Men's First Team
Matches
Mon 14 Nov 2016
Stourbridge FC
Men's First Team
3
0
Whitehawk (FAC 1r)
Stourbridge 3 Whitehawk 0

Stourbridge 3 Whitehawk 0

Richard Clark15 Nov 2016 - 23:35
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The Glassboys blasted their way into the Emirates FA Cup Second Round with three second half goals on an electric night at the War Memorial.

After a first half in which both sides set their stall out to attack but couldn't find a way to unlock the opposing defences, the game turned dramatically Stourbridge's way after the break, as Chris Lait broke the deadlock, and then Luke Benbow added two more to seal the win in some style.

As expected, Gary Hackett made nine changes from the team that started Saturday’s Evo-Stik League fixture at Spennymoor Town, reverting to the team that had gained a draw in the first match on the South Coast, with the exception of Matt Dodd returning in place of Connor Gater.

The good news for the Glassboys boss was that Dan Scarr, Tom Tonks, Luke Benbow and Dodd himself were all declared fit to start against the National League South visitors, after shaking off the effects of injury.

The match started at a hectic pace, but it was the best part of ten minutes before a chance presented itself at either end. When it did, it was the Glassboys who went close to opening the scoring as Hawks’ keeper Adri Munoz clawed the ball away with Lait just unable to capitalise.

That sparked Whitehawk into life, with Reece Connolly firing well over on the turn before the visitors spurned their first serious chance. Livewire Danny Mills latched onto a through ball and rounded Matt Gould, who did well not to bring the rangy attacker down, as did Mills to stay on his feet, but the Hawks man could only find the side-netting with his off-balance shot.

Thereafter, the game developed into something of a midfield tussle, although Whitehawk seemed to be gradually gaining the upper hand for a spell as they probed around the edge of the Glassboys penalty area without being able to find a way through.

However, it was Stour who almost made the most of some slack defending with 24 minutes played as Chris M’Bounghou sold Munoz short and the keeper did well to prevent Lait nipping in, before the loose ball broke to Dodd who was also tackled by Munoz with the ball eventually cleared.

Tonks volleyed some way over a couple of minutes later, with the Glassboys now looking more lively again, and then Lait burst into the box with Paul Reid’s last ditch challenge sending the ball cannoning off the Stour man and harmlessly over the crossbar. Whitehawk threatened in turn just a minute later as Mills crossed from the right for Sergio Torres to head wide under pressure from Kristian Green, and then Luke Benbow’s shot was deflected wide for a corner as play switched from one end to the other.

Again the Hawks built a spell of possession and pressure, but could not penetrate a Stourbridge rearguard marshalled well by Green and Dan Scarr. Mills got no connection on a shot on the turn that trickled into Gould’s hands, and then Ben Strevens struck a 25-yard free kick into the wall, with the follow up blocked and claimed by Gould.

The final action of the half saw the Glassboys come closest yet as Benbow surged into the area from the left flank before firing a shot across the face of goal which the onrushing Dodd was unable to get anything on.

Stour showed first in the second period, with Benbow’s cross from the left just a fraction too high for Dodd, before Mills tried an ambitious overhead kick at the other end that cleared Gould’s crossbar comfortably.

A goal was not long coming, though, and it was the Glassboys who grabbed the initiative. Junior Smikle advanced on the left, playing the ball in to Kayelden Brown. He in turn laid it off first time to Lait, who advanced into what at first appeared to be something of a blind alley on the edge of the penalty area. However, he showed great tenacity to win the ball back as Whitehawk defenders got in each other’s way, before unleashing a left-foot shot that found the top corner with unerring precision.

Far from settling nerves, the goal seemed to spice things up, with play becoming somewhat frenetic and scrappy for a spell, as both teams struggled to put a move together. Again, though, it was Lait who took matters in hand as Smikle picked off a loose pass and fed him the ball on halfway. Brushing aside a challenge Lait strode forward, exchanging passes with Benbow, and bearing down on goal. Munoz was smartly off his line to smother the chance but the ball broke kindly for Benbow who stroked it past the covering Marvin Hamilton and into the net.

With the insurance of a second goal, the Glassboys sat back and invited Whitehawk to try to break them down. Gould was called into action to save well from Connolly with the ball eventually cleared after a scramble. Mills then fired over after cutting back inside onto his right foot, as Hawks ramped up their attacks.

Stour always looked dangerous if given a chance to break, however, as the visitors committed men forwards, and from one such opening the third goal came to effectively settle the tie. Benbow almost broke through the defence, but with the ball only half cleared substitute Brad Birch was felled 25 yards out, allowing Benbow to stride up and send the ball arrowing over the wall and into Munoz’s bottom right-hand corner. With fourteen minutes to play the Second Round was within touching distance. Benbow earned a yellow card for his celebrations, but cared little.

Hawks stuck to their task as the clock ticked down. Ahmed Abdulla hit the side-netting with a shot from 8 yards, Lucas Rodriguez headed over from a deep free kick, and Michael West took a little frustration out as he fairly walloped a free kick over the bar, but their efforts were to be in vain as the Glassboys almost had the last word. Another Benbow free kick bouncing awkwardly in front of Munoz, with Jack Duggan close to tucking in the loose ball as the keeper gratefully fell on it.

The final whistle brought exuberant celebrations as the Stourbridge players took the acclaim of the home support on a richly-deserved lap of honour.

Highlights of the replay are now available to view on the BBC website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37988948

Match details

Match date

Mon 14 Nov 2016

Kickoff

19:45
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