Evo-Stik Northern Premier League: Stourbridge 1, Grantham Town 2 STOURBRIDGE suffered a setback in their pursuit of a play-off place when beaten by fellow promotion hopefuls Grantham in front of another bumper Amblecote crowd.

The Glassboys gifted Grantham both of their goals, but more worrying was the manner in which they fell away after half time.

Grantham went ahead inside three minutes when Stourbridge carelessly lost possession when bringing the ball out of defence, allowing Grantham's Felipe Barcelos to send Harry Clifton racing clear down the left flank.

Clifton then squared the ball across the face of goal for Luke Shaw to slot home at the far post with a simple tap-in.

The goal stung Stourbridge into pressing forward but their progress was soon hampered when they lost the dangerous Matt Dodd through a recurring injury after just 12 minutes, with former Shrewsbury Town marksman Luke Rodgers replacing him.

Leading marksman Luke Benbow fired narrowly wide with an excellent run and shot before levelling matters on 14 minutes when a sublime free kick which he fired directly into the top corner of the net for his 27th league goal of the term.

Stourbridge went onto have the better of first half exchanges and were desperately unlucky not to take the lead.

Luke Rodgers was denied a glorious chance when Grantham's Rhys Lewis produced a last ditch challenge on the half hour.

Lewis came to the rescue again when he cleared a goalbound shot from Ethan Jones off the line four minutes later.

The second half was a different story as Grantham took charge.

They regained the lead three minutes into the second half when Danny Meadows played a through ball which Lee Shaw was allowed to chase unchallenged.

He beat onrushing Glassboys goalkeeper Matt Gould to possession and then just calmly rolled the ball from the edge of the area into the net.

Stourbridge rarely threatened as the second half progressed and found themselves pegged back inside their own territory for long periods as Grantham pressed forward without ever seriously threatening Gould again.

Stourbridge now embark on a period of three successive away games taking in Buxton, Hednesford and Ilkeston in what could prove pivotal games towards deciding their play-off prospects.

Stourbridge: Gould; Green (Digie 60), Westlake, Tonks, Preston, Slade (Sho-Silva 49), Dodd (Rodgers 12), Broadhurst, Benbow, Archer, Jones. Subs not used: Canavan, Westwood.

Attendance 965