Match Report - Doncaster Rovers Belles v Yeovil Town Ladies

   A Saturday evening trip up north to the Keepmoat Stadium to watch Doncaster Rovers Belles in league action in FAWSL 2. Their opponents tonight Yeovil Town Ladies.

  Doncaster Rovers Belles got off to the perfect start in their league campaign to back up their pre season hashtag #OperationPromotion, the goal to achieve promotion back to the top teir of women's football having narrowly missed out last season. Had to be patient in their opening day fixture at home to Durham Women FC who proved to be a hard side to break down in the 1st half before Doncaster Rovers Belles went on to score 3 goals in the 2nd half through Courtney Sweetman-Kirk, Beth England and Sue Smith a result that saw the club sit at the top of the table after the opening round of fixtures.

  Yeovil Town Ladies started their league campaign at home the same night with Reading FC Women travelling to Sherbourne Town. Fran Kirby started this season where she spent the whole of last season in blistering goal scoring form grabbing 4 on the night as Reading won 4-2, Natasha Knapman and Corinne Yorston scoring Yeovil Town Ladies goals. Tonight they travel to another of of the title contenders looking to get their own push for those two promotion spots in FAWSL 2 started.

  Had looked like it was going to be a cold and windy night with dark clouds gathering over the stadium as dusk fell, however by the time kick off arrived the weather had markedly settled. The ruckus then was going to be inside the stadium. You know the bells will be ringing loudly whenever Doncaster Rovers Belles were playing, they had competition tonight as the travelling Yeovil Town Ladies fans had brought drums and I was sat in between the too.. the competition was on!

  Doncaster Rovers Belles starting XI - Nicola Hobbs, Lyndsey Cunningham, Rhiannon Roberts, Leandra Little (C), Lauren Cresswell, Kasia Lipka, Beth England, Sophie Barker, Sue Smith, Emily Roberts & Courtney Sweetman-Kirk.
  subs - Molly Johnson, Danielle Hill, Reanne Thomas, Sophie Stamp & Nicole Dale.

 Yeovil Town Ladies starting XI - Charlotte Haynes, Ellie Issac, Nicola Cousins, Natalie Haigh (C), Corinne Yorston, Helen Bleazard, Stephanie Williams, Ellie Curson, Paige Stewart, Anne-Marie Heatherson & Natasha Knapman.
 subs - Alys Hinchcliffe, Shauna Cossens, Stacey Pearson, Amy Wathan, Ebony Dover & Jordan Guard.

  It's Doncaster to kick off the match kitted out in yellow shirts and socks with blue shorts against Yeovil lined up in green and white shirts, white shorts with green and white hooped socks. For a moment it looks as though Doncaster are going to spring a surprise in their line up as captain Leandra Little is set on the half way line to race forwards as the game starts, not for long though as soon enough she is jogging back to take up her usual position in the centre of Doncaster's defence.

   Doncaster start brightly with Emily Roberts finding space to exploit on the right, wins the 1st corner of the game the ball is sent in low towards the near post looking for Sue Smith, instead Yeovil's Corinne Yorston is well positioned to put the ball out for a 2nd corner, this one cleared.

 Emily Roberts on the left this time recieves the ball from Lauren Cresswell as the full back bombs forward to support the attack, Roberts sends the ball into the area, a Yeovil defender hooks a leg up to try and intercept the ball, only succeeds in helping it on to the far post area where Sophie Barker has arrived, gets her head to the ball, lacks any power Yeovil goalkeeper Charlotte Haynes can bring the ball into her chest.

  Yeovil get the ball up the pitch quickly on the right Helen Bleazard makes a good run peeling off the Doncaster defence into spece, bearing down on the box she takes on the early shot, Cresswell is back sticks a foot out to try and block takes a deflection off her, in goal Nicola Hobbs is well placed at her near post the claim the rolling ball safely.

