How they rated:
Halesowen 0, Stourbridge 3
Halesowen:
Platt: Made some good saves, especially his double save before Benbow’s late second. Read the game well to sweep up when required. 6.5.
Curley: Struggled with his distribution early on but grew as the game progressed and did well for large spells against Greg Mills. 6.
Griffiths: Solid at the back for long periods and showed good pace to recover. 7.
Mendez-Jones: Another who did well to snap into challenges against Benbow and Thompson-Brown. 6.5.
Morris: Strong at times but, like his fellow centre backs, will have been disappointed to leave Benbow unmarked for Stour’s first-minute opener. 6.5.
Rea: Got about the field and always busy but faced a tough task against the experience of Forde and Broadhurst. 6.
Fitzpatrick: Did well to find his way out of tight spaces with the ball at his feet and forced Maher to tip his goal-bound free-kick over the bar in the second half. 6.
Coyle: Struggled to make an impact in the packed midfield area and was replaced at half time by Mathias Bakare. 5.
Hughes: The Stour centre backs will know they have been in a game but couldn’t find the quality at key moments. Passed up one good opening from Dan Sweeney’s knock down. 6.
Sweeney: Some neat play to get the Yeltz on the front foot when the ball was played up to him and saw one first half free-kick curl narrowly wide. 7.
Taylor: A really good showing from the left wing-back. Got up and down the flank all afternoon and posed Stour a host of problems in the final third. Another who saw a free-kick only just curl wide of the upright in the first half. 7.5.
Subs: Bragoli: Late replacement for Rea but didn’t have time to influence the game. N/A.
Bakare: Came on at half time and showed glimpses of his talent when advanced from midfield. Should be more to come. 6.5.
Kelly: Another late chance as he replaced Hughes with 15 to go but couldn’t have an impact. 6.
Unused subs: Charlton, Higginson.
Stourbridge:
Maher: The young stopper did well after being thrown in after injury to regular James Wren. Made some good saves, kicked well and showed good handling when needed. Solid. 7.
Hayden: A really good performance from the former Wolves prospect who dealt well with Lee Hughes all afternoon. Good on the ball and his pace was an asset. 7.5.
Christophorou: Another who came in due to injury but did well. Defended well and showed good energy. 6.
McCone: Like Hayden, he had a solid afternoon and enjoyed the battle with former team-mate Hughes. Solid in the air. 7.
Westlake: His reading of the game allowed him to win the ball back on a host of occasions. Another who will be pleased with the derby day clean sheet. 6.
Forde: Bossed midfield for the Glassboys, winning the ball and driving forward from deep. Step up his side’s key second with a fine ball to Anderson. 8.
Anderson: Worked hard without much joy but was rewarded with a goal against his former club after a good Stour break. 6.5.
Broadhurst: His experience alongside Forde was vital as Stour held their own against Town’s three-man midfield. 6.5.
Benbow: Superb from the forward who continued his goalscoring streak with two more. Held the ball up nicely and a constant threat on the turn. His quality in the final third proved the difference in the end. 8.
Thompson-Brown: Drifted in and out of the contest. His free-kick set up Benbow’s opener. 6.
Mills: Not his best afternoon but still showed his quality out on the wing. Always looking to take on his man and stretch the opposition. 7.
Subs: Birch: Replaced Thompson-Brown with 15 minutes to go and helped Stour over the line. 6.
Steele: Late change for Benbow but didn’t have any time to make an impact. N/A.
Unused subs: Pierpoint, Hawk, Evans.
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