Dagenham could have had a penalty inside the opening 15 minutes when Barry Laker appeared to handle in the area, while the home side's only threats were two tame efforts by Darryn Stamp, one off target and one easily saved.
Stevenage were indebted to a great saving tackle by Dannie Bulman on Glen Southam to keep it goalless.
The game erupted ten minutes before half-time when Elding and Paul Bruce clashed. Both players were cautioned with the Dagenham man particularly lucky not to see red after violently pushing the Boro striker.
The incident seemed to wake up the home side and Justin Gregory sent a 30-yarder just past the post and Daggers keeper Tony Roberts had to acrobatically push away Matt Hocking's header after Bulman put the ball into the danger area.
Stevenage finally took the lead three minutes into added time when Bulman's free-kick from near the halfway line was driven in and Elding claimed the final touch.
After the break Dagenham threatened first when Chris Moore blazed wide when a shooting opportunity opened up.
Boro continued to threaten and in the 70th minute Roberts performed heroics to keep out Dino Maamria's close-range shot following a corner.
Minutes later Roberts was again tested by a Bulman shot which sent him sprawling.
Stevenage introduced all three substitutes at various stages during the last quarter of an hour but the points were never really in doubt.