Women's First Team
Matches
Sun 15 May 2022  ·  Premier Division
Coventry Sphinx Ladies
1
5
Stourbridge FC
Women's First Team
No Let-up From Five-Star Glassgirls!

No Let-up From Five-Star Glassgirls!

Richard Clark15 May 2022 - 18:48
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Stourbridge Ladies maintained their perfect away record on Sunday with a 5-1 win against a hard-working Coventry Sphinx.

The home side, who were already relegated prior to the game, belied their lowly position and fought for every ball, but a much-changed Stour outfit made their territorial advantage count in the second half after falling behind early in the game.

“Credit to Sphinx, they gave us a really strong test,” was manager Andy Fisher’s post-match assessment. “We found it hard to get going to begin with and a lot of that was down to the way they took the game on.”

“It was a strange game for us in many ways. We’ve got so used to a lot riding on it every week, and for once there wasn’t really anything on this one, so I think that probably affected us deep down and we didn’t play anything like our best football. I’ll want us to be better next week against Kiddy, let’s put it that way!”

“But I can’t be too harsh. They’ve given everything this season and it would be unrealistic not to expect a little drop-off now and then. We kept working and we got the points, that’s the main thing.”

Two-goal Ruby Meeson (pictured in the recent game against Kidderminster Harriers) led the way as Stour recovered from going a goal down to collect their 16th consecutive league win, a run going back to October last year.

And early free kick from Chelsea Hassell almost caught out the Sphinx keeper under her crossbar, before the Glassgirls received a jolt after last week’s celebrations when the home side took a fifth minute lead. Louisa Butcher was penalised for handling the ball in the box, and the spot kick was stroked confidently into the bottom left-hand corner with Amie Preston given no chance, only the second League goal conceded since mid-October!

Stourbridge regrouped quickly, with Millie Rogers clipping the top of the bar from an angle but it took until the 18th minute for them to draw level as Lili-Beth Bown took on the defence and the ball eventually broke for ROGERS to drill home.

Still, the Glassgirls found their rhythm elusive, but they did eventually grab the lead just after the half hour as Macey Turvey strode out of defence with the ball before trying a shot which was blocked, only for RUBY MEESON to react quickest and fire low beyond the keeper.

Almost immediately Preston was forced to tip over a fierce shot at the other end, and Sphinx generally stuck to their task well, with a couple of corners well directed but claimed confidently by Preston.

As the break approached, Hannah Fishwick engineered space for a shot which was well held, but on the whole Stour were finding chances hard to come by.

Fisher rang the changes at the interval, and it almost paid immediate dividends when great work by Rogers set up Ellie McGovern for a shot that flew wide of the far post, and then Rogers herself had a go with a lob that held up on the wind but not quite enough to see it fall beneath the crossbar, before Preston was called into action once more to hold onto a 25-yard shot.

The chance for a third goal came ten minutes into the half as the lively Rogers was tripped in the area, but Esme Moran was unable to capitalise, pulling her spot kick wide of goal, and then Moran again went close when a deft touch opened up space for a shot that also went wide.

A third goal seemed more likely than not, and BOWN provided it a minute later, firing in from Rogers’ square ball, and KIERA SCARLETT made it four with a speculative shot that was spilled over her own line by the unfortunate Sphinx keeper.

The final goal came in stoppage time as Alex Nicklin floated in a free kick with MEESON allowed plenty of space to beat the keeper at the far post.

The Glassgirls now look forward to next Sunday’s League Cup Final against Kidderminster Harriers at Lichfield City (4.30pm kick-off). We will preview that match on the website later in the week.

(Photo - Paul Rose)

STOURBRIDGE LINE-UP

Amie Preston, Kiera Scarlett, Chelsea Hassell, Louisa Butcher, Sophie Heaselgrave, Lili-Beth Bown, Hannah Fishwick, Amber Lawrence, Gee Thacker, Ruby Meeson, Millie Rogers.

SUBSTITUTES (all used)

Macey Turvey, Niamh Murphy, Ellie McGovern, Alex Nicklin, Esme Moran.

Match details

Match date

Sun 15 May 2022

Kickoff

14:00

Competition

Premier Division

League position

1
Stourbridge Ladies
10
Coventry Sphinx Ladies
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Main Club Sponsor - Bhandal Dental Practice
Club Sponsor  - Pegasus
Club Sponsor - Ampteam Ltd
Club Sponsor - The Mary Stevens Hospice Lottery
Club Sponsor  - Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company
Club Sponsor  - No5 Barristers' Chambers
Club Sponsor - Oldfields Reclamations Limited
Official Junior Club Sponsor - Avanti Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms
Club Sponsor  - A & H Construction
Club Sponsor - Top Tubes
Official Travel Partner - Prospect Coaches
Club Sponsor - The Four Stones
Club Sponsor - Andyfreight
Club Sponsor - Higgs LLP
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Club Sponsor - West One Hagley
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Club Partner  - Ridgewood High School
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