Stourbridge Fanzine

Report

The Glassboys earned a tremendous point with a fully committed performance against one of the league’s fancied teams; Hednesford. Stourbridge had to defend with great determination as the visitors won a series of corners but also had their opportunities with a series of flowing counter attacks. They also had two decent penalty shouts in the closing moments but Hednesford certainly deserved a share of the spoils.

For most of the first half, the visitors did the majority of the pressing but their final shot on goal was generally lacking. Stourbridge were limited to a series of counter attacks, the best of which saw Sean Evans being sent away down the inside left channel before firing in a rising left foot shot which was brilliantly tipped over by Gavin Ward in the Hednesford goal.

Just when it looked like Stourbridge would get to the break on level terms, they conceded a poor goal from a right wing corner. Ben Bailey, the visitor’s centre half got a free header from 6 yards and duly put Hednesford one up.

In injury time, before the break, Stour came close to equalising. Ryan Rowe was felled 25 yards out and Drew Canavan brilliantly curled the free kick over the wall but the ball struck the bar and away to safety.

Stourbridge started the second half well and within nine minutes they got back on level terms; putting great pressure on the visitor’s goal. Sean Evans saw a volley blocked and Drew Canavan followed up with a driven right foot volley which Ward could only push out to Nathan Bennett who powered home the equaliser.

On 61 minutes, Hednesford hit the top of the bar from their own 25 yard free kick and later Tyrone Barnett headed straight at Solly in the visitors' best chance of the half.

Stour kept pressing forward and were more than holding their own in the closing stages. Indeed, Nathan Bennett had two decent penalty shouts which might have given the Glassboys a victory. First he appeared to be pulled back by Barnett and right at the death he was clearly pushed in the back by Richard Walker.

This was a tremendous battling performance by the Glassboys with five star performances throughout the team.

Report by Mark Binner