Title Joy for Unstoppable Glassgirls!

Needing just three points from their remaining three games, Stour were in no mood to make the healthy Red Army contingent wait any longer than necessary and by the time half time arrived with four goals already in the bag, the champagne was well and truly on ice.

As has so often been the case all season, it was a complete team effort, with four different names on the scoresheet and every one of the squad contributing to a fine team display.

For manager Andy Fisher it was fitting culmination to a long but rewarding season.

“The girls deserve this, one hundred per cent,” said Fisher, talking the day after the match. “They’ve worked so hard as a group, pushing each other on every training session, every game. I cannot tell you how proud I am of them.

“I know I’m tough on them sometimes but they’ve gone through brick walls for me this season, and I’m sure they’ll tell you it’s been worth it now.

“It hasn’t always been plain sailing, despite what the table says. We’ve had a few difficult moments, but every time they’ve responded. The whole squad has been superb, without exception.

“I’ve got to thank Andy Pountney and Andy Bullingham as well, and all of the Board. It’s their vision that has enabled us to get to this position. They haven’t just played at having a women’s team to tick boxes, they’ve committed to it totally. We couldn’t have achieved what we have without their backing, and I think seeing that yesterday with so many fans there to watch us, you know we can grow this further over the next few seasons.”

The Glassgirls will now take their place in the FA Women’s National League next season at Tier 4, with the FA likely to announce the full Divisional line-ups in the coming weeks.

And of course there is still a potential ‘Double’ in the pipeline as Kidderminster Harriers await in the League Cup Final at Lichfield on Sunday 22nd May.

With so much at stake, the Glassgirls perhaps looked a little edgy in the opening minutes and it was Lye who had the first shot as Sian Johnson fired across goal and wide, but that was a false dawn for the home side as the Glassgirls began to find their rhythm, and Millie Rogers saw a header off balance comfortably held by Lauren Smith in the Lye goal.

The first goal wasn’t long coming, however, as Carly Aldred’s 9th minute corner was emphatically headed home by NIAMH MURPHY, and from there Stour never looked in any danger of letting things slip.

Rogers again threatened, only for the ball to run away from her and into Smith’s hands, and then Smith pulled off an excellent save to deny Meg Hadley after a barnstorming run down the left, before Alex Nicklin shot straight at the keeper from 15 yards.

A second goal was looking likely, and it came on 23 minutes when another cross from Aldred saw an unfortunate defender bundle the ball over the line under pressure from Rogers closing in behind her.

A free kick from Johnson was on target but well held by Preston above her head, but that was a brief respite for the home side as Amber Lawrence nudged a shot just wide, and then Esme Moran glanced a header off target from Nicklin’s cross, before brilliant work from the tireless Rogers on the left teed the ball up for Lawrence again, whose shot was held by Smith at close range.

Smith kept the Glassgirls out again on 40 minutes, this time with a stunning fingertip save from Lawrence’s shot, but her harsh reward was to be beaten again from the resulting corner, again delivered by Aldred, with MURPHY applying the coolest of finishes at the far post.

Almost immediately, Johnson flashed a shot off target at the other end, but again Stour made Lye pay with a goal in the final minute of the half, another excellent finish from ALEX NICKLIN as her shot from 25 yards gave Smith no chance, to see her draw level with Cheryl Edwards as top scorers with 23 goals apiece for the season.

With the warm weather taking its toll on both teams, the second half didn’t quite reach the tempo of the first, although the Glassgirls continued to have almost all the play. Another fine flying save from Smith stopped Rogers from making it five on 48 minutes, but Stour eventually did get their fifth through HANNAH FISHWICK after persistence from Lili-Beth Bown.

Fishwick brought another save from Smith, and Ellie McGovern fired a trademark free kick only just over, but Johnson again went close at the other end with a header that was straight at Preston.

LAWRENCE got her name on the scoresheet with 20 minutes to play, running onto Bown’s through ball and tucking her shot low past Smith, and although Stourbridge continued to probe the final minutes were played out in some comfort as team and supporters counted down to the celebrations.

(Photo - Paul Rose)

STOURBRIDGE LADIES

Amie Preston, Keren Allen, Meg Hadley, Sophie Heaselgrave, Niamh Murphy, Ellie McGovern, Alex Nicklin, Esme Moran, Carly Aldred, Amber Lawrence, Millie Rogers.

SUBSTITUTES (all used)

Ruby Meeson, Louisa Butcher, Gee Thacker, Lili-Beth Bown, Hannah Fishwick.[/b]