Glassgirls No Match for Hungry Wolves

The Glassgirls spent much of the match under pressure – particularly during a second half which saw them reduced to ten players after the dismissal of Sophie Levick just before the interval – with rare sights of the home side’s goal interspersing a strong Wolves display, but the defensive discipline shown throughout the game was certainly a plus point as the team finds its feet at this level.

There were debuts for Libby Hart in goal – with Jamie-Lee Bamford unavailable – and new signing Kelsey Richardson in midfield, with both impressing, as manager Andy Fisher opted for a conservative formation.

The home side were in control from the start, but aside from a couple of early crosses there was little in the opening stages to trouble Hart, with the first real effort on goal not coming until the ninth minute as Beth Roberts shot well over from distance, and a couple more efforts were fired straight at Hart and then over as Wolves then began to settle. In between, however, there was what would prove to be a costly moment as Levick picked up a yellow card when the referee deemed her to be taking too on over a throw-in.

Hart was called into action again with a strong hand diverting Destiny Toussaint’s effort wide for a corner, which was somehow cleared from a mell in the Glassgirls’ six-yard box, before Wolves finally broke the deadlock with half an hour played.

Another Wolves corner from the right was cleared, but when Beth Merrick fired the shot back in, Hart could only parry it into the path of the unmarked Anna Morphet to slot home. In the aftermath, a frustrated Fisher was sent from the dug-out for his protests.

Wolves continued to press, with Morphett again going close as she headed against the outside of Hart’s left-hand upright, while at the other end Levick let fly from 25 yards with a shot that sailed high and wide as Stour mounted a rare attack.

Ellie Wilson headed over from a corner as the break approached, but there was time for one more significant moment as Stour were awarded a free kick in their own half, and as a minor disagreement took place, Levick drilled the ball at a Wolves player. Whether a genuine attempt to take the free kick quickly, or an act of frustration, it was deemed dangerous and Levick was to play no further part in proceedings.

Unsurprisingly, Wolves continued to hold the upper hand after half time, Wilson going close with a shot that brushed the roof of Hart’ s net, although Stourbridge also threatened when Zoe Clarke’s strong run saw Lauren Da’Casto with the chance to get a shot away on target, which Shan Turner held well.

Hart had to come off her line to block at Tammi George’s feet. And then George went closer still with a header from Morphett’s corner that looked easier to score than miss. Still, Stour were holding relatively firm, though, and clear chances were limited, with Toussaint volleying over from close range.

It took a very good strike to double Wolves lead on 64 minutes as the ball came to George just outside the area and her powerful first time shot found the far corner with Hart helpless to do anything about it.

There was a brief respite for the Glassgirls as Richardson’s cross proved just too high for substitute Niamh Deasy to make anything of it, but still it was the home side making all the headway. Toussaint headed wide as Hart made a rare error of judgment in coming for a cross, before Amber Hughes removed any doubt about the outcome, turning on the edge of the box and shooting low past Hart.

Jade Cross fired over in stoppage time when she had the goal at her mercy, but by then the game was done and Wolves were well worth the three points.

(Photo – Anthony Dunn, Focus Dunn Sports Photography)