Glassgirls Make Their Point

Town led twice, with the Glassgirls going 2-1 up in between times, but by full time a point each was probably a fair outcome from an entertaining game.

The Terriers made the early running, with Lizzie Bennett-Steele doing well to clear after a defensive mix-up as they threatened in the opening minutes, and then Jamie-Lee Bamford tipping an effort onto the bar, although at the other end Rosie Embley fired over from a promising position after Senna Robinson’s shot had been blocked, as Stour began to get into the game.

Bamford produced another good save to deny Yasmin Mason, but she couldn’t prevent Town going ahead on 24 minutes as a long range effort from Caz Fields found the net.

Stourbridge hit back within three minutes, however, as Robinson did well to square the ball for ZOE CLARKE to bury her shot at the far post, and seven minutes later they were ahead when a corner from the right was headed against the bar by Esme Moran, and although Clarke couldn’t connect with the loose ball it fell instead for NIAMH MURPHY to thunder home a very timely first goal of the season from close range.

Stour took momentum from that double strike, with Lauren Joyce parrying a shot wide, and then Clarke striking both crossbar and post from another Bate corner, with Charlotte Gill clearing the danger, while Macy Winters saw her shot roll past the post as half time approached.

That impetus didn’t continue into the second half though, and the home side were ahead before the hour with a quick-fire double of their own. First some confusion in the Glassgirls’ area on 53 minutes saw Scarlett McMahon loop a header over Bamford, and then five minutes later it was McMahon again who finished off a counter attack after Bamford had saved well from Ashley Tiripike.

Undeterred, Stour hit back once more, with FAVOUR OMENAZU making her mark from the bench, touching the ball home with her first contribution to the game after a long ball eluded Joyce with 20 minutes to play.

With nothing at stake, both teams went in search of a potential winning goal, and it was the Glassgirls who arguably had the better chances in the closing stage. Hannah Fishwick dragged a shot wide, substitute Zara Gibbs was thwarted by an excellent challenge, and then Fishwick again shot wide, before Bennett-Steele fired over with almost the last kick of the game.

So a point on the road, to end the recent losing streak, meaning that Stour ultimately finish seven points clear of relegation in their first season at this level.