Stourbridge 3 Corby Town 1

A rousing second-half fight-back from Gary Hackett’s men saw them secure a fifth successive victory after they had trailed to a goal from ex- Glassboy Stuart Hendrie at the break.

The match was played at a good tempo right from the start with play often switching quickly from end to end. In the 5th minute a flowing Stourbridge move involved Ryan Rowe and Paul McCone initially before Ben Billingham slipped a pass through to Drew Canavan and his rising shot from the right-hand side of the box was turned round the post by visiting custodian Paul Walker. Corby replied five minutes later with Stuart Hendrie pulling the ball back low from the right-hand byline for his older brother, Lee Hendrie to hit a shot that deflected into the arms of Dean Coleman. Stourbridge returned on to the attack with Sean Geddes drilling a 20-yard free-kick over the bar before Corby, prompted by Lee Hendrie, enjoyed a good passage of play. In the 13th minute Tom Berwick collected the ball on the left-hand corner of the box and his fine strike drew a good save from Coleman who managed to tip the ball on to the top of the crossbar. Then Lee Hendrie’s right-wing corner was only partially cleared and this led to Chris Carruthers curling a shot over from the edge of the penalty area. A couple of minutes later Berwick threaded a pass through to Lee Hendrie and his clever back-heel lined up his brother, but Will Richards produced an excellent block to deny Stuart Hendrie. The home side responded by going close on 17 minutes as Geddes swept the ball wide to Canavan and his cross from the right found Billingham, however his header flew wide and five minutes later Corby had a let-off when Nathan Bennett played a pass forward and some hesitancy in the visitors defence allowed Rowe to sneak in first and clip the ball over Walker, but also over the crossbar. On the half-hour mark Billingham laid the ball off to Canavan who hit a low 20-yard shot straight at Walker. Six minutes before the interval though Corby grabbed the lead with persistence from Berwick paying off as he gained possession and delivered in a cross from the right that allowed Stuart Hendrie to steal in at the near post and direct home a close range header.
The turning point of the evening came on 56 minutes when a measured pass from Lee Hendrie split the Glassboys defence and played in Berwick through the right-hand channel and he rolled the ball across to an unmarked Nabil Shariff who looked to round Coleman, but the keeper managed to force him a little wide allowing Paul McCone to get back and Shariff’s resulting shot lacked power and McCone was able to clear the ball off the line. Instead within a minute the hosts swept up-field to draw level with Jordan Fitzpatrick managing to stay onside before tucking a low shot past Walker. Seven minutes later a tantalising right-wing cross from Canavan flew across the face of the goal with Rowe just unable to get a touch, however in the 68th minute Stourbridge forged in-front as Billingham sent in a right-wing corner and Richards rose highest to head home from close range at the near post. Nine minutes later the home side made it three when McCone lifted the ball through the right channel area for Benbow to fasten on to and his low cross-shot was turned into his own net by Brad Gascoigne. Two minutes later Billingham pulled the ball back from the right-hand byline for Benbow, but he lifted his left-foot shot over the bar. A late push from the Northamptonshire visitors saw an 85th minute lob from Tommy Wright clip the top of the crossbar and then Berwick curled a shot from the left-hand side of the box past the far post, but Stourbridge retained their two-goal cushion to the final whistle.