Glassgirls in Seventh Heaven!

Andy Fisher’s team have now won their last seven League matches, scoring 29 goals and conceding just one during that run, and it was more of the same at Butler Sports Centre as the home side were swept aside.

Five different Goalscorers – plus an own goal – and another clean sheet tell the tale of an all-round team performance in which every player made a contribution.

With the team in the middle of a busy period of three games in eight days, Fisher rotated the squad, bringing in Jess Bate, Keren Allen and Angie Morley, and calling up Ruby Meeson to the bench for the first time this season after her two goals for the Reserves on Sunday.

It took the Glassgirls a while to get going against hard-working opposition, and they had to endure the frustration of a missed penalty on 10 minutes as Niamh Deasy dragged her spot kick wide after a handling offence in the area, whilst chances came and went for Lyndsey Glover, whose shot was well tipped over by Paige Inman, and Ellie McGovern who brought an equally agile save from the Wem keeper.

In between times, Stour’s defence had the odd rocky moment, and Katie Doster momentarily had alarm bells ringing with an instinctive effort from distance that had Amie Preston caught off her line but drifted well wide.

With 27 minutes played NIAMH DEASY atoned for her earlier lapse with her eighth goal of the season, running onto Mill Rogers’ headed through ball to beat the onrushing Inman with a deft finish to put the Glassgirls ahead.

And it was 2-0 six minutes later as a corner was cleared to the edge of the area where ZOE CLARKE unleashed a first-time left-foot volley that had too much pace for Inman low down at her near post.

Despite the lead, there were several edgy moments towards the break as Wem pressured the Stourbridge defence with a number of sloppy balls going astray, although the home side were unable to capitalize, and it was actually Stour who went closest to adding to the scoreline on the verge of half time as Alex Nicklin’s shot from fifteen yards was brilliantly saved by Inman.

The second half proved to be largely one-way traffic as the Glassgirls marauded down the considerable slope, and within six minutes of the restart they were four goals to the good. Nicklin might have added a third within the opening minute only to scuff her shot from Glover’s cross, but the roles were reversed a minute later with greater success as Nicklin lifted the ball over the defence for LYNDSEY GLOVER to steady herself before surprising Inman with a shot that flew over her and dipped just under the bar.

There was time for McGovern to fire over from a free kick, but the fourth goal wasn’t long coming, as MILL ROGERS floated in a cross which Nicklin went for, deceiving Inman in the process and allowing the ball to drift inside the far post.

Angie Morley fired over a couple of minutes later, whilst there was a rare sight of goal for Wem, which Preston dealt with comfortably, before the fifth goal arrived just after the hour as an unfortunate Wem defender headed Deasy’s cross past Inman and into her own net.

With the match all but wrapped up, Stour eased through the closing stages. Sarah Hazell went close with a shot just over the bar and Inman denied Nicklin, but the it was a case of saving the best ‘til last as the Glassgirls crowned their night’s work with a stunning first-time strike by MEG HADLEY from the best part of 30 yards four minutes from time to round off the scoring.

The win puts Stourbridge in good spirits ahead of Sunday’s home clash against Long Eaton United, which kicks off at 2pm at the War Memorial Ground.

Stourbridge line-up

Amie Preston, Jess Bate, Zoe Clarke (Meg Hadley 50), Sophie Levick (Sophie Heaselgrave 56), Keren Allen, Ellie McGovern (Thea Clearkin 50), Angie Morley (Sarah Hazell 57), Alex Nicklin, Lyndsey Glover, Millie Rogers, Niamh Deasy (Ruby Meeson 62).