Harrison Seals Glassgirls Comeback Win!

A breathless, end-to-end first half on a difficult pitch saw the teams go in level at 3-3 after Stour had trailed 0-1 and 1-3, and although the second half couldn’t quite match up to that in terms of goals there was still plenty for a record crowd of 372 at Rumbush Lane to enjoy before Lexie Harrison found herself in the right place at the right time to score the winner five minutes from the end.

After ringing the changes last Sunday at Peterborough, manager Andy Fisher picked a full-strength squad as the Glassgirls aimed for a 17th win from 22 League games, but the first half saw the home side give as good as they got as the game rattled along at a frantic pace.

Kicking down the slope, Stourbridge began well. Alex Nicklin shot wide after a corner was half-cleared, and then Hannah Fishwick fired over, as the Glassgirls pushed for an early goal. However, it was the home team that broke the deadlock on 14 minutes when KATHRYN PAGAN’s spectacular shot from all of 30 yards arrowed into the top corner, giving Amie Preston no chance.

Stour weren’t behind for long, however, and were back on terms within four minutes. Ellie McGovern lifted a ball over the home defence, and although Niamh Deasy was in an offside position she left the ball for MILL ROGERS to run on and finish calmly past Colette Bell.

Leafield hit back almost instantly, Daisy Clements curling a 20th minute shot against the crossbar from 25 yards, with Jess Lowe only able to head the rebound over the bar. At the other end, Stour responded with Fishwick and Deasy both shooting off target as the game continued to swing one way, then the other.

Preston was called into action with a simply stunning save on 26 minutes as Pagan looked to repeat her earlier effort, with the Glassgirls keeper somehow flinging herself to her left to tip the ball around the post, but it was a temporary reprieve as Leafield took what looked a firm grip on the game with two goals in four minutes.

First the dangerous JESS LOWE cut in from the right wing before taking the ball round Preston and slotting into an unguarded net, and then on 35 minutes Sam Baker’s cross from the left found the head of an untracked DAISY CLEMENTS who headed past Preston.

If Stourbridge had a mountain to climb they managed to get the job down inside another four minutes as the game changed again. Sophie Levick’s precision corner was met by the head of HANNAH FISHWICK to half the deficit on 37 minutes, and then two minutes later Lois Jefferies’ ball in from the right caused havoc with Rogers recycling the ball at the far post to find Fishwick, whose shot was touched past Bell by NIAMH DEASY, and there was still time before the break for Preston to block well with her feet as Clements threatened again at the other end.

Stour picked up the pace as the second half began, with Jefferies getting to a through ball ahead of Bell but only able to roll her shot wide, and then Deasy on the turn seeing her shot deflected against the bar and over, inside the first five minutes, but thereafter chances began to dry up at either end. Stour were having the better of the game but Leafield constantly posed a threat on the break through Lowe and Clements on the flanks in particular.

Jefferies brought the ball down well before volleying over on 70 minutes, while Clements flashed a shot across goal and wide as the game entered the final ten minutes, before Stourbridge found what proved to be the winning goal five minutes from time.

Out on the left, Jefferies found a yard of space and curled in a shot that looped just beyond the reach of Bell before finding LEXIE HARRISON at the far post, who was able to scramble the ball over the line at the second attempt to put Stour ahead for the first time in the match.

There was still time for Stour to spurn the opportunity to extend their lead, as Harrison cut in from the right and was fouled as she drove into the penalty area, but Levick placed the spot kick wide of Bell’s left-hand post as the keeper went the other way. Thankfully the miss wasn’t costly as Stourbridge saw out the remaining moments.

Full time brought further celebrations at the end of a long season, as manager Andy Fisher and captain Amber Lawrence were officially presented with the FAWNL Division 1 Midlands trophy.

(Photo - Anthony Dunn, Focus Dunn Sports Photography)