Stourbridge 1, Hednesford Town 2

STOURBRIDGE'S poor start to the season continued as Hednesford Town struck late to hand them defeat in their first home game of the new campaign.

George Carline volleyed home in the 94th minute to snatch the points from an even encounter at Amblecote.

Kayelden Brown had netted earlier in the contest for Stour before Tristian Dunkley levelled for Town before the break.

The result means the Glassboys failed to bounce back after Saturday's opening day defeat at Warrington and slipped to two defeats from their opening two games.

The first chance of the contest fell to the visitors when Simeon Maye's effort from distance on four minutes had to be palmed away by keeper Matt Gould after it took a deflection.

There was more panic at the back just three minutes later when Dunkley got in behind but saw his effort scrambled away by a combination of Gould and his recovering defenders.

However, despite Town's encouraging start, it was the Glassboys that opened th scoring on 17 minutes.

Luke Benbow fired the ball out wide to Chris Lait on the right wing who then burst into the box.

The ball eventually fell to Benbow after a scramble and he crossed to Kayelden Brown to tap home from close range.

Brown and Benbow linked up again just a minute later. This time Brown crossed for Benbow but the striker couldn't guide his effort the right side of the post.

It was an open game as both sides battled for the ball but it was Hednesford that looked more likely to find the net.

They could have been level on 22 minutes after Sammons brought down a lofted ball into the box and tried to find Maye, but he couldn't reach the cross and the chance was gone.

Hednesford were level before the break, however, as Dunkley drilled a fine effort past Gould after the ball fell to him on the edge of the Stour penalty area on 32 minutes.

It was the least they deserved as the sides went in level at the break.

The second half was an even affair as both sides fought for possession without working many real openings.

Besides a few bursts forward from Lait and a snapshot from Benbow that was turned away by Dan Crane, Stour struggled to open up their visitors.

Town also found it hard to work Gould in the opposite goalmouth until the very end of the contest.

With time running out, Cohan Bramall crossed for Carline to strike sweetly past the drive of the Glassboys' keeper to take the points.

Stourbridge: Gould, Green (Heath 74), Probert (Canavan 73), Tonks (c), Hull, Scarr, Birch, Broadhurst, Benbow (Hague 89), Lait, Brown.

Unused Subs: Adams

Hednesford: Crane, Thompson, Bramall, Thorley (c), Mutton, Flanagan, Maye, Geddes (Singh 79), Dunkley (Glover 58), Sammons (McGrath 63), Carline.

Unused Subs: Ransome, Francis.

Att: 772