Nicklin's Double Sees Glassgirls Through

Having fallen behind early in the game, two goals from Alex Nicklin sandwiching one from Niamh Deasy saw the Glassgirls well in control at the break, and they never looked like relinquishing that advantage in the second half.

“It’s nice to keep another Cup run going, and good to bounce back after last Sunday,” was manager Andy Fisher’s post-match assessment. “We could have done without conceding what was a really sloppy goal but the way we responded was excellent. We could have had more goals in that first half.

“Second half we probably didn’t show quite as much spark, but after two extra time games I think that’s understandable. I thought we always had enough to see us through even if we couldn’t stretch our lead.

Despite a bright start, Stourbridge trailed just five minutes into the game, as Moors pressed to win the ball back, and when Eva Rogers’ initial shot was blocked, the ball fell for TIANA RUSSELL-CARTWRIGHT to force it over the line.

Stour didn’t allow that blow to knock them off their stride, and they almost levelled instantly as Ellie McGovern’s shot over from the edge of the box, and then Lyndsey Glover’s free kick from the left was parried over the bar by Harley Savage in the Moors goal.

The equaliser wasn’t long coming, however, as Zoe Clarke’s cross was headed away but only to the feet of ALEX NICKLIN, who took her time before rifling home to mark her 50th Stourbridge appearance in style with 13 minutes played.

Six minutes later, Stour were ahead. This time it was Glover’s cross causing problems, with Lili-Beth Bown forcing a mistake which saw the ball sit up perfectly for NIAMH DEASY to volley in her 16th goal of the season.

Nicklin nearly had a second just before the half hour when Glover’s corner fell to her and only an excellent low save from Savage prevented it going in, with Moors able to scramble the ball away to safety.

There was no denying ALEX NICKLIN two minutes later though, as a clearance dropped 25 yards out and she sent in a shot which beat Savage and flew in under the crossbar to give Stour a measure of comfort.

Glover might have added a fourth from Stourbridge’s best move of the game, involving Bown and Deasy, but her shot was straight at Savage who was able to hold on comfortably.

A much less eventful second half saw Stourbridge control the opening 15 minutes but fail to test Savage to any degree, and it was until the 72nd minute that Amber Lawrence fired in the first shot on target of the half from either side.

There were a number of dangerous corners, with Savage doing well to punch away from beneath her own crossbar on one occasion, and Bown broke into the area from the right flank but was unable to pick out a team-mate , as Stour looked for fourth goal to kill the game off.

Moors did threaten on occasions, with Rogers shooting off target, and then Russell-Cartwright flashing a shot wide after a rapid break, while Zoe Creaney forced a good low save out of Amie Preston as she got on the end of a free kick at the far post, but Stourbridge’s defence – in which Sophie Heaselgrave also made her 50th appearance for the Club – largely held the home side at arms’ length as they held on to progress.

The Third Round draw will be made shortly, and ties are scheduled to be played on Sunday 18th December.

(Photo - Anthony Dunn, Focus Dunn Sports Photography)

Stourbridge line-up

Amie Preston, Meg Hadley, Zoe Clarke, Sophie Heaselgrave, Sophie Levick, Ellie McGovern (Jess Bate 85), Lili-Beth Bown, Alex Nicklin (Hannah Fishwick 74), Lyndsey Glover (Esme Moran 56), Millie Rogers (Amber Lawrence 56), Niamh Deasy (Sarah Hazell 56).