STOURPORT have climbed off the foot of the National League Division after getting off the mark with a 3-1 win at Bournville.

Captain Phil Lashford led by example as his brilliant hat-trick secured the victory that move Stourport up three places.

With short corner weapon Imran Yousaf missing through injury, coach Caroline Frye was forced to reshuffle the pack and the rest of the team rose to the occasion with a spirited performance.

Bournville enjoyed the majority of possession but failed to threaten the Stourport "D" with resolute defence lead by Ben Senior and Mark Harradine.

Although Stourport looked dangerous on the counter-attack, they had nothing to show from half chances for Paul Terleski and Mark Edwards.

Bournville, meanwhile, found visiting keeper Stu Hendy in fine form as he made acrobatic saves from a Simon McCollum short corner.

Stourport finally broke the deadlock with Irfan Yousaf finding Lashford unmarked and he shot past the stranded Bournville 'keeper.

They continued to look dangerous but Bournville showed why they were unbeaten in their first three games as a harsh short corner was converted by top-scorer McCollum.

The rest of the half saw both sides playing attacking hockey, with Irfan Yousaf shining in the centre of midfield along with Mark Moss and Simon Mauger.

Bournville started the stronger of the two sides in the second half but again failed to create clear cut opportunities.

Meanwhile Yousaf and Dave Westhead started to find more space in the midfield.

It paid dividends as Yousaf released Lashford down the right and he finished with a strike into the top of the net with Edwards putting pressure on the keeper at the far post.

Stourport benefited as McCollum was yellow carded for dissent and Lashford sealed the three points as another Yousaf pass evaded the Bournville defence and the skipper completed his hat-trick with an early strike past the advancing 'keeper.

They travel to Bowdon next week with only six points separating third and bottom place in the league.