Five-star Boro down ten-man Dale
Managerless Stevenage began life after Graham Westley in positive fashion as they demolished lowly Rochdale 5-1 at Spotland.
Lawrie Wilson scored twice early in the second half either side of a brace from Luke Freeman before Joel Byrom completed the scoring for Boro.
Brett Ormerod replied for Rochdale on his debut for the club to make it 2-1 but the sending off of Joe Widdowson shortly afterwards ruined any chance of a comeback.
Stevenage lost Westley to Preston this week but they did not lose their form. Boro arrived at Spotland having lost only once in the last 12 league outings and took the lead after 18 minutes when Freeman cut inside Jason Kennedy before beating goalkeeper Peter Kurucz at his near post.
The visitors extended their advantage straight after half-time, Chris Beardsley set up Wilson for a 15-yard drive which gave Kurucz no chance.
Ormerod briefly gave Dale a glimpse of hope when he volleyed home a Daniel Bogdanovic cross after 52 minutes but Stevenage restored their two-goal cushion within seconds when Wilson was left unmarked to smash home his second goal of the game.
Things went from bad to worse for the hosts four minutes later when Widdowson received a second yellow card for a desperate challenge on Beardsley.
Freeman made it 4-1 with a stunning 25-yard strike just before the hour mark and Byrom got in on the act with a neat finish for the fifth goal in the 66th minute.
Rochdale 1-5 Stevenage: Match Report - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game as it happened.
Source: DSG
