Halesowen Town 0 Stourbridge 1

Benbow headed home at the far post from Tom Tonks's right wing corner after just eight minutes to the delight of the Glassboys contingent in a fantastic midweek crowd of 2,127.

It was by no means a pretty game but both teams contributed greatly to an enthralling contest watched by the highest crowd in the Evo-Stik NPL this season, with the result in doubt right up until the final whistle.

Gary Hackett made one change from the starting line-up from last Saturday's home win against Matlock Town, with ex-Yeltzman Richard Sho-Silva returning in central defence, Chris Knight shuffling across to left-back, and Josh Green making way.

A cagey opening two or three minutes gave way to early Glassboys control, and that was rewarded when Benbow opened the scoring on 8 minutes. Leon Broadhurst had already just failed to find Jordan Archer with a through ball that Daniel Platt was able to claim, whilst Dan Preston from a Tom Tonks throw, and then Broadhurst from a Tonks corner had both seen headers go wide, before Benbow struck.

Another corner from the right by Tonks drifted in towards the far post and Benbow was able to find space to loop a header just out of Platt's reach and inside the angle of post and crossbar, to the obvious glee of the travelling Glassboys fans in the Shed behind the goal.
If anything, though, Stourbridge were guilty of not maintaining their tempo following the early success, and Halesowen were gradually allowed to find a foothold. Lee Chilton saw a shot blocked following a corner on 15 minutes, as the Yeltz got their first sight of goal, and then the former Glassboy rose at the far post only to see his downward header taken comfortably by Gould as it bounced up.

Sho-Silva headed well over from another Tonks corner with 24 minutes played, whilst Bradley Lewis did better with his header at the other end two minutes later but could not beat Gould, and then Tristan Dunkley's left-foot shot on the turn lacked both power and direction, going well wide of Gould's left-hand post.

The Glassboys almost had a second goal on 33 minutes as Platt produced the best save of the half to tip over a rising shot from Ethan Jones, with the resulting corner seeing both Benbow and Archer crowded out as they sought the opportunity to shoot.

The closing stages of the half saw Asa Charlton shank his effort wide of goal at the near post following a free kick on the left, and then Nathan Walker fired another free kick from a more central position straight at Gould.

The interval brought a re-shuffle for the Yeltz, with new signing Andre Johnson introduced, and there was a different feel to proceedings as they immediately pushed forward hoping to find a quick leveller.

By and large Stourbridge stood up to the test well, with Johnson's shot over the bar from the edge of the area the only real sight of goal for Halesowen in the opening fifteen minutes. However, Stourbridge were not making much attacking headway at the other end, and were failing to get to grips with the Yeltz midfield.

A dangerous cross saw Darryl Westlake forced to concede a corner on 61 minutes, with Gould holding on at the second or third attempt as the set-piece came across, before Halesowen's best two chances of the evening came and went within the space of a couple of minutes.

First Liam Slade's throw from the left was allowed to travel too far, finding its way through to Chilton who, with the goal gaping, was only able to smack his effort against the crossbar and away to safety, and then Dunkley span and clipped a shot narrowly wide of Gould's left-hand post, with many in the crowd thinking it was in.

Jolted by the double let-off Stourbridge stirred, with Halesowen perhaps deflated a little at the same time, and from that point onwards the game became more even once more. A Tonks throw on 71 minutes was cleared back out to the Glassboys' captain, who drilled a cross-shot only narrowly over Platt's crossbar, and then Brad Birch got forward down the left wing to put in a cross that was only just ahead of Benbow.

There were loud Yeltz claims for a penalty as the game entered the last fifteen minutes, when Preston and substitute Ethan Delaney came together, but referee Matthew Smith was unmoved, then at the other end Luke Rodgers, on for Jones, saw his well-struck shot blocked in a crowded penalty area.

A Tonks throw was helped on for Rodgers again to shoot, the ball this time drifting wide of goal, and Archer then flashed a shot across the face, with Platt diverting it for a corner.

The closing stages saw Halesowen give one last push, and Gould had to be out of his box smartly to clear from Delaney as he chased a long ball, before Rob Taylor fired over after a corner was only half-cleared.

The home side will perhaps feel that they merited a point on the balance of play, but Benbow's moment of opportunism ultimately proved to be the difference.