Match Report

Stourbridge 1 - 4 Halesowen Town
Evans (3) HT 1-0 Hood (64)
Moore (69, 90)
Richards (86)
Starting Line-Up Starting Line-Up
Lewis Solly 1 Date 1 Nick Bussey
Aaron Drake 2 Monday 31 August 2 Craig Connor
Alex Cowley 3   3 Aaron Griffiths
Ross Collins 4 Competition 4 Stefan Morley
Drew Canavan 5 Premier League 5 Jamie Hood
Nathan Bennett 6   6 Tom Breward
Craig Slater 7 Referee 7 Matthew Dodds
James Dyson 8 Mr M Howes 8 Scott Rickards
Ryan Rowe 9   9 Stefan Moore
Ben Billingham 10 Attendance 10 Jamie Johnson
Sean Evans 11 656 11 Paul O'Brien
Substitutes Substitutes
Sam Rock 12   12 Luke Barlone
Joe Williams 14   14 Ease
Sam Smith 15   15 Steven Cooke
Dreniz Bala 16   16 Smith
Jon Ford 17   17 Chris Gray

Report

Stourbridge got off to a flying start in this Derby game against local rivals, Halesowen Town. However, they subsequently lost their way and the Yeltz came storming back in the second period to register four goals without reply in what was ultimately a very disappointing performance by the Glassboys.

The game was only 3 minutes old when Stourbridge stormed into the lead. A throw in was controlled well by Ryan Rowe and laid off to Sean Evans. The Stour left winger flew past Craig Connor, Halesowen’s right back, and drove a low shot across the goal into the far corner of the net.

Evans was looking head and shoulders above every other player on the park in the first 20 minutes and a piece of brilliance nearly gave Stourbridge the chance to double their lead. He received the ball 35 yards out with his back to goal and superbly flicked it up and over the Yeltz defence. He then ran clear but just as he was about to cross the ball he stumbled but still managed to flick the ball into Rowe’s path. The Glassboys’ number 9 had a first time effort well held by Nick Bussey, the Halesowen custodian.

Inexplicably, having been the better team for the first 25 minutes, Stourbridge seemed to then settle for a rearguard action aimed at grinding out a 1-0 win. Thereafter, they carried very little threat.

Although, the Glassboys got to the break ahead, Halesowen significantly upped the tempo in the second half and ran out convincing winners.

On 64 minutes, Jamie Hood rose unchallenged to head home a right wing corner. Five minutes later and another right wing corner lead to the ball being headed back across goal for Stefan Moore to chest down and volley into the net.

The game was well and truly made safe with two goals in the last four minutes. First Scott Rickards hammered a right foot free kick around the Stour defensive wall and into the bottom let hand corner.

Finally, with the best move of the whole game, Aaron Griffiths played a 1-2 before curling a low cross into the near post area. Stefan Moore timed his run to perfection and clipped a fine left foot volley into the net off the underside of the bar.

In truth, the Glassboys could have no complaints about the result. They seemed to run out of ambition very early on in the game against a side who certainly did not suffer from the same complaint.

Report by Mark Binner

Back to reports