JASON’S PARTING GIFT FOR ‘BRIDGE
HAT-TRICK hero Jason Cowley bagged Stourbridge a cup final that he knew he had no chance of playing in as he prepares to go under the knife.
The prolific striker, who earned a move to League Two Stevenage on the back of his exploits at Bromsgrove Sporting, notched all three goals as the Glassboys saw off league rivals Alvechurch without conceding in last Saturday’s Birmingham Senior Cup semi-final.
It took his tally to 11 goals from just ten starts and six substitute appearances in a maiden campaign at the War Memorial Ground that has already been blighted by injury.
And joint-manager Stuart Pierpoint confirmed Cowley is set to undergo a routine operation on Thursday to resolve a nagging back complaint, ending his season just as he was beginning to hit his stride again.
“He will be missed, particularly with the way he is playing at the minute,” said
Pierpoint. “It has been a long and frustrating season for him. The fact he is now back and playing well only for his season to be curtailed is disappointing but if he doesn’t do this now he will still need the operation at the end of the season.
“That would then not enable him to do a pre-season and he would be fighting a battle again.
“Doing it this month is the right timing but above all it is the right thing for Jason. He needs to have the operation and we support that.”
Pierpoint feels the final will provide a fitting end to a tough season at Stourbridge.
High-profile signings under previous boss Mark Yates saw them tipped for a promotion push but early season struggles saw Pierpoint and fellow ex-player Leon Broadhurst drafted into the dugout.
A sharp turnaround has as good as secured safety with a quarter of the campaign left but the bosses are quick to pass on the plaudits.
“The players are an absolute credit,” said Pierpoint.
“We can tell them how we want them to play and how to be structured but ultimately all of this is down to them doing the business on the pitch. They will enjoy the final and they deserve to.”