LEWIS Hilliard scored the only goal as Stourbridge slipped to defeat against St Neots Town.

The midfielder curled a delightful free-kick past Stour keeper Lewis Solly with 14 minutes remaining to give the visitors victory in an otherwise low-key game.

Ed Adjei had almost put St Neots ahead minutes earlier when his mis-hit cross came back off the bar.

Both sides struggled to create chances and Sam Rock had the home side’s best opportunity at the death but his close range effort was saved by Michael Duggan.

Had the shot gone in, it’s debateable whether Stour would have deserved the point after the visitors had largely dominated the second period, though without regularly testing Solly.

Hilliard’s free-kick, after Adeoye Yusuff was felled by Jamie Oliver, was the one moment of real quality in a frankly drab game between two sides who had scored a combined 53 goals in the league heading into the fixture.

The expected shootout never materialised in a defeat which knocks Stour off the top of the Southern League Premier and down to fourth, with St Neots moving above them into third. 

One positive aspect was the bumper attendance of 743. It’s just a shame they were not treated to a bit more entertainment.

The big-spending visitors were shorn of former Villa and Halesowen striker Stefan Moore through injury but it was the defenders on both sides who impressed.

Leon Broadhurst was off target with an early long range effort for Stour and Ben Billingham shot similarly wide with a free-kick.

For the visitors, Ollie Thorne saw a close range shot deflected wide after he had met Jay Davies’ free-kick. Jordan Gent then had the first effort on target for either side and perhaps should have done better than direct it straight at Solly after meeting one of several long balls thrown into the Stourbridge box.

Luke Benbow couldn’t get a shot away after beating Duggan to a long ball and Mackey shot straight at Solly but it was otherwise a case of both teams cancelling each other out.

Yusuff created a rare moment of excitement when he found a yard of space and drilled a rising effort into the side netting.

Deep into stoppage time St Neots almost took the lead when Davies had a shot from 10 yards out deflected wide after being fed by Mackey, following a neat counter-attacking move.

Chris Knight was introduced for Drew Canavan at half-time and had an early chance when he met Paul McCone’s cross but his header looped harmlessly over the bar.

It was, again, a rare effort as the stalemate resumed with the visitors gradually beginning to enjoy the greater possession without creating any chances.

Instead it was Stour who had the next real effort, 20 minutes into the half, as Billingham advanced from midfield and shot over from 20 yards out.

In keeping with the scrappy nature of the game, the visitors then almost took the lead in farcical fashion. Adjei’s mis-hit cross looped over Solly and came back off the bar and was deflected just wide of the post by the unwitting Lloyd.

Hilliard sent a header just over Solly’s bar before grabbing the only goal with 14 minutes to play.

Oliver was adjudged to have brought down Yussuff on the edge of the box and Hilliard curled a superb free-kick past the wall and past Solly into the top corner.

Stour never really looked like getting back into it but were presented with a golden chance for redemption two minutes from time when a slip by John Paul Duncliffe allowed Rock in, but his close range shot was saved by Duggan.

GLASSBOYS: Solly, Rock, Oliver, McCone (c), Geddes (Turton 71), Bennett, Lloyd, Broadhurst, Benbow (Griffiths 63), BIllingham, Canavan (Knight 46) subs not used: Smith, Dyson.

ST NEOTS: Duggan, Duncliffe, Jacob (c), Thorne, Gent, Lee, Hilliard, Davies, Yusuff (Werndly 84), Mackey, Adjei (Lewis 72) Subs not used: Nkinga, Felix.

Goal: Hilliard 76.