   The visitors are starting to impose themselves on the game now are playing with three at the back with five across the middle, Yorston and Bleazard prviding the width left and right are pushed up in support of the front players, midfielder Stephanie Williams the one looking to sit in front of the defenders. Yorston is over a free kick won on the right of the pitch inside Doncaster's half, plays a great delivery into the area curling towards the far post inviting someone to come in a header it, it's Little for Doncaster who gets her head to it 1st.

   15 minutes gone and it is shaping up to be a good contest on the pitch as well as in the stands between the bells and the drums. A slide rule pass from midfield sees Courtney Sweetman-Kirk with a chance inside the Yeovil penalty box, she can't quite dig the ball out from under her feet to get the shot past the on rushing Haynes who gets hold of the ball.

  Bleazard is looking a threat for Yeovil as she pushes forwards is linking up well with Ann-Marie Heatherson. Bleazard capitalises on a mistake from Cresswell, central is bearing down on the box, Hobbs is coming, Bleazard's shoots early 25 yards out, Hobbs turns as the ball flies past her, is safe the wrong side of the post.

   End to end Beth England wins her team a corner, played in from the right the target is Little in the centre of the area, Yeovil try and get it clear not far enough the ball comes to Rhiannon Roberts 10 yards out she sends her header behind for a goal kick.

  Great chance for Yeovil to open the scoring as Bleazard on halfway sends the ball forwards chasing it out to the right is Heatherson she does well to get hold of the ball get past the covering defender and fire a cross into the box, travelling at pace the ball is met on the volley by Yorston, is denied by Hobbs who makes a great save the put the ball out for a corner.

   30 minutes gone Doncaster are finding it tough to get around the Yeovil defensive trio, in front Williams is doing well tracking the midfield runners, coming back to get the ball Sweetman-Kirk has a go from 30 yards out sends the shot over the crossbar. Cresswell getting forwards again wins a corner, the target is Little once again this time she jumps and gets her head to the ball, it smashes down off the crossbar, the ball is lose as Yeovil try to scramble it away comes back to Little whose shot goes wide of the goal.

  More good running from Bleazard strong on the ball on the right plays another great ball into the box, Hobbs keeps her eye on the ball even as Yeovil's Natasha Knapman is closing her down punches the ball away.

  GOAL! 39 minutes and Doncaster exploit a mistake from Bleazard to score. A misjudged ball at the ball is pounced on by Sweetman-Kirk, 30 yards from goal gives Haynes little chance to set herself as she sends the ball past her and into the back of the net 1-0. 

A costly error sees Yeovil a little rattled on the back foot as the half entered the last five minutes, they push forwards Nicola Cousins brings the ball  out from the back takes it all the way into the Doncaster area before giving away a free kick.

  GOAL! The 45 minutes ara almost up when Yeovil equalise. Bleazard makes amends with a powerful run on the right once more, gets past Cresswell and fires in a fierce cross low along the six yard line, Paige Stewart is the player making up the ground to get there puts her foot through the ball sending it past Hobbs and into the back of the net 1-1.

                                      Half-time Doncaster Rovers Belles 1-1 Yeovil Town Ladies

  A lively game of football in the 1st half another one where Doncaster have had to be patient playing with three at the back and their wingbacks high up the pitch Yeovil have done well caused them problems, have created some good chances, an error though saw them go a goal down, will be buoyed having gotten the equaliser before the break, game on 2nd half as Yeovil get us underway.

  Is an open start to the 2nd half the ball moving from end to end, it's noteable early on Beth England is looking to push further forwards when ever Doncaster win the ball join Sweetman-Kirk, Smith and Emily Roberts in attack. The 1st attempt of the half is a speculative 40 yard punt from Cresswell, but Haynes can see it wide.

  Good link up play between England, Smith and Emily Roberts on the left side of the pitch with Smith atttempting the back heel to send Roberts away to have a strike on goal, doesn't quite come off but Doncaster win a corner. Haynes comes for the ball but doesn't deal with it, has defenders back covering the goal the ball is headed away. Stewart goes down after a challenge and has to leave the pitch for treatment.

