Stevenage missed the chance to enter the Sky Bet League One automatic promotion places as they were held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man Exeter.

There was little to choose between the sides in a drab first half until Jack Aitchison, already on a booking, received a second yellow card for dissent two minutes before the break.

Boro were quick to make their visitors pay as Carl Piergianni headed Dan Sweeney’s cross into the bottom corner in added time at the end of the first period.

Exeter boss Gary Caldwell was booked for his protests but his half-time alteration had the desired effect as the newly introduced Yanic Wildschut converted Dion Rankine’s cross within two minutes of the restart.

It was the Grecians’ first league goal since October and Wildschut twice came close to adding another before Jordan Roberts fired a glorious chance over from close range at the other end.

Elliott List was later denied by Vil Sinisalo as the struggling visitors held firm through nine minutes of added time to earn a valuable point.