Stourbridge 1 Merthyr 2
A fine strike from Merthyr captain Steve Williams five minutes from time condemned Stourbridge to a harsh defeat.
The Glassboys started promisingly but fell behind after 13 minutes, in the visitors' first real attack.
Craig Stiens played the ball through to Sam O'Sullivan on the right side of the box. He drove in a shot that stand-in keeper Tim Beech appeared to have covered at his near post, only to fumble.
Beech made amends eight minutes later when he got down well to save.
Stourbridge searched for an equaliser and in the 27th minute, a poor clearance from Jamie Rewberry went straight to the feet of Aaron Drake on the right.
He hit a rasping drive from some 25 yards that just cleared the bar. But the home side deservedly got back on level terms on the stroke of half-time, when Nathan Bennett headed home a corner.
Gary Hackett's side had the better of an increasingly fiery second half, with both Calum Martin and Leon Broadhurst showing their class but having nothing to show for their efforts.
Bennett had the ball in the net again but it was ruled out for offside.
Then Williams won possession and was allowed a little too much room to advance down the right. He duly sent in a stunning drive that smashed into the corner of the net.
