Late Leon super-strike seals it

10:29am Thursday 27th March 2008

Glassboys 2,Leamington 1.

A stunning stoppage time volley from Leon Broadhurst enabled the Glassboys to complete a lucky league double over fellow high-fliers Leamington to maintain their push from the play-offs.

The visitors, playing with the wind in their favour, shaded a tight first-half which saw few clear-cut chances, although home custodian Lewis Solly was the busier of the two keepers.

With 10 minutes gone, a right-wing cross from former Stourbridge star Marcus Jackson was headed out to James Husband whose low shot was saved comfortably by Solly.

The Glassboys then had a let-off on 21 minutes when from a long throw-in, Justin Marsden got in a header that caused a mix-up between Solly and home defender Nathan Bennett and the latter inadvertently chested the ball against the post before it was scrambled clear.

Leamington threatened again on 34 minutes with Jackson's right-wing cross picking out Ryan Parisi, but his header lacked power and was saved by Solly.

A double save from the Stourbridge shot-stopper just before half-time ensured the game remained goalless at the break. A fine ball forward into the right-hand channel from Adam Cooper enabled Scott Hadland to hit an early blistering drive that Solly pushed wide and moments later, he was called into action again to beat away a drive from Husband.

Early in the second period Leamington were left incensed when they had strong penalty claims rejected after Craig Slater appeared to handle a goal-bound shot from Josh Blake, but the referee thought otherwise, then on 54 minutes Jamie Towers drilled a shot just past the far post after fastening onto a diagonal ball from Jackson.

Stourbridge carved out their first real chance of note on the hour-mark with Lee Bullimore collecting a long ball from Kyle Hadley and he played in Leon Broadhurst who was breaking forward on his right.

However he shot straight at Richard Morris in the Leamington goal.

Three minutes later though, the home side broke the deadlock. A cross from the right by Slater was headed on by sub Andy Wells and Sam Rock looped a glancing header over Morris. The Brakes could have drawn level a minute later when Marsden rolled a short pass into Towers and his neat lay-off back into the run of Marsden provided the 'on loan' striker with a shooting opportunity, but he lofted his effort over the bar.

With ten minutes left, a rasping free-kick from Husband was pushed out by Solly in a crowded penalty box, but Leamington were rewarded for their persistence on 85 minutes with a well-worked equaliser.

Jackson clipped the ball into the box and a clever flick by Marsden enabled Towers to slip the ball low past Solly from close range.

At that stage, Leamington looked the more likely winners with Solly diving to his right two minutes later to save a drive from Hadland, then as the game entered injury-time, a Stourbridge clearance hit Glen Webb in the face and dropped to Towers wide on the right. He sent over a deep cross that Parisi headed over at the far post when he might have done better. Out-of-the-blue, Stourbridge stole the points right at the death when a free-kick into the Leamington box saw Bennett challenge with Towers for a header and the ball dropped to Leon Broadhurst who crashed home an unstoppable volley.

EDITOR'S CHOICE