STOURBRIDGE manager Gary Hackett was pleased with how his team overcame difficult conditions to edge out Royston at the War Memorial Ground.

The Glassboys won 2-1 in blustery conditions thanks Robbie Thompson-Brown’s first goal for the club and a controversial late strike from Callum Powell.

It looked like Royston should have had a free-kick moments before Powell netted the winner but the goal was allowed to stand, much to the dismay of visiting boss Steve Castle who was then given his marching orders before clashing with fans and stewards near the dressing room.

On the win, Hackett said: “First of all, the three points are the key thing. I’m sure there are a lot of teams that have played in these conditions today and it’s made a lottery of the game.

“It’s been incredibly difficult and you have to make allowances. As a spectacle it wasn’t the greatest but we’ve come away with three points.

“It was a great finish to win it and we did see it out reasonably comfortable after that.”

On the incident leading to the winning goal, Hackett added: “I’ve seen it given there.

“The linesman was right there and the referee was right there and weather I think it’s a foul or not is irrelevant. Sometimes you get the rub of the green and sometimes you don’t.

“You have to recognise that the finish afterwards was top draw.

“They are a strong, physical side with some good players and they’ll be there or there about, so that’s the importance of our win against them.”

On the reaction of Royston boss Castle, he said: “I’ve been a manager a long time and you get wound up but you can’t do it and once he’s calmed down I’m sure he’ll recognise he’s been very silly.

“Not just Stourbridge fans but fans anywhere are looking to bait people and get reactions and sometimes you want to react to it but you just can’t.”

The win lifts the Glassboys to third in the Southern League Central table to the delight of the boss.

“The league is your bread and butter and it’s ultimately where you get judged,” he said. “Last season we had good runs in the cups, won the Birmingham Senior Cup but our league position wasn’t good enough.

“I think we’ve got a different set of players this year. We’ve dug in when we’ve been under the cosh and that so proved again today, so it’s great at the moment.”