Five Star Glassgirls Make it a Cup Final Double!

Alex Nicklin’s (pictured) hat-trick stole the headlines, but it was another all ro9und squad effort against a hard-working Brewers outfit who kept Stour at bay for much of the first half, and never allowed the game to get away from them.

With another midweek fixture to come, and next Sunday’s FAWNL Plate Final looming large, Andy Fisher made changes once again, but, initially at least, that didn’t seem to knock the Glassgirls off their stride.

Lois Jefferies curled a shot wide, Angie Morley fired over, and then Niamh Deasy did likewise, but for all their possession and territory Stourbridge were not creating that many clear chances. Burton, meanwhile, were finding it hard to make much headway at the other end, although Hajrah Mahmood did test Amie Preston with a shot on target that the Stour keeper was more than equal to, before Sophie Richards got away down the right with Preston coming off her line to avert any danger.

With his side labouring a little – and with rolling replacements on offer – Fisher introduced all five of his substitutes just after hour mark, and one of those, Mill Rogers, almost immediately went close with a shot flashed across the face of goal and narrowly wide.

But it was another substitute that would eventually break the deadlock four minutes before the break as Rogers got the better of her full back and squared for ALEX NICKLIN to bundle the ball home at the second attempt.

The second half began as the first had ended, with Stourbridge on top and looking to extend their lead. Jefferies touched the ball off for Hannah Fishwick to shoot just wide, and then Ellie McGovern’s free kick slammed against the outside of the post, before MILL ROGERS made it two as she finished off an excellent move involving Jefferies and Deasy with a close range finish.

With Burton tiring, Stour added a third on 62 minutes as Rogers and ALEX NICKLIN combined again, Rogers pulling the ball back from the by-line for Nicklin to stroke it home.

Burton kept at it, with Millie Drinkwell and Alice Lilley both seeing efforts dealt with by Preston, but it was always the Glassgirls who looked more likely to add to the scoreline. Lyndsey Glover saw a cross shot tipped away by Alice Langstone in the home goal, then thumped a shot over leaning back, and then fired a free kick over for good measure, before the fourth goal arrived on 81 minutes as LEXIE HARRISON picked up a loose ball 25 yards out, turned her defender and drilled low to Langstone’s right.

Nicklin was denied her hat-trick by a fine fingertip save by Langstone, but she wouldn’t be denied in stoppage time, as Fishwick and Rogers combined to give her the chance to beat Langstone from close range.

Stourbridge will now play either West Bromwich Albion or Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Final, with the date and venue to be arranged. The other semi-final was postponed today, with the rearranged game also still to be confirmed.