Match Report - Doncaster Rovers Belles v Sunderland Ladies FAWSL 2

     Doncaster Rovers Belles v Sunderland Ladies... I've done this one already this season haven't I? It was Sunderland Ladies who came away from the Keepmoat Stadium with a 2-0 win. That though was the Continental Cup. Todays match is an altogether different affair a top of the table league clash in FAWSL 2.

    It's Sunderland Ladies who lead the way after 6 matches played on 18 points, the only team left in the WSL with a 100% win record. Doncaster Rovers Belles are 2 points behind on 16 after 6 matches played having dropped points away to Millwall Lionesses last time out. Looking the 2 most likely teams to win the race for the league title todays match was of huge importance with Sunderland Ladies having the chance to go 5 points clear at the top win an away win.

   Something Doncaster Rovers Belles would look to stop happening with the victory themselves and pull themselves above Sunderland Ladies at the top of the FAWSL 2 league table. Both teams though were without one of their talismans in attack both on their way to Canada with the rest of the England Women's U20 squad, Jess Sigsworth for Doncaster Rovers Belles and Beth Mead for Sunderland Ladies, both players will no doubt feature prominantly for their country and I wish them both and the rest of the squad every success at the tournament.

    A chance for others however it was a home debut for Doncaster Rovers Belles new signing Courtney Sweetman-Kirk drafted in from Notts County Ladies during the season break.

    Doncaster Rovers Belles starting XI - Nicola Hobbs, Lyndsey Cunningham, Leandra Little (C), Rhiannon Roberts, Lauren Cresswell, Kasia Lipka, Beth England, Victoria Williams, Sue Smith, Reanne Thomas & Courtney Sweetman-Kirk.

     Sunderland Ladies sarting XI - Rachel Laws, Megan Beer, Stephanie Bannon (C), Gemma Wilson, Victoria Greenwell, Kelly McDougall, Rachel Furness, Rebekah Bass, Emma Kelly, Sophie Williams & Keira Ramshaw.

     It had been a hot and sunny day, a covering of cloud as the evening match kicked off it was very muggy. Sunderland had brought with them a large travelling contingent of fans which would make for a bouyant atomosphere as the visitors in their kit of red and white striped shirts, black shorts and socks kicked off the match against Doncaster lined up in their yellow and blue home kit.

  In their Continental Cup encounter at the Keepmoat before the break, Sunderland had pressed Doncaster's attacking trio back worked hard to stop them having space and building attacks. Without Beth Mead or her striker partner Abbie Joice on the pitch it was Keira Ramshaw who was leading the line for the away team.

  Early on it looked to be the same with Sunderland pressing Doncaster from the start, pinning them back, then looking to find both Sophie Williams and Rebekah Bass running the flanks to put in a dangerous cross, Doncaster were alert to clear their lines and getting the ball forwards in a good counter attacking move have the 1st chance as Courtney Sweetman-Kirk wins the ball outside the Sunderland 18 yard box hits her shot 1st time but it is off target going wide of the goal.

    Rebekah Bass is finding space down the right and is getting the ball into the box. Sunderland win a free kick 30 yards out, the ball is flighted into the box, Nicola Hobbs comes for it but under challenge the ball comes free Sunderland have a chance to score Rachel Furness with the effort cannons off the post and Doncaster get the ball away up the pitch quickly.

    The break is on the ball coming out to Sue Smith out wide left she runs with the ball, bursting into the box closing the goal down blasts the ball across the goal past Rachel Laws and into the back of the net 1-0 Doncaster.

   The goal gives Doncaster a boost the game is end to end the ball not allowed to stand still for long. In midfield Victoria Williams has time to tee a shot up from 25 yards or so, pulls her effort wide of goal. Beth England too has a crack from long range central to goal it is an easy take for Laws.

   Sue Smith has switched flanks with Reanne Thomas moving to the right she has the ball again runs towards goal has a go this time Laws is there to take the ball. Lyndsey Cunningham on the right puts in a long cross to the far post that Thomas can't control 1st time as the ball goes out for a goal kick.

