Dover 1, Stourbridge 2

 

IMPRESSIVE Stourbridge booked their place in the FA Cup Second Round as they stunned Vanarama National League high flyers Dover at their Crabble Road home.

Chris Lait had fired them into and early lead and the Glassboys, who play two levels below in the Northern Premier, were more than a match for the hosts.

Aswad Thomas had levelled but Stourbridge deservedly took the lead again when Karl Hawley showed nerves of steel to slot home a second half penalty after keeper Mitch Walker was sent off.

Stourbridge fielded the same starting line-up which had defeated Kidderminster Harriers so impressively two weeks ago.

But Ben Billingham was back from suspension and started on the bench for the Glassboys.

Dover were also unchanged from their last game in the Vanarama National League, a fine 1-0 win at Tranmere.

After a cagey few minutes, Stourbridge took the lead in the eighth minute.

Brian Smikle drove impressively down the left wing and after shaking off Ricky Modeste's challenge, he teed up Lait.

The winger set his sights 20-yards out and drilled home an well-hit shot.

The goal roused Dover into action and Ricky Miller fired a left-footed shot wide in the 12th minute.

Miller has another chance in the 15th minute when a cross from the left opened up the visitors but the hitman half volleyed wide from ten yards out.

Jack Parkinson then fired an effort from the edge of the bar two minutes later.

Stourbridge were were defending solidly on a wet and windy Saturday afternoon.

The Glassboys had a well-worked set piece ruled out for offside and winger Matt Dodd tested keeper Mitch Walker with a low shot.

Dodd was enjoying lots of space as he raided forward and in the 25th minute he drove through a hesitant home defence but Walker was equal to his low effort.

Dover were working their way back into the the game and levelled in the 33rd minute.

Lewis Solly was forced to punch a corner from Modeste behind but from the second second piece, Stourbridge could not clear and after bout of head tennis Thomas thumped home Dover's leveller.

Stourbridge tried to hit back and Lait delivered a looping cross only for Dodd to see his shot blocked at the far post.

Stourbridge won a corner in the 40th minute and Lait's delivery caused the home defence all sorts of problems before a Stuart Pierpoint shot was scuffed wide.

Dover saw a great chance to take the lead go to waste in the 41st minute when Miller escaped his marker but as keeper Solly went to ground, he fired over the bar.

Dover keeper Mitch Walker was shown a yellow card in the 43rd minute for a foul on Dodd.

Stourbridge midfield maestro Leon Broadhurst tried a well-worked low driven free-kick but Dover's custodian was alert to the danger.

Lait came closest to breaking the deadlock in time added on in the first half but rifled his long range effort just wide.

At the start of the second half, Stourbridge skipper Pierpoint needed treatment after being caught by Dover targetman Stefan Payne but was okay to continue.

It was the visitors who started the second period the better and midfielder Tom Tonks stung the palms of Walker with an firm effort in the 48th minute.

From a Leon Broadhurst corner, Pierpoint saw a header fly just wide.

In the 56th minute, Solly could only weakly punch Nick Deverdics' free-kick away and Payne fired in a shot which Dan Scarr did well to block.

The away side were caught out by a long ball on the hour mark but breathed a sigh of relief when Modeste charged past Pierpoint but steered his effort inches wide of the right hand post.

Stourbridge took the lead in the 69th minute. Walker was show a second yellow card in the 67th minute for bringing down Hawley.

Dover made a change as shot-stopper Andy Rafferty replaced striker Miller but as he dived to his left, Hawley fired the spot-kick into the top right corner.

The hosts searched desperately to find another equaliser but Stourbridge, backed by their excellent fans, continued to defend solidly.

Manager Gary Hackett had kept his faith with his starting line-up as the game entered the final ten minutes but for all their exertions, the away side remained alert to the challenge and held on for another memorable cup win.

Dover: Walker, Magri, Raggett, Orlu, Modeste (Ofori-Acheampong, 77), Miller (Rafferty, 67), Grimes, Deverdics (Ajala, 65) Parkinson, Thomas, Payne.

Subs: Kinnear, Murphy, Diallo, Ofori-Acheampong, Sterling.

Stourbridge: Solly, Green, Scarr, Tonks, Smikle, Pierpoint, Dodd, Broadhurst, Hawley, Richards, Lait.

Subs not used: Billingham, Price, Knight, Wright, Penny, McPike, Harris.

Referee: Richard Martin.

Attendance: 1394