Cloudier conditions on the Suffolk coast overnight meant no frost concerns and ensured that this match went ahead as scheduled with the Glassboys setting off on their longest journey of the campaign at around 8 am in the morning.

Jon Ford and Mark Clifton took charge of the side with Gary Hackett enjoying a week’s holiday abroad. Unfortunately, Jordaan Brown was unable to make his scheduled pick-up point in time after being stuck in a snarl-up on the M6 following an earlier accident, so Stourbridge headed east a man short from their original squad of 16.

Aaron Hayden made an immediate return to the side having linked up with the Glassboys in the week once again from Wolves and his inclusion and the absence of Brown meant that Darryl Westlake switched to play at left-back. There was also a first start for recent signing Bilal Yafai with Robert Thompson-Brown dropping to the bench.

The home side were boosted by the return of striker Jake Reed to the fold after eleven months at their Suffolk rivals Leiston and the inclusion of central defender Travis Cole for his first start of the campaign after recovering from a long-term injury. Reed was to play a brief but hugely significant part in proceedings, scoring what turned out to be the only goal of the afternoon before being subbed off three minutes later through injury.

On a chilly and breezy afternoon the Trawlerboys showed that they were up for the game in the opening exchanges as they attacked down the slope at Crown Meadow in the first period. Stourbridge survived an early scare in the 4th minute when a long throw-in from Josh Curry on the right was missed by a clutch of players at the near post and it caused James Wren some alarm as the ball bounced up in the six-yard box against the crossbar and came back into play before being kicked clear.

In the 21st minute Luke Benbow tried his luck with a free-kick from around 35 yards out that bounced in-front of the keeper with home custodian Elvijs Putnins having to push the ball aside before the resulting cross from Callum Powell was overhit.

Lowestoft soon responded with Connor Deeks floating a cross in towards the far post area where the stretching Shaun Bammant could only poke the ball wide.

At the other end some tidier build-up play from the visitors involving Bilal Yafai, Aaron Forde and Luke Benbow led to Leon Broadhurst striking a 20-yard shot wide.

Stuart Pierpoint had his name taken after 25 minutes for a clumsy challenge on Reed, who needed lengthy treatment before returning to the fray.

The Suffolk hosts then enjoyed a good spell with a dangerous low free-kick from Adam Smith drawing a decent save from Wren down to his right to divert the ball for a corner and a few minutes later Wren had to tip another free-kick out for a corner and from the resulting flag-kick Lowestoft grabbed the lead. Smith’s corner from the left saw Bammant challenge for the header and the ball dropped to Reed with his back to goal, however he managed to hook it past Wren to make it 1 – 0 to the Trawlerboys.

Reed had to call it a day ten minutes before the interval though as he had not fully recovered from his earlier knock and Ben Fowkes took his place.

In the 42nd minute Pierpoint lifted a long free-kick into the Lowestoft box and the ball was only headed out to the feet of Callum Powell, but he sliced his shot over.

Just before the half-time interval Luke Benbow was cautioned for dissent to compound a miserable and techy first forty-five minutes for the Glassboys.

Half-time – Lowestoft Town 1 Stourbridge 0

Kaiman Anderson started the second-half as a replacement for Powell and the visitors produced a better performance thereafter without creating too many clear opportunities as Lowestoft dug in and defended manfully.

In the 59th minute a 30-yard free-kick from Benbow was collected low down by Putnins before Stourbridge had the chance to draw level from the penalty spot six minutes later after Curry had been adjudged to have brought down Greg Mills as he worked his way across the left-hand side of the area. Mills got back to his feet to take the spot-kick, however Putnins dived down low to his left to push the ball away and Cole prevented Anderson from capitalising on the rebound.

It looked like it wasn’t going to be the visitors’ day. Thompson-Brown came on with fifteen minutes left for Yafai and then two minutes later Forde worked a one-two with Benbow on the left-hand side of the area before pulling the ball back low across the face of the goal, but there was nobody there in support to apply a finishing touch.

Brad Birch took over from Leon Broadhurst in midfield in the 82nd minute and then on 84 minutes a free-kick from Thompson-Brown saw Hayden get in a downward header, however it was straight at Putnins.

Four minutes from time the home side could have made sure of victory as Fowkes put Bammant through, but Wren narrowed the angle and blocked the shot with his legs. The ball then ricocheted back off Bammant and rolled goal-wards. Bammant and Hayden had a leg race after it with Bammant poking inches wide.

However, it made no difference as Lowestoft saw out the remaining time relatively comfortably to make it four games unbeaten for them. Stourbridge, meanwhile, need to rediscover their mojo after recent set-backs and start producing more in the final third.

Stourbridge – Wren, Westlake, Hayden, McCone, Pierpoint, Forde, Powell, Broadhurst, Benbow, Yafai, Mills

Subs – Anderson (for Powell H-T), Thompson-Brown (for Yafai 75 mins), Birch (for Broadhurst 82 mins), Christophorou (not used)

Booked – Pierpoint, Benbow

Att: 324