Stourbridge 2, Royston 1

A CONTROVERSIAL late winner from Callum Powell saw Stourbridge overcome Royston to go third in the table.

Robbie Thompson-Brown’s first goal for the club had been cancelled out by Chris Assombalonga before Powell’s strike three minutes from time.

Royston were left asking for a foul in the build-up to the winner but Powell wasted no time to pick up the ball and curl in a sublime effort.

The visitors had the ball in the net after just three minutes but referee Rob Hathaway was quick to rule it out after adjudging Sam Corcoran had deliberately handled.

The clash was a scrappy affair in blustery conditions at Amblecote and both sides continued to find efforts of note hard to come by early on.

Stour’s first chance came the way of forward Luke Benbow on 17 minutes. He sprung the offside trap to race onto Leon Broadhurst’s through ball but fired his effort narrowly wide of Joe Welsh’s far post.

Royston passed up a good chance of their own just three minutes later when the unmarked James Potton was found in the box but could only fire weakly at James Wren.

Assombalonga and David Mooney headed efforts off target approaching the half hour mark as the away side pressed.

They had the ball in the net a second time on 36 minutes but this time it was the linesman’s flag that denied Assombalonga. He headed home Corcoran’s free-kick from the right but had strayed offside.

It was Stour that broke the deadlock in the last moments of the half.

Benbow played a neat reverse pass to Thompson-Brown in the area and he took a touch before lifting the ball beyond the outrushing Welsh to net his first goal for the club in front of the Shed End.

Benbow nearly doubled his side’s advantage in the opening minute of the second period but headed wide after Thompson-Brown’s cross from the right flank.

However, Royston levelled in the 52nd minute after Assombalonga was on hand to tap home after Wren spilt Corcoran’s free-kick.

It was Royston doing the pressing after finding a way back and it took Wren to claw away Corcoran’s drilled free-kick from a narrow angle just past the hour mark.

Trouble flared with 20 minutes left on the clock after Spyros Mentis flew in on Aaron Forde. Once calm was restored only Assombalonga went in the book after rushing to get involved in the shoving match.

The contest remained evenly poised heading into the final 10 minutes as the lively Thompson-Brown fired over the bar from the edge of the box for the hosts.

Benbow fired a free-kick narrowly over the bar from 25 yards on 84 minutes as Stour looked for a late winner.

The hosts did find it three minutes from time as Callum Powell curled an effort beyond Welsh.

There was controversy in the build-up, though, as it looked like Benbow fouled Jordan Norvell-Williams to allow Powell to pick up the loose ball inside the box.

Visiting boss Steve Castle lost his cool at the decision and was soon given his marching orders. The drama continued as he walked around the pitch before getting into a row with fans near the tunnel.

There was still time for Powell to drag an effort into the side-netting in injury time but it didn’t matter as the Glassboys held on for a big three points.

Stourbridge: Wren, Hayden, Brown, McCone (c), Westlake (Christophorou 45), Forde, Powell, Broadhurst (Birch 76), Benbow, Thompson-Brown. Mills (Anderson 62).

Unused subs: Pierpoint, Steele.

Royston: Welch, Scott-Morris, Alomenu (Norvell-Williams 630, Mentis, Murray, Brathwaite, Castiglione (Bola 72), Corcoran, Mooney (Gordon 63), Potton, Assombalonga.

Unused subs: Thomas, Smart.

Att: 651.