Stourbridge 2, Rushall Olympic 2

STOURBRIDGE were twice pegged back as they drew with Black Country rivals Rushall Olympic tonight.

They welcomed The Pics to the War Memorial Ground with the visitors boasting three former Glassboys in their lineup.

Goalkeeper Dean Coleman, midfielder Jordan Fitzpatrick and striker Luke Benbow all made a return to Amblecote.

A late header from skipper Jack Duggan and a strike from Benbow handed Olympic a point after Chris Lait and substitute Kayleden Brown had twice put the hosts in front during an eventful second half.

The first half was a close affair as both side battled for the ball but failed to create any real openings of note in the opening exchanges.

It took until the 18th minute until Rushall had an opportunity to work Solly in the Stour goal.

Olympic's Aris Christophorou cut inside before being hacked down by defender Dan Scarr who stepped out of the back line to meet him.

It handed Kris Taylor a sight at goal from a free kick in a central position just outside the box. However, he could only curl his effort over the bar.

It took until the last five minutes of the half before Stour burst into life and enjoyed more possession in the final third.

First, in the 40th minute, Dodd saw his effort cleared off the line by Coleman after Broadhurst's previous effort was blocked by Coleman.

A minute late and Coleman had to push a deflected Karl Hawley effort onto the post after he got in down the right flank.

The second half began similar to the first as both sides looked for the opener.

It was the hosts that eventually got it from a 55th minute free kick won by Hawley just outside the box.

Leon Broadhurst fired an effort powerfully under the wall that Coleman could only parry back into the centre of the box where Chris Lait was on hand to finish from close range.

The game became an open affair after the goal with more space on offer, especially for Dodd down Stour's right flank.

But it was Benbow that struck next to pull his side level against his former club in the 71st minute.

Jake Heath found space out on the right, crossed for Fitzpatrick who in turn fed Benbow.

The former Glassboy curled a fine effort over the head of Solly that went in off the underside of the bar to silence the fans that once cheered him on.

Gary Hackett threw on Kayleden Brown in response to his side being pegged back.

The forward had an immediate impact and was soon stretching the visiting defence.

In the 79th minute he worked Coleman into a save after he'd pinched the ball from Duggan and powered into the box.

However, he wasn't to be denied a second time just moments later.

He latched onto a Kristian Green ball, drove forward and this time powered the ball home past Coleman to hand his side the lead once more.

The Pics reacted well to the second set back and applied some late pressure looking to take something from the contest.

Stour dropped deep trying to deal with the threat but couldn't hold out.

Skipper Duggan rose highest to head home Fitzpatrick's corner in the 88th minute.

It could have got worse for the Glassboys as the final opportunity fell to Benbow in injury time.

He fired at Solly from close range when the ball found its way to him at the far post with time running out.

Ultimately, Stourbridge will be disappointed to have let the lead slip twice in what was a close encounter that perhaps summed up their season so far.

They continued to have an ability to find the back of the net but still displayed a fragility at the back when under real pressure.

Stourbridge: Solly, Green, Scarr, Tonk, Knight (Harris 49), Pierpoint (c), Dodd, Broadhurst, Hawley, Chilton (Canavan 80), Lait (Brown 75).

Unused Subs: Smikle, Hill.

Rushall Olympic: Coleman, Christophorou, Smith (Martin 64), Tolley, Townsend, Duggan (c), Heath, Taylor (Delaney 64), Benbow, McGrath (Farquharson 80), Fitzpatrick.

Unused Subs: Yafai, Caines.

Att: 512