Both clubs were touted as title favourites at the start of the season and both started the campaign positively settling into position at the top of the FAWSL 2. Doncaster Rovers Belles lead the way are undefeated after 6 games played with 5 victories and a draw on 16 points. Averaging 3 goals per game in the league Courtney Sweetman-Kirk is leading the goal scoring chart with 5 goals, has good support from Sue Smith and Bethany England having 4 goals a piece.
Reading FC Women got off to a flyer with Fran Kirby starting the season in irresistible form scoring 10 goals in the opening 3 matches to propel Reading to the top of the table have slipped behind Doncaster Rovers Belles since after suffering a 4-2 home defeat against Yeovil Town Ladies followed by a 2-2 draw at home to Oxford United Women. Got back winning ways last time out again at home 2-1 over Everton Ladies to move onto 13 points. Travel to the Keepmoat Stadium this evening without Kirby in the squad though as she prepares for the World Cup with the rest of the England squad.
The Keepmoat pitch has seen a lot of action this season still it looked to be holding up well if a little cut up in places. A pleasant spring evening dry and sunny as the teams entered the pitch. Reading had brought plenty of support with them and a drum, these and Doncaster's bells were all on my left a lively atmosphere although Sarah Maye of Belles Noisy Fans wasn't going to have the bells out done and was soon rallying the support on the right too.
Doncaster Rovers Belles starting XI - Nicola Hobbs, Lyndsey Cunningham, Hope Knight, Leandra Little (C), Rhiannon Roberts, Kasia Lipka, Sophie Barker, Beth England, Sue Smith, Emily Roberts & Courtney Sweetman-Kirk.
subs- Lauren Cresswell, Sophie Stamp, Samantha Tierney, Reanne Thomas, Nicola Dale & Molly Johnson
Reading FC Women starting XI - Grace Moloney, Rebecca Jane, Harriet Scott, Kylie Davies, Kirsty McGee (C), Lois Roche, Laura-May Walkley, Rachel Rowe, Lauren Bruton, Emma Follis & Helen Ward.
subs - Charlie Estcourt, Molly Bartrip, Georgia Giddings, Claire Skinner, Eloise Wilson & Rebekah Haines.
Another notable player missing for Reading was midfielder Bonnie Horwood as the teams took to the pitch the visitors lined up in their away kit of black shirts and socks with red shorts against Doncaster lined up in their yellow shirts and socks with blue shorts. It's Doncaster to kick off the 1st half.
Both sides are playing a 4-3-3 formation with Reading starting with Lauren Bruton in the centre supported by Emma Follis right and Helen Ward on the left. Is a quiet opening five minutes to the match with both sides playing the ball into the others half without getting beyond the defence.
Courtney Sweetman-Kirk has Emily Roberts and Sue Smith either side of her in attack, they will often switch sides during the match looking to take on the full backs. Sweetman-Kirk is a willing runner looking to get hold of the ball twice she takes the ball down the right wing on both occasions Reading prevent the cross from coming in.
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| Reading's Kylie Davies keeping close tabs on Doncaster's Courtney Sweetman-Kirk |
Reading counter attack as Rachel Rowe winning the ball in the middle brings it forwards and looks to thread the pass through to send Ward in beyond the Doncaster defence, their captain Leandra Little closes the gap and puts in the tackle to take the ball away from Ward before she can unleash a shot from outside the box.
Reading are playing a good pressing game looking to harry Doncaster high up the pitch there is little room in the middle of the park for anyone to get a chance to look up and select a pass making it difficult for Doncaster to get their attackers on the ball. Emily Roberts is put in on the right head down drives forwards whips a fierce cross into the area evades Reading goalkeeper Grace Moloney, Sweetman-Kirk is racing in towards the far post looking to get on the end of the cross turn it home, can't quite get there.
