Exeter City missed the chance to move back into the play-off places on Saturday as they were beaten 1-0 away at Stevenage Borough.
Having been dislodged from their top seven spot on Friday evening by Southend's draw at home to Burton Albion, City knew a point or better at the Lamex Stadium would be good enough to lift them back into the promotion places.
The Grecians edged an entertaining first half in terms of chances, but the home side were the better side after the break and got their breakthrough with six minutes to go as they profited on a defensive error from Danny Butterfield to score the only goal of the game.
Paul Tisdale made two changes to the side that beat Carlisle United 2-0 at home, recalling Liam Sercombe to the side and handing Ryan Harley his first start since returning to the club.
Sercombe replaced Arron Davies on the right side of midfield, while Harley played at the head of the diamond in midfield. That forced Alex Nicholls into one of the two attacking roles up front and pushed Scot Bennett into a defensive midfield position – replacing David Noble who will not play for City again until the January transfer window opens as his loan deal has run out.
Stevenage boss Graham Westley made five changes to his starting line-up as he looked to halt a run of three games without a win. The Grecians, by contrast, were going for their 10th game in the Football League without loss – something they haven't managed to achieve since 1986.
Stevenage started the better of the two teams and should have taken the lead when Dean Parrett latched onto a low cross from Ronnie Henry and pulled a ball back to the edge of the six-yard area.
However, Ryan Brunt's close range effort produced a great instinctive stop from James Hamon.
Hamon, making his fifth consecutive start for the Grecians, was called into action again on the hour mark and produced an even better stop as he leapt across his goal and gathered a Charlie Adams' free-kick that was making its way into the top corner.
At the other end it took City until the 23 minute to threaten the Stevenage net, but from then until half-time, Nicholls had the home side worried on numerous occasions.
He sent a dipping low shot from the right side of the box crashing off the crossbar and then tested keeper Chris Day with an angled drive moments later.
Wheeler set up the latter of those two chances and put his strike partner in two more times before the break. However, Nicholls' chipped shot on 36 minute ended up on the roof of the net and his 42nd-minute strike from 10 yards out was well blocked by Dean Wells.
Stevenage started the second half on top once more as Brunt and Tom Pett both sent efforts wide of Hamon's goal before the hour mark. Pett's effort was the better of the two chances as it was only inches off target and just needed a touch from any of the Stevenage players lurking around the penalty spot to turn the ball home.
City had strong appeals for a penalty turned down as Wheeler was hauled to the ground by Darius Charles in the area.
However, up the other end Stevenage continued to press as Charlie Lee sent a volley crashing off the same woodwork that Nicholls had hit in the first half.
Brunt then hit an angled drive goalwards on 72 minutes, but Hamon stood tall at his near post to block the effort.
Butterfield replied with a speculative effort from 35 yards out, which perhaps highlighted City's growing frustration in front of goal.
It was Stevenage who were the looking the more likely to score and and they eventually got their reward with six minutes to go. The ball was played into the box from the right and Butterfield swung and missed as he attempted clear. That allowed Lee in and he turned the ball home from eight yards out.
It was harsh on Butterfield who, besides that mistake, had an impeccable game. It was doubly harsh on Hamon, who had produced a number of good saves and deserved a clean sheet.
City did have another good shout for a penalty turned down when Nicholls was sent tumbling in the box with minutes left, but the referee turned down the appeals and Lee's shot proved to be the winner.
Stevenage (4-4-2): Day; Henry, Charles, Wells, Okimo; Pett, McAllister, Parrett, Adams (Whelpdale, 78); Barnard (Lee, 14), Brunt (Beardsley, 90). Subs not used: Beasant, Walton, Conlon, Deacon
Exeter City (4-3-1-2): Hamon, Ribeiro (Davies, 51), Butterfield, Oakley, Woodman, Sercombe, Bennett, Grimes, Harley (Morrison, 87), Wheeler, Nicholls. Subs not used: Keohane, Nichols, Tillson, Pym, Cummins.
Booked: Ribeiro (44)
Referee: Dean Whitestone
Attendance: 2,878
