BetVictor Southern Premier Central:

Stourbridge 1, Hitchin Town 2

STOURBRIDGE suffered a severe setback to their promotion prospects after falling victims to a hard-working Hitchin side who proved full value for their victory.

Hitchin had to thank goalkeeper Charles Horlock for keeping them on level terms after pulling off two top class saves to keep out early goalbound efforts from Will Grocott and former Walsall player Alex Nicholls.

But Hitchin soon weathered the early storm before shocking Stourbridge with two goals in three minutes.

Central defender Danny Webb headed Hitchin ahead on 16 minutes from a well worked corner move.

Then pacey Colchester United loanee Diogo Freitas Gouveia netted a sublime second goal on 19 minutes, weaving his way past no less then four Stourbridge players before the Portuguese planted home from an acute angle.

Hitchin could have easily wrapped up the game before half time but Glassboys goalkeeper James Wren pulled off two top class saves to deny both Gouveia and then Alex Marsh in stoppage time.

The Glassboys grabbed a lifeline on 49 minutes when new signing from Bromsgrove Sporting, Nathan Hayward, netted at the far post.

But there was no Stourbridge recovery and it was Hitchin who always looked likely to add a third goal as they repeatedly caught the home side out on the break with Bradley Bell guilty of missing out on a string of chances.

Bell miscued in front of an open goal on 61 minutes and then fired into the side netting on 71 minutes when looking certain to score.

Stourbridge's Chay Tilt was sent off in stoppage time for foul play.