Ashton United 1 Stourbridge 0 - Report
Stourbridge failed to recover after conceding an early penalty as hosts Ashton bolstered their own promotion hopes with a hard fought victory.
The Glassboys struggled to create much to trouble home keeper Dave Carnell with the Robins defence rock solid throughout.
It was Ashton who shaded the early chances and Richard Smith should have done better when put clear by Nico Evangelinos but he failed to get his shot away.
The breakthrough came on 16 minutes. Evangelinos was fouled by Stour defender Paul McCone, earning him a yellow card, and Aaron Chalmers made no mistake from the spot.
Ashton were forced into an early change after Ryan Makhosini picked up an injury and they had to send on a second substitute before the break when midfielder John Roberts hobbled off.
For the Glassboys, Luke Benbow had their best chance late in the half but powered his shot high over the target.
Boss Gary Hackett replaced Aaron Forde with Aris Christophpro for the second half and the visitors rose to the challenge, having a penalty appeal turned down before Leon Broadhurst was inches away from equalising when he planted a header just the wrong side of the post following a free-kick lifted into the area.
But that was as close as Stourbridge were to get to the well-guarded Ashton goal and it was the home side who went closest to adding to the scoreline in the closing stages with Mark Lees thumping a volley over the bar before Liam Tomsett had an effort deflected wide of Matt Gould’s goal.
Stourbridge: Gould, Gater, Westlake, McCone, Pierpoint, Forde (Christophorou 46), Dodd (Shearer 74), Broadhurst, Benbow (Perry 81), Anderson, Tonks. Subs (not used): Green, Duggan.
