Exeter moved into the Sky Bet League Two automatic promotion places with a hard fought 2-1 win against Stevenage.Second-half goals from Lloyd James and Pierce Sweeney earned Exeter the win, with Matt Godden volleying in a late consolation for the visitors.Exeter went close in the 11th minute when Hiram Boateng's free kick was headed goalwards by Jayden Stockley but Joe Fryer saved well and the goalkeeper picked himself up quickly to then deny Jordan Moore-Taylor on the rebound.Ryan Harley then fired straight at Fryer from distance before the goalkeeper pulled off a fine stop to deny Sweeney.Stevenage's first effort came in the 36th minute when Luke Wilkinson looped a header harmlessly over the crossbar.The break through finally came eight minutes into the second half when Liam McAlinden slipped in James and he rolled the ball past Fryer from 10 yards.Sweeney then made it 2-0 in the 74th minute when Fryer could only parry McAlinden's shot into his path leaving the defender with a simple tap-in.Stevenage pulled a goal back with 10 minutes remaining when Godden volleyed in from 10 yards. Luke Wilkinson thought he had equalised on with less than a minute on the clock only for Christy Pym to get a fingertip to his volley and divert the ball onto the crossbar.Exeter should have wrapped things up in stoppage time, but substitute Matt Jay inexplicably headed against the bar with the goal at his mercy.