Late Winner sees Glassgirls Beaten

The result means that the Glassgirls will take their place in the League’s Plate competition along with Sunday’s other losing teams, with the Preliminary Round due to take place on Sunday 30th October, but manager Andy Fisher felt there was a lot to take from the game.

“I’m really, really pleased. We’ve lost to a good outfit, let’s not forget that, and I think we should take a lot of credit for making it very difficult for them.

“We spoke about it in the week. We’re a club that goes to teams, as we’ve proven against Derby and others, with the aim of causing a little bit of an upset. We’ve lost, but one was a penalty – and it was a penalty – and a then a deflected goal, against a tier three team.

“They brought four subs on by the 60th minute and went for the game, we could see that, but so did we. We didn’t want extra time and penalties, we wanted to go for it and see what we could get.

“We’ve done a lot of rotation today, with players who needed game time, a couple of Under 18s and Reserves coming in. Those players have given a really good account of themselves and given us a bit of a headache going forward.”

A much-changed line-up saw a debut for recent signing Thea Clearkin in midfield, and first starts of the season for Keren Allen in defence and Sarah Hazell in attack, while Under 18 and Academy prospect Chelsea Jackson earned her first call-up to the substitutes’ bench.

A generally quiet opening period brought few clear chances at either end, but it was the home side who took the lead from the spot on the 15 minute mark, as LAURA ELFORD placed the ball past Amie Preston after being brought down by Clearkin.

Preston was called into action to save from a header on 25 minutes, but Stour created a chance of their own almost immediately as Mill Rogers fired over.

The home side began to exert pressure, with Preston saving twice during a goalmouth scramble, and then Elford dragging a shot wide, only for the Glassgirls to pull themselves level with a penalty of their own on 36 minutes as MILL ROGERS emulated Elford by picking herself up after being felled and calmly finishing from the spot.

Preston was forced into another save, one-on-one this time, but Stourbridge had the final chance effort of the half with Hazell’s long-range shot looping over the crossbar.

Within moments of the restart, Hazell was close again but could only fire tamely at Abi Megeary in the home goal, before the home side had a skied attempt at the other end.

As the game quietened into something of a tussle, the unfortunate Jackson’s debut was cut short within four minutes of her 54th minute introduction, with a knock to the head seeing her replaced as a precaution.

The Glassgirls could have taken a surprise lead with 17 minutes to go, as Angie Morley found herself in behind the defence, but she could only shoot over, while another effort by Hazell four minutes from time was taken comfortably by Megeary.

But it was the home side who found the winner as the game entered stoppage time, Kate Mallin’s cross deflecting off Sophie Heaselgrave and beyond Preston.

There was one final chance for Stour to take the game into the extra 30 minutes, with Lyndsey Glover only able to fire over, meaning the home side take their place in the Cup competition.

Stourbridge line-up

Amie Preston, Jess Bate, Keren Allen, Niamh Murphy (Sophie Heaselgrave 29), Lyndsey Glover, Thea Clearkin (Chelsea Jackson 54, Sophie Levick 58), Ellie McGovern, Esme Moran (Alex Nicklin 69), Angie Morley, Millie Rogers, Sarah Hazell.