Last night saw us host league high flyers Hitchin Town in our rearranged fixture after the original game was rearranged due to our FA Trophy clash against Kings Lynn Town.

Leon made one change to the starting eleven who beat AFC Sudbury on Saturday as Dexter Walters started on the wing with Charlie Dowd dropping to the bench. Harvey Portman was also back amongst the subs in place of Brendon Daniels.

After a change of ends, we got the game underway with it taking just two minutes to create an opening as Jack Wilson slid the ball into Luke Benbow’s path but it was just too far in front of him and he could only direct it into Charlie Horlock’s arms.

Filled with confidence after his brace on Saturday, Niall Flint would carve out of next opportunity 7 minutes in as he danced his way across the edge of the area before striking it towards the canaries net but Horlock would collect again.

Joel Kettle would be the man to create our next opening as he found himself in the box following a corner and he turned his man before laying it off beautifully to Benbow who struck it powerfully towards goal but once again was denied by Horlock.

We continued to assert our dominance as we searched for an opener when Benbow headed into the keeper's arms from a dangerous cross by Walters before he combined well with Flint to create another opening but another excellent save denied him.

Whilst we were dominant in attack, Hitchin were looking dangerous on the counter-attack with Finley Wilkinson looking like a threat for the visitors. Jessy Bavanganga did enough to hold him off as he looked to create a chance following a quick break before Price made a brilliant save from closer range to deny the visitors before Shambrook cleared our lines.

We would be made to pay for not capitalising on our opportunities 20 minutes in when Hitchin broke quickly before Dan Idiakhoa slotted it under Price to put them ahead, despite the one-way traffic for most of the half.

Determined not to let the opening goal make our heads drop, we continued to play some excellent football and create numerous chances. King rose the highest to head Price’s long goal kick into Flint’s path who played a good ball into Benbow who saw his shot parried away into Flint’s path but his first-time strike rose over the goal, and over the Benbow fence.

Hitchin continued to look dangerous on the counterattack and managed to beat our high line but Bavanganga did well to recover and prevent the striker from getting to the ball before Price came out quickly to collect and send us back on our way.

Flint continued to pull the strings from out wide and he combined well with Prosser and Shambrook to win a corner. Prosser delivered into the box where King was gifted a free header but his effort was wide of the target.

Hitchin caught us off guard again as Wilkinson found himself 1v1 with Price but went to lob our number 1 and this allowed him to make himself big and deny the forward from doubling the score.

Flint had another golden opportunity as we approached the break when Wilson broke down the line before finding Prosser. His pinpoint pass sent Flint on his way who cut inside and bent a strike towards the top corner but once again Horlock was there to deny us.

Kettle created our final opportunity of the half with another great turn in the box to find Benbow who had enough space to get a shot off but it was a tough angle and he fired into the side netting.

Half Time: Stourbridge FC 0-1 Hitchin Town

Despite some excellent football and one of the best performances we’ve seen at Amblecote in recent years, we found ourselves going into the break behind thanks to Idiakhoa’s opener and some superb shot-stopping by Horlock.

The second half got off to a scrappy start and there was a break in play whilst Kettle received treatment for an ankle injury after landing awkwardly as he rose to win yet another header but luckily he was ok to carry on.

Flint could have brought us level just before the hour mark with another excellent effort from outside the area but his strike cannoned off the woodwork and it was eventually cleared by Hitchin.

We were then awarded a penalty after Glees brought Fletcher down in the box but our story of the evening continued as Benbow’s powerful spot kick struck the crossbar and the rebound was dealt with well to deny us an effort from the rebound.

Frustration began to set in as we searched for a leveler with Shambrook resorting to a hopeful shot from distance which went wide and Horlock then found himself in the book for time wasting from a goal kick.

As we continued to push forward, we found ourselves exposed at the back and Price was called into action once again to make a big save 1v1 to prevent them scoring.

Whilst it appeared that the ball had hit the striker before going out, Hitchin were given the corner and they would double their lead from it. Price punched away the initial cross but it was only as far as Bradley Bell who hit it sweetly on the half volley and finished it into the top corner, giving our number 1 no chance.

As we searched for a way back into the game, Leon turned to his bench and Alfie Steward and Brad Bood were introduced in place of Joel Shambrook and Dexter Walters.

Hitchin were defending resiliently, limiting us to chances from set pieces as Prosser looked to play a clever freekick to Bood who tried to cross goalwards but it was cleared before Steward won another set piece just outside the box and Prosser’s delivery was cleared before it could cause any trouble.

Prosser would have a chance for himself just on the 90th-minute mark as he hit it from outside the area but it was well wide of the target.

There were six minutes added on but the only opportunity during this time was for the visitors as they once again broke quickly before looking to beat Price but he made a brilliant one-handed save to put it out for a corner which we dealt with well.

Full Time: Stourbridge 0-2 Hitchin Town

Despite a dominant display with a performance to be proud of, and creating every type of opportunity you could think of, we fell to defeat against a resilient Hitchin side who demonstrated how important it is to take your chances.

We’re next in action on Saturday afternoon against Alvechurch as we’ll look to take that performance forward and return to winning ways before we head to Kidderminster Harriers the following week in the FA Trophy.

Stourbridge FC: Charlie Price, Joel Shambrook, Jack Wilson, Alex Prosser, Joel Kettle, Jessy Bavanganga, Dexter Walters, Reece King ©, Luke Benbow, Jack Fletcher, Niall Flint. Subs: Alfie Steward, Charlie Dowd, Darryl Knights, Harvey Portman, Brad Bood

Hitchin Town: Charlie Horlock, Bradley Bell, Layne Eadie, Toby Syme, Kye Tearle, Stan Georgiou, Kavan Cotter, Steve Gleeson, Dan Idiakhoa, Isaac Galliford , Finley Wilkinson. Subs: Jack Snelus, Dan Emovon, Diogo Freitas Gouveia, Arnold Matshazi, John Freeman