Stourbridge 1 Trafford 1

After an encouraging display, despite the defeat, against Vanarama Conference Kidderminster Harriers in midweek, Gary Hackett made two changes to the starting line-up with Kayelden Brown and Tyrone Williams returning in place of Brian Smikle and Jordan Fitzpatrick, both of whom were on the substitutes' bench alongside Reece Hales, who was deemed fit after his recent injury.

Stourbridge started brightly against their relegation-threatened opposition. Leon Broadhurst headed wide from an early corner, before Drew Canavan struck the outside of the post with a first-time shot from 10 yards in the 4th minute.

There were shouts for a Stourbridge penalty after 11 minutes as Josh Quaynor went down under a strong challenge from behind, but referee Eagland remained unmoved, whilst there was a scare for the Glassboys at the other end three minutes alter as Chris McDonagh nipped in ahead of Coleman to meet a left-wing cross and turn the ball into the net, only to be thwarted by an offside flag.

James McCarthy's shot on the turn for the visitors was held comfortably by Coleman on 18 minutes as Trafford came into the game more, and the same player was just unable to connect with another cross at the far post after 28 minutes.

The Glassboys were struggling to make much impact as the half wore on, with only a deflected effort from Brown which Tom Read held comfortably, and then a 25 yard shot by Luke Benbow that Read claimed at the second attempt, to show for their efforts.

Chris Mulholland might have done better for the visitors as the break approached, shooting wildly over the bar after getting the better of Leon Miles and Chris Knight.

The half time interval brought a change, with Smikle replacing Quaynor, but instead of perking up the Glassboys it had the opposite effect as confusion between Coleman and Williams left Andy Smart with a relatively simple opportunity to open the scoring and leave Stourbridge chasing the game.

For a while the Glassboys struggled to rouse themselves, until Benbow's clever pass on 55 minutes put Brown in on goal only for Read to come out and block. The resulting corner was inadvertently headed over his own bar by a Trafford defender.

Knight created an opening on 61 minutes with a run down the right but his low cross was cut out by Steve Mason with substitute Josh Morgan-Parker lurking, and Read fell on the loose ball to quell any danger. And it was Read again who saved twice in a minute from Benbow and Smikle as the Glassboys began to exert pressure.

There was still danger at the other end, though, as McCarthy's low ball flashed across the six yard box on 78 minutes with nobody on hand to turn it in, before Smikle headed wide from Broadhurst's cross on 81 minutes.

With time running out, and the Glassboys becoming more frantic in their attempts to find a way through, it seemed that all was lost. However, Knight produced a cross from the right wing three minutes into stoppage time that beat the Trafford defence and was met on the volley by Brown who slotted it past Read from 8 yards.

On possession and territory Stourbridge were worthy of the draw at the very least, but Trafford will justifiably consider themselves unfortunate not to have taken all three points after a dogged and hard-working display that belied their position in the table.

The result means that Stourbridge remain 11th in the Premier Division table.

Stourbridge: Coleman, Brown, Quaynor (Smikle HT), Richards, Williams, Miles, Connolly (Morgan-Parker 56), Broadhurst, Benbow (Hales 73), Canavan, Knight.

Unused substitutes: Fitzpatrick, McPike.

Attendance: 330.