Whitby Town 4 Stourbridge 0

After a difficult and disappointing second half to last season, manager Gary Hackett was hoping to see his revamped squad hit the ground running but after travel problems forced a delayed kick-off and an early goal allowed the home side to settle, the second half proved one to forget for the men in yellow and green.

With the team coach not arriving at the Turnbull Ground until 2.45, and kick-off subsequently put back to 3.20 pm, the last thing Stourbridge needed was to go behind early, but it took the Blues just six minutes to get themselves ahead through Mike Waters.

Thereafter, Stourbridge more than held their own throughout the first period, although in truth neither keeper was tested particularly often. Matt Dodd shot straight at Shane Bland when he probably should have done better, and Karl Hawley fired over from some way out, but chances were by and large at a premium.

Any thoughts of pushing for an equaliser after the break lasted just eight more minutes before an intended cross from Ross Gardner deceived Charlie Price and found it's way into the net from out wide.

And things got worse for the Glassboys keeper ten minutes later when he came out of his area to clear a through ball but was beaten to it by Michael Roberts, who was left to stroke into an empty net.

The final goal came on the verge of the 90 minute mark, when Price's hurried clearance under a challenge from Ibby Hassan fell to James Brown, and the former Hartlepool striker slotted it back past the keeper.

All in all, a day to forget.