Both have been slugging it out at the top of the table all season the strongest teams in the league, Sunderland leading the way for most of the season were undefeated and a game away from winning the title before Doncaster Rovers Belles travelled up to the Hetton Centre and took the three points, a game in hand last weekend at home to Yeovil Town Ladies, Doncaster Rovers Belles won again to close the gap at the top to 2 points and set up another nail biting final day.
| FAWSL 2 Top of the League | |||||||||
Pos
|
Team |
Pl
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
F
|
A
|
GD
|
Pts
|
1
|
Sunderland Ladies |
17
|
14
|
2
|
1
|
43
|
15
|
28
|
44
|
2
|
Doncaster Rovers Belles |
17
|
13
|
3
|
1
|
47
|
14
|
33
|
42
|
The Scenario's
Sunderland win their match and they are champions regardless of Doncaster's result.
Sunderland are also champions if both they and Doncaster lose their matches.
Sunderland will also be crowned champion's if they draw their match and Doncaster fail to win theirs.
If Sunderland draw their match and Doncaster win theirs then both teams will be tied on 45 points, Doncaster would then win the title on goal difference as theirs is superior to Sunderland's.
All set up for the final day as both clubs travel down to London to play their last matches Sunderland at The Den against Millwall Lionesses and Doncaster at The Hive against bottom club London Bees.
Sunderland are in pole position they know the title race is in their own hands they win and they are champions simple... that though is what Chelsea Ladies thought as they travelled up to Manchester City Women on the final day two weeks ago.
Doncaster need other results to go their way but must do their job at the The Hive, London Bees will finish bottom regardless but will want to bow out at home with a win.
I'll be travelling down to The Hive to be part of the final day drama, will there be the twists and turns like there was a fortnight ago... probably. The FAWSL 2 has had a superb debut season there is no doubt it has been a great addition to the FAWSL.
Update - The Match Action
London Bees v Doncaster Rovers Belles - FAWSL2
Traffic in and around The Hive stadium is always busy whenever I have travelled to watch a match there and today was no exception, although I did get there early, namely because I know they do serve up a particularly good cheeseburger, the coach bringing in the Doncaster Rovers Belles team didn't was stuck in traffic, and thus kick-off was delayed until 2:15. With it being a title deciding final day kick-off at The Den was put back by 15 minutes too.
The Hive itself is a great sporting facility for both players and fans, the pitch was in fantastic condition as the two teams took to the pitch.
London Bees starting XI - Sophie Harris, Lois Colley, Billie Brooks (C), Anneka Nuttall, Samantha Carson, Megan Goss, Amy Cooper, Rebecca Anderson, Paula Howells, Amber Gaylor & Sydney Hinchcliffe.
subs - Lucy Loomes, Hannah Samuals, Andria Georgiou, Bridie Davies, Katherine Huggins
Doncaster Rovers Belles starting XI - Nicola Hobbs, Lyndsey Cunningham, Leandra Little (C), Rhiannon Roberts, Victoria Williams, Kasia Lipka, Bethany England, Millie Bright, Jessica Sigsworth, Sue Smith & Courtney Sweetman-Kirk
subs - Lauren Cresswell, Hope Knight, Reanne Thomas & Ashleigh Mills
It's Doncaster in their away kit of red shirts and socks with black shorts to get the match underway against London Bees lined up in orange shirts and black shorts and socks. The last thing the home side wanted to do was concede an early goal, although that was exactly what Doncaster would be looking for to settle any nerves in a must win game.
The visitors are on the attack from the word go with Kasia Lipka putting a ball into Jessica Sigsworth her back to goal she lays it if to the advancing Millie Bright her shot is blocked at close range outside the box. Not long after Sue Smith with Lyndsey Cunningham in support down the right delivers a cross field pass through to Victoria Williams out wide left she fires the ball back across comes to Cunningham on the right she puts a good cross into the near post for Bethany England to attack the midfielder volleys over from six yards.
GOAL! Doncaster win a corner taken from the left by Smith is put into the six yard box with good pace and height, it's England who rises to meet it unchallenged headers the ball down and into the back of the net to give the visitors an early lead 0-2.
London Bees attacks are limited, the midfield trying to thread a pass through for either Amber Gaylor or strike partner Sydney Hinchcliffe to run onto, Doncaster's centre backs Rhiannon Roberts and captain Leandra Little are alert to the danger.
GOAL! Doncaster extend their lead through Courtney Sweetman-Kirk receiving the ball out on the right she goes on the run ball at her feet, drives forwards coming into the box looks to shoot from an acute angle gets plenty of power into the shot and puts it past London Bees goalkeeper, Sophie Harris into the back of the net 0-2.
GOAL! This time it is Smith who receives the ball out wide right, drives forwards and puts an early cross into the box, finds Sigsworth making a run in on goal and she scores to make it 0-3.
