Stourbridge 1, Halesowen 2

A DERBY day double from Dan Udoh saw the Yeltz stun high-flying Stourbridge at Amblecote.

Hard-working Halesowen nullified their rivals for long periods with a solid defensive display to put a difficult start to the season well behind them.

The Yeltz soaked up all the Glassboys could muster before striking with two first half breaks from Udoh.

Ryan Rowe did pull one back for the home side in the second half but they failed to add to it as the clash wore on.

A packed War Memorial Ground had watched on as the derby contest quickly burst to life.

It was the home side that chalked up the first chance of the game as Aaron Forde forced Dan Platt to push the ball away after meeting Aris Chistophorou's ball in from the right.

However, it was the Yeltz that struck first after just six minutes when Udoh raced in behind the home back line and fired well past Matt Gould to shock the hosts.

Tom Tonks let the lively striker turn him in the centre circle before Udoh raced through after Christophorou had lunged in but failed to win it. Udoh composed himself and picked his spot well to send the visiting Yeltz faithful into raptures.

Town could have doubled their advantage just four minutes later as John AcAtee's curling free kick had to be palmed away by Gould.

The Yeltz were winning the central midfield battle early on and were working hard to mark sure they enjoyed the better start.

Stour began to grown into the contest, however, and had more joy as they got wide men Matt Dodd and Devarn Green into the clash.

They were close to levelling matters on 25 minutes when Jack Duggan rattled the bar from five yards out after another attack down the right, this time led by former Yeltz midfielder Forde.

The visitors started to drop deep on the half hour mark as Stour worked their way back into it.

The home side had to show patience as Halesowen remained happy for them to keep the ball in front of their deep-lying back line.

Stour, who had lined up without absent nine-goal striker Jordan Archer, struggled to create any more chances of note heading towards the break as the Yeltz continued to soak up the pressure.

Instead, it was the Yeltz that dished out the sucker punch as they broke with devastating affect one minute from half time.

McAtee played a one-two with Udoh and was quickly running at Gould.

The Stour keeper rushed out to bravely dive at his feet as McAtee also slid in. The ball broke out to the supporting Udoh who had the simple task of rolling it home for his second of the game.

Stour needed a reaction quickly in the second half and nearly found a way back on 52 minutes when Forde's drilled effort was tipped over by Platt, who then made a second save from the resulting corner when getting a hand to Paul McCone's header.

But again the resolute rearguard of the Yeltz continued to frustrate Gary Hackett's men.

It was a familiar story as Stour enjoyed much more possession but with Hales happy to soak up the pressure while relying on Udoh as their main outlet.

Stour continued to plug away and finally did make the breakthrough on 62 minutes when Ryan Rowe was on hand to divert Leon Broadhurst's low free kick beyond Platt from close range after Matt Dodd had been brought down on the right corner of the box.

The game continued in the same manner with Hales looking to hold onto their advantage.

Sub Josh Cooke fired wide on 72 minutes as Stour continued to seek an equaliser.

Still clear cut chances alluded the Glassboys heading into the final moments.

As they had done throughout, Halesowen continued to defend brilliantly to see their way to a memorable derby success that lifts them off the bottom.

Stourbridge: Gould, Christophorou (J. Green 48), Pierpoint, McCone (c), Duggan, Forde, Dodd, Broadhurst, Rowe (Cooke 68), D. Green, Tonks (O'Callaghan 68).

Unused subs: Kiembi, Jeavons.

Halesowen: Platt, Thomas, Morrison, Finney, Smith, Charlton, Woodhouse (Goddard 74), Bragoli (c), Udoh (Agbor 70), McAtee, Kelly (Lewis 73).

Unused subs: Spray, Diop.

Att: 2, 306