SORRY Stourbridge suffered an afternoon to forget following a 3-0 beating by fellow play-off contenders Bideford - writes NICK PULLEN.

The Glassboys had already given a below par first half show before they were reduced to 10 men in the 51st minute.

A forgettable first 45 minutes saw both sides produced precious few chances on goal.

But the game turned on its head when Stourbridge failed to dealwith a corner, allowing the ball to find Nick Milton at the far post, whose acute angled shot was handled around the post by Glassboys central defender Will Richards.

Despite heated protest, Richards was dismissed and Bideford profitted further when skipper Matt Hockley slammed home the resulting penalty.

Glassboys boss Gary Hackett was forced to reshuffle his ranks with Leon Broadhurst switched to the heart of defence.

It looked as though Bideford would make thier numerical advantage pay, but twice  Graham Merceica was denied by goalkeeper Alastair Worby, drafted in by Hackett as a short term replacement for the suspended Dean Coleman, Worby having featured in Brackley town's famous FA Cup triumph this season over Gillingham.

The game was halted for eight minutes when referee Stuart Eagland injured his hamstring and officials had to find a replacement linesman in the crowd.

On resumption, ten-men Stourbridge almost levelled when substitute striker Chris Knight climbed above Bideford goalkeeper Steve Oliver to head a Kayeldon Brown cross against the woodwork before defender Rob Farkins thumped the ball off the line.

But Stourbridge were left stunned when Bideford broke straight back upfield where the ball richotted nicely for Craig duff to sidefoot past a helpless Worby on 72 minutes.

The issue was well and truly put beyond doubt on 78 minutes when some dreadful defending by Jamie Oliver allowed Bideford striker Kevin Squire to race clean through on goal where he rifled home beyond Worby.

It could have been worse for the Glassboys but both Squire and Duff contrived to miss some simple chance, Duff hitting the post on 87 minutes for good measure.

The Glassboys need to bounce back quickly from this below-par show with a proposed trip to bottom side Bashley on Tuesday.