STEVENAGE, England (Interstat) — A late strike from forward Daniel Kemp delivered a 1-0 victory for Stevenage over Reading in a League One match on Saturday at The Lamex Stadium, defying pregame projections that favored the visitors.

The match, the opening fixture of the season for both clubs in England’s third tier, was a tightly contested affair settled by a single moment of quality in the 85th minute. The goal came against the run of statistical expectations, as analytics firm Interstat had given Reading a 57.40 percent probability to win and had simulated a 1-1 draw.

The decisive play began with a Stevenage substitution, as midfielder Daniel Phillips entered the match and quickly made an impact. Phillips collected the ball in midfield and played a penetrating pass to fellow substitute Paudie O’Connor on the right flank. O’Connor’s first-time cross was met by another substitute, Jeriel Dorsett, who headed the ball back across the face of the goal. There, Kemp arrived to finish from close range, securing all three points for the home side.

The assist was credited to Jamie Reid, the Stevenage forward who was involved in the buildup. Reid’s involvement came earlier in the sequence before the substitutes combined for the finish.

The match was a physical encounter, reflected in four yellow cards issued by the officiating crew. Stevenage’s Reid was booked in the 15th minute, setting a combative tone. Reading’s Dorsett received a caution in the 55th minute, and O’Connor was shown a yellow card in the 70th minute, just minutes after both had entered the match. Stevenage’s Daniel Phillips was booked in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time.

With the result, Stevenage begins its League One campaign with a win, moving its record to 1-0-0. Reading starts with a loss, falling to 0-1-0. The records are identical across all competitions for both sides at this early stage of the season.

The victory provides a positive start for Stevenage under the management of Steve Evans, showcasing resilience and effective use of substitutes to break down a stubborn Reading defense. For Reading, managed by Rubén Sellés, the defeat is an early setback in a season where they were considered slight favorites coming into the fixture. The Royals will rue their inability to convert possession and probability into goals, as their attack was stifled throughout the 90 minutes.

The game’s only goal scorer, Daniel Kemp, was named the official man of the match for his decisive contribution. His 85th-minute intervention ensured the home supporters at The Lamex Stadium celebrated a winning start to the 2025-26 League One season.