On a day when title and play-off chasing AFC Telford, Halesowen, Harborough, Stratford and Stamford all dropped points, the Blues were defeated after a goal in each half from the home side proved enough.

Leiston’s cause wasn’t helped by the sending off of ‘keeper Billy Johnson just before the break after he was adjudged to have handled outside the area. It was a contentious decision and one Leiston were far from happy about. But it stood and made it a more difficult afternoon for Chris Wigger’s side.

It leaves the Blues Southern League Central Premier play-off hopes hanging by a thread, six points off the final spot, with three matches to come, all that will need to be won – at home to Halesowen next Saturday, at Lowestoft on Easter Monday and to end a home tie with already relegated Biggleswade Town on the 26th.

On the pitch on Saturday, Adam Mills and Wyatt Hill came into the starting XI in place of the injured Jack Manly and Ollie Saunders. Saunders took his place on the bench alongside Ollie Yun who was fit again after missing the last three weeks with injury. Cameron Rayworth wasn’t included in the squad after picking up another injury on Wednesday night.

The hosts had an effort early on but it was comfortable for Johnson to save the shot.

On four minutes, Ethan Freemantle’s strike was blocked by Hill while Johnson dealt with a free kick easily from home captain Joel Kettle in the 11th minute.

Chances for both teams were hard to come by in a cagey opening, but the home side took the lead on 25 minutes when the Blues didn’t deal with a cross into the area and Freemantle volleyed home past Johnson.

Leiston almost levelled on 27 minutes when Mills crossed from the left and Kyran Clements shot narrowly wide. Mills went close soon after shooting wide when Lewys Benjamin had came out to clear a ball.

On 32 minutes, Jai Verma struck an effort just over Johnson’s crossbar after he cut inside from Stourbridge’s left hand side.

The game changed in the third minute of stoppage time at the end of the half when Johnson beat a Stourbridge player to the ball and it ricocheted back and hit the Blues goalkeeper on the arm. The referee sent off Johnson with most in the ground bemused at the decision. Clements went in goal as Leiston went down to 10 men.

Leiston won a free kick on the edge of the box moments into the second half but Benjamin saved George Quantrell’s effort and Rossi Jarvis was replaced by Yun after picking up an injury.

Sub Alexander Bradley made it two on 57 minutes for the home side, running at Leiston into the box and shooting low into Clements’ bottom left-hand corner. It was a killer second for the visitors.

Stourbridge went close with other half chances while Seb Dunbar’s cross was taken by Benjamin at the other end and Yun’s strike went just wide of the keeper’s post.

FT: Stourbridge 2 Blues 0

How they lined up;

Stourbridge: Benjamin, Kirton, Lewis, Brown, Kettle, Verma, Freemantle (Gouveia 68 mins), Batchelor, Masidi, Jones (Bradley 46 mins), Barnett (Cooper 89 mins). Sub not used: Smith (GK).

Blues: Johnson, Hill, Dunbar, Armin, Clements, Eddie Jackson, Rossi Jarvis (Yun 55 mins), Alexander, Fowkes (Saunders 72 mins), Quantrell, Mills. Subs not used: Horne and Ryan Jarvis.

Blues Man Of The Match: George Quantrell

Attendance: 590