As boss Gary Hackett had intimated in the week, the Glassboys have some hard work ahead of them prior to the big kick-off on August 14th and he will certainly looking for some improved defensive showings following this loss at Rushall Olympic who overall deserved their 2 - 1 victory.

In a generally entertaining and rather stretched game, the Evo-stik League Division One South side were quickest out of the blocks and went close on 6 minutes as Danny Ludlow cut in from the left and fired an angled low shot wide of Sam Pearson's left-hand post. Three minutes later another former Glassboy, striker Chris Morris ought to have scored after running clear and going round Pearson only to screw his shot wide. Stourbridge hit back with Sam Rock shooting over from 25 yards and then a ball in from the right by Aaron Drake was taken down well by Linden Dovey whose 20-yard shot was held by keeper Chris Gemmell. With 27 minutes played however Rushall grabbed the opening goal of the game as the ball was hooked forward towards Morris who shrugged off the attentions of Jamie Oliver before beating Pearson with a low shot into the bottom corner of the net. Two minutes later Anthony Maguire drilled a free-kick wide for the hosts and then on 34 minutes Stuart McNaught set up another chance for Morris whose shot was blocked by Pearson. The Glassboys searched for an equaliser, but a good save from Gemmell following a Drew Canavan corner ensured the Pics continued to lead at the break.

Six minutes after the re-start, the Glassboys might have levelled as Rock laid the ball back for Dovey whose sidefoot effort flew off-target, but play quickly switched to the other end where Rushall had penalty claims turned down as sub Craig Bannister pounced on a defensive slip and tumbled under challenge as he rounded Pearson, but the referee rejected home shouts. Stourbridge threatened again on 58 minutes as Drake looked to work an opening on the edge of the box, but having made room, he delayed his shot and allowed a defender to get in a block at the expense of a corner. Two minutes later the Glassboys had another opportunity as Drake drove forward before slipping in Dovey on his outside whose low shot ran past the far post and another chance went begging on 62 minutes as a free-kick from Canavan was only half cleared and Dovey returned the ball back into the box where an unmarked Nathan Bennett guided his header wide. These spurned opportunities proved costly as Rushall struck in fine fashion to double their lead in the 65th minute. Bannister laid the ball off well for Ludlow to hit a crisp low drive past Pearson. Rushall then had chances to further extend their advantage with Bannister shooting wide on 78 minutes and McNaught striking the post from the left-hand side of the area seven minutes later. Two minutes from time though the Glassboys pulled a goal back as Paul Lloyd clipped in a good cross from the right for Linden Dovey to volley home from close range, but just before the end, Sam Pearson had to be carried off with a leg injury after a coming together with Duane Hepburn which meant that youth team goalkeeping coach Steve Meeson went between the sticks for what little time was left.