Stevenage maintained their solid start to the season, they took all three points in this tight clash with Northwich Victoria.
But despite gaining eight points from a possible 12, Stevenage once again had striker Anthony Elding to thank for a spectacular goal which ultimately proved to be the difference between the two sides.
The game began in a lively enough fashion and Stevenage could well have gone ahead inside the first minutes when a Jamie Cook corner was almost forced in by Nathan Bunce.
Unfortunately the home side failed to build on their good start and it was Northwich who did more to trouble the keeper and Stevenage's Nathan Abbey was forced into action after long-range efforts from Chris Royle, Steve Garvey and Chris Thompson.
In uncomfortable heat the game only really got going in the final few minutes of the first half and it was Stevenage who looked odds on to grab an opener.
Tony Battersby saw a header cleared off the line by Lee Brough and from the resulting corner Stevenage again came close when a Barry Laker effort was deflected wide when it appeared to be heading goalwards.
Both Elding and Stevenage's lone midfielder Geoff Pitcher blasted over as the home side ended the first period on a high.
Stevenage failed to recapture the sparkling form as they opened the second period but they were still clearly the team in the ascendancy and it was a moment of brilliance which was to prove decisive.
Jamie Cook fed Elding on the left and when 25 yards out the in-form striker simply looked up and lashed in from a tight angle past keeper Andy Woods.
Stevenage could have added to their total while Northwich came closest seven minutes from the end when Chris Blackburn unleashed a drive from long range that Abbey did well to tip over.