Glassgirls Bow Out of FA Cup

The FA Women's Championship side scored twice in the first half and again midway through the second half, but Stour stuck to their task and were never disgraced in such illustrious company.

Goalkeeper Amie Preston produced a string of saves, including a second half penalty (pictured above), as Stour held the Blades at bay for long periods, but the result was never really in serious doubt once the visitors had opened up a two-goal cushion midway through the first half.

Nevertheless, Glassgirls manager Andy Fisher was in upbeat mood afterwards.

“We couldn’t have asked for more, could we? They did themselves proud, as they have done all through this run. The quality that Sheffield United had was obvious from the start but we never stopped competing and battling.

“I think the last four or five minutes showed that. We could have thrown in the towel and played out time, but we were pushing forward and still trying to create something, see if we could give the fans a goal to celebrate. I think that’s a mark of the character in this team.

“It was a great day, and the result was kind of irrelevant in many ways. Over 400 people in here to watch us play a professional team is just mind-blowing when you consider where we’ve come from, and I want to thank everyone for their support. It meant a lot to the girls, and hopefully as a club we can continue to build on that.

On a mild afternoon at the War Memorial, Stour began on the back foot, and – just as they did at Derby – fell behind within two minutes. Bex Rayner and Lucy Watson combined down the left and when the cross came in it was COURTNEY SWEETMAN-KIRK who found space to apply the finishing touch.

There was no sign that Stour were going to roll over, however, and although the Blades dominated the opening stages, the Glassgirls defence managed to limit their sights of goal well. Rayner drifted a shot well wide, and Althea Paul could only find Preston’s arms from distance, before former England defender Sophie Bradley-Auckland did likewise with a header from a corner.

But United eventually did make their dominance count on 23 minutes as MIA ENDERBY ran onto a through ball to tuck a low shot past Preston and into the far corner.

Rayner dragged a shot wide, and Preston held an effort from Enderby, but there was also a rare glimpse of an opening for Stour with 39 minutes played as Hannah Fishwick’s ball set Millie Rogers clear only for Nina Wilson to come out of her box to deal with the danger.

United came again in the closing stages of the half with Sweetman-Kirk seeing a goal chalked off for offside, then heading an attempt wide, before Kasia Lipka fired straight at Preston from the edge of the area.

Stour’s best chance of the match came right at the start of the second half. Alex Nicklin seized on a rare error from Georgia Robert to tee up Rogers, but the striker couldn’t get her shot away and when she did so, Bradley-Auckland was able to block, amidst optimistic handball shouts.

United had a gilt-edged chance to extend their lead on 53 minutes as Sweetman-Kirk had her heels clipped by Keren Allen ten yards out. The Stour defender earned a yellow card, but Preston came to her rescue with a fabulous save, diving to her left to keep out Sweetman-Kirk’s spot kick.

Rayner pulled a shot wide and Lipka fired over, before the Blades did go three up through CHARLOTTE NEWSHAM as she stole in at the far post to convert Watson’s low cross.

With tired legs evident, Fisher rang the changes, using all five permitted substitutes, and Stourbridge were largely able to keep a now comfortable United at bay, although Preston distinguished herself more than once in the closing stages, most notably when she tipped over a first-time effort from Rayner eight minutes from time.

If anything Stourbridge finished slightly in the ascendancy, pushing for a consolation, but United were able to see the game out with a clean sheet to progress to the Fourth Round.

(Photo - Stu Leggett Photography)

Glassgirls line-up:

Amie Preston, Jess Bate (Gee Thacker 68), Meg Hadley (Ruby Meeson 75), Sophie Heaselgrave, Keren Allen (Louisa Butcher 62), Macey Turvey, Lili-Beth Bown (Niamh Murphy 75), McGovern (Courteney Murphy 68), Alex Nicklin, Hannah Fishwick, Millie Rogers.

Unused subs:

Hollie Somers, Chelsea Hassell, Connie Dutton, Meg Bailey.