We made two changes to the side that drew with Barwell FC on Friday night with Dom Lewis and Jourdain Masidi starting while Aaron Forde was back amongst the subs. 

The visitors got the game underway and could apply some early pressure with Owen James being flagged offside before Lewis Ison headed wide from Chris Hussey’s corner. 

Our first opening came seven minutes in when a great ball from Jessy Bavanganga set Masidi on his way down the line but nobody could get onto his low, driven cross into the box before Stratford had another opportunity from a corner as former Glassboy Paul McCone headed into Tyrese Warmington’s arms. 

As we grew into the half, Alex Bradley had the ball in the back of the net but there was a foul in the build-up with The Bards being given a freekick inside the area before a freekick given our way allowed him to deliver a ball into the box where the ball fell to Joel Kettle but he fired wide. 

Warmington was called into action again soon after when he punched a freekick out of harm's way before James was judged to be offside after a dangerous cross from Alex Worley found him with space in the box. 

Worley was involved again shortly afterwards when another of his crosses found Ebanks in the area and his powerful shot hit the post before Tom Solanke forced Warmington into a good save with a shot from distance. 

The final action of the first half saw Stratford Town have a goal ruled out after a foul on Warmington stopped our young shot-stopper claiming the ball and it was bundled home from a corner. 

Half time: Stourbridge 0-0 Stratford Town

We made a trio of changes at the break with Jai Verma, Alex Prosser, and Toumani Sidibe replacing Ethan Freemantle, Elliott Durrell, and Alex Bradley.

It would be nearly instant impact from Sidibe as his pace caused the Stratford’s back line problems but he could only fire wide as he went one-on-one with Smith. 

The next chance would see Masidi set Pais inside the area but his shot would fly over the crossbar and it would be a costly chance with Stratford scoring from a quick counterattack from the goal kick that followed, with Ebanks finishing well past Warmington. 

They would double their lead just seven minutes later when a short back pass was hunted down by Ebanks who made no mistake in front of goal to score his second of the evening. 

A double change followed not long after with Aaron Forde and Callum Coyle replacing Dom Lewis and Miro Pais. 

We were applying pressure as we searched for a way back into the game with the Stratford defence standing strong but Verma had two opportunities late on as he saw a shot go over the crossbar before a goalbound shot was well blocked. 

There were eight minutes added on but neither team was able to carve out any clear-cut opportunities which saw us fall to defeat for the first time on home turf.

Stourbridge FC: 1. Tyrse Warmington 2. Jessy Bavanganga 3. Will Grewal-Pollard 5. Jordaan Brown 6. Joel Kettle 8. Elliott Durrell 9. Ethan Freemantle 10. Alex Bradley 11. Miro Pais 12. Jourdain Masidi 18. Dom Lewis. Subs: 4. Alex Prosser 7. Jai Verma 14. Toumani Sidibe 17. Callum Coyle 20. Aaron Forde

Stratford Town: 1. Callum Smith 2. Finley Brennan 3. Alex Worley 4. Josh Hawker 5. Paul McCone 6. Tom Solanke 18. Chris Hussey 8. Lewis Lutford-Ison 9. Callum Ebanks 10. Dan Lafferty 11. Owen James Subs: 7. Reece Styche 12 Andre Wright 14. Dan Vann 15. Lewis Wilson 16. William Bapaga