A solitary goal was enough to hand Stevenage what could be a pivotal victory in the League Two promotion race in a drab contest at home to Gillingham. 

Carl Piergianni made it five for the season and three in the last two games with a first-half header and to move 12 points ahead of the play-off pack, led by Carlisle United.

That fact, the 1-0 win, will make up for the complete lack of entertainment at the Lamex.

Points make prizes at this stage, this being the first game for Stevenage since hitting the halfway mark of 23 played on Friday.

One change from the win over Crawley Town was always going to happen following the news of Saxon Earley's impending switch to Plymouth Argyle but that was it, Max Clark coming in to the starting line-up.

Michael Bostwick took his place on the bench, making a comeback from injury.

The opening to the first half in the last two games against Leyton Orient and Crawley had been rapid, and in the case of the latter, profitable.

This was not even close to being a repeat but the only moment of quality brought the only goal.

Jake Reeves delivered the ball perfectly from the left from a free-kick and it was met by the skipper, heading it back across goal and into the far corner.

The rest of the half was poor and scrappy and not one to remember.

Neither side were able to truly stamp their authority on things although Gillingham had good periods of pressure to belay their lowly position.

Boro's best period came immediately after the goal but despite three similar opportunities, Reeves was unable to reproduce a good enough cross.

It was expected that half-time would bring stern words from Steve Evans but before the teams could even get to the dressing room, an unseen melee in the tunnel erupted, with shrill blasts from the referee's whistle being heard and subs and stewards moving towards it.

Whatever happened in the tunnel was obviously much ado about nothing as there were smiles and jokes between Gills' Alex Macdonald and Paul Raynor and the Boro bench and no obvious signs of cards from the man in the middle.

Gillingham actually made the brighter start in the second half but it was mostly just balls into the box and no efforts testing Ashby-Hammond.

However, the act of defending took its toll with Terence Vancooten limping out to be replaced by Bostwick.

The game continued to be low in entertainment but Boro did at least have a couple of efforts on goal.

Roberts forced Glenn Morris into a full-length diving save at the foot of his near post while Norris should have done better than to hit the last defender in front of him when he got the ball inside the box.

There were then efforts from Reeves for Stevenage and Macdonald for Gillingham although neither ever looked like scoring.

And it was the same for their colleagues so it was no surprise that if finished 1-0.

Did anybody mind in the Lamex? Course not.

 

Stevenage: Ashby-Hammond, James-Wildin, Clark, Reeves, Piergianni, Sweeney, Norris (Reid 72), Roberts (Taylor 90+5), Vancooten (Bostwick 56), Gilbey, Rose.

Subs (not used): Chapman, Campbell, Smith, Amoo.

Goal: Piergianni 23

Booked: Sweeney 34, Gilbey 64, Rose 88

 

Gillingham: Morris, Tutonda, Wright, Elmer, Williams, Macdonald, O'Keefe (Adelakun 70), Mandron, McKenzie, Jeffries, Kashket (Harriott 70).

Subs (not used): Turner, Alexander, Lee, Baggott.

Booked: Wright 37

 

HT: Stevenage 1 Gillingham 0

Referee: Carl Boyeson (Hull)

Attendance: 3,703 (550 from Gillingham)