The impressive Grays' away following, their largest of the season so far, turned the heat up, before the clash but they were unable to spark an exciting opening.
Instead, both sides struggled to stamp their authority on the contest with chances proving few and far between.
George Boyd probed from the Boro midfield while former Boro man Justin Richards was a powerful option up front for the visitors.
Indeed, so tight was the clash that it took a full 25 minutes for either side to create anything of note, Ronnie Henry heading the ball into the arms of Grays keeper Ashley Bayes from a Boyd corner. Grays to had a half chance of their own, Dennis Oli flicking a header just wide following a Jay Smith cross from the right flank.
Just as it appeared there would be nothing of note, the game suddenly exploded into life, and it was the home side who saw a host of chances culminate in the opening goal.
Grays began to look nervous around their own box and they were punished for conceding too many free-kicks. The first effort from Adam Miller on 35 minutes was deflected goalwards and only cleared to safety by the intervention of Jamie Stuart.
Henry should have done better two minutes later when he was in the right place at the right time, but although just six yards from goal following a deflected free-kick, he contrived to pass the ball back to Bayes with a tame effort.
Neat interplay between Boyd and Jon Nurse on 39 minutes culminated with a stunning close range block by Bayes from Boyd, but Grays could not hold out and fell behind three minutes before the interval.
A foul by Djouman Sangere on the very edge of the box gave Boro yet another chance to net from a dead ball, and this time they obliged.
Brad Johnson drove the free-kick into the pack of players close to the lin, and the ball fell kindly to Miller, who drove the ball powerfully home before celebrating in front of the massed away following.
Miller could well have been celebrating soon after, driving an effort just wide of the post a minute before the break.
Grays needed to come out fighting after the interval and they did just that, dominating most of the second period. The home defence were forced back from the outset as a number of chances fell to the visitors.
Glenn Poole was the Grays dangerman who switched flanks to cause all manner of problems on the right side. He flashed a shot wide on 57 minutes and just a minute later looked to have scored, his drive from an angle on the right superbly tipped over by Alan Julian.
Richards had his fair share of the ball, but was unable to get close to scoring, his best effort a snapshot at Julian on the hour.
Jamie Stuart saw a header glanced just wide and Lee Boylan would have hoped to have done better on 78 minutes, his turn and shot just clearing the bar after a ball in from Stuart Thurgood.
Boro may have had just one chance of note in the second period, but although Boyd drilled across the goal, it didn't matter and Stimson had the pleasure of collecting the three points on behalf of his new club.