Express & Star

Stourbridge 2 Warrington Town 1 - Report

Stourbridge manager Gary Hackett admitted the season had been disappointing and inconsistent despite a last day win but insisted they would come back stronger for it.

Published

He said: "There have been some high points in there but don't get me wrong a lot of low points as well and to finish 12th overall is not what I would have aimed for at the start of the season.

"'It's been a very erratic season, we've had some good performances and some very poor ones - but one thing we have done is concede a lot of late goals.

"If we hadn't conceded those goals we would probably be looking at ten or 15 points more and we would have been around the play offs but the game is played over 90 minutes plus injury time so we have to be aware of that.

"We finished the season pretty strongly and have had some fantastic support today and throughout the season even when things haven't been so good, hopefully we can give them some reward at St Andrews next week in the Birmingham Senior Cup final.

Hackett said it was too early to decide the make up of the team for next season, when Stourbridge will play in a new centralised league.

He said: "We've had some good loan players in who have given us a boost and we'll talk to their respective clubs but this is still a very attractive place to come and play football so I'm hoping to bring players in and we'll all be up for the new challenge."

Stourbridge defended well in the second half and held onto the narrow advantage given to them by two quick goals before half time from Leon Broadhurst and Luke Benbow.

Broadhurst headed in from a Chris Gallagher corner on 43 minutes and Benbow back-heeled the ball into the net a minute later to give Stourbridge a half-time advantage against a team who had already secured their place in the end of season play offs.

But Warrington were also looking to get second place and started well in a first half of few chances, taking the lead through Joseph Piggot on 14 minutes after good work from Mekhi Lecock-McLeod.

Stourbridge enjoyed equal possession but until Broadhurst popped up with the equaliser it looked like they were going to be frustrated.

The second half predictably saw Warrington come out attacking as they looked for the equaliser but were held at bay, their best chance coming when William Hayhurst was denied by Stourbridge 'keeper Matt Gould.

Again Stourbridge had few chances this half but defended stoutly to complete the double over Warrington and give the home fans a winning end to the season.

Stourbridge: Gould (Hawk 50); Hayden; Hall; McCone; Pierpoint; Forde; Gallagher; Broadhurst; Benbow (Christophorou 70); Shearer (Cooke 65); Carnat.

Subs not used: Hague, Antonio.

Attendance: 473