Stourbridge 4 Redditch United 1 (From Redditch Advertiser)

Stourbridge 4 Redditch United 1

10:41pm Tuesday 16th October 2012 in Sport

REDDITCH United went out of the Southern League Cup as they were comfortably beaten at Stourbridge.

Jamie Oliver fired the Glassboys ahead when he capitalised on hesitation in the Reds defence following Sean Geddes’ free-kick.

Drew Canavan grabbed a brace to make the game safe before crossing for Chris Knight to volley home the fourth.

Redditch rarely threatened but did grab a last-gasp consolation when Connor Deards headed home.

Deards had the visitors first chance on target just two minutes earlier – a measure of just how much Stourbridge were in control.

The Reds played some neat football but struggled to find a cutting edge throughout and were not helped by a Gary Moran being forced off early through injury, with emergency right-back David Bridgewater given a torrid time down the flank by the lively Aaron Griffiths.

Scoring early has been key to Stour successes at home this season and Oliver set them on their way, though it came after a bright start from the visitors, who saw David Bridgewater fizz a drive just over the bar.

But Stour always looked more incisive and they should have gone in front when Geddes played in Sam Rock on the right but in acres of space, the forward pulled his finish wide of the far post.

Soon they were in front. Rock was pulled down on the edge of the box and Geddes fired in a low free-kick, with Oliver afforded plenty of time to drive home at the second attempt.

Stuart Hendrie, returning to Amblecote for the first time since moving back to the Reds, came close to playing in Jack Cresswell a minute later but overhit the pass.

The home side’s passing was much crisper and Callum Flanagan had to be alert to cut out an Aaron Griffiths cross following a nice move.

Chris Knight headed over soon after and the impressive Griffiths then pounced on a loose ball before racing away and testing James Wren with an curling effort.

He tested the keeper with a much fiercer effort deep into stoppage time after being set clear, with Wren pushing away the shot.

Three minutes into the second half Griffiths played a crucial role as the Glassboys made it two. Wren could only palm his whipped in cross into the path of Canavan, who was able to bide his time before finishing powerfully low into the net.

Stour were well on top, though Bridgewater did come close to bringing Redditch back into it when he glanced a corner just wide.

Canavan came close to grabbing his second with a long range effort which Wren did well to palm away, while Cresswell drilled over at the other end during a rare period of pressure from the visitors.

With 15 minutes to Canavan did get a second to put the game beyond doubt. Rock embarked on a solo run through the visiting defence and when he was forced wide by Wren, pulled the ball back for Canavan to finish via a slight deflection from Turton.

Knight then scored a sublime fourth to cap the visitors misery, volleying home Canavan’s chipped cross first time following another slick Stour move.

Substitute Luke Benbow had an effort deflected wide before Lewis Solly was finally forced into a save two minutes from time when Deards forced his way through but the Stour keeper raced out to block the shot behind.

With the last action of the game Redditch got their consolation. Joel Grandison cut inside from the right and Deards rose alone at the far post to head home.

GLASSBOYS: Solly, Rock, Oliver, McCone (c), Geddes, Smith, Lloyd, Turton, Knight, Canavan, Griffiths Subs not used: Broadhurst, Bennett.

Goals: Oliver 15, Canavan 48 75, Knight 77.

REDS: Wren, Moran (Hands 20), Quaynor (c), Flanagan, Hickman (Richards 75), Bridgewater, Hendrie, Jephcott, Cresswell, Deards, Grandison Subs not used: McDonald, Charlton.

Goal: Deards 90.