Darren Sarll was over the moon to make it 6 away league wins on the bounce with a 2-1 win over derby rivals Barnet.
Stevenage’s outstanding away form has thrust the club into the play-off challenge but Sarll says the team must make it count at home now.
“We definitely learned the value of wining from last year when we starved ourselves for three quarters of a season. Any time you win it is very hard earned and well deserved in this league.
“I just knew that today would be so important in setting us up for the two home games where we have to do something about what we have done previously. I thought today was really important in that respect.
“I have always tried to reduce the level of pressure on the players at home but I think now it is time to go the other way and say ‘yeah there is a pressure on us to win at home now’.
“We have put ourselves in a fantastic position where we can go and challenge for a place in the play-offs against Cambridge. We have got no choice but to roll our sleeves up and get on with it.”
Dale Gorman’s first ever goal for the club and Luke Wilkinson’s first of the season made the difference on the day, and Sarll had particular praise for both players and the way they took their strikes.
“When he (Gorman) was an apprentice for me he scored 12-18 goals every season. He has got terrific technical ability and sometimes it is hid behind the snarling teeth and the bookings, but he got his chance and the way he caressed and shaped the ball inside the far post was testament to his technical ability.
“I was delighted to see Luke pop up with one. He gets an unbelievable amount of criticism from the coaching team about his conversion rate in front of goal but it was a very, very well executed volley.”
Finally, Sarll was delighted to give the large away following an early Christmas present.
“I thought it was a home game. The way they sustained the atmosphere was just magnificent and at the end there was some good scenes to see so many travel and see us win.
“I think everyone leaves happy, we certainly leave very happy and the players are in good spirits.
“We are growing something here, we are getting better all the time and the next two games could be defining.”