Glassgirls Title Challenge Keeps On Rolling

Andy Fisher’s team ran in ten goals without replay to maintain their Title challenge on a heavy pitch at Castle View, after the original Hingley’s venue had been deemed unfit.

The result kept Stourbridge in touch with Lichfield City and Sutton Coldfield Town at the top after they also both won their fixtures, and the Title race now looks very much like a three-way tussle.

“The win is the main thing,” insisted Fisher afterwards. “It wasn’t always pretty, but the application we showed on a difficult pitch was very pleasing. And we did manage to put some good football together at times.

“It’s another one of our ‘Cup Finals’ ticked off, but there’s still a long way to go if we want to win the Title. I don’t see Sutton or Lichfield slipping up, so we’ve just got to concern ourselves with doing our job.”

The visitors had half-chances in the opening ten minutes, but it was Stour who forged ahead with two goals in as many minutes. ALEX NICKLIN slid the ball home after latching onto Courteney Murphy’s lofted pass, before LILI-BETH BOWN stabbed home from close range at the second attempt from Mill Rogers’ cross.

Top-scorer NICKLIN made it three with her 19th of the season on 20 minutes, latching onto a clearance from Coundon’s keeper as she came out of her area and firing into the empty net from 40 yards, but Stour couldn’t add to their tally before the break despite several chances. Nicklin hit the bar, Cheryl Edwards had a shot very well saved and Bown fired over from the edge of the area as the Glassgirls continued to hold the upper hand.

Coundon were not without openings on the break, though, but the Glassgirls back-line rose to the challenge each time they were tested.

The second half was a different story, however, as Stour struck three times in the opening six minutes to remove any lingering doubt as to the result. CONNIE DUTTON (pictured) rounded off an excellent move with a precise shot into the bottom corner, ESME MORAN shot home from the edge of the box, and then after Preston had been forced into a rare save at her near post, BOWN was on hand to capitalise after Rogers’ shot had been superbly saved.

Moran hit the bar with a header on the hour, but ROGERS was more successful with her head a few minutes later, expertly guiding the ball inside the near post from Gee Thacker’s cross. Nicklin then saw a shot tipped over, with Keren Allen heading wide from the resulting corner.

Stour rounded things off with three goals in the final ten minutes against a tiring defence. CHERYL EDWARDS broke clear for a composed finish to make it eight, Bown’s ball down the inside left channel gave DUTTON the opening to bear down on goal for the ninth, and another through ball split the defence to give EDWARDS the chance to make it ten, although there was also time for an off the ball incident to produce red cards for Courteney Murphy and a Coundon player.

(Photo – Paul Rose Photography)

STOURBRIDGE LINE-UP

Amie Preston, Jess Bate, Sophie Heaselgrave, Keren Allen, Meg Hadley, Courteney Murphy, Lili-Beth Bown, Alex Nicklin, Connie Dutton, Cheryl Edwards, Millie Rogers.

SUBSTITUTES (all used)

Ellie McGovern, Gee Thacker, Esme Moran, Macey Turvey