Stour Can't Uncork Clarets

Stour battled throughout and restricted the clarets to only a handful of first half chances as they trailed by a single goal at the break, but Burnley showed their quality in the second period and two goals in the final ten minutes added a gloss which was harsh reward for the Glassgirls’ efforts.

With four games to play, Stourbridge remain seven points clear of the drop zone after defeats for both Huddersfield Town and AFC Fylde, and their fate remains firmly in their own hands ahead of Wednesday night’s visit of Wolves.

With a busy week ahead, manager Mike Harris juggled his squad. Esme Moran (pictured) captained the team on her 100th First Team appearance, and there was a first start for defender Erin Griffiths, as well as a place on the bench for Pathway youngster Ellie Williams.

Stour began more brightly than has often been the case, with Zoe Clarke’s low cross two minutes in just evading Hannah Fishwick in the penalty area, but for the most part it was Burnley who had more of the play in the opening stages, although it took until the 10th minute for Lizzie Hamer to have their first real sight of goal, with Stour clearing the danger, and then Dom Cooper’s shot landed on the roof of Jamie-Lee Bamford’s net two minutes later.

There was a blow for Stour with less than 15 minutes off the clock as Sophie Heaselgrave was helped off with what looked like a painful blow, to be replaced by Daisy Clement, with Maria Timms slotting into the back three.

Senna Robinson took aim from inside the area with 20 minutes gone, blazing her shot well off target after a good run from Rosie Embley, as Stour looked to break at any opportunity, but it was the Clarets doing most of the pressing as their patient build-up play stretched the Glassgirls defence. A brilliant last-ditch challenge from Griffiths denied Aimee Kelly, with Timms booting Rhema Lord-Mears’ follow-up effort to safety.

The escape was short-lived though, as Laura Elford glanced home a header from Olivia Wilkes’ corner to give her team a 28th minute lead, with the unfortunate Moran going down in the process and eventually having to be replaced by Favour Omenazu.

Elford went close again when a deep cross skimmed off the top of her head and went wide, while Wilkes drilled a shot narrowly past the post in added time of a half where Burnley would probably feel they hadn’t tested Bamford as much as they might, for all their possession, thanks to some resolute defending from Stour.

The Glassgirls kicked off the second half with positive intent, and within the first minute Kelsey Richardson’s shot brought a save from Kirsty Levell, with the keeper grabbing the ball at the second attempt as Robinson looked to pounce.

Bamford claimed a free kick from Wilkes, also at the second attempt, on 51 minutes, but that apart Burnley were still finding it hard to create really clear chances until they doubled their lead on 65 minutes. Cooper’s cross from the left floated into the six-yard box, where Elford managed to direct an excellent header past Bamford despite Griffiths’ challenge.

Stour looked to retaliate as a good move gave substitute Jess Lowe a brief glimpse of goal, but her attempt was closed down at close range, before Elford hooked a shot just wide via a deflection, and then Gracie Prior headed the resulting corner straight into Bamford’s arms.

Burnley added a third goal with ten minute remaining to remove any lingering doubt about the destination of the points, as Leah Embley stole in at the far post to convert Lord-Mears’ hanging cross, and the fourth goal came on the brink of stoppage time as Milly Ravening was played through to finish via the inside of Bamford’s right-hand post.

(Photo- Anthony Dunn, Focus Dunn Sports Photography)