Evesham United 0 Stourbridge 3

however the visitors proved to be the more clinical in-front of goal.

The match started at a lively pace and play very quickly got stretched. Evesham forced a 2nd minute corner and from Mitchell Botfield’s right-wing flag-kick a scramble ensued inside the area before Marc Richards saw his shot deflected over the bar. Stourbridge replied four minutes later with Roland Agbor running with the ball and then spreading a pass wide to Drew Canavan on the right and his cross into the box was met by Ryan Rowe who glanced a header wide of the far post. Evesham returned on to the attack on 8 minutes and Stourbridge had a let-off as a cross came in low from the right and Carl Brown initially swung unsuccessfully at the ball, however he got a second bite of the cherry but he poked his effort wide of Dean Coleman’s left-hand post. There was controversy at the opposite end two minutes later as Rowe drove to the left-hand by-line before turning the ball low across the face of the six-yard box where Luke Benbow’s flick looked to have crossed the line before being kicked clear, but no goal was given. A couple of minutes later however the visitors did find the net for sure as Sean Geddes sent in a free-kick from the left and Nathan Bennett was able to direct a header beyond ex-Glassboy John Bateman and into the top corner of the net. It might have been two a few minutes later as Geddes fed Agbor who accelerated on an angled run into the Evesham box, but with only Bateman to beat, he scuffed his shot wide of the goal with the stretching Rowe also unable to get a touch as the ball rolled past the post. Evesham refused to lie down and continued to cause The Glassboys problems going forwards. Youngster Lance Smith turned and hit a low shot from the edge of the box inches past Coleman’s left-hand upright before Stourbridge hit back with Nathan Bennett seeing his 18th minute header from a Geddes corner saved on his line by Bateman and then four minutes later Aaron Drake played a long ball forward and a miss-communication between Richards and Bateman led to Richards sending a clearing header straight to Canavan, but his chip flew harmlessly over. Evesham went desperately close to an equaliser in the 25th minute when Jared Wilson cracked a long range drive against the inside of Coleman’s left-hand post before the ball ran to safety. Play continued to switch from one end of the pitch to the other and on 28 minutes Canavan won back possession on the edge of the Evesham box before dribbling into the area and hitting a rising shot that was parried by Bateman at his near post and then a chance went begging for the hosts on the half-hour mark with Palmer working his way into the box to the right-hand by-line before pulling the ball back towards the near post where Smith turned the ball the wrong side of the upright under pressure from Nathan Bennett. A minute later Evesham threatened again following a good run from Smith. He slipped a pass through to Ashley Jackson who curled a low shot inches wide. After a quieter passage of play, both sides had a chance on the stroke of the interval. A poor hurried free-kick from Richard Mansell was intercepted by sub Jordan Fitzpatrick and he drove towards the Evesham box, however his shot from just outside the area failed to test Bateman unduly. Instead Evesham ventured forward and Smith again went close with a curling 20-yard shot.

The home side had the first opportunity of the second period with Smith rolling the ball inside to Ashley Jackson and he hit a low shot that the diving Coleman touched round the post. Stourbridge replied with Geddes hitting a 25-yard shot that Bateman dived to push away before Stourbridge gained the cushion of a second goal in the 59th minute. Canavan drew James Loney into an unnecessary tackle on the left-hand side of the box close to the by-line to earn a penalty which Geddes confidently despatched. Luke Benbow might have made it three a few minutes later as a poor clearance from Mansell went straight to Benbow who cut inside from the right, but he pushed his low angled shot past the far post, but with six minutes left Benbow was rewarded for his industry as Drake cut out a home attack and he clipped the ball through to Benbow in the left channel area. He weaved one way and another to work an opening before striking a low 20-yard shot past Bateman into the bottom corner of the net to put the result beyond doubt.