| Continental Cup Group Two | |||||||
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Doncaster Rovers Belles | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 6 |
| Manchester City Women | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
| Liverpool Ladies | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 4 |
| Everton Ladies | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Sunderland Ladies | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Durham Women | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 0 |
With two wins out of two Doncaster Rovers Belles could with a victory over Sunderland take a 3pt lead at the top of the group and be in a very strong position to qualify for the semi-finals. Sunderland Ladies in contrast would be looking to bounce back after suffering a heavy defeat to Liverpool Ladies in their previous Continental Cup match and with a victory would be back challenging to qualify for the semi-finals themselves.
Doncaster Rovers Belles starting XI - Nicola Hobbs, Lyndsey Cunningham, Rhiannon Roberts, Leandra Little (C), Lauren Cresswell, Kasia Lipka, Beth England, Millie Bright, Reanne Thomas, Sue Smith & Jess Sigsworth
Sunderland Ladies starting XI - Rachael Laws, Abby Holmes, Stephanie Bannon (C), Gemma Wilson, Victoria Greenwell, Kelly McDougall, Rachel Furness, Keira Ramshaw, Abbey Joice, Emma Kelly & Beth Mead
A 7:45 ko the weather was pleasant still warm and bright as the visiters Sunderland kitted out in their red and white vertical striped shirts black shorts and socks kicked off the match against Doncaster kitted out in their yellow shirts and socks and blue shorts. Against Liverpool Beth Mead started up top and was pretty isolated straight away tonight the striker had support either side of her with Abbey joice and Emma Kelly.
It was a cagey start from both teams the ball travelling the length of the pitch Sue Smith for Doncaster with an early cross from the left that is cleared by the Sunderland defence, whilst at the other end Beth Mead peeling off to the right lays the ball into the path of Abbey Joice her attempted shot blocked.
The ball is played through the middle into Mead, the striker gets the better of her marker breaks free to have a strike at goal let's fly from 20 yards out the ball beating Nicola Hobbs in the Doncaster goal to sail into the back of the net 0-1 an early goal the perfect start for the visiting team.
The game is more spread Sunderland are working hard to maintain a shape and limit Doncaster's ability to break in numbers have their full backs pinned back by keeping their own players up against them higher up the pitch.
Doncaster chances are limited, Jess Sigsworth receiving the ball outside the box does well to turn and have a strike the shot though goes wide of the mark. Mead is played in again is clear of the Doncaster defence as she breaks into the box, Hobbs though is alert and quickly out to get to the ball.
Beth England has a chance as she makes a good run down the right channel powering towards goal she unleashes a shot that hits the side netting. Sigsworth is then fouled out on the left 20 yards out the resulting free kick is sent wide of goal.
Sunderland's Emma Kelly has a go for goal from long range 20 or so yards out the attempt goes over the crossbar. Sunderland win a free kick just over the half way line the ball is flighted into the danger area, Rachel Furness rises unmarked to header the ball home to double the visitors score 0-2.
Lauren Cresswell steals a couple of yards has time to tee up a long cross into the box Sunderland goalkeeper Rachael Laws does well to punch clear under challenge from Millie Bright the ball comes out to Reanne Thomas who plays the ball into Jess Sigsworth but the no5 pulls her shot wide inside the box.
Sigsworth with the ball has a powerful run towards Sunderland's goal from the right shoots from just outside the box Rachael Laws does well to save at the near post. Doncaster give away possession trying to bring the ball out from the back the ball coming to the feet of Sunderland no8 Kelly McDougall who strikes early, the ball swerving through the air curls away from the goal and wide.
Half time Doncaster Rovers Belles 0-2 Sunderland Ladies
Sunderland had come with a game plan and executed it superbly, retricting Doncaster's ability to break in numbers, and defend well when required. Doncaster manager Gordon Staniforth makes two chances at the start of the 2nd half bringing on Victoria Williams and Ashleigh Mills for Lauren Cresswell and Beth England.
It is Doncaster to get the 2nd half under way, immediately the home side is looking to pressure Sunderland higher up the pitch and push them back. Win an early corner the ball delivered to the far post Reanne Thomas heads the ball back across goal into Victoria Williams her header is pointblank at Rachael Laws and she makes the save.
It is all Doncaster at the start of the 2nd half, Sigsworth is through on goal it's a one on one with Laws the keeper though stays big and Sigsworth's effort is played against her body, comes out to Smith on the edge of the box, she can't quite bring it under control quick enough, when she does get the strike away Laws has recovered enough to brush the ball onto the crossbar and it is eventually cleared.
Smith beats the offside trap surges into the box from the right looks to cut inside then shoot, Laws produces another good save to send it behind for a corner. Sunderland are inviting pressure cannot get their forward players into the match to influence play as they had in the first half are living dangerously.
Sunderland captain Stephanie Bannon heads the ball off the line after Sigsworth springs the offside trap once again plays the ball into the far post where Thomas is arriving, Laws is beaten for once but Bannon is there to make the saving clearance.
The chances keep coming for Doncaster, Sigsworth puts a threatening ball in laws pushes it out wide of her goal into the on coming Thomas who heads over at close range at the far post. Sunderland make their 1st change bringing on Rebekah Bass for Emma Kelly.
Kasia Lipka has a long range pop at goal that goes over the bar as they make their final change taking off Reanne Thomas and bringing on Hope Knight. A Smith shot is deflected by a Sunderland defender inside the box sending the ball into the side netting for a corner.
Abbey Joice comes off for Sunderland to be replaced by Tyler Dodds. Doncaster break Smith out wide plays the ball into the box there is Hope Knight arriving inside the box she heads the ball against the cross bar it comes back out to her but the second attempt is easily gathered by Laws.
Leandra Little is pushed up top in the closing minutes. Smith has another shot on goal from the right but once again Laws is well placed to make the save at her near post. The final whistle goes and Sunderland claim the victory 0-2 and the 3pts. Very much a game of two halves Sunderland with a dominant 1st half display their game plan working perfectly. The 2nd half was all Doncaster created all the chances and unlucky not to find the break through.
| Continental Cup Group Two | |||||||
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Doncaster Rovers Belles | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Manchester City Women | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
| Sunderland Ladies | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Liverpool Ladies | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 4 |
| Everton Ladies | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Durham Women | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 0 |
Doncaster remain top but are joined now by both Manchester City Women and Sunderland on 6pts, with Liverpool and Everton Ladies still in the mix on 4pts a piece very close in Group Two with each team having 2 games left to play.
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