The Glassboys always seemed to have the edge on their opponents from North Yorkshire but it took until just after the hour mark for the deadlock to be broken and for the home side to finally earn a reward for their patience.

Whitby, for their part, contributed to an entertaining game, and looked a better side than their League position suggests, always looking to play a composed, passing style of football that all too frequently from their point of view floundered only in the final third.

The win lifted Stourbridge back up to fourth place in the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division table, thanks to Ashton United’s home defeat against Workington, a result which on the other hand means that a play-off spot is by no means yet guaranteed for the Glassboys.

There was one change from the team that drew at Matlock on Tuesday evening, with ft-again Chris Lait returning in place of Tom Tonks. Whilst Tonks can consider himself unfortunate to miss out, Lait’s presence added width to Stour’s game, and he was constant threat to the Seasiders’ defence.

Whitby began brightly, but Stourbridge gradually worked their way into the match, although it was not until nine minutes had been played that there was any incident of note, when Shane Bland in the visitors’ goal almost made a hash of a clearance under pressure from Karl Hawley, managing to get the ball away from danger at the second time of asking.

Justin Richards’ delicate lay-off to Sean Geddes on 12 minutes saw the midfielder drag his shot wide of goal, before a stumble by Lait almost afforded Whitby’s top scorer Mike Roberts a sight of goal, only for Kristian Green to come across and block at the expense of a corner which Matt Gould held comfortably.

Lait showed his threat with 20 minutes played when a surging run ended only with him being bundled over 25 yards from goal, with Geddes’s free kick being claimed by Bland as both Hawley and Richards were a whisker away from getting a telling touch on the ball, and then three minutes later, Hawley fed Bowerman in the right hand channel and he ran on into the area past two defenders before shooting over from a tight angle.

Lait again was the creator with 27 minutes on the clock as his low cross-shot in from the left was back-heeled goalwards by Richards but straight into the arms of Bland, and then Lait again weaved his way into the box only to see his shot blocked by Dave McTiernan. Almost directly from there, Whitby broke and the Glassboys were a little fortunate as Gould’s clearance was charged down by Roberts with the ball falling kindly for Stuart Pierpoint to mop up.

And then Anthony Hume went closest to opening the scoring on 34 minutes following some patient build-up play as his shot on the turn from just outside the left corner of the penalty area thudded against the crossbar with Gould powerless.

Stourbridge responded with Geddes firing a left-foot shot well over from 20 yards out, and then Lait again causing trouble as he attacked the heart of the Whitby defence. It seemed that he had pushed the ball a little too far as he went past Richard Pell but somehow the winger managed to get in a cross that Hawley was just unable to reach at the far post.

The second half again saw the visitors make a bright start, with Gould tested twice in the opening minutes. First Callum Martin saw his shot held by Gould when it appeared he possibly had better options, and then Anthony Hume found Dale Hopson in a good position but his shot again lacked the power or placement to trouble the Glassboys’ keeper. In between times, Roberts was forced off with what appeared a hamstring problem, and with him went much of Whitby’s attacking threat, as Stourbridge began to assume the upper hand.

First Richards saw his shot from 25 yards deflected narrowly wide after Geddes and Hawley had combined, and then from Junior Smikle’s cross from the left Hawley was unable to keep his shot on target having brought the ball under control well.

As with the home game against Buxton at Easter, a tactical switch and the introduction of Tom Tonks for Bowerman on the hour paid dividends almost instantly. Within two more minutes Green, now pushed into a more attacking role on the right flank, received a pass from Geddes out wide and duly found Lait with an intelligent low ball into the area and a good first touch gave him the time to thump an unstoppable shot high into the top right corner to give the Glassboys a deserved lead.

Buoyed by the goal, Stourbridge visibly relaxed, although there was a flashpoint on 69 minutes as Geddes and McTiernan clashed, leading to a stern word for both, but no cards, from referee Nick Hobbis.

The second goal that effectively ended the game as a contest arrived with 72 minutes played, as Richards pounced on a short pack-pass in front of Bland, and, with his back to goal, turned and chipped over the retreating keeper and into the far corner. It was a goal worthy of settling any game, and just reward for the hard work put in by Richards throughout the game.

