Stour Stroll in the War Memorial Sunshine!

Four goals before the break, and a further three afterwards were enough to see off a spirited Solihull Sporting side who made the Glassgirls work hard for their goals in the War Memorial Ground afternoon sunshine.

Andy Fisher rotated his squad with a number of key players unavailable or given limited game time, and there was a debut for Reserves striker Demi Phillips as well as a return to First Team action for Mil Rogers after injury.

Stour took their time to assert themselves in the opening stages, although Rogers, Hannah Fishwick, Lois Jefferies and Alex Nicklin all went close with half chances, before MIL ROGERS finally cracked the visiting defence on 17 minutes, tucking the ball home at the far post after Fishwick’s initial shot had been very well saved.

Esme Moran landed a shot on the roof of the net after an audacious piece of control in the box, Jefferies headed wide, and Rogers could only shoot straight at the keeper as Stour turned the screw, and the second goal eventually came with 28 minutes played as ZOE CLARKE took aim from outside the area with a shot that had just too much power for the Sporting keeper to hold.

Within two minutes it was three, and surely game over, as Rogers again caused problems before firing in a shot which took a sizeable deflection off a defender to give the keeper no hope.

With Stour in total control, Phillips and the lively Senna Robinson were introduced, and both were immediately involved in the action, with some great work on the right from Robinson setting up LOIS JEFFERIES with a close range finish for her first Stourbridge goal.

Phillips tried a couple of shots off target, and Stour were three times denied by excellent blocks from the keeper as they reached the break with a healthy lead.

Four minutes after the restart ALEX NICKLIN made it 5-0, as Jefferies slipped the ball through to her for a composed finish. Phillips went close again with a shot which was well hit but straight at the keeper, and Amber Lawrence went closer still with an effort that bounced down and out off the bar, before ZOE CLARKE added the sixth on the hour, finishing off a fine move involving Fishwick and Lawrence.

Stour eased up a little from there on, and were almost caught napping when Lauren Smith broke clear for the visitors, only to fire wildly over, a mistake she wouldn’t repeat ten minutes from time after another strong run brought an excellent finish at the second attempt.

But SENNA ROBINSON (pictured celebrating her goal) had the final word, capping an energetic display on the right flank with another run into the box to tease a foul, and she was handed the opportunity to bag her first Stourbridge goal from the spot to round off the scoring.

Stourbridge will now meet either Burton Albion, West Bromwich Albion or Wolverhampton Wanderers in the semi-finals on Sunday 19th March, with the home game against Doncaster Rovers Belles to be rearranged. The draw is expected to be made shortly.