History-Making Glassgirls into Second Round!

Courteney Murphy’s 40-yard stoppage time lob sealed a famous win for the Glassgirls, after goals from Millie Rogers and Alex Nicklin in the first half had seen Andy Fisher’s team bounce back from conceding an early goal to lead at the break.

Derby drew level with 16 minutes to play, as wave after wave of attacks bore down on Amie Preston’s goal, but the Stour defence held firm and Murphy’s decisive blow sparked scenes of pandemonium.

Glassgirls manager Andy Fisher found it hard to express his feelings at full time.

“I’m honestly running out of things to say about this team. I felt we had a chance, I really did. I thought if we could get ourselves into the game then we had players who could create something for us.

“I’m not going to pick out individuals. That was a complete team effort, a squad effort, from every player. Not once did we take a backwards step, even when we were really under pressure. Our defence as a unit were immense. We had players out there at the end who were empty, and I think if we’d gone to extra time that would have told. But we found something.

“it’s just a great day for the Club. To have the Chairman and the Vice Chairman here, Stu [Pierpoint] and Leon [Broadhurst] here too, all supporting us. Stu and Leon came into the dressing room to talk to the girls before the game, the experiences they’ve had in the FA Cup, I don’t think you can put a price on that. It certainly gave us a lift, that they’ve come and done that for us today. I think that tells you something about this Club.”

An afternoon that ended in rapture began with a sinking feeling. There were less than two minutes on the clock when Derby forced the first corner of the match, and with it they took the lead as EMILY JOYCE’s flag kicked drifted across goal, evading everyone and creeping inside the far post.

It was the worst possible start for Stour, and Derby set about the task of increasing their lead, as Precious Hamilton’s free kick and then Ellie Gilliatt’s shot on the turn both tested Amie Preston. But Stour began to settle and Millie Rogers might have made more of an opening from Meg Hadley’s through ball, only for a slightly heavy touch to let her down.

Almost immediately Nikki Miles forced Preston into an excellent point blank save, but Stourbridge were beginning to see more of the ball and there were half chances for Nicklin, who screwed her shot wide, and then Rogers, who brought a hurried save out of Sarah Morgan in the home goal with an effort from 30 yards.

Gilliatt again had a crack with a shot that sailed over on 20 minutes, before the Glassgirls stunned their hosts with a 27th-minute equaliser. ROGERS’ corner was cleared back out to her, and the Stour striker sent back a cross-cum-shot which caught Morgan off her line and sailed into the net.

Straight from the restart, Derby won a free kick, and Miles forced Preston to punch over her own bar, before Hamilton’s shot only just cleared the crossbar, and then Joyce fired straight into Preston’s arms as the home side looked to re-establish their grip.

But against the run of play, the Glassgirls suddenly found themselves ahead from their best move of the half. Esme Moran won a tackle and was able to bring the ball forward from midfield before feeding Hannah Fishwick to her right, and Fishwick's first-time ball was perfectly placed for NICKLIN to pull the trigger from 20 yards.

Stour managed to see the half out, but it was clear from the restart that the Ewe Rams were not going to give the visiting defence a moment’s peace for the next 45 minutes, and the introduction of two substitutes gave them fresh legs too. Jade Formaston fired wide, Amy Sims fired high, and then Formaston again thumped the crossbar. The home side were getting closer with each attempt.

Sophie Domingo’s cross looked to have set up Kira Rai for a simple goal, but she only managed to steer the ball into Preston’s midriff, and moments later Olivia Edwards directed a header over the bar.

With time running down, Derby were starting to press even more, but at the same time were beginning to snatch anxiously at chances, so there was evident relief in the home camp when HAMILTON brought the scores level with an unmarked close range header from Mills’s cross with 16 minutes to play.

Stourbridge were visibly tiring by now, and even the introduction of Courteney Murphy and Ellie McGovern’s fresh legs could do little to break up Derby’s attacks. Preston saved again from Joyce, but like so many of the home side’s attempts it was aimed directly at the Glassgirls keeper rather than either side of her.

Rogers was seeing little of the ball, but working as hard as she could to look after it when it did come her way, holding it up and looking for support, and from one such opportunity McGovern shot just past the post, but that was a rare opening as Preston was again forced into a save, palming a shot over, and then in a goalmouth melee the ball smacked against the Stour bar once more with Preston dropping on it in relief to smother any chance of a follow up.

With two minutes to play it looked as though Derby had snatched a winner, as Hamilton rose at the far post, but Preston somehow managed to claw the header away, a prelude to the final drama.

Rogers again battled to win something against the Derby defence, and she forced a poor defensive header which dropped nicely for COURTENEY MURPHY 40 yards out. The midfielder's instinct didn’t let her down, and have taken a touch to set herself her lob was placed to perfection to outdo the back-pedalling Morgan.

There were two fleeting moments of concern before Stour could uncork the champagne as first the Ewe Rams won a free kick 35 yards out, but with the ball lifted into the area Preston came off her line to claim, and then the Stour keeper had to deal safely with one more driven low shot, and with that Stour had the victory and a historic place in the Second Round.