Stourbridge 2 Chasetown 1

A tough and bruising encounter saw two sendings off for Chasetown as they went down 2-1 to Stourbridge at the Memorial Ground last night.

Stourbridge took the lead on 19 minutes when Sam Rock gathered a free kick and fired left-footed goalwards, the ball bouncing into the net off Todd Perry's shin.

Minutes later Craig Holland was fouled on the edge of the area but nothing came of the resultant free kick, and on the half hour the Glassboys doubled their lead.

Evans came out to attempt to clear an effort from former Scholar Lee Bullimore following a free kick, and after two blocked shots Nathan Bennett nodded the ball home. Evans was then booked for dissent after claiming he had been pushed by Bullimore.

Perry was also booked for dissent minutes into the second half, and was then sent off for bringing down the lively Rock.

Perrow was then felled on the edge of the area by home skipper Craig Slater who was also booked for dissent following the incident, with Ben Steane putting the resulting free kick wide. Chasetown manager Charlie Blakemore then rung the changes as Dexter Ravenhill, Jermaine Gordon and Marlon Walters were brought on.

The new line-up soon had its effect as the Scholars pulled a goal back. A Perrow shot was pushed out by Solly, but Gordon headed forward for Danny Smith to hook the ball home. Another free run by Rock ended when he was pulled back by Andy Penny, the referee dishing out an instant red card to the Chasetown captain.

Next Saturday Chasetown host Dunstable Town with the kick-off at 3pm, and on Easter Monday they travel to Worcestershire to take on Stourport Swifts, with kick-off at Walshes Meadow at midday.

Stourbridge: Solly, Rock, Winsper, Brookes, Hadley, Bennett, Slater, Broadhurst, Bullimore (Wright), Dyson (Mahon), Whitcombe. Not used: Jones, Ford, Wells.

Chasetown: Evans, Aulton, M Branch (Gordon), Spittle, Penny, Perry, Steane (Walters), J Branch, Smith, Perrow, Holland (Ravenhill). Not used: Miller, Williams.