Stevenage ran out emphatic winners at The Ivegah Grounds with a seven goal victory of St James’ Gate.
Robin Shroot netted four, Michael Thalassitis two and Greg Tansey one as Gary Smith’s side showed their class against the Irish outfit.
Thalassitis could have made it one just five minutes in but saw his shot saved by the ‘keeper, and it wasn’t until the 23rd minute that a breakthrough was made. Shroot pounced on a parry by the goalkeeper after a well struck shot from Anthony Furlonge and managed to score from a tight angle and twelve minutes later Lee Hills put in a great ball from the left that was bundled in somewhat fortuitously by Thalassitis.
There was a third from the penalty spot after a foul on Shroot in the box; the midfielder brushed himself off and took the spot kick, sending the ‘keeper the wrong way for his second of the evening.
Minutes before the break Thalassitis hit his second after a perfect through ball from James Dunne but the goal of the night was saved for the second half.
A foul outside the area gave Boro a free kick and Tansey stepped up before curling it into the top corner beautifully.
Shroot stole the show with two more goals, the first was crafted from a delightful through ball from James Dunne and his fourth in the game came as Tansey sent a great free kick to the back post, Shroot met it with his head and the goal bound effort hit a defender on its way in.
Next up for Boro is a tougher task against UCD on Tuesday evening.
Stevenage: Arnold (Day 45); Cominges (Grant 60), N’Gala (Roberts 60), Parsons (Ashton 60), Hills (Charles 60); Shroot, Ball (Tansey 60), Dunne (Freeman 60), Furlonge; Agyemang (Haber 60), Thalassitis