Match Report: Two from Two for Glassgirls

Alex Nicklin’s strike three minutes before the break proved the difference between the teams in a competitive match.

Nicklin found space between the home team’s central defenders and latched on to Ruby Meeson’s slide rule pass to slot the ball low to Lucy Green’s left in the home goal.

Esme Moran could have calmed the butterflies ten minutes into the second half, but Green pulled off an excellent save from her penalty – given for a drag back on Millie Rogers – while other chances came and went, and there were some anxious moments towards the end as Stour protected their lead.

Andy Fisher’s side controlled much of the first half and could have been ahead as early as the third minute when Green came off her line smartly to deny Rogers, but City showed their intent straight away with a shot from distance that was comfortable for Amie Preston.

Gee Thacker went close to breaking the deadlock when she nicked the ball past Green but was thwarted by the head of a covering defender, and then Carly Aldred got round Green only for her cut-back to be cleared.

As the interval approached Stour survived a couple of scares as first Laura Smith’s free kick was too high to trouble Preston and then a break down the left ended with a shot dragged well wide of the target. And City were made to pay for those misses when Meeson set up ALEX NICKLIN for what turned out to be the only goal of the game.

Nicklin could have added a second early in the second half when the best move of the game ended with Hannah Fishwick’s clever pass putting her clear only to lift the finish narrowly over.

With Moran seeing her spot kick saved shortly afterwards, the home side sensed their chance to get back into the game but were unable to seriously test Preston despite having a good spell of pressure. A couple of corners came to nothing, and the Stour keeper had to field a shot from distance, but it wasn’t until five minutes from time that an indirect free kick given for a handled back-pass produced City’s best opening, with Smith’s shot charged down and eventually mopped up by Preston.

There was one more chance for Stour to add to their lead on the break in stoppage time, as Cheryl Edwards put Lili-Beth Bown clear. However, Green proved equal to the task with another excellent save, and Bown could only fire the second attempt over.

“We were worth the win, I thought,” said Fisher afterwards. “With the chances we’ve had – particularly the penalty – we should have made it safe. But we’ve shown some resilience in the second half and limited them to half chances. I don’t really remember Amie being tested.

“Another win, another clean sheet. We’re still learning in this Division, and we know that teams are going to come at us. Sometimes we need to be a bit more composed on the ball in those situations, trust ourselves and our game.

“But I’m very happy with two wins out of two at this stage. It’s exactly the start we wanted.”

The Glassgirls face Lye Town Ladies this weekend, another team with a 100% record so far, and all support would be hugely appreciated.

The match takes place at Hingleys, Bluebell Road, Cradley Heath B64 5NN, with a 2pm kick-off. Admission is FREE and refreshments will be available.