Bromsgrove Sporting's unbeaten start to the league season came to an end at the War Memorial Ground on Monday afternoon, with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Stourbridge.
An early Shaquille McDonald goal ended the run of Sporting conceding first in every league game thus far, but goals from Michael Taylor and Jordaan Brown before the half time whilst ensured the Glassboys would bag all three points.
The first opportunity of note in the game was McDonald's 11th minute opener; after latching onto a Liam Spink pass, he terrorised the defence with his sheer pace and dribbling ability before unleashing a left footed drive past keeper James Wren and into the bottom corner.
However, Stourbridge would go on to boss the remainder of the half, with a ferocious 11 minute spell midway through proving to be match winning one.
Firstly, on 19 minutes, Taylor rose highest in the box to guide the ball into the top corner with a firm header via a Tom Turton corner.
Soon after, Taylor saw a shot trickle wide of the post after beating off Stourbridge legend Leon Broadhurst, before Greg Mills put a volley wide, as the pressure began to ramp up further.
Taylor headed over a Mills cross in the 27th minute but three minutes later, the home side's second would come, courtesy of a marauding run from Brown that allowed him to pass to Taylor inside the box, who cleverly backheeled it back to Brown, who managed to beat Spink to the ball and bundle it into the goal.
Spink and McDonald had half chances afterwards to level proceedings but the home side would go into the break with the goal advantage.
As the sun continued to beat down on the pitch and with the heat far from relenting, it made play rather difficult and chances were, ultimately, few and far between in the second 45.
A Stourbridge header from a throw in went over the upright, whilst Mills saw a free kick in a prime position, fifteen minutes from time, fly narrowly off target.
The Rouslers were causing problems late on in the day, largely due to the introduction of Kyle Perry; with a minute of normal time remaining, he struck just wide from outside the area, before having a penalty appeal waived away in additional time, with the Sporting substitute claiming he was hauled down in the midst of some frenetic football pinball inside the box.
Despite this, it was not to be for Bromsgrove, as Stourbridge remained resolute and held out for the win.
From the Stourbridge News
STOURBRIDGE came from behind to earn a battling bank holiday victory over Bromsgrove Sporting at the War Memorial Ground.
The Glassboys took the bragging rights after a Mike Taylor header and Liam Spink own goal saw them hit back after Shaquille McDonald’s opener for the Rouslers. Sporting pushed them all the way but could find a way back during an even second half.
Bromsgrove had started the brighter in the frantic opening moments at a sun-drenched Amblecote as their ability to drive forward with the ball at feet soon disrupted the Glassboys. Too often the home side’s passes went astray as the visitors harried and hassled.
It was Sporting that opened the scoring on 11 minutes when Shaquille McDonald was played in down the right channel by Liam Spink. The pacey striker twisted and turned beyond covering defender Ash Carter before firing neatly past James Wren.
Stour needed an answer and got it just eight minutes later when Mike Taylor glanced Tom Turton’s corner beyond Tony Breedon. Sporting had done well to limit the hosts until that point but were undone by a set-piece as the game was levelled.
Taylor nearly had his second on 23 minutes but he dragged his shot narrowly wide after a powerful run into the Rouslers’ box. Suddenly it was the Glassboys keeping the heat on as Mills fired wide before Taylor then headed over as chances started to arrive.
Stour did have the lead on the half hour mark after a driving run from Jordaan Brown caused havoc in the Sporting rearguard. The left-back was played in by a neat one-two with Taylor and Liam Spink could only divert the ball beyond Keeper Breeden as he slid in to prevent Brown firing home.
Sporting continued to pose a threat through the lightening pace of McDonald. >He tested Wren from range on 40 minutes as Bromsgrove ended the half with a flurry but couldn’t find a way past Wren.
Bromsgrove again started the second half well after the introduction of Charlie Dowd on the right flank. It was from the left where the first real danger of the half came for the Glassboys as Kieran Westwood broke forward but couldn’t quite find McDonald with his cross.
Stour’s first threat came from the long throw of sub Tom Tonks. Brown rose to meet his first effort just before the hour mark but could only head over the bar from six yards out.
The clash remained an even affair for long spells with both sides cancelling each other out. Greg Mills went down in the area under a challenge from former Stour favourite Leon Broadhurst on 67 minutes but the ref was quick to wave away the appeals.
The contest remained in the balance heading into the final 15 minutes as Mills failed to hand Stour the comfort of a two-goal advantage as he curled a free-kick just wide from the edge of the box after Landell had been pulled to the ground by Broadhurst.
Bromsgrove pushed for an equaliser late on as they went long to sub Kyle Perry. He fired off target late on but also found himself in a number of battles with Tonks and Kristian Green as they tried to deal with his aerial threat.
Stour dealt with that challenge to make sure they picked up a hard-fought three points.
Stourbridge:
Wren, Green, Brown, Turton, Williams, Carter, Bellis, Winwood, Taylor (Landell 68), Botfield (Tonks 52), Mills (Finn 78).
Unused subs: Price, Grocott.
Bromsgrove:
Breeden, Westwood (Perry 73), Wilson, Hayward, Broadhurst, Hull, Spink (Dowd 45), Quaynor, McDonald, Gregory, Thompson-Brown (Pykett 68).
Unused subs: Taylor, Brown.
Att: 1,158.