An error from Little at the back for Doncaster gives Ward an opportunity as she latches onto the ball running toward the box has players racing across to close her down has to take on the early shot, looks to send the ball across Nicola Hobbs in the Doncaster goal pulls her effort wide of the mark. Laura-May Walkley closing down the ball gets the pass into Ward peeling out to the right she looks to turn her cross into the box gets some curl on the ball but this only swerves to swing the ball into Hobbs' gloves before anyone can attack it beyond.
The ball played into her Sweetman-Kirk sweeps it out to Lyndsey Cunningham making the run down the right, looks to send a cross in along the front of the box, Reading's Kylie Davies intercepts her header sending the ball out to the left of the area, Smith is 1st to the ball sends the ball in for players to attack on the six yard line, comes into Bethany England who is falling back as she tries to header the ball towards goal, doesn't get enough power to trouble Moloney who claims the ball.
Hope Knight now in possession of the ball on the left flank for Doncaster breaks clear and looks to send the ball into Sweetman-Kirk inside the left hand corner of the Reading box, the ball coming in at pace the striker looks to open up her body turn the ball towards goal, has too much spin though and turns away from the goal.
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| Emily Roberts breaking with the ball for Doncaster |
Reading are working hard to break up the play aren't causing too much trouble up front are disrupting Doncaster's attempts to get any possession going forwards there is some visible frustration being shown by a few of the home players. The referee plays an advantage as Emily Roberts is clipped bringing the ball forwards into a central position, has Smith in front of her who gets hold of the ball takes it out to the left before whipping in a cross along the goal face, Sweetman-Kirk is there but like England falling as she tries to get contact with the ball it is parried away before a 2nd effort is fired in from the angle blocked and put behind for a corner.
Knight is fouled by Emma Follis as she looks to bring the ball up the pitch a few Doncaster players are upset by the foul Sophie Barker and Walkley square up to one another. Kasia Lipka is calling for more urgency from Doncaster, whilst the shout from the Reading bench is to slow things down. When Doncaster can release the ball from the back into Sweetman-Kirk early the home side look dangerous a deft touch from Sweetman-Kirk to lay the ball out to the right sends Smith into space, Emily Roberts is clear on the left Smith tries to pick her out however Moloney is out rapidly to kick the ball away.
Reading win a corner late in the half comes in at a good height Hobbs coming misses it as the ball is turned in towards goal it's Barker on the post that headers the ball away from danger. Knight bringing the ball up the pitch on the left passes it to Smith ahead of her she plays into Lipka central her pass sets up England in front of her 25 yards out her shot is pulled wide of goal.
Half-time Doncaster Rovers Belles 0-0 Reading FC Women
Hasn't been the 1st time I've been at the Keepmoat Stadium this season to watch Doncaster and thought they just need to be patient. Reading have done extremely well putting pressure on the ball all over the pitch have looked to frustrate Doncaster and have certainly done that without really troubling Hobbs in goal too often themselves.
Reading to kick off the 2nd half, it's Doncaster though that start the strong winning the ball and sending it into Sweetman-Kirk good hold up play again has England making herself available giving her the ball she plays it over to Knight making the run from full back down the left looks to shoot sends her effort over the crossbar.
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| Hope Knight looking to bring the ball out of defence for Doncaster |
Reading make an early change in the 2nd half Ward the player coming off with Bianca Bragg coming on to join Bruton and Follis in attack. Doncaster continue to attack are pressing the ball higher up the pitch themselves with Knight in particular further up the pitch on the left. Win a corner that Smith plays in from the right is looking to place it for Little to meet with her head making a run from the edge of the area, Little doesn't quite get there.
A cross is fired into Sweetman-Kirk from the left inside the six yard box her attempt on goal is blocked the rebound racing out to England charging forwards she smashes the ball back in is inadvertently blocked by Sweetman-Kirk before the offside flag brings play to a halt.
Another chance falls to Doncaster as Sweetman-Kirk breaks clear of the Reading back line central, Moloney is racing out to close her down, she gets the lob in 1st getting the ball past her Moloney turns with defenders racing back however everyone can watch it bounce wide.
