In retrospect perhaps the final score-line wasn't really a surprise as the visitors travelled without two of their main attacking threats in Greg Mills and Luke Benbow to a side that had only conceded five goals in six league games, but also managed just five of their own too. These circumstances or statistics didn't lend themselves to a goal feast!!

The absence of Mills and Benbow meant that Kaiman Anderson played through the middle up-front supported by Callum Powell who returned to the starting eleven after injury and was utilised on the left with Chekaine Steele coming in for a first start on the opposite side. Aris Christophorou was amongst the five substitutes named.

Stourbridge were soon on the front foot after kick-off and went on to enjoy the lion's share of the possession throughout the afternoon with James Wren largely looking on as a spectator, but a bobbly, uneven and rather narrow playing surface allowed the hosts four or five-man back-line to remain compact and throw down the gauntlet to the visitors to be good enough to break them down.

The Glassboys huffed and puffed in the first-half and forced several corners without extending home custodian Sam Wilson enough.

In the 7th minute a right-wing corner from Robert Thompson-Brown saw Jordaan Brown send a header well wide of the far post.

With 21 minutes gone the visitors won another flag-kick - this time on the left - and on this occasion Thompson-Brown played it back short to Powell before running round to take a return pass and hit a low shot from the edge of the box that ran wide of Wilson's right-hand post.

More pressure from the Glassboys saw Wilson make an easy save from Anderson's tame low shot before Gary Hackett's men had the ball in the back of the net with 26 minutes gone. Thompson-Brown swung over a free-kick from the left towards the back post where Aaron Hayden rose and managed to head home, however the referee had already spotted an infringement and blew for a foul.

Set pieces continued to look the most likely way to a goal and on 28 minutes Thompson-Brown supplied a free-kick into the box from the right where Anderson directed a header the wrong side of the near post.

The remainder of the half somewhat fizzled out although both Steele and Pierpoint picked up bookings during this time from separate incidents.

The start of the second period brought a renewed effort from the Glassboys. In the 48th minute a ball forward by Pierpoint was taken down well by Powell before he cut inside from the left flank, however he screwed his shot off-target.

With an hour gone Stourbridge were presented with a great chance to break the deadlock as Brad Birch won the visitors a penalty with a forceful run into the right-hand side of the box that saw him bundled over as he took on the home duo of Owen Wallis and Ollie Snaith. Thompson-Brown stepped forward to take the spot-kick and struck his effort to the keeper's right, but Wilson pulled off the save with the ball at the right height for him to push it away.

Seven league games in and the Glassboys have now only converted one out of four penalties awarded thus far!

Soon afterwards St Ives made a double change to provide fresh legs followed a minute later by Gary Hackett sending on Leon Broadhurst for Thompson-Brown.

Home hero Wilson had a let-off on 67 minutes though when a long ball forward was flicked on by Powell and Anderson went in chase of the ball into the left-hand side of the box. His persistence appeared to distract the keeper who failed to gather the ball and Anderson looked set to pounce and capitalise only for Steve Cartwright to be alert to the situation and superbly cover round the back of his keeper to clear the ball to safety.

A minute later Hayden tried his luck with a speculative 35-yard low drive that forced Wilson into a save.

Stourbridge continued to make the running but the home side increasingly sensed that they could take something out of the game.

Darryl Westlake replaced Steele after 74 minutes for his 100th Stourbridge appearance as the visitors rolled the dice once more.

In the 81st minute Wilson was called into action again. Powell squared a pass to Aaron Forde who struck a low 20-yard shot that bounced awkwardly in-front of the keeper who spilled the ball and in the aftermath the rebound ricocheted back goal-wards off Birch with Wilson needing to make a scrambled save down to his right.

Hayden then fired another long range effort over the bar before Stourbridge had another presentable opportunity in the 88th minute. Birch provided a low centre from the right and Anderson laid the ball back towards Broadhurst but his low shot from 20 yards was straight at Wilson.

There was almost a late sting in the tail when a hopeful ball forward from the hosts was headed on by Danny Kelly for George Bailey to run on to. The substitute looked to be away in behind Pierpoint, but thankfully he had gone fractionally too soon and an assistant's flag dashed home hopes of snatching an unlikely winner.

Stourbridge were left to rue not taking one of the few clear chances that had come their way, whilst the hosts could reflect happily on a sound and resilient defensive display that suggests that they will continue to make life difficult for many visiting teams this season as the Cambridgeshire side look to enjoy a much stronger campaign than last season.

STOURBRIDGE - Wren, Hayden, Brown, McCone, Pierpoint, Forde, Anderson, Birch, Powell, Thompson-Brown, Steele

Subs: Broadhurst (for Thompson-Brown 66 mins), Westlake (for Steele 74 mins), Hall, Christophorou, Maher (not used)

Booked - Steele, Pierpoint

Attendance - 266