The visitors certainly didn’t have it all their own way, but they proved to be the more clinical with their finishing. Indeed immediately prior to the first two Stourbridge goals, Leiston had had decent opportunities at the other end.

Stuart Pierpoint notched up his 150th appearance for the Glassboys with his involvement in this match and the Stourbridge starting line-up showed two changes from the team that had won at St Neots a week earlier with Darryl Westlake and Leon Broadhurst preferred over Aris Christophorou and Brad Birch.

At a damp and windy Victory Road, Stourbridge were the first to threaten with three minutes gone. Greg Mills drove down the wing and provided a low cross that was only half cleared with Robert Thompson-Brown striking a shot that defender Harry Knights blocked for a corner.

Leiston responded with Joe Jefford heading off-target from a Byron Lawrence free-kick and they had a chance on 19 minutes when a poor clearance enabled Patrick Brothers to cushion a header back into the path of Jake Reed and his shot on goal was saved well by Wren.

Almost immediately the visitors swept upfield and opened up the home defence down the left before Thompson-Brown was able to lay a pass across and find Aaron Forde in space 20 yards from goal as the spare man over and his shot appeared to rather go through keeper Charlie Beckwith and into the net.

Leiston replied on 24 minutes with Lawrence squaring a pass to right-back Kyle Hammond, who was looking to get forward whenever possible, but his long range effort ran wide. A minute later Reed fed Seb Dunbar and he laid a ball back for Brothers to let fly from the left-hand edge of the box, however he drilled his effort over.

The Suffolk side then went close on 31 minutes with Hammond advancing down the right flank towards the by-line before pulling a low cross back for Lawrence who saw his shot on goal well blocked by Leon Broadhurst at the expense of a corner.

Seven minutes later Harry Knights headed off-target from a right-wing flag-kick.

Just before the half-time break Broadhurst found Mills on the left, however he launched his shot well off-target.

Half-time Leiston 0 Stourbridge 1

Leiston began the second period on the front-foot and they might have got back on level terms in the 50th minute when Lawrence won back possession and a quick break saw Christy Finch slip in Reed with a clear run on goal, however he showed too much of the ball to Wren who saved at his feet.

That squandered opportunity proved doubly costly as again the visitors went downfield and scored. This time it was Luke Benbow who was the beneficiary as he got in on the left-hand side of the box and stroked the ball past Beckwith.

Two minutes later Paul McCone headed over from a Mills corner before Callum Powell was cautioned for kicking the ball away.

In the 62nd minute Broadhurst headed home at the far post following a ball in from Mills, however it was disallowed for offside and then Stuart Pierpoint was booked for delaying the re-start.

Brad Birch entered the fray in place of Thompson-Brown in the 69th minute and then a minute later Mills turned the ball back into the path of Forde, who blazed over from 25 yards.

Luke Benbow was booked for a mis-timed tackle on 73 minutes with the hosts Seb Dunbar also booked for his reaction as things momentarily got heated. Two minutes later the Stour striker was replaced by Kaiman Anderson.

Leiston tried to find a way back into the contest and Lawrence drew a fine save from Wren to his right on 76 minutes with the Stour keeper doing well to hold the strike.

Stourbridge hit back with Mills delivering a cross from the left for Broadhurst to meet with a header that was touched on to the crossbar by the keeper.

Aris Christophorou replaced Forde with eleven minutes left and settled into a midfield role alongside Broadhurst and Birch.

There were further chances for the visitors with Mills getting to the by-line and then pulling a low cross back for Callum Powell to hit a low shot that was blocked, while Aaron Hayden had a close range effort blocked on the line by sub Rob Eagle who was injured in the subsequent scramble before Beckwith dropped on the ball and had to be replaced.

Leiston were thwarted at the other end soon afterwards as Hammond ran on to the ball and shot goalwards, but Pierpoint was in the right place to block.

In the 90th minute Callum Powell drifted inside and struck a low shot past the far post, but a minute later Stourbridge did put the result beyond doubt with a third goal. Anderson worked a one-two with Powell and slotted calmly past Beckwith and he might even had had another just before the final whistle but this time Beckwith was able to make a save before the ball was cleared for a corner.

The final score-line may have been flattering, however it was a good three points away at a side that many fancied to be promotion contenders this season, although they appear to be going through a sticky patch at the moment.

Stourbridge: Wren, Hayden, Westlake, McCone, Pierpoint, Forde, Powell, Broadhurst, Benbow, Thompson-Brown, Mills

Subs: Birch (for Thompson-Brown 69 mins), Anderson (for Benbow 75 mins), Christophorou (for Forde 79 mins), Steele, Maher (not used)

Booked: Powell, Pierpoint, Benbow

Att: 197