'We threw the kitchen sink at them' Stourbridge bow out of the FA Trophy
A last gasp goal line clearance denied Stourbridge the opportunity to take this FA Trophy tie with National League promotion hopefuls Solihull to penalties.
In the end a seventh minute effort from former Stevenage striker Danny Newton edged the visitors into the quarter-finals but joint Glassboys boss Stuart Pierpoint was full of praise for his players.
He said: “The fact that the lads are so disappointed to have been beaten by a National League side looking for promotion shows how far we have come in such a short space of time.
“We have had to stick in the game first half but that’s always the case when you play against a team from a higher league.
“We threw the kitchen sink at them at the end. We knew that if we stayed in the game then those moments might come and it was really set up for a grandstand finish. It didn’t quite happen but it wasn’t for the lack of endeavour.
“The crowd were fantastic - they always are - and it’s a special place here at Stourbridge when it comes to the cup. It was really important that we didn’t leave anything out on the pitch.”
Newton’s close-range finish came from a corner after Harry Boyes had rattled the crossbar with the ball being ushered behind by the grateful Stourbridge defence.
Chances were limited at both ends for much of the remainder of the game with both defences putting in excellent shifts but the Glassboys finished the stronger and had three excellent chances to equalise.
Substitute Jason Cowley and Reece Styche were denied by keeper Ryan Boot before Cowley had an effort hoofed off the line seconds before the final whistle.
Stourbridge (4-1-4-1): Price; Vaughan, Hull, Rowe-Turner, Hanlon; Forsyth (Cowley 71); Knights, McQuilkin, King, Wilson (Moran 69); Styche. Subs (not used): Solly, Rowley, Willock, Brown
Solihull (4-3-3): Boot; Clarke, Ellis, Maynard, Boyes; Barnett, Storer, Osborne; Dallas, Newton, Malcom. Subs (not used): McNally, Myatt, Hudlin
Ref: Tom Kirk
Att: 1,762
