Stourbridge 4 Cambridge City 1

Report writtebn by Will kilpatrick

Glassboys outsmart Cambridge blues
Stourbridge 4 – 1 Cambridge City (06/04/2013)

When it comes to football the Glassboys of Stourbridge showed they have what it takes to graduate from the Evo-stik Southern Premier Division, as they outsmarted Cambridge City with a dazzling second-half display of passing skills after a poor showing in the opening period.

The visitors dominated the first 30 minutes of play and only a fine challenge by Paul Lloyd prevented Ieuan Lewis giving them an early lead as he shot just over from 6 yards under pressure from the Stourbridge midfielder.

The home fans had little to shout about as the glassboys failed to keep hold of the ball thanks to some sloppy passing and series of poor clearances from their keeper Dean Coleman.

Ashley Fuller hit a wonderful free-kick just inches wide of the left-hand upright on 20 minutes and Adam Marriott went one better seven minutes later, when he smashed another free-kick straight into the net from 25 yards, past the unsighted Coleman who was rooted to the spot as the ball flew in.

The goal seemed to be just what Stourbridge needed to get them going and within five minutes they were level, thanks to a powerful header from Nathan Bennett as he ran onto a cross floated into the box from a free-kick, won and taken, by Ben Billingham.

Ben Mackey should have put the home side ahead just before the break when Luke Benbow played a short pass to him on the edge of the 6 yard box but his shot went just wide as he was challenged by City defender Dave Theobald.

After another slow start to the second half Benbow, the Glassboys top scorer, added goal number 22 to his season total after running onto a fine Jordan Fitzpatrick pass down the right touch-line from halfway. He cut inside and, while the keeper had one eye on Mackey who was calling for a pass, he calmly slotted the ball inside the near post from the corner of the penalty box.

A minute later Billingham had a 25 yard free-kick tipped just over the bar by Barrett and Stourbridge were now in full control of the match with some fine, short, pass-and-move football that tore the City defence apart with every attack.

Benbow sent a dipping shot just over on 67 minutes as the Cambridge defence pushed up trying to play off-side. And they were caught out 12 minutes later as Benbow floated a cross into the 6 yard box for Mackey, who headed on towards Fitzpatrick and he neatly headed home the third goal.

Number four soon followed after some wonderful footwork from Billingham, who beat two City defenders before passing for Sean Geddes to strike a low shot across the goal and into the far corner. That goal rounded off a splendid second-half performance that has lifted the glassboys above Hemel Hempstead and into second place in the table.