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Birmingham Senior Cup 2nd Round |
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Written by Sports Editor
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Thursday, 19 November 2009 13:23 |
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The Glassboys overcame some early anxious moments to cruise into the last eight of the Birmingham Senior Cup with a 3 - 0 win at near neighbours Cradley Town. The struggling Midland Alliance side made a spirited start and in the opening quarter-of-an-hour a makeshift looking Stourbridge back-line twice survived goalmouth scrambles either side of a good 11th minute opportunity for Ben Store who was picked out by a good left-wing cross from Dan Ludlow, but his stabbed volley was pushed round the post by Todd Henderson in the Glassboys goal. Gradually though the visitors extra sharpness told as the half progressed. On 23 minutes Kalum Evitts played the ball into the feet of Damion Jarrett who peeled off his marker, turned and cracked a low 20-yard drive wide. A minute later however Stourbridge grabbed the lead. Ashley Langford, making his Stourbridge return, fed a pass inside from the right into the path of Sam Rock who showed good feet to create an opening and tuck a low shot past Cradley keeper Richard Kennedy. Cradley responded with an inswinging right-wing free-kick from Ludlow evading the onrushing attackers, but still forcing Henderson to dive smartly to his right to save. With 28 minutes played the Glassboys might have doubled their lead as Nathan Broadhurst found Langford on the right from a throw-in and he delivered in a good cross that Rock headed just the wrong side of the post. Eight minutes later some better build-up play from the home side saw Martin Hill drive a shot wide, but two goals in quick succession towards half-time effectively put the result beyond doubt. In the 38th minute a left-wing corner from Aaron Drake drifted through to the far post where Nathan Bennett bundled the ball over the line, then a minute later a quickly taken goal-kick from Henderson caught out the home defence and Jarrett seized on the ball before stroking a shot past Kennedy from just outside the area. In the final minute of the half Rock produced a good run and slipped a neat pass over to Drake on the left-hand side of the area whose low shot clipped the foot of Kennedy's right-hand upright.
The second-half began with assistant Steve Checketts taking over the running of the game after an injury to referee Tony Horton with Stourbridge assistant-manager Jon Ford taking up the flag. The match peetered out somewhat after the break with Stourbridge in a comfortable position. Sub Dreniz Bala went close with a header from Damion Jarrett's cross on 59 minutes that brought a corner then six minutes later Langford combined with Jarrett down the right before Ben Billingham drove a shot wide. Cradley might have pulled a goal back with three minutes left following good work by Dan Chattwood, however Will Tibbetts shot wide of the far post.
On Saturday, Stourbridge welcome Blue Square North League leaders SOUTHPORT to Amblecote in a mouth-watering F A Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round tie (3pm), however the Glassboys home Zamaretto League Premier Division match against FARNBOROUGH - scheduled for next Tuesday, 24th November - will have to be re-arranged. Farnborough won their delayed Red Insure League Cup tie at Andover on Tuesday night and have been instructed to play their Second Round tie next midweek in preference to the league meeting with Stourbridge.
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