Boss Gary Hackett made just one change to the Stourbridge starting line-up from Tuesday evening with the cup-tied Jordan Archer replacing Kayelden Brown up-front, with Brown named amongst the substitutes.

After the excitement, energy and ultimately jubilation of Tuesday night, this was always going to be a tricky afternoon against strong and well fancied opposition, no matter how one looked at it.

In truth whilst nobody could fault the effort and desire of the players, we did lack a spark and a cutting edge in the final third for much of the afternoon, with our final ball from wide areas too often disappointing and the Spennymoor centre-halves snuffing out the aerial balls into Archer and Benbow for the most part.

The visitors should have been ahead by the half-time interval as midway through the first period they had two good opportunities in as many minutes. In the 22nd minute a through pass down the centre from Ian Watson wormed its way through to David Dowson, who was one on one with Matt Gould, however the Stour stopper spread himself well to make a blocking save. Soon afterwards Mark Anderson opened up the home defence again as he looked to slip in Jamie Chandler, but Gould was alive to the threat and saved well at his feet.

Three minutes before the break, Shane Henry turned and hit a low shot from 25 yards that Gould got safely behind to ensure it was still goal-less at half-time.

The Glassboys really threatened the Spennymoor goal for the first time on 50 minutes with Dan Scarr rising to meet a right-wing corner from Chris Lait to send a header goalwards that was cleared away by a well placed defender. The visitors responded after 57 minutes from a corner of their own with Glen Taylor getting round the back to get in a header that Gould was equal to, but two minutes later the Durham side did make the breakthrough with Kallum Griffiths providing the ball in from the right and MARK ANDERSON directing a header on target that Gould got a glove to, but couldn't keep out. With the visitors buoyant, they almost doubled their lead a minute later with more pressure on the Stour goal leading to Henry firing in a shot from the edge of the box that Gould parried aside.

The Glassboys rang the changes after that to shake things up with Brown replacing Lait on the left, followed shortly afterwards with Hague coming on for Archer and then finally Canavan entering the fray for Broadhurst. In between Curtis directed a headed chance wide for Spennymoor from another corner.

In the 75th minute Benbow sent a free-kick around the far end of the wall, but it curled the wrong side of the post and then in the 81st minute Westlake fed in Benbow on the right-hand side of the area and he flashed the ball across the face of the six-yard box where Brown was just unable to get a touch.

An off the ball incident between Benbow and Curtis, missed by the referee as he followed the play (and not seen clearly by your writer) , led to a confrontation involving several players and Duggan was singled out by the ref and yellow carded after racing over to the scene and getting too heated and animated.

On the resumption of play Benbow quickly found his way into the referee's notebook for a seemingly innocuous challenge, possibly by way of 'the totting up process.'

The melee led to additional time being added at the end and right at the death Benbow had a free-kick charged down by Chandler with his hand to lead to the award of another free-kick closer to the edge of the box.

Cometh the hour and cometh the man and DREW CANAVAN delivered with a trademark exquisite free-kick beyond the keeper into the top corner of the net to the loud cheers of the Glassboys faithful who breathed a collective sigh of relief.

The final whistle blew within a minute of the re-start and although it wasn't the victory we had hoped for, at least it meant that we ended a remarkable week in the history of the club on a real high!

Team - Gould, Green, Westlake, Tonks, Duggan, Scarr, Dodd, Broadhurst, Benbow, Archer, Lait

Subs: Brown (for Lait 63 mins), Hague (for Archer 66 mins), Canavan (for Broadhurst 70 mins), Pierpoint, Birch (not used)

Booked - Duggan, Benbow

Attendance - 680

Highlights now available to view at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AmGHYXf4cE&feature=youtu.be

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

There is no match on Christmas Eve, Saturday 24th December, but we return to action on Boxing Day, Monday 26th December, with the visit of current League leaders Rushall Olympic for what promises to be a keenly-contested Black Country derby with several players on both sides who have featured in recent times for the Glassboys and the Pics. Kick-off is at 3.00 pm.

We then make the shortish trip to Hednesford Town on Thursday 29th December (kick-off at 7.45 pm) before travelling to Barwell on Bank Holiday Monday, 2nd January (kick-off at 3.00 pm).

YOUTH TEAM

The Youth Team are away to Redditch United in a MFYL fixture this Tuesday night, 20th December, the final Glassboys action before Christmas. Kick-off is at 7.45 pm and the youngsters would welcome your support!

GLASSGIRLS

Stourbridge Ladies are away to Droitwich Spa this Sunday, 18th December, in the West Midlands Women's League Cup. The match takes place at the County Sports Ground, Claines Lane, Worcester, kicking off at 2.00 pm.

FIXTURES

Saturday 17th December

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

Tuesday 20th December

Rushall Olympic v Mickleover Sports

Wednesday 21st December

Barwell v Stafford Rangers