Substitute Jamie Reid grabs the all-important goal as Boro earn the three points...

Stevenage played in league competition for the second time in four days after a positive 3-1 victory against Walsall on the weekend. Steve Evans named an unchanged starting eleven from that match with Luther James-Wildin returning to the bench after a short period of time out through injury.

The first fifteen minutes were comfortable for Boro as they patiently played a possession game and looked to find a clear opening. Kane Smith was searching for an opportunity to play the strikers in, and eventually found Josh March with the outside of his boot, but March was unable to get it under control. Neither goalkeeper was tested as Stevenage dictated the pace of the game.

Half an hour had passed and there remained very little to write home about as the rain poured under The Lamex lights. Boro remained largely in control, but Crewe goalkeeper James Beadle was yet to be called into action.

Half-time approached and still, neither goalkeeper was tested. There were five minutes of added time due to various short stoppages but eventually the referee blew his whistle to conclude an extremely quiet half of football.

Boro began to build some momentum in the opening ten minutes of the second half as they looked to break the deadlock. Jordan Roberts picked up the ball on the edge of the area before striking low towards goal, but his effort deflected wide.

Just before the hour mark, Steve Evans made his first substitution of the evening in order to bring more creativity to his side, as Jake Forster-Caskey replaced Jake Taylor in midfield.

Minutes later, Stevenage created a rare clear-cut chance as emergency-loan goalkeeper Jon McCracken produced a wonderful long ball forward to Luke Norris who stung the goalkeeper’s gloves with a powerful effort which went out for a corner.

Chances for Boro were occurring far more frequently now as the momentum was in their hands. Alex Gilbey set the ball nicely for Josh March inside the area who forced James Beadle to make an acrobatic save to keep the score level.

Just under twenty minutes remained and Stevenage were desperate to break the deadlock and pick up a crucial three points in the race for promotion. Evans refurbished his attacking force, with Josh March and Luke Norris making way for Jamie Reid and Danny Rose.

Danny Rose got himself involved immediately as a cross into the box met the forward’s head, but his effort trickled past the far post.

With over ten minutes remaining, Boro finally broke the deadlock. Kane Smith’s ball forward found substitute Jamie Reid who took a touch with his chest, turned and fired low and hard into the bottom left corner from twenty-five yards to open the scoring five minutes after he was subbed on.

Evans then made his final substitutions in an attempt to see out the game as Michael Bostwick and Luther James-Wildin replaced Jordan Roberts and Kane Smith.

In the closing stages, Boro veteran Michael Bostwick came agonisingly close to grabbing his first goal of his second spell at the club as he hit the crossbar from point-blank range.

Carl Piergianni then came close to doubling his side’s lead moments later as he rose highest from a corner and headed into the goalkeeper’s hands. The fourth official then held up six minutes of additional time.

Stevenage saw out the game to perfection as eventually the referee blew his final whistle to send the Boro faithful home with a smile. Evans' men travel to Carlisle on Saturday in an enormous Sky Bet League Two clash in the race for promotion.