Glassgirls Battle to Another Vital Win!

The home side put up stiff resistance throughout, but two goals inside 90 seconds late in the first half, and another three minutes from time were enough to ensure that Andy Fisher’s team brought home the points.

“I’m relieved to get that one under our belts,” was the manager’s assessment afterwards. “We knew Crusaders would make life hard for us, they’re a good side, and they never give you an inch. There’s a reason why they are consistently top half in this League, maybe without the resources that some other clubs have.

“We didn’t start well, and we didn’t come to terms with the pitch for a while, but we worked hard and we just had that little bit of extra quality that made the difference. It’s another here points in the bag and we move on to the next one.”

Stour began sluggishly, and the home side made much of the early running. An effort from distance was comfortable for Amie Preston in the Stour goal, and then another shot from just outside the area curled narrowly wide, and it wasn’t until 17 minutes that the Glassgirls saw their first sight of goal as Carly Aldred fired straight at the keeper.

Stourbridge spurned a golden opportunity to go ahead on 25 minutes as Aldred was tripped in the box after good work from Millie Rogers, but Edwards dragged the spot kick wide of goal.

Crusaders went close again with a near post effort that Preston pushed wide, and from the corner, worked short, a shot was flashed across the face of goal.

But Stour gradually began to exert some control, and they would have the better of the closing stages of the half. Esme Moran’s cross was volleyed over by Rogers, Aldred cut in from the right but saw her shot beaten away, and then moments later Ellie McGovern fired over.

The opening goal arrived on 39 minutes. Edwards fed Aldred on the right, she took on the full back and crossed low for MORAN to finish first time inside the near post.

Boosted by the goal, Stour doubled their lead within not much more than a minute. Rogers this time sent the ball in from the left and with Crusaders unable to clear, Keren Allen delivered it back in from beyond the far post for EDWARDS to turn in from close range.

If Stour thought the job was done, there was a warning sign just before the break as a mix-up at the back caused problems, but Meg Hadley was alert enough to clear the danger.

The Glassgirls began the second half very much on the attack as they kicked down the slope, but clear chances were hard to come by. McGovern arrowed a free kick just wide, and then Edwards nudged a shot just off target, but for the most part Crusaders were able to keep Stourbridge at bay.

A sloppy spell midway through the half allowed the home side – who might have been expected to tire with only one substitute to call on, but never did – a couple of half-sights of goal, but nothing to concern Preston too much.

An excellent save denied Jess Bate a third goal for the Glassgirls after a marauding run from way out on the right, but Stour did grab a third to seal the points with three minutes remaining. Bate’s through ball saw AMBER LAWRENCE split the defence to run on and slip it low past the keeper.

The Glassgirls move up to second in the table, a point off top spot, and with neither Lichfield nor Sutton in action on Sunday, just three points now separate the Title chasers.

STOURBRIDGE

Amie Preston, Jess Bate, Meg Hadley, Sophie Heaselgrave, Macey Turvey, Ellie McGovern, Keren Allen, Esme Moran, Carly Aldred, Millie Rogers, Cheryl Edwards.

SUBSTITUTES (all used)

Gee Thacker, Louisa Butcher, Niamh Murphy, Ruby Meeson, Amber Lawrence.