Stourbridge beat Brakes 2-0 at a sun-drenched Amblecote.
Sat, 15 Sep 2007 @ War Memorial Athletic Ground, Amblecote. vs Stourbridge (0-2). FA Cup First Qualifying Round. By D Hucker. Andy Gregory and Liam Reynolds got the nod in the starting line-up as manager, Jason Cadden, changed his formation, playing 4-4-2 for the first time this season. Whilst Brakes were clearly intent on attacking their hosts, it was Stourbridge who went closest in the opening stages with the experienced John Williams shooting wide with the goal at his mercy, after a defensive mix-up between skipper Arron Parkinson and 'keeper Richard Morris.
Ben Mackey had Brakes' first attempt on goal in the 14th minute, but shot over the bar. Almost immediately, Morris got down well to save one-handed from Lee Broadhurst after good work by Sam Rock.
Avun Jephcott was put through by Mackey, but home 'keeper, Lewis Solly, was out quickly to save with his feet. Then on 20 minutes, Stuart Herlihy was penalised just outside of the penalty area and Bellingham stepped up to put the free-kick over the bar.
However, Bellingham was bang on target on 33 minutes when, after Parkinson was adjudged to have committed a foul also just outside the area, his perfectly executed free-kick flew past Morris into the top corner to make it 1-0 to the home team.
Brakes' best chance of an equaliser came within seven minutes of the re-start when a Tom Bates free-kick came back off the defence to Parkinson, who drew a fine save from Solly.
Although having more of the play than in the first half, Brakes didn't really threaten after that and Gregory was forced to head over his own crossbar to cut out a good cross from Nathan Bennett. The ever-dangerous Bellingham sent a shot across the face of the goal on 62 minutes, before putting yet another free-kick in the Brakes defensive wall.
The Stourbridge pressure final told with four minutes to go when Bellingham got away from the excellent Gregory for the first time in the match and beat Morris to make the scoreline 2-0.
Brakes have been finding life a lot tougher this season and, after some stuttering recent performances, their luck ran out against a determined Stourbridge side. The need for a creative midfielder to replace Jon Adams was again evident, although manager Cadden's immediate priority is picking his side up for the trip to Worcester to play Evesham next Saturday.
Brakes
Richard Morris, Liam Reynolds, Martin Hier, Arron Parkinson [Capt.], Andy Gregory, Tom Fountain, Stuart Herlihy (Russell Dunkley 59), Marcus Jackson, Ben Mackey (Richard Adams 65), Avun Jephcott, Tom Bates (James Husband 70)
Subs Not Used: Adam Cooper, Chris Gibson (GK)
Stourbridge
Lewis Solly, Andy Wells (Ryan Rowe 86), Oliver O'Connell, Morgan Brooks, Adam Bastable [Capt.](Kyle Hadley 90), Nathan Bennett, Craig Slater, Leon Broadhurst, Sam Rock (Danny Ludlow 78), Mark Bellingham, John Williams
Subs Not Used: Ross Collins, Paul Edwards (GK)