Hague header seals Stour point

MARINE 1 STOURBRIDGE 1

BRANDON HAGUE’S lastgasp leveller saw Marine pegged back by a determined Stourbridge at Marine Travel Arena.

Marine were ahead as early as the fourth minute when Lewis Field combined with Michael Monaghan, who was clumsily fouled in the area by Tom Tonks.

Kurt Sherlock sent Matthew Gould the wrong way as he dispatched his second penalty in as many games.

Stour’s leading scorer Luke Benbow saw his free-kick from 25 yards held by Calvin Hare, before Sherlock’s volley forced a fine save from Gould.

Gould then had to be at his very best to deny Marine skipper Robbie Threlfall’s curling free-kick, the Stour stopper keeping the ball out at full stretch.

Benbow then threatened at the other end but was denied by Threlfall’s excellent block, before Glassboys skipper Stuart Pierpoint saw his downward header from a corner headed off the line by Karl Clair.

A lively second half saw chances created at either end, with Hare and Gould performing well to prevent further scoring. Hare denied Benbow in a one-on-one, while Leon Broadhurst somehow missed with a header from the subsequent corner.

Liam Goulding’s shot was cleared off the line by Tonks, before Gould denied Obi Anoruo with a smart block.

Benbow then missed a gilt-edged opportunity for the Glassboys as he kicked at fresh-air from eight yards out with the goal gaping, before the visitors finally found their equaliser in the first minute of added time.

Substitute Hague’s far-post header looked to have been headed clear by Marine leftback James Short, but the referee’s assistant deemed that the ball had crossed the line to give both teams a deserved point.