Stourbridge 2 Sutton Coldfield Town 0

There was just one change from the eleven that started the previous three matches. With Chris Lait feeling the effects of a knock picked up against Rushall on Saturday he was not risked, and Ben Billingham came into the side for his first start in almost twelve months.

Sutton came into the game in buoyant mood after victory at leaders Blyth Spartans on Saturday had seen them climb to third place in the Premier Division table, and they began at a fair old tempo without creating any real chances of note.

The first glimpse of an opening did not materialise until the 12th minutes, when a rather hesitant header back to keeper James Wren was almost seized upon by Karl Hawley, only for Wren to grab the ball at his feet. Two minutes later Justin Richards, up against the club he left a little over a month ago, blazed a shot high, wide and not too handsome as the Glassboys began to warm to their task.

Hawley was given the chance to stretch his legs again on 18 minutes as Tom Tonks played a ball over the top, but Wren again came off his line to avert the danger, whilst Sutton had their first sight of goal with 23 minutes played when Steven Palmer took aim on the volley from 20 yards out, but Lewis Solly was equal to the task.

Stourbridge gradually started to assume control of what had up to this point been an even, if a little frenetic, opening passage. Kristian Green got forward well, combining with Matt Dodd before firing over from just outside the box on 25 minutes, and then Leon Broadhurst scuffed a shot well wide from similar range with 27 minutes gone.

However, it was only a minute later that the Glassboys forged ahead. Billingham crossed from the left, and Hawley got in front of his marker to loop a header over Wren and into the far corner, very much like his goal at Hyde United a week or so previously, taking his personal tally for the season into double figures.

The Royals were making little headway, but did gain a free kick in dangerous territory on 37 minutes, although the ball into the box was ultimately cleared, with Dodd fouled as he threatened to break. From the free kick, Stourbridge then doubled their advantage, as Dodd collected the ball out on the right, fed Hawley in the middle, who held off his marker and laid the ball into the path of Richards to slot just inside the near post.

Sutton forced a couple of corners as the half drew to a close, but both were cleared, if a little edgily, before the final action of the first period saw the visitors reduced to ten men. Luke Rogers, the former Shrewsbury Town, Port Vale and Notts County striker, flew into a challenge on Billingham out on the touchline that left the referee with little option other than to brandish a red card, making Sutton’s task just that bit harder.

As seems to be growing into something of a tradition in recent matches, the Glassboys opponents rang the changes at the break, introducing two substitutes, and with the backing of their boisterous trumpet and drum combo in the Shed, they looked to find a route back into the game. Ramone Stephens caused a momentary panic when he advanced into the penalty area from the left and went down under a challenge from Dan Scarr, but the Royals’ appeals seemed half-hearted and fell on deaf ears.

Stourbridge were largely controlling play at their own pace, with the visitors making little headway, but it wasn’t until almost 20 minutes into the half that the Glassboys produced an effort on goal worthy of note, when Richards tried a shot from 20 yards that was deflected narrowly wide.

Hawley then came close to extinguishing any chances of a comeback with 69 minutes gone, as he just failed to get a true connection on Billingham’s driven low cross from the left, turning the ball wide of the far post. And then it was Hawley’s turn to play the provider’s role, setting Dodd away on 72 minutes, only for the winger to delay his shot and be crowded out, affording Wren the chance to make a comfortable save. Tonks then thundered a shot wide on 74 minutes, as the Glassboys failed to make the most of the chances that were coming their way.

The closing minutes saw the game peter out somewhat. Only a tame shot from Hawley, who might have been better passing, and then a burst into the area from Sutton substitute Zak Lilly which was halted by a well-timed tackle by Green threatened to add to the scoreline, as Stourbridge saw the game out in comfort.