SCARBOROUGH'S dismal away form continued with their fifth successive defeat by a single-goal margin and again it was one of their former strikers who did the damage.

Stevenage front-man Darryn Stamp produced an exquisite header three minutes into the second half from a driven cross from Anthony Elding to seal all three points.

It was a tight game, which became bad tempered as Stevenage clung to their slender lead.

For long periods Boro dominated and indeed the home side had only two efforts on target - the first being brilliantly saved by Leigh Walker in the first half.

Robert Gill and Kevin Nicholson had headers well saved by Alan Julian and in the fourth minute of stoppage time, defender Paul Foot, who had been pushed into attack, saw his header strike the bar.

"It seems if we make a mistake we are punished and we are just not sharp enough in the other penalty area," said coach Nicky Henry.

Boro were missing David Reeves, who failed a fitness test and when Neal Redfearn limped off after half an hour, they did not have the guile to prise open the home defence.

Nationwide Conference Stevenage 1, Scarborough 0 (at Broadhall Way)

Stevenage: Julian, Warner, Goodliffe, Laker (Lee 60), Hocking, Gregory, Brady, Wetherstone, Boyd (Flack 83), Stamp, Elding.

Scarborough: Walker, Cryan (Senior 67), Baker, Foot, Hotte, Nicholson, Thompson, Kerr, Redfearn (Pounder 31), Gill (Lyth 85) Hackworth.

Referee: M Murphy (Coventry).

Attendance: 1,728.

Updated: 10:38 Monday, February 21, 2005