For once, victory paled almost into insignificance for Steve Evans as his sheer delight over the two goals for Elliott List took over.

The striker came off the bench to bag two as Stevenage beat Cheltenham Town 3-0 in League One, his first since returning from a season-long knee injury last term.

And the Boro boss couldn't have been prouder.

He said: "I’m really pleased for Elliott List. It’s been a long 15 months for him.

"He did his ACL in the first game of last season and the reaction from the group, including everyone on the bench, was pure joy when he scored his goals.

"If he’d watched my finishing in training he could’ve had three. In fact, he was annoyed he missed one and I had to remind him he’d scored two, we’d won 3-0 and it was a good day at the office."

Jordan Roberts had fired them in front at Whaddon Road after seven minutes but they didn't have it all their own way against a home side who had sacked manager Wade Elliott three days earlier, certainly in the first half.

Jovan Malcolm hit the bar and Krisztian Hegyi had to produce a flying save just before the break to keep the visitors' noses in front.

The second half became comfortable once List's cameo began.

Evans said: "We’re delighted with the performance overall and should’ve scored three in the first 15 minutes.

"Cheltenham then came back into it and hit the bar. But in the second half it could’ve been anything. It was one-way traffic.

"They’re between managers which creates uncertainty for the players, but we were the superior side."