Louis Dodds' sixth goal of the season edged injury-hit Port Vale past Blue Square Premier high-fliers Stevenage at the second attempt as the Valiants claimed a 1-0 win at Broadhall Way.
The former Leicester youngster settled the tie midway through the first half after Boro captain Mark Roberts' dreadful backpass played him in.
Stevenage almost had the perfect start when Yemi Odubade forced keeper Chris Martin to punch over his own bar after just two minutes.
After a sluggish start Vale finally threatened in the 13th minute when Lewis Haldane fired over from Doug Loft's long ball.
A minute later, Boro's Charlie Griffin, who fired a hat-trick in the weekend hammering of Gateshead, dragged his shot wide after being fed in by Odubade.
But Vale took the lead after 24 minutes when Dodds capitalised on Roberts' slip.
His initial shot was blocked by home goalkeeper Chris Day but Dodds reacted quickest to head in the rebound.
Seven minutes after the break Mitchell Cole thought he had equalised after coolly slotting past Martin but his shot hit the post and was cleared away to safety.
Vale almost gifted Boro an equaliser 12 minutes from time when Odubade robbed Lee Collins but his cross missed Griffin by inches.
Stevenage substitute Darren Murphy flashed a shot wide in the closing stages but the hosts couldn't force an equaliser and suffered their first defeat at home in almost a year.
