Skipper Chris Smith scored the winner midway through the first-half after Boro's Ronnie Henry had cleared off the line during a goalmouth scramble.

The visitors hopes of a revival then suffered a major blow when Henry received a straight red card for a 59th minute challenge on Jake Sheridan.

And ten minutes later he was joined by midfielder Darren Murphy for a second bookable offence.

Tamworth: Alcock, Briscoe, C. Smith, Wylde, Blackwood, Pritchard, Shaw, J. Smith, Wright (Lake-Gaskin 4), Christie, Sheridan, Lake-Gaskin (Murdock 80)

subs (unused): Fankem, Hurren, Lyttle

Goals: C. Smith (23)

Stevenage: Day, Henry, Bostwick, Ashton, Laird, Long, Murphy, Bridges (Cole 56), Beardsley (Sills 57), Griffin (Byrom 71), Odubade

subs (unused): Bayes, Albrighton

Ref: A. Madley (West Yorkshire)

Att: 841