Stourbridge 0 Walsall 1 (From Stourbridge News)

Stourbridge 0 Walsall 1

4:34pm Saturday 7th November 2009

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STOURBRIDGE boss Gary Hackett said he was disappointed his side did not force a replay after a battling display at Amblecote.

Steve Jones' 34th minute strike was the difference between the sides with Stourbridge putting the League One visitors under pressure in the closing stages.

Sean Evans twice forced Saddler keeper Clayton Ince into good saves, while the Glassboys had two penalty appeals for handball waved away in the second half.

Hackett said: "The lads are disappointed in the dressing room but they are disappointed for the right reasons.

"For the last 20 minutes they were hanging on and I think had they made it 2-0 they would it would have flattered them.

"I don't think anybody froze on the day.

"It's disappointing we did not take it to a replay, or even win it."

More than 2,000 fans packed into the War Memorial Ground for the game, billed as the biggest in the club's history.

The big team news for Stour saw Aaron Drake replaced by Ross Collins and Nathan Bennett return at centre back.

Troy Deeney had the first chance for Walsall but his shot from distance was well handled by Stour keeper Stuart Brock.

From a Walsall corner the Glassboys then broke, Canavan feeding Evans whose fierce cross was cleared.

Ben Billingham then shot straight at Saddlers keeper Clayton Ince from outside the box.

Tempers flared in the sixth minute as Rhys Weston fouled Evans, before Rowe saw a shot blocked.

Deeney had a great chance to put the Saddlers in front in the ninth minute, flicking the ball past Brock but Sam Smith was there to cover.

Weston shot over from distance, before Collins put in a great challenge to rob Darren Byfield as he danced into the box.

It was all Walsall at that stage as Jones was the latest to shoot off target after cutting in from the right.

Dogged Stour defending saw a Byfield shot blocked and a dangerous looking Jones cross cleared.

Weston was shown the first yellow card of the game on the half hour for bringing down Billingham, before Stour had a great opening on 31 minutes as Canavan robbed Mattis the ball on the egde of box. He shot on target but it was held by Ince.

Jones then put Walsall ahead on 34 minutes, nipping in between Bennett and Collins from a Deeney flick on, before cutting inside and shooting high left-footed into the net.

Stour looked to hit back immediately and Rowe won a free kick 25 yards from goal. Sean Evans hit a great curling effort which Ince did well to palm behind.

From the corner Bennett headed narrowly over, the Glassboys so close to an equaliser.

Evans forced Ince into another save during stoppage time.

The second half was delayed in bizarre fashion as a fans penalty shoot out took place on the pitch.

When it did get underway the Saddlers had restarted stronger and had the ball in the net, but Byfield was flagged offside.

Bennett had to be alert to take the ball off the feet of Byfield as the striker shaped to shoot, before Stour then made the first change of the game, Drake replacing Collins at left back.

Chances were mounting for the Saddlers and Byfield squandered a great chance to make it two, firing into the side netting after being sent clear by Deeney.

At the other end, Dyson shot wide from distance after good work by Evans on the wing.

Jones then shot wide for Walsall after Richards deflected cross fell invitingly into his path.

Stourbridge fashioned a great chance as the Saddlers failed to clear a free kick, Rowe firing straight at Ince from close range.

Back at the other end, Brock saved low from Byfield after the former Villa man had turned inside.

Linden Dovey came on for Ryan Mahon, before Deeney heads wide for Walsall from Byfield's cross.

Walsall missed a number of chances and were nearly made to pay as a flicked on throw in finds Rowe unmarked at the far post.

He volleyed towards goal and his shot was blocked by Manny Smith, with Glassboys players adament the defender used a hand.

From the corner Smith headed wide at the near post.

Billingham had the next golden chance for Stour but sliced his shot from the edge of the box wide, after Dovey and Canavan had combined well.

Stourbridge were looking better as an attacking force than they had done all game but the Saddlers were still looking dangerous, Deeney flicking a header wide.

Stour then won a corner and Dyson headed just wide with the second header.

Hughes was booked for bringing down Rock, before Alex Nicholls replaced Deeney for the Saddlers, who were hanging on.

Stour won a corner in the 85th minute as Rock's effort was deflected behind and Bennett again headed over.

More shouts for a penalty then followed as Evans shot was deflected behind by Hughes.

From the corner the ball found its way to Evans who shot over. Ince then did well to gather a Slater long throw in a sea of players.

Alex Nicholls shaved the top of the bar as the game entered stoppage time, before moments late shooting straight at Brock.

Stour won a corner in the third and final minute, the ball found Evans at the edge of the box but would not fall quick enough, the winger rushing his shot over the bar.

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