Cheltenham Town 0 Stevenage 1

Super-sub Ben Kennedy eased Boro into the play-offs and piled the pressure on relegation threatened Cheltenham.

Northern Ireland U-19 striker Kennedy stroked in his fourth goal of the campaign from the spot in the 78th minute after he had been clumsily bundled over by defender Jack Deaman.

Boro manager boss Graham Weston said:

"On the balance of chances we deserved it and their goal lived a very charmed life. We're eleven unbeaten in twelve and have improved as the season has gone on."

Robins keeper Trevor Carson put on a super show with a string of top class saves.

In the ninth minute Carson did well to palm behind a shot at his near post from left winger Dave Martin and then acrobatically tipped over midfielder Dean Wells header from the resulting corner.

Minutes later Carson needed midfielder Joe Hanks to clear a Simon Walton header off the line before he dived to turn a fourteen yard effort from right back Chris Whelpdale past his upright as Boro peppered his goal.

Stevenage could have lost their own stopper in the eighteenth minute when Chris Day raced out and floored wide man Shaquille McDonald with his arm.

Cheltenham started the second half brightly and full back Craig Braham-Barrett rifled a low shot against the post from the edge of the box thirty seconds after the restart before central defender Will Packwood nodded narrowly wide three minutes later.

Carson was back in action in the 70th minute when he dived to push away a vicious twelve yard goal bound strike by substitute Bruno Andrade.

And he stopped Kennedy from netting a brace by blocking a close range injury time shot minutes after substitute Roarie Deacon had rattled the outside of his post.

New boss Gary Johnson has now overseen two defeats since taking control at bottom club Cheltenham last week and he fumed:

"We had twenty shots to their seven and so a few of them have had a few home truths from me. They know how I feel. They have to grow up very quickly and become more professional."