Stourbridge War Memorial Ground, home of Stourbridge FC based in the West Midlands and play their trade in Step 3 of the Non League Pyramid in the Southern League Premier Division Central. Nicknamed the “Glassboys” after the town’s work in the glass industry.
Boxing Day! One of the best days of the year for football fans! Just as long as the weather is ok… And it certainly is today! Glorious sunshine with no raindrops in sight! My original plan was to visit Quorn AFC who today face Heather St Johns but with the weather as nice as this, would it be worth saving Quorn’s 3G for a rainier and colder day?
Yes is the answer! But where next? Looking around the early kick offs it’s Stourbridge vs Bromsgrove Sporting. A late Christmas present? So to the M1, to the A38, onto the M6, to the M5, past Hagley Golf Club and into the ground… And the car park is full… Thankfully street parking just down the road saves the day!
1:15pm and the short walk over to the ground and… Look at that queue… Brilliant to see that at this level but not when kick off is on the horizon…
The queue is going down nicely and I will not be missing kick off thankfully! £12 to get in here! Not good… Out come the teams, let’s all hope for a Boxing Day Special!!
Kick Off! Segregation here today! Outstanding support here at Step 3 Non League!!! 7 minutes in and Jason Cowley finds himself free down the right hand side and he drives at goal, he gets inside the box and cuts inside onto his left to shoot… OH! Just over!
25th minute and Bromsgrove come forward down the right wing, it’s crossed in looking for Sweeney… It’s just too high for him and Stourbridge put it out for a corner, in comes the corner… Headed out for another corner, in it comes again… It’s cleared again for another corner, third time lucky…? Keeper claims. Maybe not…
Good atmosphere here so far by the Stourbridge faithful but there is not much to shout about on the pitch at the moment sadly…
37 minutes now and it’s a corner for Bromsgrove now, in it comes… Taylor with the header at the near post… Over!
1 minute later and Stourbridge come forward, Stanley Obinna Anaebonam gets into the box on the right, he plays it across to Jason Cowley who takes a touch and gets his shot away… Keeper saves!
41st minute and Bromsgrove come forward down the left, it’s crossed in towards Sweeney who chests it… The keeper gets there to steer away but Sweeney gets it back in the box, he plays it across to Pais, it comes back for Sweeney to strike… Side netting! Big chance!
45 minutes on the clock and Anaebonam drives forward down the left, he cuts inside and plays it to Tyler Lyttle on the right and he plays it across, Alex Moore controls and shoots on the turn… And he scores!!!! Stourbridge have the lead here on Boxing Day!! Good finish! 1-0!
Play goes on… Stanley Obinna Anaebonam has beaten the Offside trap on the left wing here and he drives at goal, he gets into the box and cuts onto his right to shoot… Good block! Bromsgrove clear the danger but that was great defending there! At half time the score remains 1-0.
Second half, 51 minutes on the clock and Dexter Walters has it on the right for Stourbridge, he gets into the box and makes space for the cross, Jason Cowley is there… A bit too much on that as he puts it wide…
59th minute and Stourbridge hit it long, it’s flicked on through to Alex Moore who is away here, he gets into the box and plays it across to Jason Cowley… He plays it back across for Moore… It’s somehow blocked and out for a corner… Why did Cowley play it back…? What a chance! In comes the corner… It’s headed across at the back stick… Straight to the keeper.
4 minutes later and Alex Moore finds himself free in the box to the left, he shoots… Keeper gets a hand to it and here’s Jason Cowley for the rebound… Blocked and cleared by Bromsgrove.
The more this game goes on, the more Bromsgrove are growing into it. Are Stourbridge going to be punished for their missed chances earlier on in the half?
81 minutes gone and Jason Cowley is played through and he’s onside, he gets into the box and cuts onto his left… He hesitates… He plays it to Alex Moore who shoots… Over! Another opportunity for Cowley to get a shot away but he didn’t…
3 minutes later and Bromsgrove play down the right, it’s crossed in, it comes for Dyer at the far post who strikes for glory… AND HE’S FOUND IT!!! WHAT A STRIKE!!! Bromsgrove are level!! That’s a fantastic finish right into the top bin!! Brilliant! 1-1! “Green army!” Bromsgrove fans in good spirits now!
We are into 5 minutes of stoppage time here, is there a late sting in the tale? Stourbridge play a long ball into the middle, it’s headed down for Alex Moore to volley… Brilliant save by the keeper! He’s tipped it away and it will be a throw in on the right for Stourbridge, it’s played to Reece Styche who gets into the box and plays it across… Bromsgrove get there and it’s come off Jason Cowley… Keeper claims it but that could have gone anywhere!
Play goes on… Stourbridge come forward, a foul near the edge of the box and it’s a free kick for Stourbridge from around 25 yards in a good shooting position, one last chance perhaps? The shot comes in…… Blocked… Cleared for a corner, in comes the corner… Keeper claims… That’s it! All square here on Boxing Day.
FT: Stourbridge 1-1 Bromsgrove Sporting
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 6/10 – Good from both sets of fans but Stourbridge were the more passionate out of the 2 on the day I’d say!
- The Ground: 9/10 – Great ground! The stands are amazing and the other facilities are good for this level as well! The only thing stopping this ground from being a 10? The Cricket ground… With a stand on that far side this could easily be a 10 in my book!
- Expense: 7/10 – £12 at Step 3 non league is a bit steep in my opinion but having said that, I enjoyed the game!
- Overall Experience: 8/10 – A good game here at Stourbridge and I’m glad to finally tick it off!
30/40