LAST-GASP LEON IS THE HERO
Shine is taken off Diamonds...
LOYAL Leon Broadhurst popped up with a dramatic 90thminute winner as Stourbridge rightfully grabbed maximum points from this enthralling contest. Long-serving Broadhurst was perfectly placed to slot home from close range as Stourbridge made the most of a last-gasp free-kick to seal victory.
The Glassboys had giftwrapped Diamonds their only goal after ten minutes when central defender Paul McCone completely mishit an attempted backpass.
It enabled John Dean to pounce for the easiest of interceptions and go round goalkeeper James Wren before slotting home into an open goal.
Clearly shaken by this setback, Stourbridge stepped up a gear with the dangerous and Nuneaton forward Greg Mills tormenting Diamonds full-back Callum Westwood at every opportunity.
Mills’ persistence appeared to pay off on 24 minutes when he got past Westwood and was immediately brought down by the forlorn full-back for a penalty.
Top marksman Luke Benbow stepped up for the spot kick, but Diamonds goalkeeper Ben Heath sparkled with a stunning low save to turn the ball around the post and maintain the visitors’ lead.
From the following corner Stourbridge netted through full-back Aaron Hayden but the goal was ruled out for a foul on Heath as the Diamonds goal lived a charmed life.
There was no way that could last and Stourbridge duly levelled on the half hour.
Once gain, Mills cut inside Westwood and fired into a crowded goalmouth, where the ball finished up untouched as it made its way into the far corner of the net for the equaliser.
Chances were at a premiex-Tamworth
um in the second half.
Stourbridge defender Jack Duggan cleared a dangerous cross from Joel Gyasi off the line on 61 minutes as the home side continued to threaten.
Two minutes later Aaron Forde had a goalbound shot deflected wide.
From the resulting corner, Heath pulled off another top save by turning Duggan’s header round the post.
It seemed as though the points would have to be shared but the all-important winner arrived at the death when Jack Ashton needlessly brought down Robbie Thompson-Brown wide out on the right.
Thompson-Brown got up to take the free-kick himself and floated the ball towards the far post where it was headed back by substitute Stuart Pierpoint, on just ten minutes earlier, for the waiting Broadhurst to turn home.