Kurtis Guthrie scored against his old club as Stevenage recovered to beat Colchester 3-1 in a feisty encounter at Broadhall Way.
Colchester went ahead after 86 seconds when Sammie Szmodics tapped in from three yards at the far post, from Ryan Jackson's low cross.
Szmodics and Luke Norris both went close soon after, as Colchester pressed for a second.
But Guthrie went close with a deflected long-range effort before the former Colchester striker equalised four minutes before half-time when he tapped home at the far post, after Scott Cuthbert had headed on Joel Byrom's corner.
Stevenage nearly scored again early in the second half when half-time substitute Emmanuel Sonupe's acrobatic effort was saved well by Dillon Barnes.
Stevenage goalkeeper Seny Dieng denied Norris before Ben Kennedy slotted the hosts ahead from the spot with eight minutes remaining, after Steve Seddon had been fouled by substitute Brennan Dickenson in the area.
And two minutes later, Sonupe wrapped up Stevenage's win when he calmly lifted a shot past Barnes, from Guthrie's pass.