Excellent start, fine finish, Stour ending

A delightful ninth-minute finish from Tom Berwick looked to be the perfect platform from which to launch Brakes’ title assault on Tuesday night.

But once again, Stourbridge proved to be dogged opposition and the sides will reconvene again on September 8 for their FA Cup first qualifying round clash with both sides fancying their chances of progressing.

Berwick, playing as a lone frontman, had already had an effort on goal saved by Lewis Solly before doubling his account for the season.

A slip from a defender allowed Matty Dodd to reach the byeline and his clipped ball to the back post left Berwick with plenty to do.

However, the former Daventry Town striker deftly chested the ball down before despatching a half volley past the static Solly and into the top corner.

It was just reward for a positive opening from the home side, but gradually Stourbridge worked their way back into the game, despite the efforts of Richard Batchelor who put in a typically wholehearted shift in the centre of the park.

Former Brake Leon Broadhurst had an effort on goal blocked by Dodd, while Kevin Sawyer casually plucked out a Ben Billingham effort which had seemed destined for the top corner.

A Broadhurst header was also met with safe hands from Sawyer, while at the other end, Solly stood tall to deny Berwick after the striker had latched on to an errant backpass.

With half-time approaching, Liam Daly had to be alert to block a Sean Geddes strike.

A muted second half burst into life in the 68th minute following a double substitution from Stourbridge, with Nathan Bennett heading home a lofted free-kick despite the attentions of two defenders.

Three minutes later, the lively Luke Benbow rattled the crossbar from 25 yards with Sawyer beaten.

Alex Taylor was unable to turn in a Berwick cross from close range and it proved to be the goalscorer’s final contribution with debutant Lee Moore replacing him in the 78th minute.

A rash challenge on Joe Magunda from Benbow earned the Stourbridge man a yellow card and helped contribute to nine minutes of injury time and a final flurry from the hosts.

A corner from the right was not dealt with by the Stourbridge defence and shots rained in on the visitors’ goal, with both Jamie Husband and Magunda denied by desperate blocks.

However, the onslaught fizzled out with Hood’s lofted effort tamely clearing the bar and it was Stourbridge who were on the attack when the referee finally brought proceedings to a close.

Leamington: Kevin Sawyer, James Mace, Michael Tuohy, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, Liam Daly, Matt Dodd, Alex Taylor, Lee Chilton (James Husband, 74), Tommy Berwick (Lee Moore, 78), Richard Batchelor (Craig Owen, 65). Subs not used: Sam Adkins, Liam O’Neill.

Stourbridge: Lewis Solly, Sam Rock (Tom Turton, 78), Aaron Griffiths (Chris Knight, 67), Paul McCone, Sean Geddes, Nathan Bennett, Paul Lloyd, Leon Broadhurst, Luke Benbow, Ben Billingham, Drew Canavan (Stuart Hendrie, 67). Subs not used: James Dyson, Sam Smith.