After three successive defeats, the win was enough to hoist Stour back to second in the table, with the chance to consolidate that position on Monday night at home to Stafford Rangers.

Manager Gary Hackett made three changes from last Monday’s home defeat against Warrington Town. Loanee Dan Preston made his “second debut” in place of Richard Sho-Silva, having had a similar spell with the Glassboys three years ago, while Chris Knight returned from holiday to replace Josh Green at left back. There was also a spot for Brad Birch in the absence of the unavailable Jordan Archer, as the Glassboys adopted a 4-5-1 formation.

A strong wind and very soft pitch meant that the crowd of 276 were never likely to witness a free flowing game, but both teams took a positive approach and there was plenty of entertainment on offer.

Initially it was the home side who settled better, and they led with just three minutes played. Stuart Pierpoint was tempted into an injudicious challenge on Adam Gell on the edge of the penalty area, and Dale Hopson placed the direct free kick round the wall and into Matt Gould’s bottom left-hand corner, with the Stour keeper possibly unsighted.

Buoyed by the goal, Whitby continued to make most of the running, with Stourbridge, playing against the wind, unable to make much headway at all. A decent opening for the Seasiders came and went on 13 minutes as Dave Carson’s cross was wasteful, and they continued to pass up chances with poor finishing as Carson and then Steve Snaith both failed to find the target with wayward shots.

Gradually Stourbridge found their feet, both literally and metaphorically, but it wasn’t until 23 minutes that Tom Tonks had the first sight of goal with a shot that was blocked by Luke Bythway, and the Kayelden Brown saw a looping header from a Tonks throw drop well wide of goal.

Calum Martin’s strong run, cutting in from the right flank, might have led to a goal on 33 minutes but having worked a good position ten yards out he emulated Carson and Snaith with a horribly shanked shot, whilst at the other end two minutes later Luke Benbow fired a questionably-awarded free kick straight into the defensive wall.

Ethan Jones fired straight at Shane Bland in the Whitby goal six minutes from the break, before the half ended with Matty Tymon shooting straight at Gould, and then Hopson going close as he poked the ball beyond Gould, with the Glassboys stopper relieved to see the covering Knight in a good position to clear off the line.

Having weathered Whitby’s pressure, as well as all that the elements could throw at them during the first half, Stourbridge would almost certainly have settled for the one-goal deficit at the break, and they immediately set about taking advantage of the change of ends when the second half got under way.

Two minutes in Bland dropped an inswinging corner and Benbow turned the ball goalwards, only for referee Christopher Keightley to rule that Bland had been impeded, and two minutes after that Birch had the ball in the net but was judged offside from Knight’s cross. Stourbridge continued to make all the running, with Benbow testing Bland from 20 yards on the turn, and the Whitby keeper getting down low to his right to hold on.

But the equaliser did eventually come on 56 minutes as Tonks launched a long throw from the left and Benbow got the faintest touch in the six-yard box to divert the ball beyond Bland and into the far corner.

Stour now looked the more likely side to go on and win, but they were given a warning just two minutes later as the impressive Carson released Michael Roberts for a run on goal, with only an offside flag coming to the Glassboys’ rescue, and then a minute after that a poor backpass by Darryl Westlake again left Roberts in the clear, with Gould rushing off his line to block the initial effort before safely gathering the loose ball.

Benbow saw another free kick, better hit this time, held by Bland under the crossbar just after the hour, and then saw another effort from further out bring a fine flying save from the keeper as Stourbridge gained the ascendency.

And a second goal came on 74 minutes from Tonks, although his route to goal was every bit as scenic as that taken by the Stour coach a couple of hours earlier. With Bland having pushed a header from Pierpoint wide for a corner, the Glassboys skipper swung the ball into the six-yard box, and Bland’s punch could only send it straight up in the air, from where it landed in the midst of a crowd of players and spun back over the line.

Whitby looked to get back into the game, and a spell of pressure led to a shot dragged wide by Hopson, but for the most part Stourbridge managed to keep them at arm’s length, and with eleven minutes to play they had the added insurance of a third goal. Benbow again brought the best out of Bland with another flying save to his right, but the subsequent corner again bore fruit. This time Tonks’s flag kick was headed clear at the near post but the ball fell to Jones on the edge of the box and his first touch was enough to take him away from Carson before thumping the ball past Bland and into the top corner.

Thereafter the game petered out somewhat, with the Glassboys content with what they had, and Whitby unable to create any serious openings. Benbow almost got clear in stoppage time to add a fourth but Bland was smartly off his line to clear, and the Glassboys saw out time to collect three very welcome points.

STOURBRIDGE LINE-UP: Gould, Knight, Westlake, Tonks, Preston, Pierpoint (Green), Jones, Broadhurst, Benbow, Birch, Brown (Westwood 86).

UNUSED SUBSTITUTE: Sho-Silva.

ATTENDANCE: 276.

SUPPORTERS' MAN OF THE MATCH: Leon Broadhurst.

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

The Glassboys are back at the War Memorial Ground this Monday night, 27th February, when Stafford Rangers will be the visitors (7.45 pm kick-off), and we are then at home again next Saturday, 4th March, against Matlock Town (3.00 pm kick-off).

The next away game will be the short trip to Halesowen Town on Tuesday 7th March (7.45 pm kick-off).

YOUTH TEAM

The Youth Team are next in action on Thursday 2nd March when they visit Stratford Town in a MFYL fixture (7.45 pm kick-off), and they are then at home against Alvechurch in the Worcestershire County Youth Cup semi-final on Monday 6th March (7.45 pm kick-off).

STOURBRIDGE LADIES

The Glassgirls are at home this Sunday against Rubery. Please note that this match will take place at Dudley College Advance, Priory Road, Dudley. Kick-off is at 2.00 pm and admission is free.

RESULTS – SATURDAY 25TH FEBRUARY

Blyth Spartans 4-2 Corby Town
Buxton P-P Ilkeston
Grantham Town 2-2 Workington
Halesowen Town 1-1 Barwell
Hednesford Town 1-2 Nantwich Town
Marine 3-3 Frickley Athletic
Matlock Town 2-2 Mickleover Sports
Rushall Olympic 1-1 Ashton United
Skelmersdale United P-P Sutton Coldfield Town
Stafford Rangers 3-3 Spennymoor Town
Warrington Town 2-1 Coalville Town
Whitby Town 1-3 STOURBRIDGE