THE Glassboys shattered Tividale’s hopes of an extended FA Cup run thanks to a goal from Stuart Pierpoint.

It was a case of what might have been for Dale, struggling at the foot of the EvoStik Northern League, as Mark Danks saw a second-half shot deflect over and Chris Sterling had an effort cleared off the line.

Boss Ross Thorpe said on such small margins do games change as hopes of a morale-boosting win were scuppered.

“They were game changing moments,”

said Thorpe. “Credit to Stourbridge they probably had more chances and hit the post, Chris Jay made a couple of saves, and good luck to them in the next round, but we had a couple of chances. That perhaps shows where they are and where we are at the moment.

“We’re disappointed to go out and now we have to look to our league form. That’s four games on the bounce where we haven’t scored and we know what we have got to do but its not as if we aren’t creating chances. As team we are not scoring enough goals, not just the forwards.

“Apart from maybe the second half at Market Drayton and Gresley we have been in games. We perhaps need the ball to go in off the back of someone’s head or a freak own goal.

“We are under no illusions though, we know there are no easy games.

Hopefully if we can get a result that will get us going but there is no magic wand to wave.

“The performances haven’t been bad and we have some very good players in the dressing room. We mustn’t lose heart. Individual errors are being reduced but every one we make gets punished, that is the level of football we are playing at.

“The lads are having to learn the hard way. There are some tough days ahead and it may have to get worse before it gets better.”

Tivi are at Lincoln United on Saturday.

Last night they were due to play in the Doodson Cup against Stafford Rangers.

“It’s a chance for us to give the lads who haven’t had much football a game,” said Thorpe.

The only goal of the Stour game came after 28 minutes. Leon Broadhurst’s corner evaded everyone apart from an unmarked Pierpoint at the back post and the Stourbridge skipper swept the ball home.

Jay twice denied Carl Hawley to keep the hosts within striking distance and after the break Matt Dodd hit a post as the visitors looked to make their dominance tell.

Tivi had their chances and Danks saw his shot deflect over then with time running out Sterling saw his effort hacked to safety by Kristian Green with Lewis Solly beaten.

But it was Stourbridge who came through to book a second round tie with Dunkirk at Amblecote.