There were few further chances after that, with both sides seeming to settle for the scoreline as it stood. Instead there came a flurry of cards for the visitors, beginning with a straight red for McTiernan, who had already upended Geddes again following their earlier clash, before going in rashly on Green and being given his marching orders, and then three yellows in quick succession for Adam Gell, Jamie Poole and Callum Martin.

In between times, there was one final chance for Stourbridge on 90 minutes as substitute Ashley Vincent’s low cross was turned towards goal by Hawley, with Bland able to block.

Stourbridge now go into the final week of the season knowing that a play-off place is within touching distance, and that a draw at Frickley on Thursday and a win at home to Salford City next Saturday will be sufficient to claim third place and a home play-off semi-final.

STOURBRIDGE LINE-UP: Gould, Green (Vincent 86), Scarr, Geddes (Canavan 77), Smikle, Pierpoint, Bowerman (Tonks 60), Broadhurst, Hawley, Richards, Lait.

UNUSED SUBSTITUTES: Hull, Whittall.

ATTENDANCE: 536.

SUPPORTERS’ MAN OF THE MATCH: Chris Lait.

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

Only two League matches remain to be played now, although we do of course have our fingers crossed that the season may extend a little further!

We face a challenging trip to much-improved Frickley Athletic on Thursday 21st April (7.45 pm kick-off). A coach is running to this match, and details can be found at the following link:

http://www.stourbridgefc.com/news/travel-to-frickley-1585833.html

We then round off the League campaign with the visit of Salford City next Saturday, 23rd April (3.00 pm kick-off).

CUP BATTLES LOOM FOR YOUTH TEAM

The Youth Team have two Cup Finals to look forward to this week, and your support would be hugely appreciated at either or both!

Dave King's team play Bilston Town at Stafford Rangers FC in the Final of the Staffordshire County Youth Cup on Monday 18th April (7.45 pm kick-off), before taking on Kidderminster Harriers at Stourport Swifts FC in the Final of the Worcestershire County Youth Cup on Wednesday 20th April (7.30 pm kick-off).

GLASSGIRLS AWAY ON SUNDAY

Stourbridge Ladies are away once again this Sunday, 17th April, when they visit Coleshill Town. Kick-off is at 2.00 pm at Kilsby Lane, Rugby CV21 4PN.

Three points are essential if the Glassgirls are to retain any hope of overhauling Tamworth at the top of the BCWL Premier Division table.

EVO-STIK NPL PREMIER DIVISION - RESULTS & REMAINING FIXTURES

Saturday 16th April

Ashton United 0-1 Workington
Buxton 2-1 Hyde United
Colwyn Bay 3-0 Sutton Coldfield Town
Darlington P-P Stamford (now Sunday 17th April)
Frickley Athletic 1-0 Barwell
Halesowen Town 3-0 Grantham Town
Ilkeston 4-1 Rushall Olympic
Marine 3-0 Ramsbottom United
Matlock Town 0-2 Blyth Spartans
Salford City 1-1 Nantwich Town
Skelmersdale United 1-1 Mickleover Sports
STOURBRIDGE 2-0 Whitby Town

Sunday 17th April

Darlington v Stamford (at Spennymoor Town FC)

Monday 18th April

Hyde United v Nantwich Town

Tuesday 19th April

Ashton United v Halesowen Town
Blyth Spartans v Rushall Olympic
Buxton v Frickley Athletic
Darlington v Grantham Town
Ramsbottom United v Colwyn Bay
Skelmersdale United v Stamford
Sutton Coldfield Town v Marine
Whitby Town v Barwell
Workington v Matlock Town

Wednesday 20th April

Nantwich Town v Mickleover Sports

Thursday 21st April

Frickley Athletic v STOURBRIDGE
Whitby Town v Darlington

Saturday 23rd April

Barwell v Matlock Town
Blyth Spartans v Marine
Grantham Town v Colwyn Bay
Hyde United v Halesowen Town
Nantwich Town v Frickley Athletic
Ramsbottom United v Ilkeston
Rushall Olympic v Darlington
Stamford v Mickleover Sports
STOURBRIDGE v Salford City
Sutton Coldfield Town v Ashton United
Whitby Town v Skelmersdale United
Workington v Buxton