   Keira Ramshaw is a powerful runner with the ball at her feet, drives at the Doncaster defence but between them, Rhiannon Roberts and Leandra Little stop her.

   Not afraid to try a long ball on goes over the top for Sunderland's Sophie Williams racing onto it has Hobbs closing her down prods the ball past her but not on target as Doncaster clear.

   Doncaster play a cross in towards the far post coming in from the right Reanne Thomas heads the ball into the side netting. Thomas has another chance minutes later again on the right shoots this time Laws coming out palms the ball away for a corner.

   Sunderland find an equaliser as Rachel Furness wins the ball back in her own half and drives forwards towards goal is tracked all the way by Sue Smith she tries to tackle her outside the box can't win the ball as Furness puts her foot through the ball, struck fiercely Hobbs has no time to react the ball is past her and in to level the scores 1-1.

   Crosses come in from both sides but both keepers are there to claim the ball. A defensive clearance from Sunderland is struck against Sweetman-Kirk the rebound going narrowly wide of goal.

   Late in the half Sunderland almost take the lead, loose play from Doncaster sees the ball come out to Bass on the right, she is in on goal one and one against Hobbs, she shoots, Hobbs makes a great save with her leg to clear the danger.

                          Half-time Doncaster Rovers Belles 1-1 Sunderland Ladies

    It's Doncaster to kick off the 2nd half. Sunderland start the 2nd half as they started the 1st pushing Doncaster back with Bass having a run at the goal her cross deflected onto the roof of the net to win her team a corner.

    Doncaster make an early change in the 2nd half bringing on Millie Bright for left back Lauren Cresswell, a tactical change Bright goes into midfield as Victoria Williams goes into the back line at left back.

    Sophie Williams has a go from long range the ball going wide of goal. Time for the visitors to make their 1st change taking off Emma Kelly and bringing on Lauren Briggs in midfield.

   Sunderland are on top for a spell, Ramshaw tries a lob towards Doncasters goal the ball going too high and over.

   Sweetman-Kirk plays the ball out to Sue Smith on the right, she comes inside and has a shot from the edge of the box, not troubling Laws she makes a comfortable save. Millie Bright with a powerful drive towards goal has a shot, to strong blasts the ball over the bar.

    Reanne Thomas comes off for Doncaster her replacement Ashleigh Mills. It is Doncasters turn to press Sunderland back, leaving Ramshaw up top on her own, has little support the ball keeps coming back.

    Sweetman-Kirk wins a header inside the box, dropping down Laws is sharp and takes it before Sue Smith can get any contact. More good work from Sweetman-Kirk gets a shot away outside the box along the ground it lacks enough pace Laws is there to gather.

   A risky game Sunderland seem to be sitting back inviting Doncaster onto them confident they can take advantage of any chance to break and counter attack. Ashleigh Mills wins the ball on the left puts a cross in but it is deflected and saved by Laws.

   Ramshaw is almost through on goal inside the box she can't get to the ball before Williams can make a saving tackle prodding the ball away from the attacker into Hobbs' gloves.

    Beth England is replaced by Hope Knight, the substitute makes an immediate impact winning her team a corner out on the left wing. Bright to play the ball in towards the far post Leandra Little is coming in but can only glance the ball wide.

    Sunderland bring on Brogan McHugh, comes on for the impressive Rebekah Bass. Sunderland are under pressure late on as Mills and Knight link up outside the box the latter almost through but unable to gain control of the ball before Sunderland regroup and clear.

    Mills and Knight have another go this time Knight is booked for commiting a foul on her marker inside the box. Doncaster are pushing bodies forwards looking for a winner. Mills winning a corner in stoppage time.

   Smith plays the corner out to Cunningham unmarked on the right of the penalty box plays the ball in it comes out towards Mills, on the half volley she shoots the ball fired wide.

    Full time and it's honours even with Sunderland still leading the table 2 points clear of Doncaster. A good point earned for the visitors as they stay top, Doncaster might feel they should have gotten more.

   There was one other match in the FAWSL 2 today, with Reading FC Women hosting London Bees at the Majeski Stadium, Reading running out 5-1 winners.