STOURBRIDGE won this FA Trophy game but the final scoreline flattered the visitors, writes Brian Austin.

Luke Buckingham failed a fitness test and was replaced by Ben Lewis in goal. Town were also without Chris Young and Andy Robertson.

Jack Durrant, signed in midweek from Clevedon, made his debut in the centre of midfield.

Town started well and Danny Wring had the first shot but was well wide from 20 yards.

Carl Jones then broke into the right of the penalty area but couldn’t get his shot on target.

On 11 minutes, a Town corner from the left reached the far post where Sean Kenny’s superb shot looked destined for the bottom corner, until Stourbridge keeper Lewis Solly pulled off a miraculous save.

Four minutes later, Graham Mercieca's cross was just missed by the on-rushing Jones.

After Ben Lewis had saved well from Stourbridge’s Daryl Jones, at the other end Bridgwater’s Carl Jones had a header cleared off the line following a Neil Peek long throw.

On 19 minutes, Stourbridge took the lead against the run of play when Ryan Rowe cleverly set up Linden Dovey who gave Lewis no chance.

Naby Diallo missed a chance as Town sought an equaliser but Stourbridge instead made it 2-0 following the move of the match, which ended when Rowe laid the ball off to Dovey who slotted home.

Bridgwater came fighting back. Bradley Middleton hit the bar with a header and then Kenny saw his goal-bound effort deflected over.

Bridgwater piled on the pressure in the second half, with Diallo hitting the post with a header before pulling one back with a header from a cross from the left on 51 minutes.

Jones and sub Jamie Howson then tested Solly, but with five minutes to play Stourbridge, who had always looked threatening on the break, sealed the game when Rowe scored from close range.

Bridgwater may have exited the competition but they were certainly not disgraced and for long periods more than matched their Premier Division opponents.

Team: Lewis (7) Snook (6) Peek (6) Middleton (7) Turner (6) Durrant (6) Wring (6) Diallo (8) Mercieca (7) Jones (7) Kenny (7) Subs used. Howson, Bellinger, Ford. Not used:. Morgan and Perkins.

Referee Adam Matthews (9) Match ball sponsor: Ray Windsor Programme sponsor: Pete Criddle