Glassgirls Settle For a Point

The Glassgirls trailed twice, but Hannah Fishwick’s goal 13 minutes from time was enough to secure a point, with both teams having chances to win it towards the end in front of a record League crowd of 291.

The draw means Stourbridge maintain their five-point lead at the top of the table, but that could narrow to three points should Doncaster Rovers Belles win at Sheffield on Thursday night.

Stour began on the front foot, and Lois Jefferies netted with a tidy lob inside the first minute, only to be flagged offside, and she then fired over from distance shortly after. But Khalsa were proving more than capable and went close themselves on 10 minutes as a strong run from Steph Weston ended with a shot over the bar from an angle.

And they provided further evidence of their threat on 18 minutes when OLIVIA WOOLSTON arrived at the far post to tuck away a low cross from Isabelle Austin-Short to open the scoring.

Stour hit back almost immediately as Lexie Harrison turned and squared the ball for Jefferies, who could only send her shot wide, but there was another scare on24 minutes as Steph Weston broke down the left, rounding Amie Preston as she came out of the area, but then shooting off target when Woolston was waiting in the middle for the cross.

Stour were living dangerously, and were relieved a minute later when Preston was able to grab the ball at Woolston’s feet as it dropped from a corner, but they were handed a lifeline on the half hour when Nicklin was brought down for a penalty, only for Tilly Hall to produce a wonderful flying save to tip Amber Lawrence’s spot kick behind.

Khalsa’s reprieve was short-lived, however, as the Glassgirls levelled from the resulting corner. Jefferies chased the ball down as it was half cleared, and swung it back into the area, where a defender’s touch allowed AMBER LAWRENCE to sneak in and touch it past Hall.

With Stour growing in confidence, Lawrence was denied by a good block with her feet from Hall, but despite further action at both ends the teams went in level at the interval.

However, if Stourbridge were hoping to assert their authority in the second half, it didn’t quite work out that way as Khalsa regained the lead ten minutes in. A corner from the right was allowed to travel into the heart of the six-yard box where OLIVIA WOOLSTON was able to stab it into the roof of the net from close range.

And it got worse for the Glassgirls as Alex Nicklin was sin-binned for ten minutes for dissent in the aftermath, with Stour having to dig in to stay in the game.

Jefferies might have restored parity on 65 minutes as she broke clear, only to be thwarted by Hall as she blocked the shot for a corner, before Hall saved again from Harrison at close range.

Stour were getting closer, and the goal eventually came on 77 minutes as Lawrence was set free on the right and her low cross made its way through to HANNAH FISHWICK who took a touch before firing past Hall, prompting a scuffle that saw yellow cards for Jefferies and Hall amid a five-minute delay and lengthy conversations between the officials.

Khalsa might have snatched it two minutes from time as a dangerous free kick was headed down and then fired just wide, but Stour also went close through Nicklin as she blasted over, and the final action brought claims for a Stour penalty with Nicklin going over a dangled leg, with nothing given.

(Photo - Anthony Dunn, Focus Dunn Sports Photography)