Express & Star

Benbow stars as the Glassboys lift trophy

Stourbridge lifted the Birmingham Senior Cup – 50 years after they last tasted success in the competition – by securing a 2-1 victory over Hednesford Town.

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And it was striker Luke Benbow who proved the difference between the sides at St Andrew’s with the Glassboys talisman giving his team a first-half lead before then netting a winner in stoppage time, writes Joseph Masi.

In a keenly-contested clash, Gary Hackett’s side were on top for the majority of the first half and headed in at the break with a deserved lead.

But the Pitmen improved significantly after the interval and pulled level with a smart header from Charlie Gatt.

Rob Smith’s side then pressed for a winner, but it was Benbow who had the final say with the forward scoring the goal to ensure Stourbridge won the cup for the first time since 1968.

The Glassboys entered the tie as slight favourites with Hackett’s men having secured a 2-0 win at the War Memorial Ground back in September before securing a draw at Keys Park last month.

Both teams showed their intent to go on the attack in an entertaining opening 20 minutes with Stour looking lively in possession but Hednesford having two sights of goal.

First, James Fitzgibbon fired over from the edge of the box after Matt Gould could only punch clear a whipped-in ball from the right.

Callam Mendez-Jones then steered a header wide following a corner.

Overall though, the opening stages had proved even with striker Benbow looking particularly lively for Stour.

And it was the former Solihull Moors forward who opened the scoring just past the half-hour mark with a clever finish.

After keeper Gould had pumped the ball forward, defender Sam Oji could only head up instead of away after being put under pressure by the forward.

Benbow pounced on the loose ball and smartly looped a header over the onrushing James Wren and into an unguarded Hednesford net. The Pitmen were forced into a change immediately after falling behind with Oji making way for Gatt after the defender picked up an injury in the build-up to Benbow’s goal.

Hednesford had slipped to a 3-2 loss against Stafford Rangers in the final of the Staffordshire Senior Cup last month, a match that was played at Stoke’s Bet365 Stadium.

And they almost fell further behind at Birmingham City’s St Andrew’s home when Benbow screwed a shot wide from 20 yards.

The Pitmen threatened to respond just before the break with Ben Bailey firing over from inside the box. But the teams made their way off shortly after with the Glassboys worthy of their lead.

Stourbridge continued on the front foot following the restart, with Benbow seeing a goalbound strike headed clear by Bailey.

Hednesford responded with James Lawrie’s 20-yard strike spilled by Gould with Fitzgibbon and Danny Glover then both unable to bundle the loose ball home.

Smith’s side had suddenly found some rhythm but despite playing some good football they were struggling to create clear goalscoring opportunities.

And with his team coming under pressure, Hackett opted to make a change on the hour mark with young forward Brandon Hague replacing midfielder Tom Tonks. The switch almost proved an inspired one with Brad Birch dancing into the box before curling a powerful strike wide.

The Pitmen continued to look lively, but they should have fallen further behind when Birch slipped in Benbow, who saw a low strike blocked by the legs of Wren.

And the miss proved costly with Hednesford going up the other end and pulling level thanks to Gatter.

After a spell of pressure, Tom Thorley whipped in a pinpoint cross and the substitute rose highest to perfectly plant a header into the corner of the net.

Stourbridge responded with Pitmen keeper Wren doing brilliantly to get to a poor Ben Bailey header ahead of Leon Broadhurst.

With time running out, Hednesford continued to play some decent stuff with Smith’s men looking the fitter of the two teams as they pushed for a winner.

But in stoppage time, Benbow won the trophy with a well-taken goal.

After breaking the offside the trap, the striker then smartly took the ball away from the defence with this first touch.

And the Glassboys talisman kept his composure to fire into the bottom left corner from eight yards.

Hednesford (4-1-4-1): Wren, Mendez-Jones, Campion, Bailey, Oji (Gatter 32), King (Fitzpatrick 67), Dwyer, Thorley, Glover, Lawrie, Fitzgibbon. Subs not used: Rea, Butlin, Veiga

Stourbridge (4-3-3): Gould, Hayden, Christophorou, McCone, Pierpoint, Tonks (Hague 60), Gallagher, Broadhurst, Benbow, Birch, Shearer (Westlake 65). Subs not used: Cooke, Hall, Hawk.