Stourport end losing run but are frustrated by equaliser (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Stourport end losing run but are frustrated by equaliser

2:00pm Friday 15th February 2013 in Local

STOURPORT Ladies ended their five-match losing streak in the Investec Conference West but were denied victory by a controverial Bristol Firebrands leveller in Saturday’s 1-1 draw.

The visitors created a host of chances and finally broke the deadlock when Leanne Bennett beat two defenders and crossed the ball for Rene Johnson. Her shot was saved but Sade Gerald was on hand to net the rebound.

Stourport had to endure a few scares before half-time, with Firebrands hitting them on the break, but solid defending from Heidi Devey, Sophie Harris, Vickie Whitehouse and Sophie Wood in goal, kept the hosts at bay.

But the visitors struggled to get hold of the ball on in the second period as Firebrands responded with gusto.

Stourport lost Katie Miller to a green card and they held out with the 10 players and nearly extended their lead through Gerald.

A second green card for Miller forced a tactical change and Stourport started to fend off Bristol’s raids.

But they were pegged back when the home team scored from a disputed short corner.

In the West Midlands Feeder League, the seconds lost 3-2 to Birmingham University’s thirds, despite goals for Georgina Bathurst and Kerry Walker.

Meanwhile, they were held 3-3 in a re-arranged match against Warwick. Vickie Whitehouse, Harris and Chloe Marshall-Walker hit the target.

The thirds lost to Harborne 2-1 in the Worcestershire Division One, with Sophie Baron scoring.

Stourport’s fourth team saw Rebecca Raby-Smith bag a brace as they defeated Nunnery Wood 2-0 in Division Two.

Rosie Connolly scored twice for the fifths in Division Three as they drew 2-2 with Redditch seconds.