Glassgirls Bring Home the Cup!

After an opening half hour in which the Glassgirls had to work hard to break down resilient opposition, three goals in a blistering four-minute spell all but killed the game off, and Stour cruised through the second half with little alarm, adding two more goals along the way.

For manager Andy Fisher, the win capped a remarkable season in which the team has achieved everything they set out to do.

“The League was the one we all wanted, obviously, but this was a special day. Not many teams ever get to call themselves double winners, and these girls have earned the right without question.

“It was a bit nervy in the early stages. The longer you go without scoring the more those little doubts start to creep in, and Kiddy did put us under a bit of pressure at times in the first half, but once we went ahead we were absolutely clinical, and I never felt there was any danger of us letting it slip.

“Some of our football was incredible. I’m just excited for next season now, I don’t think any of us want this ride to stop!

"It’s been a brilliant season for the whole section. We saw that yesterday morning (Saturday) with our Under 16s winning their League, a brilliant match, some real quality football. And that’s happening all through the levels. The future potential here is just incredible.”

Stour were almost off to the best start imaginable as Carly Aldred broke into the box inside the first ten seconds, but as she lifted the ball over Tilly Hall it agonisingly hit the post and went away for a corner.

Hall was in the action again soon afterwards with a fine save to deny Alex Nicklin, whilst Ellie McGovern shot straight at her and then fired a free kick over. McGovern, it turned out, was merely finding her range.

But despite having most of the play, the Glassgirls couldn’t penetrate the hard-working Harriers defence, and there were occasional moments of concern when Kidderminster got forward, as the Stour defence had the odd alarm in trying to clear their lines, although Amie Preston’s goal was never seriously troubled.

By the 20 minute mark, Stourbridge were shaking off any hints of jitters and the chances began to come with increasing regularity. Meg Hadley sprung forward from left back, took on a couple of defenders, and fired narrowly wide, Lili-Beth Bown brought another fine save out of the impressive Hall, and Esme Moran saw a header which lacked power easily claimed by the keeper.

Just after the half-hour Bown slipped Nicklin in only for Hall to stick out a leg and prevent what looked a certain goal, but Stour were getting closer and took the lead no more than a minute later.

Nicklin again caused problems breaking into the box, and rather than testing out Hall again as she came off her line, the ball was unselfishly squared for MORAN to fire into the unguarded net.

The shackles were properly off now, and Stour went for the jugular. Within two minutes the lead was doubled, and it was MORAN again who reacted quickest as the ball looped up towards goal after the unfortunate Hall had saved from Millie Rogers.

Two more minutes had elapsed and the Glassgirls made it three. After breaking forward and being fouled five yards outside the area, there was an air of inevitability about ELLIE McGOVERN picking herself up and drilling an arrow of a free kick through the wall and past Hall, a virtual carbon copy of her stunning free kick against Lichfield three weeks ago.

McGovern again, and then Rogers, both shot wide in the closing stages, as Stour went into the break with a commanding lead.

Nicklin went close within seconds of the restart, and then again when she lifted a lob over both Hall and the crossbar after Gee Thacker’s initial effort had been blocked, whilst Hannah Fishwick’s surging run ended with Hall pulling off yet another excellent save.

But the Harriers keeper was powerless to stop the Glassgirls adding a fourth as Fishwick’s ball in from the left was cushioned back across goal by Bown for RUBY MEESON to guide a header into the net.

A rare Kidderminster attack saw a shot off target, but that apart it was all Stourbridge as the composed Glassgirls defence dealt comfortably with any counter-attacks. Aldred created space for a shot from 25 yards that brushed the roof of the net, and then FISHWICK made it five, winning the ball at the second attempt before advancing into the area and slotting past Hall.

A minute later Hall fared better against the same player, saving brilliantly at Fishwick’s feet and then got enough on Meeson’s shot to divert it wide for a corner, which resulted in Thacker curling a shot only just past the far post in what would turn out to be the final noteworthy action.

The final whistle brought jubilant scenes to mirror those at the Dell two weeks previously when the Championship was clinched. Stourbridge Ladies – DOUBLE WINNERS!

(Photo - Paul Rose)

STOURBRIDGE LINE-UP

Amie Preston, Jess Bate, Meg Hadley, Niamh Murphy, Keren Allen, Ellie McGovern, Lili-Beth Bown, Alex Nicklin, Esme Moran, Carly Aldred, Millie Rogers.

SUBSTITUTES (all used)

Sophie Heaselgrave, Macey Turvey, Ruby Meeson, Gee Thacker, Hannah Fishwick.

The Glassgirls now travel to second-placed Sutton Coldfield Town this Sunday for their final League match, and Fisher says it’s one they want to win.

“I’m determined we don’t let our standards slip. Sutton are the only team to take anything off us in the League this season, and we don’t want them going away saying they did the double over us.

“We beat them in the League Cup, and we know what they will bring. They’re a very good team, and I’ve got huge respect for what they’ve done over the last few seasons. If it wasn’t for Covid there’s no doubt in my mind they’d already be in the National League.

“But we are a very good team too, and I want us to go out and show them just how good. I want to leave this Division on a high, and that’s what we’ll be aiming to do.”

Sunday’s match kicks off at 2pm at Sutton Coldfield Town FC, Coles Lane, Sutton B72 1NL.