VICS' shortcomings in the final quarter of the pitch proved to be their downfall as they failed to take vital chances before being undone by a superb strike from Anthony Elding, which condemned them to their first defeat of the season.

Stevenage made the early running and Andy Woods did well to save at the feet of Bunce after Chris Royle had denied Tony Battersby with a timely tackle to concede the corner

But Vics soon got into their stride and Jonny Allan shot wide from an incisive Chris Blackburn pass.

Blackburn and Val Owen combined to set up Steve Garvey whose 20 yard shot tested Nathan Abbey in the Stevenage goal.

Blackburn then dispossessed Geoff Pitcher and ran at the home defence before finding Chris Thompson in a good position, but the Northwich striker's first touch let him down and Bunce was able to clear.

Pressure

Vics continued to look the more threatening of the two sides and Thompson cut inside from the left to force Abbey into a save low down to his right.

Another Stevenage attack broke down and Royle broke quickly to finish with a 25 yard shot which brought a further save from Abbey.

Blackburn, who was behind most of Vics' best moves, glanced a header wide of the post from a Garvey free kick before Mark Devlin shot high and wide from the edge of the box.

As the first half drew to a close Stevenage exerted their first meaningful period of pressure and could have taken the lead when an Elding cross from the right fell to the unmarked Battersby in front of goal.

But the former Lincoln City striker was only able to bundle the ball out wide of the gaping net.

Royle hurriedly conceded a corner from a Jamie Cook cross and from Pitcher's corner kick Brough cleared a Battersby header off the line and Barry Laker had a further shot blocked.

There was still time for Vics to spurn another chance, Thompson lifting his shot from a weak punched clearance by Abbey over the bar.

Vics squandered two further opportunities at the beginning of the second half.

First Blackburn won the ball in midfield and set Thompson clear but the former Grimsby striker is clearly lacking in confidence and dwelt on the ball too long before being disappointingly dispossessed.

Moments later a break from Owen led to Allan having a clear run at goal but his first touch let him down and the chance again went begging.

Vics were made to pay dearly in the 57th minute when Elding picked up a cross field pass on the left and hit a 25 yard right foot shot which squeezed between the diving Woods and his near post.

The goal settled the home side and despite a series of substitutions Vics were unable to re create their earlier superiority.

Blackburn did force Abbey into a late save but it was left to Stevenage substitute Rocky Baptiste to squander the best chance of the game in stoppage time when he rounded Woods but lost control of the ball and the Vics keeper was able to gather safely.