Posh Deliver Knockout Blow to Glassgirls Cup Hopes

A lob from Keir Perkins in stoppage time at the end of extra time saw the Posh Women take a 2-1 win to progress to the Second Round after a titanic battle between two well-matched teams.

Hannah Fishwick’s (pictured) equaliser twelve minutes from time looked like giving the Glassgirls the momentum going into the extra period after a second half when they had continually knocked on the door after falling behind on the stroke of half time, but Perkins had other ideas to slam that door shut.

Stour began well but found it hard to create clear openings until Niamh Deasy’s shot hit the bar from Mill Rogers’ cut back after 14 minutes, but the home side hit back when ….. low cross to the far post found the unmarked Kayleigh Aylmer who could only blaze over, and then a fine tackle from Sophie Levick was enough to deny Perkins as she looked set to pull the trigger from ten yards out.

Peterborough were enjoying a good spell at this stage, and …. repeated Deasy’s misfortune with a shot that bounced down and out off the bar, with Amie Preston able to claim the loose ball from Perkins’ attempt to turn it in.

Stour upped the pace as the break approached, with Deasy laying the ball back for Alex Nicklin to fire wide, and then Esme Moran sending in a long-range effort that Neive Corry did well to push round the post, before Rogers’ header was blocked in the 6 yard box by Lucy Mugridge.

But the home side would have the final say of the half, and it would be a telling one as central defender NIAMH CONNOR rose highest in a crowded area to head in from Cassie Steward’s left wing corner.

The Glassgirls came out with renewed vigour for the second half and went close through Deasy, who fired over from another low cross by Rogers, and then Nicklin who did likewise as the ball fell to her in the box from a Stourbridge corner.

Substitute Lyndsey Glover almost capped a fine flowing move down the right just after the hour after an exchange of passes with Deasy, but Evie Driscoll-King timed her tackle to perfection, and Glover again threatened with a volleyed effort straight at Corry.

With time ticking down, Stour needed a goal, and it came from the left foot of HANNAH FISHWICK. On as substitute for only her second appearance of an injury-hit season, she found a composed left-foot finish from Glover’s pass to guide the ball just inside Corry’s right-hand post.

With both sides still going at it, the game became fractured and edgy, crying out for a foot on the ball to calm things down. Both sides would have chances late on as first Preston came out of her box but couldn’t clear and Sophie Heaselgrave was able to block the subsequent shot on goal, before Deasy found room in the area to shoot, only for Corry again to tip her effort wide.

Extra time saw two tiring teams struggle to make meaningful headway, and chances were limited at both ends. Glover almost found an opening close to the break as she nicked the ball past Corry, but Mugridge was on hand to tidy up, and there was still time for Posh to come close from another corner as Deasy was on hand to hack the ball away from under her own crossbar.

The same pattern was repeated in the final fifteen minutes, with all the action coming towards the end. Three minutes from time, Preston was off her line smartly to save at the feet of Nicole Hendrick, then Glover fired over from a free kick in a good position.

But it was KEIR PERKINS who found the necessary magic to prevent the tie going to spot kicks. Found by Hardwick 20 yards out, she measured her shot to perfection to find the far corner and settle the game in the home side’s favour.

Stourbridge line-up

Amie Preston, Jess Bate, Meg Hadley, Sophie Heaselgrave, Sophie Levick, Ellie McGovern (Sarah Hazell 108), Esme Moran (Hannah Fishwick 67), Alex Nicklin (Lili-Beth Bown 72), Amber Lawrence (Lyndsey Glover 58), Millie Rogers, Niamh Deasy.