TWO second half goals helped Barwell inflict a first league defeat of the season on Stourbridge.

In a game of few chances, Jamie McAteer headed the visitors in front from a Paul Spacey cross with 20 minutes to go.

Substitute Kevin Charley then made the game safe when he capitalised on an error by Nathan Bennett.

Sam Rock and Drew Canavan both went close for the hosts but it was otherwise a night to forget for the Glassboys.

Indeed, with rain lashing down and some questionable refereeing decisions, this was a pretty miserable experience all round for the home side and will probably be one of the worst games seen at Amblecote this year.

Stour were unbeaten until February at home last season but were felled at the first hurdle this time around by stubborn opponents, who managed to frustrate the hosts normally slick passing game with their physical style and then took their chances when they came.

Barwell deserve credit but for the Glassboys it was a night when nothing seemed to go right and the best policy may be to forget and move on.

There was certainly little to dwell on during a first half where the major talking point happened in the middle of the pitch. Matt West’s tackle from behind on Stour playmaker Sean Geddes after just eight minutes was waved away as a clean challenge by referee Michael Bingham, whereas most of the crowd were expecting a yellow card at the very least.

Barwell’s physical style was certainly adding some heat to proceedings but the goalmouth action stayed relatively cool.

Linden Dovey drove an early chance wide and also headed over after great play between Geddes and Canavan, though that was largely it for the hosts.

The visitors did at least manage to test Stour keeper Lewis Solly, with both Spacey and Jamie Towers forcing him into smart near post saves.

Stourbridge were lacking width but appeared to have rectified the issue early in the second half when Rock, who had a quiet game by his standards, curled a shot just wide of the far post after cutting in from the left wing.

Things started to look better for Stour. Canavan had a shot deflected just wide of the near post after good build-up play involving Paul McCone, before the midfielder nearly played in Dovey with a delightful through pass.

Feeling they were getting on top, Stour introduced Stuart Hendrie and Chris Knight from the bench as they went looking for a winner in the final quarter.

But instead they were hit by a sucker punch as Barwell took the lead with their first chance of the second period. A corner from Spacey was never properly cleared and when the ball was delivered dangerously into the box for a third time, McAteer was on hand to head home.

Stung, Stour quickly looked for a way back but continually found their path blocked by the stubborn visiting defence. Canavan shot just wide with one effort from an Aaron Griffiths cut back and then drilled another shot from distance straight at Liam Castle in the visiting goal.

Castle was called into action again when Knight got on the end of a Solly goal kick which was missed by the visiting defence, saving low down.

But any hopes of a Stour comeback were extinguished in the final minute of normal time. The normally excellent Bennett was caught out of position allowing Charley to race away and fire low under Solly to seal the points.

GLASSBOYS: Solly, Rock (Griffiths 74), Canavan, McCone, Geddes, Bennett, Smith, Broadhurst, Dovey (Knight 65), Billingham (c), Turton (Hendrie 65) Subs not used: Dyson, Lloyd.

BARWELL: Castle, Lower, McAteer, Lavery, Edwards, Weale, Towers (Barlone 83), Hadland (c), West (Charley 75), Spacey, Julien (Bates 90) Subs not used: Rowley, Oddy.

Goals: McAteer 70, Charley 90.