Stourbridge into the play-offs after Hitchin draw
The Glassboys squeezed into the Calor League Premier Division play-offs with a draw at Hitchin sufficient for Gary Hackett's men to hold on to fifth place in the final standings.
They pipped Hungerford Town to the spot thanks to their superior goal difference and travel to Chesham United tomorrow for a one-off semi-final, with the winners progressing to the final on May 5.
Stourbridge began brightly at Top Field, strongly backed by over 150 fans and might have forged in front on six minutes after Ben Billingham stood up a cross from the right-hand side of the box towards Kayelden Brown, but he glanced his header wide.
Ten minutes later, however, the Glassboys broke the deadlock with a long goal-kick from Dean Coleman being headed on by Brown for Brian Smikle to sprint on to the ball and shoot low under the advancing keeper Tahj Bell from the edge of the area.
The visitors failed to kick on from there, and Hitchin came more into the game as the half progressed.
On 28 minutes Coleman got safely behind a 20-yard shot from Callum Donnelly and then at the other end Smikle almost capitalised on some hesitant defending as he chased a pass from Sean Geddes with Hitchin's Daniel Webb and as they jostled for the ball. Smikle managed to wrap his foot around Webb and hook a shot goalwards that flew off-target.
Hitchin responded and a good passage of play for the hosts saw a Matt Lench free-kick on 38 minutes deflect off the head of Geddes in the wall and drop onto the roof of the net.
From the resulting flag-kick by Donnelly, Webb got in a header at the far post that hit the bar and re-bounded into play for Stuart Pearson, but his effort was palmed away by Coleman.
With 65 minutes gone, Stourbridge found themselves pegged back with Nick Burtenshaw sending in a cross from the right that bobbled around a crowded penalty area before sub Michael King stabbed a shot on-target that Coleman got a hand to, but couldn't prevent it from finding the net.
With the Glassboys struggling to find another gear and raise their game again, Hitchin almost grabbed a second in the 76th minute as Alasan Ann sent a powerful header inches wide of Coleman's left-hand upright.
Stourbridge held on in a nervy last 10 minutes to grab the point they needed.
