Despite taking an early lead, Exeter City fell to a 4-1 defeat on the road at Stevenage.
Josh Magennis opened the scoring from the spot in the 2nd minute, but two goals in each half for the hosts condemned the Grecians to their third defeat in a row.
For City's trip to Hertfordshire, Gary Caldwell made three changes from the midweek defeat to Leyton Orient. Alex Hartridge was immediately restored to the starting eleven for his second debut, partnering fellow academy graduate Cheick Diabate at the heart of the defence. The reshuffle brought a change in formation, with Tony Yagone handed his full debut on the wing. Meanwhile, returning Brentford loanee Ryan Trevitt was named among the substitutes.
First half
Attacking towards the travelling Grecians in the first half, City wasted no time in making their mark, taking the lead inside just two minutes.
Ilmari Niskanen timed his run perfectly to break the offside trap before cutting the ball back to Caleb Watts. His initial shot was blocked, but Ed Francis pounced on the rebound and fired goalward, only for his effort to strike the arm of a Stevenage defender, giving the referee no choice but to point to the spot.
Josh Magennis stepped up with confidence and coolly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, putting City 1-0 ahead!
Stevenage responded swiftly and nearly found a way back into the game moments later. A cutback to Jordan Roberts on the edge of the box presented a clear opportunity, but his low-driven effort skewed wide of the post.
That miss proved to be just an early warning, as the hosts found an equaliser in the 11th minute. Eli King, the player penalised for handball in the build-up to City’s opener, won back possession in midfield before exchanging passes with Louis Appéré. Given a yard of space, he struck low through the legs of Cheick Diabate, finding the back of the net to level the score.
City thought they should've had another penalty next when Niskanen headed Yogane's cross against a Boro player, however nothing was given and the home side soon completely flipped the game.
In the 17th minute, Dan Kemp's pressing kept City pushed back, and he won the ball off Diabate before flashing it across goal. Despite Hartridge's best efforts to keep it out, Jordan Roberts came across and fired home.
After a frantic opening 20 minutes, the game settled into a more measured rhythm. Both sides tested the opposition with wide free-kicks, but neither goalkeeper was truly troubled.
Stevenage’s Dan Kemp came closest to breaking the deadlock before the break, driving a low effort toward goal, but Joe Whitworth was equal to it, getting down well to make a comfortable save.
Second half
City began the second 45 with a midfield change, as Ryan Trevitt replaced Watts for his second debut. The substitute made an immediate impact, seeing a shot blocked before the rebound fell to Ed Francis, whose effort sailed over the crossbar.
Stevenage responded through Kemp, who attempted an ambitious curling strike from 30 yards, but City maintained the upper hand in the early stages. A flurry of corners in the 58th minute kept the hosts pinned back, with the third delivery nearly sneaking straight in - Francis’ curling ball forced the goalkeeper into a scrambling save on the goal line at the second attempt.
Stevenage looked to counter swiftly, but a well-timed intervention from Vinnie Harper halted their break and kept City on the front foot.
As in the first half, the game evolved into a tight midfield battle, but Joe Whitworth was called into action with 20 minutes to go.
A slick combination between Jamie Reid and Roberts freed Dan Kemp, who dropped his shoulder to create space before drilling a low effort towards the bottom corner. Whitworth reacted superbly, diving to his right and getting a strong hand to turn the ball around the post.
However, there was little the Palace loanee could do to prevent Stevenage’s second. Reid found Kemp inside the box, and while his initial shot was blocked by Hartridge, the rebound fell kindly for him to lash home and put the hosts 3-1 up.
Stevenage then extended their lead further just minutes later. Once again, Reid was the architect, driving down the touchline before cutting the ball back to Roberts, who rifled a powerful strike into the roof of the net to make it 4-1.
Caldwell was soon cautioned for his complaints directed towards the referee, however City couldn't find any response to Stevenage's late double, as they fell to another defeat on the road.
Stevenage: Cooper, Piergianni, Sweeney, Frewweman, Appere (List, 55'), Kemp (White, 90), Roberts (Young, 90'), Freestone, Reid, Phillips, King (Thompson, 55').
Substitutes: Ashby-Hammond (GK), Goode, Doherty.
Goals: King 11', Roberts 17', 80', Kemp 75'
Yellow card: King 2', Reid 44'
Exeter City: Whitworth, McMillan, Diabate, Hartridge, Harper (Colwill, 69'), Woods, Francis, Niskanen (Mitchell, 62'), Watts (Trevitt, 46'), Yogane, Magennis (C).
Substitutes not used: MacDonald (GK), Jones, Bird, James.
Goals: Magennis (pen) 2',
Yellow card: Gary Caldwell 77', Diabate 90'