Glassboys are still on the charge

STOURBRIDGE 4 FRICKLEY ATH 1

STOURBRIDGE stayed on course for a place in the play-offs after pulling off a convincing win over a Frickley Athletic side who are now staring at relegation.

Frickley arrived at Amblecote on the back of eight straight defeats but still took a shock lead.

Tyler Williams got himself in between Stourbridge central defender Kennedy Digie and goalkeeper Matt Gould as they tried to defend.

Digie completely misjudged the bounce allowing Williams to net with a header before being clattered by Gould.

But the lead was shortlived as Stourbridge struck back within 60 seconds when Kayleden Brown cleverly headed the ball down for leading marksman Luke Benbow to lash home on the half volley.

Despite chalking up a considerable number of chances, Stourbridge struggled to break down Frickley’s resolute defence until two goals in the space of a minute knocked the stuffing out of the Yorkshiremen.

Goalkeeper Seb Malkowski was unable to hold Benbow’s 55th-minute free-kick, fumbling the ball at the foot of the post which enabled Brown to follow up and fire home.

Before Frickley knew what had hit them Stourbridge struck with a third goal when Tom Tonks tapped home in front of goal following an excellent run and cross from Ethan Jones. Frickley failed to capitalise on a lifeline back into the game when Luke Mangham wastefully fired wide with a penalty on 60 minutes after central defender Stuart Pierpoint had been penalised for handball in the area.

And Stourbridge duly sealed the points on 73 minutes when Ethan Jones unleashed a low, long-range raking drive which flew home underneath the luckless Malkowski.