Stourbridge secure a fifth Senior Challenge Cup after running out 4-2 winners on penalties against Coventry City.

While the Glassboys enjoyed the early spells of possession, Coventry went close on the counter after smart work from Marco Rus forced a save from Jon Flatt, the rebound falling to Harrison Nee who rolled the ball home but was deemed to be offside. 

Dangerous deliveries from Tyler Lyttle carried a serious threat for Stourbridge, the no.2 finding the unmarked Callum Gittings who headed wide before having a chance of his own saved by a strong stop from Luke Bell.

Set-pieces looked to be the best bet for Stourbridge as they continued their search for an opener, Lyttle once again creating problems inside the area, the ball blocked on the line by a Coventry defender amongst the crowd of red and white shirts as the Sky Blues just about clear their lines.

Sharp play down the other end meanwhile saw George Burroughs go close after being picked out by space inside the area by Marco Rus, only to be denied by a superb stop from Flatt to keep the scores level with nothing to separate the two sides going into the break.

A big opportunity in the early stages of the second period fell to Stourbridge’s Gittings, gliding into the box only to be denied by a point blank save from Bell with the Glassboys setting the tempo.

Evan Eghosa went close to putting Coventry in front shortly before the hour-mark with City winning the ball high up before the no.17 opted for the shot from distance, his effort rolling agonisingly wide of the left-hand post.

A spell of chances for Stourbridge saw Jason Cowley test his luck twice in quick succession but failed to find the target under pressure before Reece King curled his shot narrowly over from inside the area.

A heroic block from Tristen Batanwi proved crucial as Stourbridge continued to knock on the door, denying Lyttle with the full-back running in at the back post.

While the Black Country outfit saw the majority of possession and chances in the second half, they couldn’t find the breakthrough they needed with some superb defending from a youthful Coventry side taking the game straight to penalties.

Nee and Lyttle set the tone in the shootout, both finding the bottom corner with their spot kicks before Rus hit the post for Coventry’s second penalty while Rowe responded by also hitting the post, his effort, however, deflecting in off the woodwork to put his side 2-1 up. 

A great save from Flatt also denied a second successive Coventry penalty while Prosser blasted the ball into the top corner to give Stour a two-goal cushion, meaning Reid needed to score to keep his team in the tie. The no.5 made no mistake from the spot before Burton tucked away the match-winning penalty to secure victory for the Glassboys.

Line-Ups:

● Stourbridge: Flatt, Lyttle, Wilson, Prosser, Kettle, Hull, Gittings, King ©, Cowley, Rowe, White. (Subs: Worley, Walters, Knights, Burton, Knight).
● Coventry City: Bell, Lusala, Batanwi, Burroughs, Reid, Perry, Stretton, Finnegan, Obikwu, Nee, Rus ©. (Subs: Siddall, Rachel, Dausch, Betjemann, Eghosa).

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