Stourbridge 2, Frinkley 1

THE ten men of Stourbridge repelled a late Frinkley charge to claim all three points at the War Memorial Ground today.

Anything but a win would have been unfair on the Glassboys after their dominance for long periods against the team that sat level on points and one place below them in 15th before kick off.

However, with games in hand on many of those above them, Stour are now looking to push themselves back towards the top of the table.

They did just that when making it back-to-back wins today thanks to goals from Reece Hales and Jordan Fitzpatrick.

It took a solid defensive show to make sure of the victory following Chris Knight's red card in the 71st minute after he'd given away a penalty that offered Frickley a route back into the game.

It was the home side that settled the better following an even first ten minutes.

They slowly grew into the contest and fired a few warning shots as Fitzpatrick, who was always willing to link up from midfield, and Canavan found early space around the box.

The Glassboys broke the deadlock on 18 minutes when Reece Hales slotted well past Frickley goalkeeper Jamie Green.

The clever running of Canavan saw him pick the ball up between the lines and drive at the away defence before laying it off to Hales to convert.

After the goal it was Stour that continued to press for a second as confidence grew.

They doubled their lead after 32 minutes. Frickley defender Simon Harrison could only clear a Kyle Haynes cross straight at Fitzpatrick, who made now mistake to fire the ball past the out-rushing Green.

Frickley best chance of the half fell to Danny South just before the break.

He could only head a difficult chance wide after getting up well to meet a rare corner.

The second half saw the visitors up their game as they looked for a way back in the contest.

Coleman saved well when getting a strong hand to a Brad Riley drive at the near post on 47 minutes.

Maybe the best chance of the game was then passed up by Hales soon after.

A Canavan corner fell to him just a few yards out in the 51st minute, but he could only fire at Green.

The Glassboys continued comfortably until a big moment in the 71st minute that gave Frickley a lifeline.

McCone left a ball into the box thinking it would make its way through to keeper Coleman. But the dangerous Allott made a good run in behind to chest the ball past them both.

With the goal at his mercy he was brought down by Knight and the ref had no choice but to award a penalty and give the defender his marching orders.

Allott got up to dispatch the spot kick himself and set up a frantic finale.

With a man down, Stourbridge dropped deeper and deeper as they looked to hold out for the points.

Late chances on the break in stoppage time for Kayelden Brown and Hales could have made life easier, but the Stour rear-guard held strong to claim a hard-fought but deserved victory.

Stourbridge: Coleman, Knight, Ramsey-Dickson, McCone (c), Smikle (Till 85), Hales, Haynes, Richards, Brown, Canavan (Berwick 79), Fitzpatrick.

Unused subs: Francis, Morgan-Parker, Gueyes.

Frickley: Green, Harrison, Parkinson, Leonard, Cyrus, Jeffs, Riley, Young (c), South, Allott, Hinsley.

Unused subs: Davis, Dean, Stratford.

Ref: Mr James Whittington.