Bromsgrove 0, Stourbridge 1

STOURBRIDGE progressed into the next round of the FA Cup with a narrow win over neighbours Bromsgrove Sporting.

A strike from Greg Mills early in the second half was enough for the Glassboys to get their name in the draw for the second qualifying round following a thrilling battle against the Rouslers.

Bromsgrove’s chances of finding a way back were dealt a late blow as Joe Hull was dismissed when picking up his second yellow.

Sporting were quick to apply some early pressure at the Victoria Ground and created the first chance of the game when Nathan Hayward saw an effort saved by the legs of Stour keeper James Wren after Joe Hull had chested the ball down in the area seven minutes in.

The Rouslers continued to keep the heat on as Joe Hull saw a header gathered by Wren before Shaquille McDonald dragged a shot from range wide of the target.

Stour’s main threat came on break and it took a good recovery challenge from Jack Wilson to deny Greg Mills after Dave Bellis’ through ball on 15 minutes.

The visitors started to get a foothold in the contest after the 20-minute mark and might have been ahead on 22 minutes but Will Grocott miscued his effort from around eight yards out after Mike Taylor’s good run down the right channel.

There best chance came three minutes later when Grocott’s ball freed Taylor in behind the Rouslers rearguard. However, a moment of hesitation and a touch that took the ball wide meant goalkeeper Tony Breeden was able to sweep up.

Hull remained a big threat from set-pieces and headed another angled ball in from Josh Quaynor straight at Wren on 30 minutes.

Despite chances falling to both sides as the clash remained an open affair, neither team could find the finishing touch before the break.

Tensions flared on the stroke of half time as Bromsgrove boss Bren Kelly was sent to the stands for his dissent when a handball shout didn’t go his way.

The Glassboys broke the deadlock just three minutes into the second half when Greg Mills fired home after linking up well with Grocott in the area.

That came just moments after Breedon had done well to keep out Taylor’s near post flick following Kristian Green’s ball from the right.

The visitors should have made it two on the hour mark but Taylor was again denied by Breeden after his first touch gave the keeper chance to close him down.

It took until the 67th minute before Sporting were able to work their first effort of the half as Will Shorrock blazed over after McDonald escaped the attention of Jordaan Brown on the left flank.

Sub John Pykett then fired over Wren’s bar after being found at the far post just a minute later.

Bromsgrove continued to push for a leveller but Stour dropped deep to deal with the threat as Wren remained largely untroubled.

Sporting’s task got even harder when former Stour man Joe Hull was given his marching orders on 78 minutes after picking up his second yellow.

The home side still pushed for an equaliser as the clash headed into the final 10 minutes but McDonald could only drag another chance wide of the near post with seven minutes left on the clock.

Despite being a man short, it was Sporting who were pressing in the frantic closing stages.

Wren spilt a long range effort from Charlie Dowd in the final minute but recovered to gather the loose ball before it crept over the line.

The Glassboys dug in well in added time to just do enough to progress as Bromsgrove threw everything at them.

Bromsgrove: Breeden, Westwood (Gregory 75), Wilson, Hayward, Broadhurst (Taylor 61), Hull, Dowd, Quaynor, McDonald, Thompson-Brown (Pykett 62), Shorrock.

Unused subs: Brown, Massey, Rankin, Perry.

Stourbridge: Wren, Green, Brown, Carter, Fisher, Turton, Bellis, Winwood, Taylor (Lloyd 79), Grocott (Tonks 72), Mills (Botfield 84).

Unused subs: Price, Landell, Cook, Tilt.