Stourbridge 2 Swindon Supermarine 1

The Glassboys took a step nearer securing Premier Division safety with a 2 - 1 win over Swindon Supermarine. A late goal from Ashley Langford earned the home side three points after a penalty from Leon Broadhurst on 68 minutes had cancelled out the opening goal of the game from Mark Draycott on the hour mark. Matt Bulman, who conceded the spot-kick by bringing down Shane Benjamin, also saw red with striker Alan Griffin taking over between the sticks for the rest of the game.

 

The Glassboys took another step to securing BGB Premier Division safety as a late goal from sub Ashley Langford gave Gary Hackett's men a 2 - 1 win to stretch their unbeaten run to four games. The visitors, chasing a play-off place, were first to threaten after 11 minutes with Alan Griffin turning past Ross Collins before hitting a speculative early low shot from around 25 yards out that ran wide.

 

Stourbridge responded and went close themselves on 28 minutes. Shane Benjamin released Kyle Hadley away down the right and after sprinting forward he swung over a deep cross, but Aaron Drake, flinging himself at the ball, could not direct his header on target. The home side were then relieved to see Griffin miscue a volley horribly wide from a good position after the Glassboys had failed to clear their lines from a corner before they carved out another chance after 36 minutes.

 

A Stourbridge free-kick was not cleared and a ball from Dave Bridgwater saw Sam Rock roll his marker on the edge of the area, but his shot was blocked by visiting custodian Matt Bulman with Benjamin lifting the rebound over the bar. Swindon hit back three minutes later, Griffin provided a low cross from the right for Mark Draycott at the near post whose shot was deflected wide for a corner, then from that flag-kick the visitors almost caught out the Glassboys as they worked a short routine that enabled Alex Stanley to get in a drive and with Draycott getting a flick, Lewis Solly did well to smother the ball.

 

Two minutes before the break though Stourbridge again might have taken the lead. Drake pulled the ball back low from the left for Rock to flick a shot goalwards, but the ball was cleared off the line, however with the danger not over, Ryan Mahon returned the ball back into the box and Benjamin's header set up Rock again who turned and shot over the bar.

 

Early in the second period, the visitors had penalty claims ignored after Griffin went down under a challenge from Collins, but they made the breakthrough on the hour mark following a mistake by Les Hines who inadvertently glanced a header straight into the path of a wide open Draycott who coolly lobbed Solly for the game's opening goal. Swindon threatened a second goal soon afterwards with Solly required to block a low shot from a tight angle by Jake Harris.

 

Stourbridge however got back on level terms in the 68th minute. A low shot from Hadley fell to Benjamin who was brought down by Bulman as the visitors appealed in vain for offside. The Swindon keeper was sent off with striker Griffin taking his place between the sticks. Broadhurst duly drove home his spot-kick to restore parity.

 

Stourbridge pushed in search of a winning goal and on 78 minutes a ball from Collins dropped in behind the Swindon defence, but Benjamin sent his lob wide. Four minutes from time Benjamin slid the ball through to Bridgwater on the left-hand side of the box whose low shot rolled past the far post. However with a minute remaining the home side clinched victory as Benjamin threaded a pass into Ashley Langford who wriggled his way through a couple of challenges before poking the ball wide of Griffin and into the net to the delight of the home crowd.