SAINTS B team suffered late heartbreak as they were edged out by Stevenage at Lamex Stadium.

Dave Horseman's side looked like they were set to make a winning start to their EFL Trophy campaign, with Callum Slattery putting them ahead.

However, Marcus Dinanga equalised on the stroke of half time, with Stevenage going on to win 2-1 thanks to Tyrone Marsh's close-range finish.

Saints including first-team right-back Yan Valery amongst their starting line-up, and he was quickly into the action, with a dangerous early cross.

The visitors were matching their experienced opponents with Dan N'Lundulu going close, before Femi Akinwande struck the post with Saints goalkeeper Harry Lewis helpless.

And it was Horseman's side who took the lead on 37 minutes. After Jake Hesketh had been tripped by Romain Vincelot, Slattery stepped up and his deflected free-kick beat Jamie Cumming in the Stevenage goal.

But the scores were levelled with the last kick of the first half as Dinanga curled an effort across goal beyond Lewis.

N'Lundulu missed a presentable opportunity to give Saints the lead again, before the late disappointment.

Just after Hesketh had gone close and with a penalty shootout looming to earn either side an extra point from the evening, League Two Stevenage burst clear to snatch the win with substitute Elliot Osborne picking out Marsh to tuck home.

The B team's next game in the EFL Trophy group stage comes at Northampton Town on October 6.

Saints: Lewis, Valery (Kpohomouh, 90+2), Ramsay, Tchaptchet (O'Connor, 58), Ferry, Slattery, Jankewitz, Chauke, Hesketh, N'Lundulu, Mitchell (Olaigbe, 68).

Unused subs: Scott, Morris, Defise, Agbontohoma.