Witton Albion 2 Stourbridge 1

With manager Gary Hackett absent, Jon Ford was in charge of team affairs, and there were four changes from Saturday's defeat at Curzon Ashton. New signing Chris Lait came in for his debut after arriving from Rushall Olympic, whilst Brian Smikle, Reece Hales and Jordan Fitzpatrick all returned to the starting line-up. Drew Canavan, Kayelden Brown and Aron Wint took their places on the bench, whilst Will Richards was unavailable.

The opening stages were tight with few chances at either end, although Dean Coleman had to be alert to save smartly from Alex Titchiner after 7 minutes.

Lait fired over the bar for the Glassboys on 22 minutes after good work by Fitzpatrick, but Witon threatened again five minutes later as Titchiner diverted Jamie Rainford's cross goalwards only for Coleman to save again.

However, the home side did make the breakthrough on 35 minutes as Rainford touched home at the second attempt after a clever pass from Luke Clark.

And that advantage was doubled right on half time as Titchiner converted Jon Dawson's driven cross from the left.

Stourbridge were forced into a change at the break as Kayelden Brown replaced the injured Chris Knight, and it was Brown who cut the deficit and brought the Glassboys right back into the game just six minutes into the second period. Having already seen his 48th minute shot tipped onto the woodwork by Witton keeper Andy Robertson, Brown then ran onto a through ball to drive home past Robertson's left hand.

But any thoughts of a resurgence were dealt a blow with a further three minutes played when Hales reacted to a tackle by Joe Shaw and shoved the Witton man to the ground leaving the referee with little option other than to show the red card.

Undeterred, the Glassboys were almost level on 56 minutes as Robertson saved with his boot from Fitzpatrick when the Stourbridge man was left one-on-one, and then almost immediately a half-chance fell to Luke Benbow, who was unable to bring the ball under control.

Brian Smikle headed wide from a free kick after 74 minutes, and then Coleman was forced into a good save to deny Witton on 78 minutes, with the loose ball cleared to safety.

A better second-half showing from Stourbridge, but Witton did enough in the first period to be able to hold on to all three points.

Stourbridge: Coleman, Smikle (Wint 84), Fitzpatrick, Williams, Benbow, Miles, Connolly, Broadhurst, Hales, Lait (Canavan 77), Knight (Brown 45).

Unused substitutes: Morgan-Parker, Quaynor.

Attendance: 220.