[19][20] Strikers Patrick Agyemang and Dani López were signed before the close of the summer transfer window,[21] while defenders Andy Iro and Ben Chorley were acquired mid-season.
[27][28][29] Sitting in fifth position at the start of December,[30] Stevenage would go on to win just five league matches out of the remaining 25,[31] although did secure notable victories over promotion-chasing Brentford and Sheffield United.
[64] It was also revealed that due to the first-team's pre-season tour to Dublin, the club would instead be sending a Stevenage XI side, composed of trialists and youth players, to the arranged fixture against Hitchin Town on 24 July.
Shortly after the interval, summer signing Marcus Haber headed in a Filipe Morais corner to restore parity, with the game ultimately finishing at one goal apiece.
[71][72] The club then embarked on their pre-season tour of Dublin, arriving on 20 July and playing their first match a day later — beating St James's Gate 7–0, courtesy of four goals from midfielder Robin Shroot, a brace from Michael Thalassitis, and a free-kick from Greg Tansey.
UCD replied instantly when Daniel Ledwith's left wing free-kick evaded everyone, before Shroot scored his second of the game with fifteen minutes remaining with an individual effort.
[76] Stevenage then lost 4–2 away to Bishop's Stortford, fielding a mixture of first-team players, trialists and members of the youth team, with Filipe Morais and Robin Shroot scoring for the away side.
[83] Carlisle took the lead with just twenty minutes remaining, substitute Danny Cadamarteri neatly setting Matty Robson free down the left wing, who drove the ball across goal and into the bottom corner of the net.
Stevenage equalised ten minutes later when a counterattack culminated with a Luke Freeman shot being parried into the path of an onrushing Robin Shroot, who swept the ball home from just inside the area.
A Gregor Robertson free-kick was blocked, but found its way to Max Clayton on the left wing, who rifled the ball across goal where A-Jay Leitch-Smith was on hand to connect from close range.
Luke Freeman halved Stevenage's deficit midway through the first-half when he unleashed a shot from 25-yards, following good work from Patrick Agyemang and Lucas Akins, which left Crewe goalkeeper Alan Martin rooted to the spot.
Stevenage had Anthony Grant sent-off early in the second half for two bookable offences, before Colchester's Sanchez Watt scored the deciding goal with a drilled finish two minutes later.
Shortly after the interval, Lucas Akins was on hand to turn in substitute Marcus Haber's low cross, before James Dunne's deflected effort doubled Stevenage's advantage and put the game beyond doubt.
The away side scored early on through Stuart Beavon's powerful strike, before Stevenage's Greg Tansey briefly restored parity with a curling effort from the edge of the area.
The game came to life with just ten minutes left; Tranmere striker Jake Cassidy found space in the area, and headed in Adam McGurk's cross unmarked.
Stevenage then hit the post late-on through Robin Shroot, before equalising deep into stoppage time when Greg Tansey picked up Mark Roberts' pass and curled a looping shot over Owain Fôn Williams in the Tranmere goal.
Marcus Haber scored his third goal of the season when he reacted quickest after his initial header had rebounded off the post, giving Stevenage the lead after twenty minutes.
[108] Doncaster, without a manager at the time of the game due to Dean Saunders leaving for Wolverhampton Wanderers, scored twice late-on to secure victory after Stevenage had led through James Dunne's powerful half-volley.
However, Oldham fought back with second-half goals from Dean Furman and James Tarkowski, taking all three points and inflicting Stevenage's eighth defeat in ten matches.
Having dominated the match for large spells, the home side took the lead with fifteen minutes left when Marcus Haber dinked the ball over Simon Moore in the Brentford goal.
Returning from a loan spell at Barnet, striker Dani López made his first start for the club; opening the scoring just before half-time after turning Neill Collins inside the area and beating George Long in the Sheffield United goal.
López scored his hat-trick just after the hour mark when Anthony Grant broke free and played a through ball to the Spanish forward, who then unleashed an unstoppable shot from just inside the area.
Lucas Akins added Stevenage's fourth goal of the match with twenty minutes to go when he cut inside and beat Long with a low curling shot.
[34] Stevenage captain Mark Roberts was placed in caretaker charge while the club searched for a new manager,[34] but could not prevent a 3–1 defeat by Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park on 24 March, a game that was televised live on Sky Sports.
Tranmere went ahead after ten minutes when Zoumana Bakayoko tapped in from close range, before Stevenage equalised almost instantly courtesy of a curling Luke Freeman free-kick.
[127] A week later, Stevenage fell to a 2–0 home defeat by promotion-chasing Yeovil Town, with second-half goals from Sam Foley and James Hayter securing the win for the visitors.
The hosts opened the scoring after fifteen minutes when Luke Freeman drove a left-wing ball across goal, which was ultimately turned into his own net by AFC Wimbledon defender Pim Balkestein.
[36][37] A day after the win over Wimbledon, on 15 August, the second round draw was made, with Stevenage being dealt another home tie, this time against Premier League opposition in the form of newly promoted Southampton.
Substitute Michael Thalassitis scored his first goal for the club in injury-time to reduce the deficit, netting from an acute angle after good work down the right from David Gray.
Second-half substitute Robin Shroot halved Stevenage's deficit with a driven effort fifteen minutes from time, although ultimately it was Dagenham who held on to progress to the Second Round.