Match Report: Glassgirls off to a Winning Start

An early goal from Alex Nicklin put the Glassgirls ahead, but it took until stoppage time at the end of the game for the points to be put beyond doubt when Cheryl Edwards marked her debut with the second goal.

A crowd of almost 200 were treated to an entertaining game in warm sunshine, which saw Stourbridge generally have the better of proceedings, hitting the woodwork twice in addition to the goals, but Harriers pushed forward late in the game, enjoying some pressure on Amie Preston’s goal without creating much in the way of clear-cut chances.

A confident start by Stour saw ALEX NICKLIN (pictured) open the scoring against her former club, running from halfway and evading a couple of challenges before firing over the keeper from 20 yards to put Stourbridge ahead.

Harriers countered with two corners in quick succession, the second scrambled away by Nicklin, before Gee Thacker’s free kick sailed just wide for Stour. More chances came as Carly Aldred shot past the post from 25 yards, and Nicklin’s snap-shot on the turn flew narrowly over.

Harriers almost pounced when Preston spilled a speculative effort on goal but the follow up was fired wide, and they were almost punished when but Millie Rogers seized on an error before screwing her shot off target.

Stour pushed forward after the restart and twice went close when first Thacker’s shot from close range was excellently saved by the keeper, with the ball looping up onto the top of the bar and over, and then Aldred cut in from the right and curled a shot that looked bound for the far corner only to strike the inside of the post and rebound almost along the goal-line before being cleared.

Lili-Beth Bown forced the Harriers keeper to tip another shot wide, but without the cushion of a second goal, the Glassgirls were always vulnerable and with a number of enforced changes breaking up the rhythm of the game the visitors began to exert themselves. Despite occasional difficult moments, however, Stour’s defence held firm and there were few direct shots on goal and Preston was never seriously tested.

The breathing space of a second goal eventually came three minutes into added time. Having been denied by a last-ditch tackle minutes earlier, CHERYL EDWARDS pounced on a loose ball 15 yards out and drilled her shot into the far corner.

The win added up to a job well done as far as manager Andy Fisher was concerned.

“We always knew this would be a tough game. Both teams know each other well, there’s a lot of friendships on both sides, although I’m not sure you’d always have known it! Kiddy made us fight all the way, and it was a relief when that second goal went in.

“We could have made life a little easier if we’d taken one or two chances. Then again, we hit the bar and the post, so with a bit of luck it could have been more.

“It’s pleasing to get a clean sheet first time out. We’ve got used to that, but we certainly can’t expect it every week at this level, so it’s good that we’ve made that positive start defensively."

Next Sunday sees the Glassgirls travel to Lichfield City – 2pm kick off at the Trade Tyres Community Stadium, Brownsfield Rd, Eastern Ave, Lichfield WS13 6AY.

The next home game is another derby fixture against Lye Town on Sunday 19th September.