THIS is exactly the response Witton Albion needed to show after an FA Trophy exit.

They might even have won.

More broadly, the campaign is approaching its halfway point and Carl Macauley’s men occupy a position in the table’s top-half.

They travelled to Amblecote at an opportune moment, with their hosts hurting after back-to-back home defeats and adjusting as well to losing their leading goal-scorer to a higher-ranked club.

Still the Glassboys have replaced him, for now at least, with their star striker from last season following Luke Benbow’s temporary return from Solihull on loan.

Albion were denied an opening goal inside seven minutes after Will Jones had converted from James Foley’s pass, except the front man was offside.

Stourbridge responded by creating what turned out to be their best chance, only for Leon Broadhurst’s close-range attempt to be blocked by a defender following fine approach play by Luke Shearer.

Jones fired high before Kennedy Digie glanced wide Aaron Forde’s corner.

Witton appeared more comfortable though, and Danny McKenna’s direct free-kick prompted custodian Matt Gould to save.

He also beat away a strike from debutant Owen Dale, a teenage attacker that arrived on Friday after being borrowed from Crewe Alexandra.

Stourbridge boss Gary Hackett sent on Josh Green and Aaeon Birch after the break, but without preventing the visitors from controlling the contest.

Foley almost broke the deadlock during a scramble from a corner before Gould produced his best to tip over Nick Ryan’s header at the back-post.

Steven Tames was next to be thwarted by the home team’s number one, this time from close-range.

Benbow’s shot did not cause consternation at the other end, and instead Albion were frustrated to see Paul Williams’ free-kick drift wide of an upright.

Gould kept his sheet clean when denying Foley at the end of a move that he contributed to, and that also involved Dale and Tom Owens.

The teenager fired high with time running out after cutting inside from the left.

Stourbridge | Gould (GK), Christophorou, Westlake (Green 46), McCone, Pierpoint, Forde, Digie (Birch 46), Broadhurst, Perry (Cooke 69), Benbow, Shearer Subs not used Cameron, Collingridge (GK) Booked Digie, Christophorou (both fouls), Forde, McCone (both dissent)

Witton | Hare (GK), Gardner, McKenna, Ryan, Williams, Foley, Dale, Owens, Jones, Haywood, Tames (Evans 90) Subs not used Cesaire, Hedley, Hopley, Neild (GK) Booked Gardner (foul), Foley (handball)

Referee Simon Brown

Attendance 737

Match report by Phil Chadwick