Stourbridge 3-2 Workington Reds (After Extra-Time)

Workington Reds pushed Stourbridge all the way into extra-time but they could not make it to another play-off final.

Despite every effort, Reds could not find a way back after going behind for the third time in the match.

David Symington and Dan Wordsworth brought them back to level pegging twice during the clash in normal time but the extra-time goal from Jordan Archer proved to be a killer blow.

The desire was evident from both sides. Reds did not get off to the best of starts but when they did, they did with a bang.

Stourbridge looked to put the pressure on in the early stages as Matt Dodd forced the pace down the right-hand side. But leading scorer Luke Benbow found himself under pressure from the Reds defence and his final cross went behind.

Reds had early opportunities too as a Jake Simpson free-kick was lofted into the area but keeper Matt Gould was quick to leap up and claim it.

Stourbridge broke and Ethan Jones was fed the ball in a good position but he couldn’t make the most of it and the ball went out for a goal kick.

Reds responded almost immediately and James Earl was unlucky to see his header go wide of the target.

Some good defending from Sam Smith and Earl closed down another attacking opportunity for the home side.

But the irrepressible Benbow popped back up and managed to get a cross in. However, Dan Preston’s final header was wayward.

Aaran Taylor was called into action to punch clear a cross as Reds faced increasing pressure.

Preston came the closest to scoring inside the 30th minute as his header just shaded the post. Then, Rob Wilson tried a long-range effort at the other end which sailed over the bar

But, in the 33rd minute, a pin-point free-kick from Tom Tonks found the rising Stuart Pierpoint, and his bullet header found the back of the net to put Stourbridge ahead.

Reds went back on the attack and Earl found himself with time on the ball but his shot lacked power and the keeper easily claimed it.

Taylor pulled off a great save moments later as Benbow flicked the ball into the path of Jordan Archer.

He ran at Taylor but the keeper came out and narrowed his angle down and then saved at point-blank range.

The half closed with Josh Calvert receiving a yellow card for a challenge, and Reds went in at the break 1-0 down.

Stourbridge were quickly back on the attack as the second half opened with Benbow just heading wide from a corner.

Wordsworth stepped in to break up another promising attack from the home side as Reds struggled to break them down.

Tinnion managed to get into space on the left and beat his man to get a cross in to the waiting Earl. He then looked to find the onrushing Allison but his out-stretched foot just couldn’t reach it in time.

A Symington cross caused problems but nobody could get onto the end of it but he kept harrying the defence.

And at the opposite end, Wordsworth stepped in to clear up a dangerous cross from Benbow.

And then he was denied at close range by a good save from Taylor as Stourbridge looked for a second.

Allison thought he had equalised for Reds in the 61st minute. Good work from Symington in the area as he twisted and turned to beat the defence.

His shot couldn’t beat the keeper but the rebound fell to Allison who hammered it home but the linesman’s flag was up for offside.

Then, there was turmoil in the Reds goalmouth as the ball ricocheted about and Taylor reacted quickly to save from Benbow again.

Benbow also tried his hand with an overhead kick after a slight defensive mix up but this time it landed safely in Taylor’s hands.

On the break, Benbow played in Jones and he beat the keeper but Gari Rowntree was on hand to clear off the lines.

Reds continued to fight back when Allison was fouled outside the area Symington stood over the free-kick.

And he made no mistake as he blasted it right into the top corner of the goal to level matters at 1-1.

A Jake Simpson free-kick was then lofted in. Smith and Wordsworth both raced in but they couldn’t connect.

Stourbridge got their chance with a free-kick and Benbow looked to emulate Symington’s effort but it ricocheted off the post and into the side netting.

Reds were back on the attack and forced a succession of corners but Allison’s final strike went across the face of the goal.

Stourbridge were always dangerous on the counter and so it proved as Benbow curled in a shot from wide out that beat Taylor to the far corner and the home side regained their lead.

Reds brought Sam Joel into the attack to provide fresh legs and then Stourbridge sub Brad Birch was handed a yellow card for a poor tackle on Rowntree, who was then replaced by Kyle May.

Allison had a superb chance in the dying minutes with just the keeper to beat after being played in by May but after being closed down he shot wide.

And just when it looked as though it could be game over for Reds, the home side gave away a corner in a defensive mix up.

It was floated in to the penalty area and Wordsworth rose majestically to head it into the back of the net to equalise.

Taylor was needed to save from that man Benbow again as Stourbridge looked to avoid extra-time but it was not to be.

In the seventh minute of extra-time, Stourbridge regained the lead through Jordan Archer who lifted the ball over the head of Taylor.

And the sides swapped ends for the final time with Reds still chasing their hosts.

Reds came closest in the 112th minute as Wordsworth turned and shot just over the bar.

Workington had a narrow miss at one end and then Taylor pulled off another good save at the feet of Benbow as both sides looked to assert themselves.

Tinnion turned and twisted but then his shot went over the top and it was not to be Reds’ night but they can be proud of their efforts both in this game and throughout the season.

Stourbridge: Gould, Preston, Westlake, Tonks, Digie, Pierpoint, Dodd (Canavan 71), Broadhurst, Benbow, Jones (Birch 80), Archer (Brown 109). Subs (not used): Green, Westwood.

Goals: Tonks 33, Benbow 77, Archer 96,

Yellow cards: Birch 84,

Reds: Taylor, Simpson, Rowntree (May 86), Wordsworth, Smith, Calvert, Symington, Earl (Joel 80), Allison, Wilson (Wright 103), Tinnion. Subs (not used): Ryan, Waterston.

Goals: Symington 69, Wordsworth 90+2.

Yellow cards: Calvert 44, Smith 73,

Referee: Thomas Kirk.

Half time: 1-0

Crowd: 1,628.