Barwell 3 Stourbridge 1

Geddes’s strike put the Glassboys ahead just after the half hour, but the home side levelled before half time, and went on to claim all three points with two second half goals.

There was one change from the team that gained a 3-1 victory over Skelmersdale United, with Justin Richards having picked up a minor injury in that match and Ben Billingham coming in in his place. On the bench, Drew Canavan returned after a holiday in Australia.

The home side had the wind and the Kirkby Road slope in their favour during the opening half, and would have the better of the possession. However, it was Stourbridge who generally made better use of the ball, and created the better of the chances when the opportunity arose.

A Leon Broadhurst free kick caused some hesitancy in the home defence with just six minutes on the clock, but the ball was eventually cleared, and Chris Lait had a go from distance after 14 minutes, without really troubling Craig Hill in the home goal.

Matt Dodd got away down the right with 17 minutes played but his ball in for Karl Hawley was cut out by a defender, and then moments later Dodd’s effort from long range was again comfortable for Hill.

The lively Brady Hickey almost worked an opening straight away at the other end but the return pass was slightly off target allowing the Glassboys to clear, whilst Alex Tomkinson couldn’t capitalise on a poor clearance on 27 minutes, not quite being able to get the ball from under his feet, and then Hickey volleyed wide from 20 yards two minutes later as the Canaries began to threaten.

However, it was Stourbridge who grabbed the opening goal after 32 minutes when Dodd’s cross found its way to Geddes, whose shot took a slight deflection off a defender to beat Hill.

Stourbridge appeared in control for a brief period, but as the break loomed Barwell began to exert real pressure. Nigel Julien volleyed wastefully over Charlie Price’s crossbar on 41 minutes, but it mattered not two minutes later when Tomkinson tried his luck from 30 yards out and the ball carried on the wind, eluding Price who could only palm it into the net as he backpedalled.

The Glassboys keeper redeemed himself almost immediately with a point-blank save that he probably knew little about, and Stourbridge were relieved to hear the half time whistle after a somewhat frantic last five minutes of the half.

However, the break seemed merely to re-energise Barwell for the second half, and they were in the ascendency again from the kick-off. Isaac Copper had already shot narrowly over on 47 minutes before half time substitute Luke Barlone turned the game in the Canaries’ favour as his looping 52nd minute effort dipped over Price to put them 2-1 ahead.

Still Barwell pressed, with Owen Story seeing his shot deflected wide on 56 minutes as the Glassboys struggled to get any kind of foothold in the game.

Geddes sent in a free kick on 66 minutes that skimmed off the head of Dan Scarr and wide for a goal-kick, but that was a rare opening as too many balls forward were hurried and wasted. That chance apart, there was not much incident worthy of mention at either end, with Barwell looking comfortable with their lead.

And any lingering hopes of Stourbridge finding a route back into the match were finally extinguished with twelve minutes to play as Barlone sent in a cross-shot that evaded Price, for Hickey to slide in and turn the ball home at the far post.

Stourbridge did rally to an extent, with substitute Sam Whittall turning and sending in a shot that went just wide, and then Hawley putting in a dangerous cross that was smuggled to safety by the Barwell defence. At the other end, meanwhile, Tomkinson might have added a fourth as he burst clear, but Scarr recovered to smother the chance.

Ultimately, it was a match that Hackett and his men will want to put behind them quickly, as Barwell ended worthy winners.

Stourbridge slip one place to ninth in the Evo-Stik League Premier Division table as a result of the defeat.