STOURBRIDGE 2 WHITBY TOWN 1

WHITBY TOWN’S unbeaten start came to an end as goals from Luke Benbow and Leon Broadhurst fired Stourbridge back to winning ways.

The visitors’ good form appeared to desert them as they fell two goals behind before Adam Gell’s delicate lob gave the Seasiders hope of rescuing a point.

The home side raced out of the blocks with Benbow and Tom Tonks firing volleys wide before Kayelden Brown was denied by a last ditch tackle from Luke Bythway.

Stour’s intensity was finally rewarded on 28 minutes when Benbow sprinted onto a defence-splitting pass before coolly rounding keeper Shane Bond.

Town were gifted the chance to draw level on the stroke of half-time when forward Dave Hopson crumpled under a challenge and referee Matthew Smith pointed to the spot. But Matthew Tymon’s weak penalty was blocked by the legs of keeper Matt Gould.

Victory looked assured for Gary Hackett’s men on 74 minutes, with Broadhurst pouncing after Drew Canavan’s powerful shot was palmed into his path.

But a mistake by Gould allowed Gell to lob the red-faced Stour keeper with a delicate chip less than a minute later.

That set up an anxious end-to-end finish with Benbow almost grabbing his second, but Stour held on to secure their first victory in three games and now sit tenth in the table, while Whitby remain in third.