Stuart Pierpoint replaced the injured Jack Duggan at the heart of the defence, while Kaiman Anderson stepped in for Callum Powell who missed the trip to the Linnets but hopes to be back in training this week. In addition Brad Birch was handed a starting place in the centre of midfield with Leon Broadhurst dropping down to the bench. New signing Chekaine Steele was amongst the five substitutes named.

Both sides had taken only one point from their two matches over the August Bank Holiday period, but the home team were looking to recapture the form that had led them to go so close to promotion last season.

On a warm afternoon at the Walks Stadium Stourbridge shaded an untidy opening period. In the 5th minute a clearing header from Rory McAuley dropped to Luke Benbow, however his shot was easily gathered by home custodian Alex Street.

Two minutes later though Street was forced into a better save. Stuart Pierpoint lifted the ball forward and Benbow took the ball down well twenty yards from goal. He then twisted and turned his way into the left-hand side of the box before getting away a left-foot shot that Street parried.

The Linnets responded on 12 minutes with their main ball player Michael Clunan delivering in an inswinging free-kick from the left that was nodded on by Toby Hilliard with the ball just evading Ryan Fryatt at the far post.

A mistake from McAuley in the 24th minute provided Benbow with another opportunity but he fired over from the edge of the penalty area.

King's Lynn had another free-kick in a decent position on 27 minutes, but Clunan's 25-yard free-kick was struck at the centre of the goal and James Wren got safely behind it.

The Glassboys threatened again in the 32nd minute. Anderson challenged for a header from a Wren goal-kick and the ball bounced and sat up invitingly for Robert Thompson-Brown to hit a speculative 20-yard shot that flew over the bar.

The finest bit of football in the opening half brought about what proved to be the match winning goal on 43 minutes. Anderson played a short pass inside to Aaron Forde who combined with Robert Thompson-Brown before turning the ball into Birch. He then took a return pass and let the ball run across his body and buried a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

HT King's Lynn Town 0 Stourbridge 1

Stourbridge began the second-half brightly. In the 48th minute a deep left-wing corner from Greg Mills was met by a header at the far post by Paul McCone, however his effort on goal was partially cleared by Craig Parker and after a moment's confusion Street gratefully dropped on the loose ball.

In the 51st minute Mills set Thompson-Brown away down the right and his cross picked out Benbow who saw his header saved by Street.

The Linnets began to ring the changes and the introduction of both Ryan Hawkins and Nathan Stewart did appear to pep up their previously toothless attack. The hosts enjoyed their best spell of the game in the ten minutes after the game reached the hour-mark.

Almost immediately after coming up Hawkins curled a shot off-target from twenty yards. Two minutes later Stewart received the ball on the right and attacked the box, beating Jordaan Brown to the by-line before sending in a low cross that the diving Wren palmed out towards the penalty spot where Hawkins flicked the ball up before trying a lob that went straight into Wren's arms.

The visitors made their first substitution after 65 minutes with Broadhurst replacing Birch to provide fresh legs in the middle.

King's Lynn threatened again with 67 minutes gone. Jordan Richards fed Clunan in the centre-circle and he clipped the ball forward towards the right channel area where it flicked off McCone allowing Stewart to get in behind him. His first touch though made the angle tighter and Stewart fired his shot high into the side-netting.

Stourbridge steadied the ship and responded with Benbow going close with a free-kick that dipped just over the bar on 74 minutes.

Stourbridge made two further changes soon afterwards with Westlake taking over from Brown and then Steele coming on for his debut in place of the tiring Mills.

In the 83rd minute Stourbridge might have doubled their lead. Ryan Fryatt carried the ball forward for the hosts before being dispossessed by Forde in midfield. This enabled Thompson-Brown to counter and supply a through ball in the right channel area for Benbow who cracked in a low shot that Street saved with his legs.

With the game deep into stoppage time the home side were awarded a free-kick just outside the penalty area, however the effort from Valter Da Rocha deflected off Westlake in the wall and flew wide of Wren's right-hand upright and the referee then immediately blew for full-time.

Team – Wren, Hayden, Brown, McCone, Pierpoint, Forde, Anderson, Birch, Benbow, Thompson-Brown, Mills

Subs: Broadhurst (for Birch 65 mins), Westlake (for Brown 75 mins), Steele (for Mills 79 mins), Hall, Evans (not used)

Scorer – Forde

Bookings – Birch, Mills