Match Report - Doncaster Rovers Belles v Reading FC Women

    The Keepmoat Stadium was the venue for the 2nd Saturday in a row as the new FAWSL 2 season continues with Doncaster Rovers Belles top of the league with 2 wins out of 2. Their opponents this evening Reading FC Women whom several (including myself) have tipped as potential title challenges. Still only the 3rd match of the season this could hardly be classed as a title decider and seasons aren't settled after just 2 games..... well maybe they had been for some, was a year ago when Doncaster Rovers Belles learnt they would be 'relegated' regardless of results.

    Past is the past however and we've all come along way the season couldn't have started better for Doncaster Rovers Belles 2 wins, top of the league, and 2 new volenteers to help with hosting the media on match days, Liz and Jane whom I met through our mutual support of Lincoln Ladies and I'm sure they will be very welcome helping out at Doncaster Rovers Belles.

     Reading FC Women had started the season with a victory at home to Yeovil Town Ladies then suffered a 3-2 away to Sunderland. Manager Jane Ludlow has used her Arsenal connections to bring in a number of her former clubs reserve team players along with the experienced Ciara Grant. Former Belles keeper Nicky Davies and welsh striker Helen Ward. Ward has since announced her pregancy and will miss Reading's campaign.

   Doncaster Rovers Belles starting XI - Nicola Hobbs, Lyndsey Cunningham, Leandra Little, Rhiannon Roberts, Lauren Cresswell, Kasia Lipka, Beth England, Millie Bright, Ashleigh Mills, Sue Smith & Jess Sigsworth

   Reading FC Women starting XI - Nicky Davies, Ciara Grant, ? Chambers, Eartha Pond, Becky Jane, Fran Kirby, Lauran Bruton, Kirsty McGee, Molly Bartrip, Melissa Fletcher & Rebecca Dandridge

     It was Doncaster to kick off in their yellow shirts and socks and blue shorts against Reading lined up in red shirts and black shorts and socks, on a cool but bright evening the sun just about covering the far side of the pitch. It was Doncaster with the early pressing Ashleigh Mills out wide right driving towards the by line Reading's Eartha Pond tracking back well to see the danger out.

    The early exchanges are tight as Reading look to keep a solid shape prevent Doncaster getting in behind. Defensive in their set up Reading are inviting pressure it's Doncaster's full backs that can find room to get forwards Lyndsey Cunningham with a good break plays a good through ball into Millie Bright coming from midfield pressures Reading into conceding a corner. The corner is delivered to the far post Nicky Davies can't claim as it falls to the waiting Bright, she can't get the shot away and the ball is cleared.
  
     At the other end Dandridge plays the ball into Fran Kirby who bursts into the box has a pop from the right of the six yards box Nicola Hobbs is alert and makes the save. Kirby is looking to drive with the ball whenever she can central this time she shoots the ball is blocked. Doncaster break quickly Sigsworth is through on goal but Nicky Davies has read the danger and is quickly out of her box to clear the ball.

    Sue Smith is tugged back to earn Doncaster a free kick 20 yards out to the left. Lauren Cresswell to take flies into the box Leandra Little meets it with her head the effort goes over the bar. Kasia Lipka is doing well to win the ball back in midfield for Doncaster plays it through to Sigsworth who plays it wide to Mills who crosses finding the head of the on coming Bright the header plucked down by Davies. The pressure is building from the home side.

     Sue Smith with a good run has her shot saved, then Sigsworth blasts wide after another break. 30 yards out Millie Bright has space to have a strike at goal produces a thunderbolt it is past Davies before she can react 1-0 Doncaster.

                     Half-time Doncaster Rovers Belles 1-0 Reading FC Women

    Reading have struggled to retain possession of the ball especially in the final 3rd meaning Doncaster have been able to come at them time after time. Jayne Ludlow makes 2 changes at the start of the 2nd half bringing on Georgie Giddings and Lois Roche for Molly Bartrip and Rebecca Dandridge. Doncaster make a change to bringing on Victoria Williams for Lauren Cresswell at left back.

    Fran Kirby has been pushed up top. Before they visitors can settle Doncaster are on the attack Jess Sigsworth with the ball is allowed to travel unchallenged into the box from the right she porduces a vicious cross, that finds Sue Smith at the far post her effort goes over.

    Victoria Williams makes a powerful run down the left puts a cross in almost finds Bright arriving near post the ball is cleared by Reading comes out to Beth England whose 1st time shot goes in off the post to make it 2-0.

   A 3rd goal soon follows Smith runs onto a long ball trying to clear the Reading defence deflect it into the path of Sigsworth powering into the box she shoots Davies parries the ball away but only into the path of Smith who had continued her run over lapping Sigsworth to put the ball into the net at the near post 3-0.

    Reading when they can get the ball up to Kirby or Lois Roche work hard to creat a chance in and around the box, Kirby is a small pacey player with good feet, receives the ball from a throw in turns inside the box shifts the ball and shoots playing the ball across Hobbs and into the net 3-1.

   3-1 almost immediately became 4-1, I was still writing my notes from the previous goal as Doncaster took the restart. Had the ball down the left and Sigsworth unleashes a shot beating Davies 4-1.

    Just 15 minutes of the 1st half had passed. Reading having gotten a goal back were reeling. Lauren Bruton plays a good through ball into Kirby everytime Reading's no11 has the ball she looks a danger, Doncaster manager Gordon Staniforth makes a change replacing Ashleigh Mills with Naomi Chadwick.

   Jess Sigsworth with her 2nd of the game wins possession in midfield drives forwards and shoots from the edge of the box the ball arrowing into the top corner to make it 5-1.

    Kirby puts in a decent cross that Hobbs has to tip over the bar. From the corner Hobbs punches the ball away it falls loose in the box their is a bit of panic as it comes out to Ciara Grant who tries to play it back in, before Doncaster eventually scramble it away. Hope Knight comes on to replace Jess Sigsworth.

   Kirby manages to isolate herself against Cunningham uses her trickery to take the ball past the full back and shoots from outside the box, beating Hobbs at her near post to make it 5-2.

    Both Beth England and Millie Bright have long range efforts saved by Davies, at the other end Kirby tries to beat three defenders almost succeeds but Hobbs is out quickly to kick the ball away. Hobbs is then involved in an incident on the goal line as she and a Reading player go down, get's a bit heated as the referee stops play and consults with her team, they decide no further action is needed.

    Kirby is almost through in the dying minutes but is stopped by the linesman's flag as the final whistle blows and Doncaster win 5-2, go clear at the top of the WSL 2 after winning 3 out of 3 to leave their supporters very happy.