Four-midable Glassgirls Storm to Top Spot!

Three goals in the last twenty minutes of the first half, after a tight opening period, paved the way for the victory and Stour eased through the second period to claim the three points.

With only Doncaster Rovers Belles – who have played a game fewer – still boasting a 100% record, the Division looks like being a very competitive one already, and manager Andy Fisher is pleased with his team’s start to the season…

“That was a really satisfying win. I wanted to see if we could back up Sunday’s result, you know, make sure it wasn’t a flash in the pan. Six points from three games is a great start.

“The way we stood up to the physical challenge was a big thing for me. They came at us and didn’t make life easy, and we handled that really well.

“The other major plus is another clean sheet. It might look like we’ve had a couple of strolls on paper, banging in the goals, but Lincoln and Khalsa have both carried a threat and we’ve had to deal with that. The way our defence has handled themselves and come to terms with the standard at this level over the first couple of weeks has been fantastic. Having that solid base is key so that’s been a huge positive for us.”

As on Sunday against Lincoln, Stour were first to threaten inside the opening minute when Amber Lawrence’s long range effort flew just wide, but that was a false dawn of sorts as the game became something of an early arm-wrestle, with chances at a minimum.

The home side caused problems from two early corners, with Amie Preston clawing the first away from under the bar, with the loose ball deflected wide of goal, and then the second glancing the face of the crossbar with the follow-up shot blocked and eventually cleared.

As the match settled, Stour began to find their rhythm. Niamh Deasy saw a shot on the turn well held by Tilly Hall in the home goal, and then Lawrence’s shot from Meg Hadley’s cut back was half blocked and claimed by Hall again as the Glassgirls broke with the best move of the match to that point.

Two minutes later Fisher’s side were ahead. Lawrence’s corner found the head of Deasy and when her effort was cleared off the line ESME MORAN was on hand at the far post to volley spectacularly home.

Within four minutes it was two. Again Stour broke quickly from defence, Ellie McGovern carrying the ball forward before releasing Mill Rogers on the left and when her shot stung the palms of Hall, NIAMH DEASY was on hand to turn the loose ball in.

Rogers again went close as she stretched at the far post but wasn’t quite able to reach Deasy’s low cross, McGovern fired a first-time shot wide, and Rogers again found Hall’s midriff as the Glassgirls piled forward.

And they made the pressure count on the stroke of half time. Rogers was yet again involved, teasing the left back before crossing low for Deasy, who was felled in the area for a penalty which AMBER LAWRENCE coolly tucked away.

With Stourbridge in control the second half began quietly until Deasy found space for a shot which was deflected wide on 57 minutes, and from the resulting corner Niamh Murphy’s header was only just over the bar, before MILL ROGERS (pictured) earned a hugely deserved reward for a night when she gave the Khalsa defence no peace at all, as Deasy’s through ball was perfectly placed for the striker to advance on goal before rounding Hall and finishing expertly.

Thereafter the match was punctuated by a procession of substitutions, and much of the flow ebbed away, at least until ten minutes from time when an electric move set Lyndsey Glover away down the right and her cross to the far post was just too high for Rogers who could only direct her header onto the roof of the net.

Glover herself went closer still two minutes later, driving in a free kick from 30 yards which Hall brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar, and Stour might have had a second spot kick when Zoe Clarke went down in the box, with loud appeals waved away by the referee.

Khalsa plugged away and pressed hard for a goal in the closing stages, but the Glassgirls defence held firm to ensure that second consecutive clean sheet and another good win.

Stourbridge line-up

Amie Preston, Meg Hadley (Jess Bate 78), Zoe Clarke, Sophie Levick, Niamh Murphy (Sophie Heaselgrave 76), Ellie McGovern, Alex Nicklin (Angie Morley 69), Esme Moran (Lili-Beth Bown HT), Amber Lawrence, Niamh Deasy (Lyndsey Glover 64), Millie Rogers.