Bedworth United 0 Stourbridge 3

BEDWORTH UNITED 0 v 3 STOURBRIDGE – Wednesday 10th April 2013
Supplied by Will Kilpatrick

The Glassboys secured their 8th win in 9 league games with a comfortable 3-0 victory at relegation threatened Bedworth United, a result that sets up a play-off showdown when they visit 6th place Gosport Borough on Saturday.

Last nights result lifted Stourbridge 11 points clear of Gosport, who still have 12 points to play for. So if Stour avoid defeat on Saturday they will guarantee themselves a spot in the end of season play-offs.

The visitors would have been out of sight by half-time but for a series of outstanding saves from the Greenbacks keeper, and captain, Andy Kemp. He denied Luke Benbow a hat-trick in an opening half-hour dominated by Stourbridge as Bedworth were reduced to punting long-balls forward in the hope of getting lucky.

Benbow’s first chance came on 10 minutes when he shot straight at the rushing keeper from 8 yards. Leon Broadhurst sent a header just wide 5 minutes later and the resulting goal-kick led to Bedworth’s best chance of the half as the ball fell to Tom Bates, who turned and fired in a shot from 25 yards that was heading just inside the post, before Dean Coleman dived to his left to turn it away for a corner.

Benbow was then denied twice in two minutes, first from 12 yards as his shot cannoned off the keeper’s legs and then from the corner of the 6 yard box as Kemp dived to his right to save superbly.

The breakthrough finally came in the 37th minute as Ben Billingham launched a ball from just inside his own half towards Benbow, who ran past Rikki Bains and shot from the edge of the box. His shot was turned away from goal by another finger-tip save from the outstretched Kemp but this time he could only direct the ball into the path of Ben Mackey, who slotted home from six yards out and celebrated in style with a trade-mark summersault, after giving the Glassboys a well deserved half-time lead.

Kemp was called on again early in the second half as Broadhurst ran into the box from half-way, only to stumble under pressure allowing the keeper to gather at his feet.

Jamie Oliver then headed just wide from a corner before Benbow finally got on the score sheet on the hour mark, when another corner was flicked on by the head of Nathan Bennett and Benbow headed in from six yards.

The Greenbacks brought on some fresh legs up-front and started playing some neat football but never really troubled Coleman in the Stour goal.

There were further chances for the visitors with Benbow shooting over from 16 yards, Billingham volleying just over from 40 yards - with Kemp off his line – and Mackey being denied from close range by a superb block from Martin Hutchcox.

Goal number three arrived in the final minute after a free-kick on half-way was played through to Mackey in the penalty area by Jordan Fitzpatrick. Mackey beat Bains and made space for his shot before smashing home his seventh goal in five league games since joining the Glassboys last month.