Stourbridge Fanzine

Report

Stourbridge bowed out of the FA Cup, but not before making their fans immensely proud by pushing League One local rivals Walsall all the way before losing by the only goal.

In front of a crowd of over 2,000, the Glassboys made their first appearance in the FA Cup First Round proper. Inevitably, Walsall produced many moments of real class but Stourbridge can take great heart from the fact that Clayton Ince had to make more saves than Stuart Brock and possession was 55/45% in Stour’s favour.

The only goal of the game came on 34 minutes and was a high class finish from Steve Jones, the Saddlers right winger. Jones latched onto a loose ball down the right wing, advanced at pace into the penalty area, cut inside Sam Smith and lashed a left foot thunderbolt past Brock.

The Glassboys certainly did not fold after this setback and could have equalised on three occasions before the break.

First, Sean Evans shaped to curl a cross into the area from a free kick 25 yards out. Instead, he rifled a shot around the defensive wall which Ince did very well to turn around the post at full stretch.

From the resulting corner, Nathan Bennett headed just over from 6 yards.

Finally, Evans was sent down the left wing and fired another low drive inside the near post which Ince again turned aside for a corner.

Stourbridge had a scare on 53 minutes when a cross shot was chested into the net by Darren Byfield, but from an off side position only 1 yard from the goal line.

Stour never gave up and fashioned a number of half chances. Ben Billingham sliced a shot wide from the edge of the area, Ryan Rowe shot straight at Ince from close range and Evans volleyed over in the closing stages.

In addition, the Glassboys had two penalty shouts when first Rowe and then Evans crashed shots into Walsall defenders and appealed loudly for handball. In fairness, neither particularly looked like a deliberate offence.

On the counter, Walsall carried a real threat. Byfield found the side netting after one pacey run and had another effort blocked by Brock. Alex Nicholls, on as a substitute, fired a 20 yard effort from the right hand edge of the area which clipped the top of the crossbar.

In the end, that certain bit of league quality in the penalty area won the day for the Saddlers but they knew they had been in a real fight. For the Glassboys, every player gave their all and no-one let the side down. In particular, Drew Canavan had an inspirational game in midfield; Sam Smith was a tower of strength at the back but Nathan Bennett, with a superb display, was the Glassboy's star player.

The players and the management team rightly left the field to a standing ovation. Walsall go into the Second Round with our best wishes.

Report by Mark Binner