GOAL! Doncaster may have come out firing at the start of the 2nd half but it's the visitors who take the lead bringing the ball forwards it is sent into the box with Bruton making the run to get there Hobbs gets there makes the save parrying the ball but it goes beyond her Bruton is there to put her head on the ball and send it into an empty net 0-1.
Bruton receiving the ball puts it out to Walkley making a run beyond her to the left she plays a cross into the area, Doncaster get it clear but only as far a Rowe who gets hold of it 20 yards out fizzes a shot back in the attempt though is wide. The goal has put Doncaster on the back foot lifted Reading as they push on looking to create more openings Follis bringing the ball down the right wins her tea a corner the ball sent into the area met by Bragg her header is cleared off the line by Barker.
GOAL! Bragg doubles Reading's lead with a beauty of a strike as she pounces on a misplaced ball on halfway from the Doncaster back line takes it forwards and unleashes shot from 40 yards out, arrow straight on the rise with plenty of pace the ball flies over Hobbs and into the back of the net 0-2.
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| Bianca Bragg with the ball for Reading moments later she'd hit her wonder strike to double the lead |
Reading have a player down receiving treatment giving the Doncaster team a chance to gather and try and regroup after conceding 2 goals. Play resumes Reading are the team with their tails up are back to playing the pressing game high up the pitch forcing Doncaster into rushing their passes.
GOAL! Reading extend their lead after they are awarded a penalty kick. Possession down the right the cross is cut back from the corner into the area it hits Little's hand as she looks to come and close the angle the referee points to the spot. It's Bruton take Hobbs guesses the right way but diving to her right Bruton puts enough pace on the ball to beat her 0-3.
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| Lauren Bruton takes the penalty to make it 3 for Reading |
A double change by the Doncaster manager Glen Harris with Smith and Barker coming off and Lauren Cresswell and Samantha Tierney coming on. The crowd are up and angry as Reading captain Kirsty McGee comes through the back of England as the ball is played into her leaving her on the floor in some discomfort, the referee issues McGee with a yellow card.
Cresswell on the pitch now is over the ball a set piece specialist she looks to have a strike on goal 35 yards out is aiming for the top right hand corner, Moloney scrambles across to cover the angle a save isn't needed as the shot is drilled wide.
Entering the last 15 minutes of the match Kelly Chambers, Reading's manager makes her 2nd change bringing off Walkley who has hardly made herself popular with the home crowd to with some robust challenges for Charlie Estcourt in the middle of the park. Doncaster have sent Little up front as they look to find a way back into the match with the clock running down.
Sweetman-Kirk wins a corner on the right as she looks to chase the ball down, the set piece played in to the near post just evades the leap of England the defender beyond her heading over for a 2nd corner, this one is fired in low causing a goal mouth scramble before Reading eventually clear it.
Pushing on Doncaster cannot find a way to steal in behind the Reading defence as they defend anything put in front of them, the ball played long into Sweetman-Kirk just inside the box she goes for the overhead kick got contact back straight into a defender for the block. Closing seconds England nearly slips Sweetman-Kirk in on goal, McGee sticks out a toe to take the ball away from her and out for the corner.
No time to take as the referee blows for full time and Reading win 0-3 to move level on points with Doncaster at the top of the table take top spot on goal difference as Doncaster are beaten in the league for the 1st time this season.
At half time if I'm honest I could only see one winner and that was Doncaster, Reading had worked really hard a good team performance to pressure and frustrate the home side Doncaster had chances but didn't put away 1st half.Started the 2nd half strongly on the offensive however once Reading opened the scoring they gained more confidence and from that point on were the better side. Have closed the gap at the top and shown they can get the results without Kirby in the side.
There was another match in the FAWSL 2 tonight between two of those hoping to chase Doncaster and Reading down Yeovil Town Ladies moving 3 points behind the pair with a 1-0 away to Everton Ladies.
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