Two goals deep in stoppage time helped give the final score-line a flattering look as for much of the contest the struggling Hertfordshire visitors looked capable of heading back to Top Field afterwards with something to show for their efforts.

It was a workmanlike showing from the home side who took a while to get going, but again that little extra quality in the final third that the Glassboys possess this season came to the fore and helped them to secure the three points to keep the pressure on Kettering Town at the top.

Stourbridge fielded an unchanged starting eleven and subs bench from Tuesday night’s win at Redditch with Leon Broadhurst reaching another milestone with his 750th appearance for the club.

There was little to excite the crowd of 667 in the opening quarter of the game. The visitors settled quickly and they enjoyed a good share of the possession, moving the ball around smoothly without prizing open the Glassboys defence. Callum Powell lifted home spirits with a tenacious run into the left-hand side of the box, but his low cross was cut out before it could reach Broadhurst, while Rob Thompson-Brown shot tamely wide from another move.

Hitchin threatened on 20 minutes as Ezra Forde did well to get to the left-hand by-line before looking to try and cut the ball back to Scott Belgrave, however Aaron Hayden was alert to the danger and covered across well to clear.

In the 23rd minute Hitchin’s new signing Edwin Mensah was cautioned for a foul on Greg Mills and this would have repercussions later on for the Canaries. The free-kick from Thompson-Brown was swung into the box where a header from Paul McCone drifted off-target.

At the other end Michael Cain struck a 25-yard free-kick well over before Stourbridge ended the half in the ascendancy. In the 40th minute a right-wing corner from Thompson-Brown saw Hayden rise to get in a close range header that was headed off the line by Cain and then in first-half stoppage time Canaries custodian Michael Johnson made two smart saves in quick succession, saving from Thompson-Brown with his feet and then moments later tipping over a shot from distance by Jordaan Brown.

Stourbridge made a change for the start of the second period with Aaron Forde replacing Brad Birch who had had treatment for an ankle injury during the opening half. Four minutes after the re-start the hosts forged on-front. Thompson-Brown played a quick free-kick and Mills was able to strike home a low angled shot into the far bottom corner of the net from the right-hand side of the area.

Further pressure from the home side in the 51st minute saw Benbow square a pass into the path of Mills and he hit a low 20-yard shot that rolled wide of Johnson’s right-hand post and then a minute later Powell produced another driving run into the left-hand side of the box before striking a rising shot into the near side-netting.

Hitchin rallied and threatened on 57 minutes as Belgrove burst through into the box before slipping a pass off to Isaac Galliford, who could only clip a shot over the bar.

Stourbridge went close to a second in the 65th minute when a Benbow free-kick from outside the box curled round the outside of the wall and Johnson was called upon to make a diving save away to his left to parry the ball away.

The Glassboys made two further changes in the last quarter of the game with Steele replacing Powell on 69 minutes and Anderson replacing Benbow after 76 minutes. Hitchin were still well in the game, however the home defence held firm, but with nine minutes left the Hertfordshire side were denied an equaliser by the crossbar. A corner from Galliford was met by Dan Webb who saw his header hit the underside of the bar and following a short scramble inside the six-yard box, Wren was able to drop on the ball.

Hitchin’s hopes were then dealt a blow in the 86th minute when a tangle on the floor inside the Hitchin penalty area ended with Mensah receiving a second yellow card and being dismissed, while Mills was cautioned. Mensah now has the unwelcome record of being sent off twice in his only two appearances in a Hitchin shirt!

Stourbridge looked to run down the clock with the advantage of having the extra man, but the extra space afforded allowed the hosts to add two goals in time added on at the end. In the third minute of stoppage time Broadhurst capped his 750th appearance by reaching another landmark, namely his 150th goal for the club. Thompson-Brown wriggled his way inside from the right before finding Broadhurst who drove a low left-foot shot past Johnson and to add salt to the wounds of the visitors there was still time for a third goal. Brown fed Mills and his shot took a deflection that gave Johnson no chance. Hitchin kicked off again and the final whistle sounded almost immediately to bring proceedings to an end as Stourbridge continue to enjoy a strong home record in the league with only two points dropped (against Halesowen) at the War Memorial Athletic Ground so far.

Stourbridge - Wren, Hayden, Brown, McCone, Christophorou, Birch, Powell, Broadhurst, Benbow, Thompson-Brown, Mills

Subs - Forde (for Birch HT), Steele (for Powell 69 mins), Anderson (for Benbow 76 mins), Pierpoint, Westlake (not used)

Booked - Brown, Mills