalless Opening
The first half had been full-blooded but with the quality missing, neither side really coming too close to an opener.