Shildon 1 Stourbridge 1

Although the Glassboys had the better of the first half and might feel they should have had something to show for it, the home side held the upper hand after the break and will probably be disappointed not to have taken at least one of their chances.

Stourbridge had the first chance after 17 minutes when Kayelden Brown's shot from an angle drifted wide of the far post, and it was Brown again who saw his shot blocked at close range shortly afterwards, after Ben Billingham's cross had caused problems for the home defence.

Will Richards saw his header from Billingham's corner thump off the crossbar on the half-hour, although the referee pulled play back for a foul, and then a cross from Shildon's Michael Rae seemed to catch Dean Coleman out before skimming off the bar to safety at the other end.

Amidst all this, the home side managed to pick up four bookings, although the game was never particularly feisty.

A minute from the break, Billingham almost produced a moment of magic to open the scoring, his lob from 30 yards causing Kyle Hayes in the home goal to back-pedal furiously before tipping the ball over the crossbar.

The Glassboys would have been hoping to build on that good first half display but Shildon clearly came out fired up for the second period and had their best chance so far within the first couple of minutes. A long through ball put Ben Wood clear and with Coleman seemingly stranded he managed to place his shot just wide of the post.

Coleman was forced to make a good diving save from Wood's shot on 61 minutes, and the same player came close again on 66 minutes when his clever looping header forced Coleman to tip away from under the bar much as Hayes had had to do earlier on.

The Glassboys' keeper bettered either of those saves with 10 minutes to play. A Daniel Moore volley from 20 yards seemed destined for the top corner only for Coleman's outstretched hand to turn it away.

Stourbridge came close late on when Billingham turned smartly in the box and Brown was just unable to get his head on the cross when any kind of connection would almost certainly have meant a goal.

Ultimately a draw was probably a fair reflection over the 90 minutes.

We would like to thank all those Glassboys supporters who made the long journey up to County Durham and gave such fine backing to the team in a crowd of 490. It is much appreciated by all at the Club.