Kevin Wilkin had made a handful of additions to his squad from last season following the departures of players such as Montel Gibson over the closed season. They were looking for their first three points of the new season having drawn away from home against Biggleswade Town on opening day.

It was a grey, drizzly evening in Wellington with the SEAH Stadium looking as impressive as ever with its pristine playing surface. It was the hosts who applied the first pressure of the game with Hilton and Piggot combining well before Stenson received the ball but he couldn’t get it under control. Dinanga also had a half chance after Walker broke free down our right hand side but Prosser was on hand to block his shot.

Our first chance came as Portman won a freekick just inside the half when he looked to drive us forwards. Moore delivered a good freekick into the box where Kettle was waiting but the defender rose highest to head away.

HARVEY PORTMAN would break the deadlock just eight minutes in when Moore’s freekick was headed back across goal by Bavanganga to Portman who was waiting to head home past Hall.

Following the opener, we settled into the game and began to play some excellent, free flowing football. Bradley did well to drive us up the pitch before finding the run of Jones down the right wing but his shot from just inside the area was blocked well by Hall before the rebound was put out for a goal kick.

We continued to build from the back with almost every player involved before Verma’s cross was cleared for a corner. Bradley delivered it deep into the area before it was cleared back into his path and he saw a shot well blocked

Telford continued to look dangerous at times such as when Stenson looked to have the better of Brown as he turned into the area but Brown recovered well to prevent him threatening Taylor’s goal.

It was then ALEX BRADLEY’s turn to open his Stourbridge account in style. He picked the ball up just outside the centre circle before driving towards goal and striking it in off the post from distance!

Telford began to stir following our second goal, with Taylor being forced into a good save one v one before Kettle was caught in possession and Stenson broke free, but his shot was well wide of the target.

We continued to look dangerous from set pieces but Bavanganga could only head into Hall’s arms and Bradley got another opening but he couldn’t direct his shot onto the target through a crowded area.

Half time: AFC Telford United 0-2 Stourbridge FC

After a monsoon throughout half time, the rain began to subside as the second half ggot underway. It was clear the hosts were keen to make up for a sub par first half display and made use of a few set pieces in dangerous positions although they were unable to capitalise.

It wouldn’t take long however as REMI WALKER halved our lead in the 54th minute with a stunning strike from distance nestling into the top corner after we failed to deal with a freekick.

We we’re forced into our first change moments later when goalscorer Harvey Portman went off with a knock and was replaced by Miro Pais.

We were still looking a threat on the counter attack, despite being under a lot of pressure defensively on a slippy pitch, with Pais providing an outlet down the wing. He did well to win a freekick which was delivered into the box by Bradley but the resulting header deflected wide and nothing came from the corner which followed.

It was our turn to give away a freekick next which was delivered into the box by where Stenson headed back across goal into the path of Whittall but he could only smash his shot over the bar and into the roof of the stand.

After a break in play whilst Hilton received treatment, we broke away quickly through Verma who cut inside before firing goalwards but Hall held well before sending the ball back up the pitch.

Our second change of the evening saw Dom Lewis make his debut, coming on in place of our other goalscorer Alex Bradley.

Telford continue to mount pressure on our goal but our back four, assisted by midfield continued to stand strong against a number of Telford attacks and set pieces.

Alex Jones was then replaced by Toumani Sidibe with around 10 minutes left of normal time before Aaron Forde and Callum Coyle came on for Alex Prosser and Jai Verma.

Our counter attacking paid off as we grabbed a third goal in the 86th minute as TOUMANI SIDIBE grabbed his first competitive Glassboys goal! He chased a long ball down the left and beat the oncoming Hall to it before taking it round the stranded keeper and finishing well from an acute angle!

The referee indicated there were seven minutes to be added onto the game and, boosted by our third goal of the evening as well as our excellent travelling support, we decided that we weren’t quite done yet!

MIRO PAIS became our third player of the evening to open his account as a throw eventually fell to him on the edge of the area and his low, drive cross was too powerful by Hall who had no chance at stopping it!

We made it five with a minute left on the clock through TOUMANI SIDIBE after some sloppy defensive work allowed him to punish the Bucks and grab his second goal of the evening.

The referee brought the game to its conclusion soon after, putting an end to a five star Glassboy’s display with four different players getting on the scoresheet and an immense defensive display for large parts of the second half where the visitors were pushing for the equaliser.

AFC Telford United: 1. Brandon Hall, 2. Ellis Myles-Tebbutt 3. George Burroughs 4. Jordan Piggott 5. Orrin Pendley © 6. Sam Whittall 7. Remi Walker 8. James Armson 9 Matty Stenson 10. Ricardo Dinanga 11. Rhys Hilton. Subs: 12. Ellis Brown 14. Bryon Moore 15. Harvey Solley 16. Dior Angus

Stourbridge FC: 1. Ollie Taylor 2. Jessy Bavanganga 3. Harvey Portman 4. Alex Prosser 5. Joel Kettle 6. Jordaan Brown 7. Jai Verma 8. Alex Moore 9. Alex Jones 10. Alex Bradley 12. Jourdain Masidi Subs: 11. Miro Pais 14. Toumani Sidibe 17. Callum Coyle 19. Dom Lewis 20. Aaron Forde