But unlike their reverse to Dagenham seven days earlier, there was no cheer for the home support who saw their side stifled by a well-drilled Northwich side, who put men behind the ball and made it difficult throughout.
The game began with a pre-season friendly feel and neither side appeared able to inject the urgency needed. Boro were heavily reliant on the inspiration of George Boyd, but the maestro was on his own in his attempts to unlock the solid Vics defence.
A clever turn and shot across goal on eight minutes from Boyd did raise hopes among the home support, but in truth the Vics looked comfortable and began to ask questions of the Boro back four.
Michael Carr would have hoped to have done better when he failed to connect properly from close range and Danny Mayman unleashed an unstoppable 20-yard volley on 17 minutes that flew just wide.
The visitors continued to carve out the better chances and Tony Gallimore had their next effort just two minutes later with a free-kick that was deflected narrowly wide for a corner.
Boro appeared unable to get out of their own half and soon after Northwich made their possession pay with a controversial opener on 21 minutes. Alan Julian looked to have punched clear from a corner, but referee Mr Gibbs shocked the hosts by awarding a penalty, citing Jon Nurse as the guilty party for pulling Johnny Allan's shirt.
Stuart Elliott made the most of his opportunity and although Julian guessed right and dived to his left, the ball crashed into the back of the net.
Boro looked for an instant reply and thought they had found it when Mark Beard deflected a long-range John Nutter shot in, but the linesman added to the crowd's woes by disallowing for offside.
The decisions appeared to knock the hosts' confidence and shots across the face of goal by Steve Morison and Criag Dobson were all they could muster before the break.
Indeed the Vics could have added to their lead before the break when Allan forced a fine Julian save.
Boro needed to come out fighting in the second period but instead they allowed Northwich to dictate the pace of the game.
Chances proved elusive and it was the visitors who looked the more likely to add the their lead. Mayman came close with a shot over the bar on 54 minutes, while Carr should have connected with a far-post header following a pin-point cross from Louis Dodds.
Carr again found himself in a good position on 66 minutes as he cut through from the right and unleashed a drive that flashed across the face of goal.
Boro failed to heed the warning and on 70 minutes the game was effectively beyond their grasp. Kevin Townson left Nutter for dead down the left and fired over a cross which gave Dodds time and space to slot past Julian.
Half chances from Boyd and Nurse were all the hosts could muster late on in a game where Stevenage were second best throughout.