Glassgirls Bitten by Terriers

After a goalless and fairly uneventful first half, Huddersfield grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck with two goals in five minutes shortly after the break, and try as they might Stour could find no way back.

There were a number of changes to the starting line-up, with a first appearance of the season for Meg Hadley as she continues her return from injury, as well as a first start for recent signing Jade Grove. Young Reserves midfielder Zara Gibbs also earned a first call-up to the bench.

With rain setting in just as the game kicked off, it was Huddersfield who had the first sight of goal after a cagey opening, when Caitlin Devins snapshot was tipped onto the bar by Jamie-Lee Bamford, with the keeper relieved to grab the loose ball as it bounced in the six-yard box.

Stourbridge hit back, with Niamh Deasy’s shot well saved by the advancing Liv Conway and the follow-up from Grove blocked on the line by Serena Fletcher, but that apart it was half-chances only at both ends as the teams struggled to break down one another’s defences.

Favour Omenazu drifted a shot narrowly wide just before the half-hour, while Stour had a scare as Bamford came off her line to half clear, with the ball returned in from the left wing by Dolcie O’Connor to Devins who was unable to connect at the far post.

Stourbridge might have pinched a lead before the break through Senna Robinson as her run onto Deasy’s ball was just about thwarted by a defensive clearance, and then another run on goal ended with a shot blocked behind for a corner.

The Glassgirls began the second half in positive fashion, Robinson and Deasy combining well, only for the latter’s ball to have just a little too much on it for half time substitute Jess Lowe, with Conway able to gather.

But the visitors soon had their noses in front as O’Connor’s corner wasn’t cleared, and Aisha Nsangou was able to finish from close range, and five minutes later they doubled that lead as Kate Mallin’s dangerous cross from the left couldn’t be cut out, and when the ball was recycled from the opposite side by Devins, Yasmin Mason was able to convert again from inside the six yard box.

Stour had a chance to reduce the arrears just before the hour as Grove battled well to win the ball back before laying it back to Lowe whose shot was hurried and off target, and then Harrison’s good work almost teed up Robinson only for the offside flag to intervene.

Kelsey Richardson’s free kick from a dangerous position came back off the wall, and Robinson’s fine run saw her feed Grove whose shot was comfortable for Conroy in the end, but Stour were pressing hard, although gaps were also appearing at the back as they looked to get back into the game, with Sophie Heaselgrave getting a vital block in to close down Devins, and then Stour somehow smuggling the ball clear as Town attacked the area in numbers.

An excellent save low down by the post from Bamford prevented Nsangou from making it three, while Conroy did well at the other end to save with her feet from Lowe, and then claw away Rosie Embley’s effort from distance, as Huddersfield saw the game out to take their place in the Second Round.

(Photo- Anthony Dunn, Focus Dunn Sports Photography)