STOURBRIDGE’S search for a striker needs to start hotting up after sharp-shooter Jordan Archer made his long-awaited move away from the club.

Archer, who has scored 22 times in his 51 appearances for the Glassboys, signed for Chester this week after the National League side put in a seven-day approach for the 24-year-old.

The departure of Archer has left a gaping hole in the Stourbridge front-line which boss Gary Hackett is hoping to seal up.

Hackett said: “We knew Jordan was going. Once you get a couple of clubs from the higher leagues interested in one of your players it’s only a matter of time before a deal is done.

“Losing Jordan was always going to make things difficult, but he would be the first to admit that his mind might not have been on the games in the past couple of weeks.

“He will be a big miss and we’ll all be sad to see him go. Jordan’s developed into a great player during his time here and we wish him all the best.

“With Jordan gone, we’re also without Kayleden Brown and Brandon Hague, so options are limited in attack at the moment, but we are actively searching and trying our hardest to get new players in.

“It’s not as easy to sign players as you might think, you can’t just go out and get any striker you want. They have to be the right fit for the club and we’ve got to make sure that they will add something to the team.”

The Glassboys’ need for a striker was all too evident in their 2-0 defeat at home to Grantham Town on Saturday.

Two late goals from striker Lee Shaw was sufficient to seal victory for the visitors, while Stourbridge created little in attack.

Stour did manage to score a solitary goal on Monday night in a Birmingham Senior Cup first round victory over arch-rivals Halesowen Town at the War Memorial Ground, but the home side still needed the luck of penalties to see them through.

Hackett said: “It was a very scruffy game against Grantham, and that wasn’t helped by the weather. We knew it would be a game that would be decided by mistakes and it happened to be us who made them.

“We are all very much aware that our home form has to improve, and although we were disappointed on Saturday, getting the win over Halesowen was small consolation.

“Obviously it doesn’t make up for the loss in the league a few weeks ago, but we now need to look ahead and try to put things right.

“But we have got a very determined side who have got massive room for improvement.”

The Glassboys have another home tie on Saturday as they invite Basford United to Amblecote in the first round of the FA Trophy (3pm kick-off).