Glassgirls Keep Up The Winning Habit

Three goals before the break saw Stour assume control, but an early goal from the home side after the break induced some nervous moments before a fourth goal midway through the half put the game to bed.

“It was another very challenging game,” was manager Andy Fisher’s verdict afterwards. “We were always the better side, but Worcester had their moments and we could easily have slipped up if we weren’t careful.

“If you look at results in general, the top three aren’t running up the big wins they might have been getting earlier in the season. We’re getting to that time of the season where everyone knows one slip-up could cost you, and I think that’s starting to show.

“Plus other teams have improved, which can only be good for the competition. Look at Crusaders and Lye in the last couple of weeks, Worcester today. They’ve been tough games, much tougher than they were when we’ve met before.

“It’s going to be like that from now on. We’ve got to be on our game each week, keep digging out the wins, and make sure we’re not the ones who let it slip.”

After two close and tense matches in the last two weeks, Stour were off to the perfect start with a goal inside the opening 60 seconds, as Carly Aldred’s cross from the right sat up nicely for COURTENEY MURPHY to volley into the roof of the net from 20 yards.

After that bright start, the Glassgirls continued to create chances. Murphy went close again with a header cleared off the line, and both Esme Moran and Cheryl Edwards were foiled by blocks from City keeper Alisha Hine at close range.

The home side threatened with a shot off target from Emma Collins, but Stour might have doubled their lead straight away, only for Millie Rogers to fire straight at Hine as she bore down on goal.

The Glassgirls did grab a second with 26 minutes played, though, as Aldred’s ball put Edwards clear and her low cross found MORAN for a simple far-post tap in. And after Ellie McGovern’s free kick had been brilliantly saved by Hine, Stour made it 3-0 when Murphy flighted in a free kick that the City defence failed to deal with, and EDWARDS was on hand to turn the ball in from six yards.

There were a couple of scares for Stour just before the break when Amie Preston had to race off her line to thwart Jessica Rew, and from the resulting corner Maisie Farr could only prod the ball wide at the far post.

But Stourbridge didn’t heed the warnings as City pulled a goal back within two minutes of the restart, debutant striker Alysha Stanley was afforded too much space in the six-yard box from a corner to beat Preston.

Stour responded well, continuing to have more of the play, but there were occasional shaky moments at the back, particularly when ex-Glassgirl Amy Mulcock seized on a loose clearance and fired wide of the far post with Preston struggling to get across.

Aldred and Edwards both saw shots comfortably held by the impressive Hine, but it was GEE THACKER who eased any nerves with a fourth goal on 67 minutes, finishing off after Edwards had dinked the ball past Hine to leave her with an open goal.

Almost immediately, Niamh Murphy might have made it five with a header from Aldred’s corner, only for Hine to save yet again, and Hine was in action once more to palm Courteney Murphy’s shot wide from the final meaningful chance of the game.

With Lichfield and Sutton both winning, Stourbridge stay seven points adrift of top spot, but with enough games in hand to overturn that deficit.

STOURBRIDGE LADIES

Amie Preston, Ruby Meeson, Meg Hadley, Macey Turvey, Sophie Heaselgrave, Ellie McGovern, Esme Moran, Courteney Murphy, Carly Aldred, Millie Rogers, Cheryl Edwards.

SUBSTITUTES (all used)

Jess Bate, Louisa Butcher, Niamh Murphy, Lili-Beth Bown, Gee Thacker.