Magpies too strong for Battling Glassgirls

The Magpies looked every inch potential champions with their quick and incisive football, in front of over 4,000 spectators, and although the Glassgirls never threw in the towel, there was never much realistic doubt where the points would be heading, particularly once two goals in as many minutes had put the home side in a commanding position 20 minutes into the game.

Mike Harris made one change from the starting line-up against Liverpool Feds two weeks ago, with Favour Omenazu coming in for Jess Lowe, and there was a first call-up to the bench for Reserves midfielder Ellie Williams after some impressive displays so far this season.

Newcastle were straight into their stride from the off, pushing Stourbridge back in the early stages as they probed for openings, but Stour almost surprised them when Ellie Butler’s ball was just beyond Niamh Deasy, who was flagged off side in any case, and then Butler herself took a little too long on the ball after a poor first touch from Magpies keeper Grace Donnelly had allowed the striker to nip in and pinch the ball.

But they were rare bright moments in the opening stages, with Sophie Heaselgrave’s block, and then a fine save by Jamie-Lee Bamford from the resulting corner keeping the home side at bay, and those reprieves proved temporary as Georgia Gibson found the top corner from the edge of the box, despite Bamford getting her fingertips to the ball.

Within two minutes the lead was doubled as Emma Kelly’s corner from the right was headed powerfully in by Charlotte Potts, and the road back for Stour looked long and not especially promising.

Bamford was called into action again to tip over a deflected shot just three minutes later, before Heaselgrave headed away a corner from under the bar, and Heaselgrave was a gain involved to intercept Bridget Galloway’s cross, with the ball coming back out for Galloway to thump against the far post and away.

Galloway was not to be denied, however, meeting Naomi Bedeau’s cross with a towering header that gave Bamford no chance with 35 minutes played.

Elysia Boddy went close with a shot just over, before Bamford did brilliantly to tip over a deflected shot from distance, and then Kacie Elson somehow lifted the ball over the bar with the goal at her mercy inside the six-yard box as half time beckoned.

Stour came out with renewed energy but Newcastle continued to press, although initially Bamford only had long range shots to deal with, and did so comfortably until Elson’s close range effort forced her to tip onto the crossbar and eventually behind for a corner.

Katie Barker made it four just before the hour mark with a sharp turn, surging run and strong shot from 20 yards just inside Bamford’s left-hand post, and from there on the game lost much of its spark with the Magpies content to probe without over-exerting themselves, while Stour’s work rate managed to keep them at bay.

Barker headed wide, while Zoe Clarke got forward on the left at the other end to send in a cross that was just beyond Butler, before Newcastle added a fifth through Cara Milne-Redhead whose first time shot from 20 yards arrowed into the bottom corner to complete the scoring twelve minutes from time.

(Photo by kind permission of Stephen Finch)