An under par performance resulted in defeat for Town as Stevenage ran out 3-0 winners at Lamex Stadium.
The hosts raced to a two goal lead inside 21 minutes through Jake Reeves and Luke Norris, before Jake Taylor's 81st minute finish ended all hopes of a Town comeback, despite an improved second half showing from the visitors.Simon Weaver made two changes from Tuesday night's trip to Sutton as Jack Diamond was placed straight back into the starting XI after resuming his loan spell, along with Lewis Richards who missed the trip due to being cup tied.
Brahima Diarra and Nathan Sheron dropped to the bench, where they were joined by Friday night's loan signing Calum Kavanagh.
Stevenage took the lead inside the opening ten minutes when Richards' headed clearance was struck first time towards goal by Reeves and beat Mark Oxley, finding it's way into the back of the net.
The hosts doubled their lead in the 21st minute when Reeves intercepted Josh Falkingham's loose pass and fed Norris, who was able to score under the close attentions of Rory McArdle.
It could have been three in the 37th minute if not for some impressive one on one defending from Richards who prevented his direct opponent getting a shot on goal in from a decent position.
It was a first half riddled with mistakes for Town, who headed into the break 2-0 down, despite a Falkingham blocked clearance almost squirming past Oxley at the near post before the half was done.
Town's search for a goal back early in the second half resulted in headed efforts on goal, though neither Luke Armstrong or Diamond could find the target with their attempts.
Armstrong thought he was racing through on goal soon after when Diamond rolled the ball into his path, though a cynical trip by Luke Prosser stopped the frontman going any further, an offence punished with a yellow card.
Despite an improved second half showing from Town, the crucial blow was dealt in the 81st minute as Diamond lost possession in attack allowing Stevenage to go up the other and and fire in via Taylor at the near post.
Town: Oxley, Page, Falkingham, Burrell, Thomson, Kerry (Pattison 63), Muldoon (Kavanagh 71), Diamond, McArdle, Armstrong, Richards (Sheron 89)
Subs not used: Beck, Cracknell, Diarra
Stevenage: Pym, Coker, Reeves, Cuthbert, Prosser (Upson 84), Taylor, Norris (Carter 69), Westbrooke, Vancooten, O'Neill, Reid (Andrade 88)
Subs not used: Walker, James-Wildin, Daly, Bostwick
Goals: Reeves 9, Norris 21, Taylor 81
Booked: Prosser
Referee: P Wright
Attendance: 2,935 (118 away)