Stourbridge 4, Nantwich Town 3

STOURBRIDGE survived an opening onslaught to pull off a pulsating success following this seven goal thriller with Nantwich Town last night, writes Nick Pullen.

The Glassboys began as though they were still stuck on the coach from Saturday's agonising journey to Whitby as Nantwich made all the early running.

Josh Hancock hit the post after two minutes with a speculative cross before full back Josh Gordon delivered another high ball which finished up on the roof of the net.

But Nantwich duly went in front on 16 minutes when striker Liam Shotton climbed to challenge Glassboys goalkeeper Charlie Price to another Hancock cross and the ball fell loose for Matt Bell to fire home from the edge of the box.

It could have got much worse for Stourbridge but they were saved by goalkeeper Price.

He bravely blocked out a shot from Shotton on 19 minutes and then dived full stretch to turn a Hancock glancing header round the post.

Price pulled off another point-blank save to keep out PJ Hudson on 28 minutes as Nantwich continually pressed for a second goal.

Stourbridge steadily weathered the storm and then shocked the Cheshire side when former Carlisle United striker Karl Hawley levelled matters on 37 minutes with the Glassboys first shot on target.

Hawley should then have given the Glassboys the lead just before half time, cleverly turning two Nantwich defenders but then firing wide in front of an open goal.

Nantwich snatched the lead back on 49 minutes. Price pulled off another great save to turn a Gordon shot round the post, but Stourbridge failed to deal with the resulting corner enabling Nantwich skipper Darren Thornton to lob home from the edge of the box.

Stourbridge went straight back upfield and equalised, Hawley cashing in on a dreadful error by Thornton to slot home.

The Glassboys tails were up and they took the lead on 58 minutes when Nantwich shotstopper Terry Smith brought down Matt Dodd.

Smith escaped any further punishment from linient referee Radford before Dodd got up to convert the resulting penalty.

Stourbridge then made it 4-2 on 68 minutes, Hawley putting Kayelden Brown clean to plant home past Smith.

Nantwich were given a lifeline on 74 minutes when Glassboys defender Chris Knight was judged to have fouled Shotton and impressive former Stockport County player Matt Kosylo made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Stourbridge had to soak up some late pressure but held firm for three precious points.

It proved to be a winning start for Stourbridge's first venture into Monday night football with a crowd of 387 turning out.

Stourbridge: Price; Smikle, Scarr, Tonks (Harris 85), Brown (Broadhurst 75), Pierpoint, Dodd (Morgan-Parker 80), Canavan, Hawley, Chilton, Knight. Sub not used: Hayward.