Baggies too strong as Glassgirls exit County Cup

Stourbridge held their third-tier opponents for much of the first half before falling behind to a goal on the stroke of half time, but the home side made it count after the interval as they added three further goals without reply.

Manager Andy Fisher had no complaints after the game.

“I can’t be too disappointed, really. We probably needed not to concede that goal right on half time, and then regroup for the second half. Up to then I didn’t think there was anything between the teams.

“We brought an extra striker on at half time, and that opened up a few gaps in midfield for them to exploit, and with the quality they have that’s exactly what they did. I take that one on the chin, maybe if I’d held on for another 15 minutes the way we were set up, we could have got more of a grip and kept in the game longer.

“But the girls were terrific, no complaints with our effort at all. I hope all the supporters who came along appreciated what we put into it.”

Stourbridge opened positively and might have had the first chance as Alex Nicklin’s ball set Millie Rogers free, only for an offside flag to halt the striker’s advance on goal, but Albion hit back almost immediately as Shannon Stamps fired over from 20 yards.

Nicklin pounced on a defensive error to produce the first shot on target at either end after 15 minutes, comfortably held by Poppy Bastock, and by now Stour had established a foothold in the game and were giving as good as they were getting.

A Meg Hadley free kick caused problems in the Albion box as Hannah Fishwick battled for the ball, but Lili-Beth Bown could only hook her shot wide as the ball came down. Meanwhile, Amie Preston had to be sharp to claim a loose ball as a Baggies corner pinballed around the six yard box.

Free kicks at either end came and went as first Macey Turvey did well to divert an effort wide, and then Fishwick’s attempt at the other end flew over from 20 yards.

But it was West Brom who took the lead a minute from half time. A cross from the right was miscued by Jess Bate at the far past, and the ball fell nicely for Leigh Dugmore to prod home from 5 yards out.

With the wind and rain intensifying, Stourbridge found the second half more of a battle as West Brom took control for large chunks., but just as the Glassgirls appeared to have weathered the storm to a degree and were beginning to come into the game again on the hour mark, the home side dealt a hammer blow with a second goal after Gee Thacker’s foul led to a penalty despatched into the roof of the net by Dugmore again.

Albion turned the screw with a third on 70 minutes as Stamps’ drifted a cross over Preston to the far post where Kerry Walklett was on hand to fire in off the underside of the bar.

And it was four with ten minutes to play when Mariam Mahmood found the net at the near post from a narrow angle, despite Preston’s attempt to save.

The Glassgirls now have a League campaign to focus on, with twelve matches still to play, beginning with Crusaders at home next Sunday.

STOURBRIDGE LADIES LINE-UP

Amie Preston, Jess Bate, Meg Hadley, Keren Allen, Sophie Heaselgrave, Macey Turvey, Lili-Beth Bown, Esme Moran, Alex Nicklin, Hannah Fishwick, Millie Rogers.

SUBSTITUTES (all used)

Gee Thacker, Louisa Butcher, Carly Aldred, Cheryl Edwards, Connie Dutton.