A crowd of around 700 watched on at Sporting Khalsa’s Guardian Warehouse Arena where we took on the step 5 side who had defeated Worcester City on their home turn - becoming the first team in over a year to achieve that feat.

We made several changes to the starting eleven, both enforced and tactical with young BCFC goalkeeper Tyrese Warmington joining us on loan ahead of today’s game and taking the number one shirt with Ollie Taylor out through injury. Alex Moore and Elliott Durrell both started in midfield with Miro Pais and Callum Coyle starting on the flanks. There was also a call-up to the first team squad for our under-23s keeper Joe Cuneen. 

As we got the game underway, it was Dudley Town who started fastest with Warmington called into action as Callum Gillies struck an effort goalwards from a freekick. We had the next opportunity when Moore found Coyle inside the area but he could only direct his shot across the box before Warmington was involved again when Brad Mansell capitalised on a defensive mix-up. 

We began to gain a foothold in the game as the clock ticked on with Coyle breaking down the left and forcing the keeper into a save before he was involved soon after to deny Will Grewal-Pollard his first Glassboys goal.

The Robins couldn’t keep us out for long though and we would strike twice within three minutes just before the half-hour mark. ALEX MOORE would open the scoring as Jessy Bavanganga’s throw found Kettle who brought it down for Moore to put home at the near post. ETHAN FREEMANTLE would double our lead just after as Moore’s freekick was deflected back across goal where he would head open to get his first goal of the campaign. 

Our third goal of the afternoon came right before half time when ELLIOTT DURRELL picked the ball up 25 yards from goal and fired a driven, low shot into the net to send us into the break with a very comfortable lead - despite arguably not being at our best. 

Half Time: Dudley Town 0-3 Stourbridge FC 

Our first change of the afternoon came five minutes after the interval as Dom Lewis replaced Alex Bradley and he’d look to make an instant impact by winning a freekick just outside the area. The resulting freekick would fall to Freemantle but his effort fizzed across the face of goal. 

We wouldn’t have to wait long for our fourth goal of the afternoon when JOEL KETTLE opened his account for the season after a corner reached him at the back post and he finished well after the initial effort was blocked. 

A double change followed before the hour mark when Jourdain Masidi and Alex Prosser replaced Miro Pais and Alex Moore. 

Masidi and Freemantle would look to combine well down the right wing as they advanced into the box but the keeper was equal to Freemantle’s shot at his near post. 

Our final change of the afternoon saw Aaron Forde replace goalscorer Elliott Durrell with just under half an hour left on the clock. 

Warmington was involved twice soon after as he sent a long ball forward, putting Freemantle in on goal before he was denied by a last-ditch tackle before he was called into action to tip Alex Perry’s powerful effort over the bar. 

Both sides had chances as the final whistle approached with Dudley heading over from inside the six-yard box before Bavanganga struck an effort just wide from outside the area.

JOURDAIN MASIDI would get his first Glassboys goal as we entered the 90th minute after the ball found him inside the area and he finished well past the keeper at the second time of asking.

Full Time: Dudley Town 0-5 Stourbridge FC 

Our attention now turns back to the league after we secured our place in the hat for Monday’s draw for the second qualifying round. We host Barwell FC on Friday night at the WMG in what is sure to be another exciting test for McDonald’s Glassboys. 

Dudley Town:

Stourbridge FC: 1. Tyrese Warmington 2. Jessy Bavanganga 3. Will Grewal-Pollard 5. Jordaan Brown 6. Joel Kettle © 7. Callum Coyle 8. Alex Moore 9. Ethan Freemantle 10. Alex Bradley 11. Miro Pais 17. Elliott Durrell. Subs: GK. Joe Cuneen 4. Alex Prosser 12. Jourdain Masidi 19. Dom Lewis. 20. Aaron Forde