Two goals in three minutes had proved crucial in the weekend's loss to Rotherham United and Stevenage got another dose of that foul-tasting medicine at home to Bolton Wanderers.

They came in the first 16 minutes and left Boro in real bother against a side in fine form.

Victor Adeboyejo made it three just past the hour and despite Dan Kemp scoring with 20 minutes to go, Dion Charles wrapped things up late on.

There were positives but conceding four is a worry, and with three defeats now on the bounce, a visit from minnows Guiseley in the FA Cup is not what is needed.

After the 2-0 loss to Rotherham on Saturday, manager Alex Revell made four changes for this one.

Carl Piergianni was back after his one-match suspension, as was Louis Thompson, while Dan Kemp and Elliott List was restored to the 

Lewis Freestone, Harvey White, Eli King and Jake Young were the ones to come out and move to the bench.

A response in front of the Lamex crowd was needed and there was one, a positive one. It was just the goals derailed everything and throw Boro to the foot of a mountain.

And rather unlikely too, they came from set-pieces, usually bread and butter for the home side.

The first was a perfectly delivered corner to the back post where Santos arrived like the 7.30 express to Newcastle, heading home as the home defence were caught on the spot.

Three minutes later a free-kick was only headed out to the edge of the box but McAtee had time to adjust his body and hit a volley into the ground, bouncing it over Taye Ashby-Hammond.

There was an argument to say they could have been defended better but sometimes you have to applaud the execution.

Stevenage had started well though, Jordan Roberts twice nicking the ball of a Bolton toe deep in the final third.

And that continued after the goals too, the hosts pinning Bolton back for long periods.

However, there was no end product. Shots that did come were few and far between and mostly stopped by blocks and deflections at source, Jamie Reid and Elliott List with two of them.

Piergianni had arguably the best opportunity but it would have took some technique to volley a high dropping ball in. He fired well over.

The skipper had the first chance of the second half but he couldn't get any power in his header from a corner, putting it straight at Luke Southwood.

The second period was looking a lot better until a crucial moment on the hour.

A cross from the right was aiming for Piergianni who was shoulder barged to the ground.

The skipper is not someone to go down without a reason and even he asked the question.

The referee said no and while Boro were still feeling sorry for themselves, a quick break down the left ended with a cross that Luther Wildin could deal with, and Adeboyejo swept into the roof of the net.

Stevenage's response was four subs and a change of formation, and within two minutes they had one back.

Reid had a low shot from an angle that was hit with venom. Southood blocked it but the ball ran loose towards the edge of the box, and Kemp side footed in his first for the club.

And for five minutes there was belief in the stands and on the pitch, helped by balls in to the middle.

But Bolton took the sting out of that with substitutions and then rubbed salt in the wound, Dion Charles sliding in a fourth on 88 to start a mass exit.

Match details

Stevenage (0) 1 Bolton Wanderers (2) 4

Stevenage: Ashby-Hammond, Wildin, Butler, Piergianni, Kemp, Roberts (White 68), Smith (Freeman 68), List (Freestone 68), Reid, Phillips (Pressley 68), L.Thompson.

Subs (not used): Cooper, King, Young.

Goals: Kemp 70

Booked: Beresford (bench) 62, Wildin 81, Butler 84

 

Bolton Wanderers: Southwood, Santos, Johnson, Sheehan, Adeboyejo (Charles 76), Dacres-Cogley, Toal (Forrester 31), Collins (Arfield 81), Schon (Williams 81), Matete, McAtee (Lolos 76).

Subs (not used): Hutchinson, Sharples.

Goals: Santos 13, McAtee 16, Adeboyejo 61, Charles 88

Booked: Sheehan 31, Johnston 59, Santos 73, Southwood 78

 

Added time: 3+6

Referee: Carl Brook (Hastings)

Attendance: 3,611 (including 590 from Bolton)