Forde rescues his new-look team

REARRANGED Stourbridge shrugged off a testing week and the prospect of an FA Trophy upset.

With Jordan Archer and Devarn Green snapped up by National League clubs in the past seven days, the Glassboys faced a Basford United outfit that tops the division below and boasted a 100 per cent away record.

The visitors were well drilled and certainly put up a credible fight but offered little going forward.

The decisive goal was as scruffy as the contest itself as Aaron Forde’s bobbling shot crept inside Saul Deeney’s right post in the 61st minute following assertive build-up down the left channel.

Other than new signing Kyle Perry ruffling a few feathers with shots blocked by Dominic Roma and Kieran Fenton and Shearer offering the odd flash of inspiration, the first half offered little to set pulses racing. Leon Broadhurst narrowly cleared the crossbar from a Tom Tonks corner on 33 minutes while Darryl Westlake’s daisy cutter whistled past the near post as Stour gradually built pressure late in the first half.

Forde’s finish put wind in Stourbridge sails with Perry’s blaze over from eight yards denying the all-action midfielder an assist.

Perry was unfortunate to nod straight into Deeney’s arms from a long Tom Tonks throw in the 73rd minute and that preceded the home side’s only sizeable scare of the game.

Play broke down in midfield with Courey Grantham and Jerry Nash playing across the Stourbridge box to substitute Aidan Austin whose 18-yard curler landed on top of the angle of post and bar 10 minutes from time.

There was no late flurry to follow though, as Basford’s pursuit of a leveller produced no credible chances.

STAR MAN: Aaron Forde (S’bridge) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★