A third victory confirmed Stevenage's passage to the knockout stage of the Papa John's Trophy as group winners but manager Steve Evans felt it should have been even more comfortable.

Boro won 1-0 against Tottenham Hotspur U21 with Jordan Roberts getting the only goal of the game on 22 minutes.

By that point though the home side had spurned three good chances.

Evans said: "We should have scored three times in the first 10 minutes. 

"We were really good for the first half-hour and we all know with the chances we missed, it should have been put to bed early. 

"We didn’t take them and we knew that Spurs are very good technically and they would pass it around and we didn’t keep up the intensity in the second half. 

"But apart from once, they haven’t really had a chance at our goal. 

"The disappointing thing is we tailed off but the plus is we got minutes in the legs of some. 

"You can’t ask for much more than three games in the group and three wins." 

Roberts' strike took him to five for the season in all competitions and four in October.

And he again impressed in the other parts of the game, away from sticking the ball in the net.

"Jordan has been great for us, admitted the Boro boss.

"When he complicates his game, he’s not so good but when he keeps it nice and simple, he is a wonderful player that we are fortunate to have. 

"We love him. His enthusiasm to come in each day and do things properly and with a smile is an education to one or two who are still trying to get there in terms of professionalism." 

The victory was also the 13th straight success at the Lamex but Evans says their feet will remain firmly on the floor.

"We’re not getting carried away," he said. "It’s not about the amount of home wins, it’s about the reaction when we are not quite at it and we were not quite at it at Gillingham. 

"We didn’t hide that from the players and selection showed that. 

"But when we haven’t been at it [this season], we have always managed to bounce back with a positive result. 

"We’ve reacted and some players have stepped up while one or two are still a way from getting in the team on a starting basis."