A stunning hat-trick in the space of just 17 minutes proved enough to earn the points for Stevenage and see them take a giant leap towards maintaining their Conference status for next season.
But the trio of goals had a downside for opponents Leigh who are now staring relegation in the face after they let slip a one goal lead in this crucial six pointer.
The game proved to be as aggressive as predicted with two dismissals proving par for the course in an encounter in which there was more than a fair amount of niggle.
When the fouling finally stopped however, it was Leigh who looked better at playing football and took a deserved lead on ten minutes when poor defending from the home side allowed Wayne Madden time and space to fire in across the face of goal from some 12 yards out.
The game truly exploded into life on 32 minutes when the home side's Tony Battersby and Leigh's Martin Lancaster were both sent off following an exchange of punches and an exchange of unpleasantries, which continued after both players had left the field.
Stevenage came closest to levelling in first half added time when Danny Carroll saw a shot cannon back off the bar before Jamie Cook's close-range effort on the rebound was blocked by keeper Stuart Coburn and Steve Watson contrived to blast the loose ball over the bar.
A more upbeat performance was demanded of the home side and it was delivered by front man Elding just seven minutes after the restart when he latched onto a long through ball from Nathan Bunce and cleverly lobbed Coburn.
Borough took the lead just two minutes later and Elding was again the man on target, firing home from inside the area.
Stevenage now had an iron grip on the contest and although Cook saw an effort come back off the post on 66 minutes it was Elding who once again supplied the finishing touch, completing his hat-trick on 69 minutes with the deftest of flicked headers from a pinpoint Cook cross.