  Stewart isn't out of action for long though back on the pitch she receives the ball from Bleazard plays it out to her left where Yorston is making the run has room to dribble looks to curl a cross in from deep along the six yard line, Little is the one who intercepts almost turns the ball into her own net, but for Hobbs who is in the right place to catch the ball.

   Sweetman-Kirk puts in a lot of work off the ball closing defenders down harrying them forcing errors, getting the ball she sends Emily Roberts away on the left, wide she sends the ball in towards the near post, England is making the run to meet the cross looks to stab the ball past Haynes, sends it wide of goal. Not long after England turns provider for Emily Roberts she holds the ball up well her back to goal inside the Yeovil area has Roberts in space central in front of her rolls the ball into her, inside the D, Roberts shoots the ball curls over the bar.

   64 minutes gone and both teams make a change with Doncaster bringing of Lauren Cresswell for Reanne Thomas, she goes to join the attackers with Barker, ever versatile going to left back. Stewart is the one to leave the field for Yeovil with Stacey Pearson coming on.

  Yeovil win a succession of corner kicks the 3rd one their best chance as Hobbs punches the ball down towards the edge of the area it falls to Cousins to have the strike takes a deflection as it goes wide for another corner, finally Doncaster get the ball away.

   70 minutes gone an even contest hard to call which way it might go. Another change for Yeovil this time a change up front with Knapman giving way for Alys Hinchcliffe. The substitute does well holding the ball up on the right corner of the area, gets the pass out to Bleazard wide right, she fires a looping cross in towards the far post, Heatherson is there to meet it, gets her head to the ball, sends her attempt back across the goal face Doncaster are able to clear.

   Hinchcliffe on the run with the ball at her feet from a central position looks to drive a low shot from outside the box towards goal, Hobbs dives to her right flinging an arm out the ball goes behind, she must have gotten a touch as a corner is given, great save. Hobbs with a strong punch clears the corner ball.

  GOAL! 86 minutes have gone and Doncaster score again. Once more it's great link up play between Sweetman-Kirk and Emily Roberts, with the former playing it into Roberts her back to goal right corner of the area she puts it back into Sweetman-Kirk who looks to send a curling shot in from 25 yards out, great flight on the ball looks to be on target, Haynes throws up a glove to try and deflect the ball over, doesn't get enough on the ball, prevent it from going in a brace for Sweetman-Kirk to make it 2-1.

  A minute later and Doncaster think they've scored a 3rd goal as Reanne Thomas puts away her shot as the home side counter attack in numbers. It's England on the ball taking on the Yeovil defence has Thomas to her left, Sweetman-Kirk on her right plays in Sweetman-Kirk she sends the ball across for Thomas but she has just strayed offside the flag is raised.

   A cruel blow for Yeovil conceding so late in the game they push numbers forwards trying to claw the scores back level are vulnerable to the break, Kasia Lipka gets on the ball winning the tackle one pass and she sets Smith through for a run at goal. Haynes has to come racing out gets her foot to the ball kicks clear catches Smith who goes down but nothing is given.

  90 minutes up and a late change for Doncaster as Sophie Stamp comes on for Emily Roberts, Doncaster can see the game out and win 2-1 and take another 3 points. A great game to watch once again patience was needed Doncaster worked hard, Sweetman-Kirk with the goals and some good saves from Nicola Hobbs in goal.

  Yeovil will feel hard done by to not have gotten anything from the game was a close contest all the way through worked hard to prevent Doncaster getting players up from the back to support their attackers, meant they had plenty of bodies up when they won the ball. After 2 matches played however they have 0 points.

   Have seen some really good football played so far in the FAWSL 2 matches I have been to so far, early days the standard of play has moved up a notch from last season, long may it continue.