Richardson Makes Her Point as Glassgirls Battle Back!

Kelsey Richardson’s (pictured) free kick in the third minute of added time salvaged a draw after Stour had fallen behind early in the game before knocking on the door without much reward throughout the second half.

The point sees Stour remain eighth in the table, ahead of what is likely to be a free date next Sunday before the long trip to Newcastle United in two weeks’ time.

Kicking up a slight slope, Stourbridge had the first sight of goal when Niamh Deasy curled a fourth minute shot off target, but they were behind just two minutes later as an excellent passing move saw Bethany Donoghue slip the ball through for Abby Pope to finish past Jamie-Lee Bamford.

Bamford was pressed into action again with 14 minutes played, saving from Cole at her near post as Feds continued to move the ball well, while Stour found it hard to get any rhythm going in their play.

Ellie Butler almost managed to glance a header over Freya Kemp in the Feds goal, but the keeper was just about equal to it, and Zoe Clarke fired straight at Kemp, but they were rare chances for Stour as the home side made most of the running.

Chelsey Jukes, and then Ellie Fletcher were both off target for Feds, and they forced a string of corners which Stour were able to deal with sometimes comfortably, sometimes not quite so comfortably, with Sophie Heaselgrave also getting in a crucial block as Donoghue found space and short from just inside the area.

Stour almost benefited from a Richardson free kick which was headed just wide by a Feds defender as half time approached, but in truth they were happy only to be one goal behind.

The second half began in similar vein, with Lexie Harrison’s clearance at the far post denying an early opportunity for the hosts from Jukes’s cross, but bit by bit Stour worked their way into the game, with Richardson shooting wide from the Glassgirls’ best move of the game to that point.

Feds again went close twice in as many minutes as Bamford saved well from Amy Seagraves, and then Fletcher rattled the frame of the goal from distance, with Bamford beaten, while at the other end Rosie Embley’s effort was well held by Kemp.

The introduction of Senna Robinson’s pace and Jade Grove’s fresh legs gave Stour a little more impetus, and Robinson forced a save from Kemp almost immediately, before her mazy run ended with Richardson also denied by the keeper, with Feds going very close through Fletcher in between times.

Robinson fired over from 25 yards, and Harrison’s low cross sparked some panic in the home defence before eventually being cleared as Feds began to sweat a little on their narrow lead, although they had a chance to secure a cushion when Bamford saved well from Seagraves, with Fletcher unable to capitalise on the loose ball.

Still Stour came, with Clarke playing in Robinson whose shot lacked power and was comfortably held by Heap, but the Glassgirls finally got their reward with time almost up as Grove was brought down 25 yards out and KELSEY RICHARDSON arrowed the free kick over the wall and past Heap to bring the scores level.

(Photo – Anthony Dunn, Focus Dunn Sports Photography)