Express & Star

Non-League Day: Stourbridge 1 Halesowen Town 2 - Report, pictures, highlights

Halesowen Town earned the bragging rights in the Number Nine Derby with a 2-1 win at Stourbridge.

Published
Last updated

Two goals from Daniel Udoh sealed the win for Halesowen over their fierce rivals - with the derby fixture proving to be an expected tasty encounter.

Ryan Rowe got the goal for Stourbridge, after flicking on a Leon Broadhurst free kick into the net.

There was crowd trouble from a small section of fans in the Shed End with two flares being thrown onto pitch - which saw the club issue warnings over the speaker that the culprits would be removed from the ground.

Udoh opened the scoring on seven minutes after poking the ball passed Jack Duggan on the half way line to run through on goal, before placing it into the top right corner.

Udoh did well to get to the ball first before controlling it and using his pace to break away onto goal.

  • WATCH highlights of the match:

The goal came from a good counter-attacking move, after Stourbridge came close to scoring through Aaron Forde whose close-range effort was swept aside by Dan Platt in goal.

Stourbridge had more of the ball in the first half and created some good chances.

Jack Duggan curled the ball onto bar after meeting a pass from Forde - who did well to see off several challenges before running into the box to unleash a pass.

But Halesowen dealt a blow to Stourbridge by scoring on the verge of half time, with striker Udoh getting his second goal.

Udoh, from the half way line, played through John McAtee on goal who burst into the box, but he took one too many touches and Matt Gould in goal blocked the shot. But the ball fell to Udoh who took his chance cleanly and slotted into the bottom right corner.

After the first goal, a blue flare was thrown onto pitch from the Shed End, with an announcement made on the speaker that the culprit would be removed from the ground.

McAtee also threatened to extend Halesowen's lead in the first half with a well taken free kick sent into the top right corner, which Gould did well to meet and keep out.

Stourbridge piled on the pressure in the second half to try and claw back the game.

Several close chances came quickly for them with a succession of corners.

But they found the mark on 63 minutes when Rowe deflected in a Broadhurst free kick which was taken right on the edge of the box.

A second flare was thrown onto the pitch, this time red, following the goal.

A yellow card was issued to Oliver Finney after he made a foul resulting in a free kick.

The referee issued another yellow minutes later, this time to Halesowen skipper Daniel Bragoli for a late sliding tackle.

The game proved an exciting match for the2,306 home and away fans who descended on the War Memorial Ground in Amblecote for this Evo-Stik Premier Division encounter.

Halesowen were underdogs going into the game after starting the match bottom of the league, while Stourbridge were in third place, but the visitors will be pleased with the result.