On their return to action at the War Memorial Ground, Stourbridge got off to a dream start as the visitors skippered by ex-Glassboy Dan Scarr, were punished for some sluggish early play. The hosts again trialled a three-man back-line with McCone, Pierpoint and Preston occupying the central defensive positions for over an hour.

With just four minutes gone Jordan Archer rose to glance home a left-wing cross from summer signing Bobby Moseley and just three minutes later Archer was on the score-sheet again, steeling a march on his marker to power home a near post header from a right-wing corner.

As Blues worked their way back into the game, they enjoyed a good passage of play midway through the half with Beryly Lubala providing the biggest threat. He drew Matt Gould's first save of the evening after 21 minutes with a low shot that the Stour stopper saved down to his right and a few minutes later he wriggled his way through before seeing his goal-bound shot deflected for a corner. Lakin then beat two before sending his shot too close to Gould. In the 30th minute Wes McDonald hit a low 20-yard drive past the post and a minute later Lakin spurned the best chance when he could only lift the ball over the bar as he ran on to a low cross. In stoppage time Gould got safely behind a free-kick from Olly Mulders to bring the half to an end.

Blues made a string of changes at the break, while Stour continued initially with their starting eleven. Matt Gould had a let-off after 50 minutes when he was unable to hold a low shot from Wes McDonald, but Paul McCone was on hand to clear. Five minutes later Gould was called into action again to tip a rising shot from the edge of the box from Jack Storer over the bar.

As the home side began to ring their changes, Brandon Hague had the ball in the net within a minute of being introduced, only to be denied by a flag for offside. Soon afterwards Ryan Rowe had a 30-yard shot saved by Conal Trueman. Blues responded with Odin Bailey arrowing in a shot from 25 yards that produced a good save from Gould down to his left to divert the ball for a corner and from the resulting flag-kick taken by Bailey, Harding halved the deficit in the 72nd minute with a near post header that Gould couldn't keep out. Stourbridge almost hit back straightaway with Trueman making a good reflex diving save from McCone and in the closing stages there were chances at either end. Stour sub keeper Tom Hayward made a point blank save to deny Storer from McCoy's centre, while Josh Cooke was twice denied by Trueman and Hague had a low angled shot touched round the post by Trueman at full stretch.

Stour - Gould, Westlake, Preston, McCone, Pierpoint, Gater, Brown, O'Callaghan, Rowe, Archer, Moseley

Subs - Canavan (for Gater 59 mins), Hague (for Brown 59 mins), Green (for Moseley 64 mins), Wedderburn (for Preston 64 mins), Cooke (for Archer 64 mins), Hayward (for Gould 80 mins)

Att - 640

SEASON TICKET/FLEXI TICKET/MEMBERSHIP SALES

The Club Shop will be open at the following times over the next few days for both the sale of club merchandise and leisurewear and season tickets, flexi tickets and memberships.

THURSDAY, 20TH JULY - between 1 pm and 2.30 pm

FRIDAY, 21ST JULY - between 1 pm and 2.30 pm

SATURDAY, 22ND JULY - between 10 am and 11.30 am

STOURBRIDGE head to Stourport Swifts of the Midland Football League Premier Division on Saturday (kick-off 3 pm). The Glassboys then welcome Redditch United to the War Memorial Ground on Tuesday, 25th July (7.45 pm) when it's football for a fiver evening!