Stevenage gained the upper hand in their League Two play-off semi-final against Accrington with a 2-0 home win in the first leg.
Accrington came into the game on the back of a 13-match unbeaten run which stretched back to mid-March but were out of sorts at Broadhall Way and were comfortably dealt with by Graham Westley's disciplined side.
Stacy Long gave Boro the lead with a deflected strike in the 24th minute before ex-Accy midfielder Joel Byrom pounced to poke home just before the break.
Stanley forward Sean McConvillle spurned a great chance to halve the deficit in the second half but Stevenage deserved a two-goal cushion to take into the second leg at the Crown Ground on Friday.
Boro beat Newcastle in the FA Cup earlier this season and could cap a remarkable first year in the Football League with promotion.
They are now favourites to book a place in the final at Old Trafford although John Coleman's side have only dropped two points in their last 11 home games.
Stanley winger Jimmy Ryan made it into the League Two team of the year and has recently been linked with an improbable summer move to Spanish side Real Zaragoza.
And it was the former Liverpool trainee, 22, that had the first effort as his stinging volley was well blocked by Ronnie Henry.
Long then had the first sighter for the hosts, cutting in from the left to send a curling effort just wide of Alex Cisak's far post.
Long opener
Stevenage captain Mark Roberts hooked an effort over from a corner before the home side took the lead. Henry's throw-in found Roberts in the box and although Andy Procter got a foot in, Long swept the loose ball goalwards from just inside the box and his shot deflected off Sean Hessey past keeper Cisak.
Darius Charles went close to a spectacular second when his dipping volley from fully 25 yards looped over Cisak and came back off a post.
Stevenage were well on top and doubled their lead just before the break. Henry crossed from the right, Charles nodded down towards goal and Byrom was brave to get to the bouncing ball before a hesitant Cisak and loop a shot into the net.
Stanley knew they had to breach the best defence in the division to claw their way back into contention after the break but, despite the superb support of their travelling fans, they struggled to make an impression.
Ryan and Terry Gornell combined well to get in behind on a rare attack but Stevenage easily cleared while Long threatened at the other end with a long-range shot which was held by Cisak.
McConville was then played in on goal by an errant backpass from Scott Laird but the winger hesitated as he tried to round Chris Day in the Stevenage goal and he fell in front of Ryan as he turned the loose ball goalwards, deflecting it wide and denying Ryan a certain goal.
McConville should have shot or squared it to Ryan, and it took a cynical foul by Luke Joyce on Long to halt a Stevenage break and prevent Accy being further behind heading into the return leg.
Chat about this story w/ TalkitaSource: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12040_6934226,00.html
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