STOURBRIDGE FC vs ASHTON UNITED
DATE: SATURDAY 15th MARCH 2018
KO: 15:00pm
VENUE: War Memorial Athletic Ground, High St, West Midlands, DY8 4HN
Ashton travel to Stourbridge on Saturday in what will be another key fixture in the race for promotion. Stourbridge come into this fixture with a mixed bag in terms of form, with one draw, two wins and three defeats in their last six fixtures. There last game was a respectable 1-1 draw away to Buxton, with Leon Broadhurst scoring Stourbridge’s goal in that game. In the league table Stourbridge currently sit in 14th place and will be looking for a strong end to their season. Ashton come into this fixture on the back of a good run of form, Tuesday night’s 2-1 home defeat to Coalville Town was Ashton’s first home league defeat since a 2-1 defeat to Hednesford Town on the 30th September last year. The defeat will no doubt spur Jody Banim’s men to get their promotion push back on track. Regarding the run in to the season Banim stated “every game is important between now and the end of the season, we have to prepare for every game as if we’re playing top of the league”
ONE TO WATCH:
LUKE BENBOW;
Described by Stourbridge as a strong, pacey forward who also holds the ball up well, Benbow started his career in the Birmingham City youth academy, he spent some time at non-league clubs before joining up with the Glenn Hoddle Academy in Spain, from this he earnt a move to Solihull Moors in 2011. Benbow first joined the Glassboys in 2012 and managed 48 goals in two season before he suffered an injury in his third, this lead him to join Hednesford Town in 2015, He re-joined Stourbridge most recently in November 2017 for his third spell at the club on loan from Solihull Moors and this loan was extended until the end of the season at the start of last month. To date he currently has just over a century of goals for Stourbridge, making 200 appearances in the process and will be hoping to add more to his tally on Saturday against the Robins.

PREVIOUSLY AT THE WAR MEMORIAL ATHLETIC GROUND;
It was one that Ashton fans will have tried to forget quickly last time the Robins visited Stourbridge. A much changed Ashton side turned up on a cold Tuesday night and things started badly and just went worse from there. It took 3 minutes for Stourbridge to open the scoring, despite Luke Pilling’s best effort to save a Luke Benbow shot the rebound found its way to Kayelden Brown who opened the scoring. Tom Tonks doubled Stourbridge’s advantage on 31 minutes with a shot from just inside the area which found its way past the Ashton defence. It was 3-0 just ten minutes later as Jordan Archer scored from just inside the six yard box. 8 minutes after the break Ashton was given a lifeline through a Will Haining volley but on 71 minutes Kayelden Brown sealed the three points for Stourbridge.

HOW CAN I FOLLOW THE ACTION?

Match updates will be available through the usual social media channels; Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Alternatively you can make the visit to the War Memorial Athletic Ground with match prices as follows;
Adults | £10
Senior Citizens (65 and over) | £7
13-18 year olds | £5
Under 13s | FREE (When accompanied by a paying adult, senior citizen or 16-18 year old)
Coach travel is also currently available priced at £12 per person. If you wish to book a place on the coach please contact Terry Hollis on 07801600602. The coach is due to leave Hurst Cross at 10:30am Saturday morning.