Boss Alex Revell praised the contribution of two-goal Jamie Reid as Stevenage came from an early goal down to beat Blackpool 3-2 in Skybet League One.
Dan Kemp netted Stevenage’s other goal in his side’s first ever victory at Bloomfield Road.
George Honeyman and Niall Ennis scored the game’s first and last goals after five and 79 minutes but the Tangerines were punished for poor defending.
Reid equalised after 17 minutes and converted a penalty in the 10th minute of first-half stoppage time.
“Jamie has worked extremely hard over pre-season,” said Revell. “His levels went through the roof as we progressively got further down the line.
“He feeds off confidence and opportunities. He had some but we didn’t create him enough last season.
“His first goal came from a player who didn’t think about it. It was instinctive and that’s what he needed.
“The penalty was a tough one against a keeper (Bailey Peacock-Farrell) who he has faced many times. So, it was a big challenge for him.
“His general workrate for the team was good to see but everyone showed what it means to play for the football club.
“We feel we have a special group in what they have together and what they give each other.
“So, when you concede an early goal it can be hard to get back in the game. But we started to become more like ourselves and showed how incredibly hard the lads worked over pre-season.”
Debutant Honeyman punished sloppy play by new boy Jordan Houghton to put Pool in front. But Reid equally capitalised on Fraser Horsfall’s poor back back to level.
His second came after Michael Ihiekwe handled Carl Piergianni’s header before Jordan Roberts set-up Kemp five minutes after half-time following Peacock-Farrell’s poor clearance.
Blackpool boss Steve Bruce admitted: “We gifted them the match. It is a worry for me because that was our Achilles heel last season.
“We gave poor goals away and Stevenage didn’t have to do much because we gifted them three goals; something you probably wouldn’t see on a school pitch.
“That is the frustrating thing because I couldn’t fault their effort or endeavour, especially the way they kept at it.
“We looked capable of being a threat at the top end of the pitch. But we can’t make mistakes like we did. We made basic errors which cost us badly.
“So, we have got to eradicate them and certainly concentrate better. Otherwise, we are never going to progress.
“They had a shot after a minute and apart from the three goals we gifted them it was the only shot on target they had.”
