Murrall miss sums up grim night

Birmingham Senior Cup Quarter-Final

Stourbridge 4

Sutton Coldfield Town 1

THE Royals bowed out of the Birmingham Senior Cup at Southern Premier side Stourbridge on Tuesday but the scoreline flattered the hosts.

Sutton gave themselves an uphill struggle by going behind within three minutes as Sean Evans skipped through the visiting defence before giving Bennett a tap-in.

However, they were on level terms just 13 minutes later thanks to a little slice of luck as Stourbridge keeper Lewis Solly attempted to beat Jamille Matt to a through-ball.

Solly's sliced clearance actually fell behind him and Matt took advantage, slotting the ball into the unguarded net.

Buoyed by the equaliser, Sutton pressed and Craig Owen shot just over the bar but parity was not to be theirs for long.

The hosts regained the lead on 25 minutes as Drew Canavan found time and space of the edge of the area to curl home a great strike.

Then came the moment when Sutton will wonder how they did not manage to level again.

Jake Murrall hit the bar from little more than a yard out in the midst of a goalmouth scramble.

Solly tipped a Craig Marshall header over the bar and then produced a smart stop from Matt before his fingertips turned a Murrall curler wide at the outset of the second half.

However, Sutton were made to pay for not levelling when Evans made it 3-1 with a vicious half volley.

Matt again forced Solly into a good save but Stourbridge put the icing on the cake in injury time as Evans collected a Canavan pass before tucking home via the post.