Stourbridge 1, Basford United 0

THE Glassboys progressed to the next round of the FA Trophy after a good performance, and victory, over Basford United, writes Steven Coney.

Despite being a division below Stour, Basford are leading the Evo-Stik South and showed their strength at the War Memorial Ground.

A goal from the returning Aaron Forde, however, was enough for Gary Hackett’s men.

Friday signings Kyle Perry and Aaron Birch came in for their debuts whilst full-back Darryl Westlake and midfielder Forde returned from injury for the Glassboys.

Forward Perry muscled his way on to a Luke Shearer through ball in the fourth minute but his first shot in a Stour shirt was deflected wide for a corner The visitors had the better of the opening exchanges and it took Stour 20 minutes to have a shot on target but Tom Tonks’ 25-yard free-kick was easily saved by Saul Deeney.

Three minutes later, following a fantastic ball from Westlake to Shearer, Stour had the ball in the net through Leon Broadhurst but it was chalked off for an apparent handball.

Basford responded and Matt Gould had to turn Kieran Wells’ low shot around the post.

But Stour started to pile on the pressure and Perry headed over from a Broadhurst knock back on the half hour mark.

Two minutes later, Perry did well to feed Forde who played in Birch but the midfielder delayed his shot for too long and it was blocked before Broadhurst headed over the resulting corner.

The returning Westlake went closest for Stour in the first half, firing just wide of the post from the edge of the box five minutes before the interval.

Forde had the first effort after the break, lashing a shot over the crossbar from the edge of the area after Tonks’ ball in.

And it was Forde who grabbed the winning goal in the 61st minute. Kennedy Digie played Shearer in down the right, he pulled back to Forde and his low effort crept into the far corner.

Forde did brilliantly again in the 67th minute to surge down the left and pull the ball back to Perry near the penalty spot but the striker’s effort went well over.

Stour just about scrambled the ball away following a smart short corner routine from Basford and then Perry had a header brilliantly saved from a Tonks long throw.

Despite the Glassboys looking relatively comfortable, Basford gave a reminder of what could happen with just a one goal lead when sub Aidan Austin curled an effort that clipped the crossbar in the 80th minute.

Stour saw out the remaining ten minutes, however, to make it through to the next round of the FA Trophy.

Stourbridge (4-2-3-1): Gould; Digie, Duggan, McCone, Westlake; Tonks (Christophorou 89), Broadhurst; Birch (Green 64), Forde, Shearer (Cooke 85); Perry.

Subs not used: Pierpoint, Cameron.

Attendance: 404