Stourbridge 3 Witton Albion 0

Having taken just a solitary point from the previous three matches over the festive period, manager Gary Hackett must have been hoping his men would prove a point as he named an unchanged line-up from the defeat to Rushall on New Year's Day. With three players having departed the club in the last few days, however, there was an inexperienced look to the substitutes bench with youth teamers Shane Grainger and Lewis McPike drafted in.

With Witton in much-improved form since their early season woes, a tough challenge was expected, but Stourbridge were to impose themselves from the start and establish a grip on the game that they never looked like relinquishing.

The Glassboys were ahead as early as the 9th minute, with Exodus Geohaghon meeting Drew Canavan's corner with a firm header to open his account for the club.

There was a scare for Stourbridge on 15 minutes, however, as Luke Clark's swerving free kick came back off the crossbar, with the visitors claiming a penalty, to no avail, as Joe Shaw went down chasing the rebound.

With that close call fresh in their minds, Stourbridge were relieved to gain the cushion of a second goal on 21 minutes. An excellent pass from Luke Benbow put Kayelden Brown clear and the wide-man slotted past Andrew Robertson.

Benbow himself went close to a third goal on 28 minutes, shooting just wide, and only a good block from Robertson denied Benbow again on 35 minutes.

With nothing to lose, Witton made a change at the interval and opted for a more attacking shape, but it was the Glassboys who threatened again through Brown who should have done better with his finish on the counter.

But the third goal needed to kill off the visitors' challenge did finally come after 63 minutes when Canavan cut the ball back into the area from the dead ball line, and although Chris Knight missed his attempt, George Bowerman made no mistake to fire home from close range.

With the points effectively secured, Stourbridge saw the game out with little further alarm.

The win lifts the Glassboys back up to 10th place in the Premier Division table, five places and six points off a play-off spot.

Stourbridge: Coleman, Bowerman, Brown (McPike 80), Morris, Richards (Fitzpatrick 77), Geohaghon, Haynes, Broadhurst, Benbow (Morgan-Parker 89), Canavan, Knight.

Unused substitutes: Tye, Grainger.

Attendance: 404.