Not even 15 minutes into the match and Doncaster are rampant with a 3 goal lead, but aren't letting up looking for more as Williams heads the ball down into the six yard box from a corner Sweetman-Kirk latches onto the ball volleys wide.
GOAL! Millie Bright gets her name on the score sheet, a tap in at the far post after making a good forward run looking to get on the end of the cross Smith puts in from the left 0-4.
London Bees, goalkeeper Sophie Harris has had little chance to stop the goals that have been scored by Doncaster her defence having left too many gaps for the visitors to exploit, she does make a good save getting to a Smith shot sent into towards goal from 25 yards out.
Gaylor looks to make a run into the Doncaster box after passing the ball out to the right for Hinchcliffe to chase, beating her marker the London Bee's striker gets the ball into the box, Doncaster goalkeeper Nicola Hobbs does well to punch the ball away with Gaylor closing in.
Captain Billie Brooks tries an opportune strike from 40 odd yards out that Hobbs has to deal with, is well positioned however to claim the ball. London Bees have a corner not long after Gaylor putting a low ball in towards the six yard line Hobbs with a point blank instinctive save off Hinchcliffe.
Doncaster are bossing the midfield, with Lipka, Bright and England working hard to win the ball and the latter pair looking to bomb forwards support the attackers. England wins a tackle moves forwards with the ball let's fly from 30 yards out her effort wide.
GOAL! Doncaster have a 5th goal, and it's an unfortunate own goal. Once again the attack builds momentum down the right hand side of the pitch, Smith and Sigsworth combining well the cross comes in towards the far post, knowing there is a runner coming in behind her the London Bees defender tries to chest the ball away can only deflect it past Harris and into the net 0-5.
Half-time London Bees 0-5 Doncaster Rovers Belles
Doncaster are doing there part have a more than comfortable lead going into the break. At half time in the other match Sunderland Ladies have a 1 goal lead over Millwall Lionesses as thing's stand they are going to be FAWSL 2 Champions, still another 45 minutes to play however as London Bees kick off the 2nd period.
Doncaster have a free kick early on as Gaylor brings down Sigsworth 30 yards from goal it's Smith to take looks to have a shot puts good pace on the strike but not enough height as Harris well placed claims the ball.
Smith then plays a short corner into Cunningham on the right, the right back puts in a dangerous ball, that is just a little to high for Bright rising inside the box to meet. Both Sweetman-Kirk and Bright have strikes from distance one wide the other over the bar.
GOAL! It's 6! Smith gets in on the act, is played in by Sigsworth 30 yards from goal to the left puts in a looping effort that this time has the height and pace to beat Harris as she tries to reach it 0-6.
London Bees make a change with Anneka Nuttall coming off to be replaced by Andria Georgiou.
GOAL! Bright gets her 2nd of the match with a head as she rises at the far post to get onto the end of a well delivered Smith free-kick from wide right 0-7.
Doncaster make a triple change with Cunningham, Smith and Lipka coming off for Ashleigh Mills, Reanne Thomas and Hope Knight.
Sigsworth is floored in the box, but the referee plays advantage as the loose ball falls to Bright 25 yards out she powers her strike at goal wide.
London Bees make another change with Lucy Loomes coming on for Megan Goss.
Hope Knight with a good tackle out wide left wins the ball and drives forwards puts a great cross in towards the far post, Sigsworth arrives to meet it but sends her header high and wide. Sigsworth and Sweetman-Kirk link up well in attack with the latter holding up the ball and playing it into Sigsworth run into the box she fires her shot straight at Harris who makes the save.
GOAL! Rhiannon Roberts gets in on the goal scoring act as Doncaster have another corner the ball delivered once again into the heart of the danger area it's Roberts with a great leap to meet the ball and head it into the back of the net 0-8.
A rare attack from the London Bees in the 2nd half a strike from 30 yards out from Rebecca Anderson is blocked.
GOAL! Doncaster break from their own box the ball being fed at pace down the left, late in the game Sweetman-Kirk shows tremendous energy running the length of the pitch to get on the end of the cross field ball and send it into the back of the net 0-9.
Last effort on goal is from the London Bees a deflected shot from Anderson outside the box that rolls through to Hobbs. The final whistle blows and Doncaster Rovers Belles win the match 9-0. A tough day in what has been a tough season for the London Bees, a young team with plenty of talented individuals the platform is there for the future.
A fantastic effort on the final day, it is all they could have done, needed the other result to go their way it didn't as Sunderland Ladies went on to beat Millwall Lionesses 4-0 in the end and it this they who are crowned FAWSL 2 Champions and win promotion to FAWSL 1.
Congratulations to Sunderland Ladies they have had a fantastic season.
Congratulations, mixed with commiserations to Doncaster Rovers Belles not often a 9-0 win leaves you feeling deflated they too have had a fine season has been a thrilling title race and great for the game that the new league has delivered some great football.
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