Stourbridge Town 1 Harriers 2

On a cooler evening, than it was against Walsall on Saturday, the Harriers returned from Stourbridge with their first friendly win under their belts after second half goals from Michael Gash and Lee Fowler gave us the virtual points.

Two equally matched teams took to the field with the former Harriers Dean Bennett and Jack Cresswell turning out for the Glassboys.  For us we included triallists Dan Bennett, Dylan Fox and Lewis Wilson.  Bennett impressed on Saturday and likewise again today.

James Dance also made his first appearance for us after missing Saturday due to the birth of his son.  Congratulations Dancer.

The hosts made the better start with Sean Geddes, Jordan Fitzpatrick and Luke Benbow all testing the Harriers keeper Danny Lewis until Nathan Blissett popped up to collect a through ball and sweep past the keeper.  He put the ball wide.

The half ended with a header from Ryan Rowe, against his former employers, but the keeper pushed it onto the post and away to safety.

HT: Stourbridge 0 Harriers 0

A raft of changes for both sides after the break saw the Harriers begin to dominate although it still took another twenty minutes before we were to score.  Michael Gash was the one that broke the deadlock when Jamie Grimes raced down the side of the pitch to send in a cross that Gash had no trouble converting.

A few minutes later and it was 2-0 when new boy Lee Fowler drilled home from the edge of the box.

Jack Byrne came close to adding a third but his shot came back off the post having beaten the keeper ends up.  A late goal from James Spray earned his side a consolation goal but by then it was all over.

Next up is a tougher test in Port Vale this coming Friday evening.  The game should also see the return of Lee Hughes to Aggborough for the first time since he left us for West Brom many years ago.

Harriers:
Lewis, Dan Bennett, Demetriou (Byrne 46), Grimes, Tolley (Ellis 60), Williams (L Vaughan 60), Dance (Johnson 46), Fox, Blissett (Gash 46), Rowe (Malbon 60), Wilson (Fowler 46)

Unused subs:
N Vaughan, Gowling, Dunkley, Storer, Gittings, Angus, Jackman.

Stourbridge:
Sargeant, Dean Bennett (Cresswell 18), Jamie Oliver (Spray 59), Eze, Geddes, N Bennett, Fitzpatrick (Francis 59), Broadhurst, Benbow (Osborne 59), Richards (Nisbett 59), Canavan (Drake 59)

Att: 457