A hotly anticipated fixture for both sets of supporters, is a rivalry born out of a sense of injustice the history of its formation covered more than once on previous blog entries. That history aside women's football is still a developing sport in England and things can rapidly move on, so much so that what seemed unfair at the time actually proved to have a beneficial impact in the long run.
Turn the clock back 12 months the draw for the Continental Tyres Cup group stages was the same as this years Group Two the 'Northern' group pitting Doncaster Rovers Belles now 'relegated' to the new FAWSL 2 league against the new team parachuted into FAWSL 1 Manchester City Women. Came to the Keepmoat Stadium having captured the attention of a wider media audience had signed a quartet of England stars, had gotten of to a poor start to life in the top tier of women's football. The Doncaster Rovers Belles team fired up for this match took a 2-0 lead eventually winning 2-1 after Manchester City Women pushed hard to get back into the match in the 2nd half.
A result that meant a lot to Doncaster Rovers Belles players and fans alike it was also a catalyst for Manchester City Women to galvanise and start to improve in both the Continental Tyres Cup and the league itself, went on to win Group Two reach the semi finals as the competition was formatted last season beating Chelsea Ladies 1-0 to reach the final at Adams Park where they went on to beat holders Arsenal Ladies 1-0 to win their 1st piece of silverware.
Now as the holders of the cup themselves they begin their defence by returning to the Keepmoat Stadium have added more England stars to their ranks too. Haven't had the best of starts to the league will be wanting to get off to a good start in the Continental Tyres Cup group stages.
Doncaster Rovers Belles are currently at the top of FAWSL 2 this season and aiming for promotion back to FAWSL 1. Have been scoring plenty of goals this season and in Courtney Sweetman-Kirk up front have a striker currently in a rich vein of form. Manager Glen Harris has brought in ex Yeovil player Jade Lorton-Radburn to bolster his squad over the mid-season break.
The first time I've been to the Keepmoat Stadium and seen a large queue formed outside the ticket office prior to kick off, the seats filling up rapidly it was clear tonight was set for a bumper crowd on a dry and cooling evening. The pitch being watered prior to kick off looked in great condition as the two sides took to the pitch the Doncaster Rovers Belles players forming a guard of honour to show their appreciation for England Women's fantastic 3rd place finish at the World Cup and the 5 Lionesses lining up in the Manchester City Women's team.
Doncaster Rovers Belles starting XI - Nicola Hobbs, Lyndsey Cunningham, Lauren Cresswell, Leandra Little (C), Rhiannon Roberts, Kasia Lipka, Jade Lorton-Radburn, Sophie Barker, Bethany England, Sue Smith & Courtney Sweetman-Kirk.
subs - Sophie Stamp, Molly Johnson, Samantha Tierney, Reanne Thomas, Nicole Dale, Emily Roberts & Hope Knight.
Manchester City Women starting XI - Karen Bardsley, Lucy Bronze, Demi Stokes, Steph Houghton (C), Kathleen Radtke, Jennifer Beattie, Jill Scott, Isobel Christiansen, Daphne Corboz, Toni Duggan & Nikita Parris.
subs - Alex Brooks, Abbie McManus, Georgia Brougham, Emma Lipman & Krystle Johnston.
Doncaster get the match under way kicking off wearing their home kit, yellow shirts and socks with blue shorts, Manchester City lined up opposite in their sky blue shirts and socks with white shorts. Bright start from the home side taking the game to Manchester City harrying their defence forcing Demi Stokes to play the ball out for a throw even as she attempts to shield it back to goalkeeper Karen Bardsley with Beth England closing her down, moments later it's Courtney Sweetman-Kirk who wins the ball from the Manchester City defence inside their own half gets the ball out to Sue Smith peeling off wide into space on the left, puts in a early ball into the area with England making the run for her too much on the ball allows Bardsley to come and claim first.
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| Doncaster's Beth England taking on Jennifer Beattie & Jill Scott |
The ball is up and down the pitch both sides pushing and probing it's Jade Lorton-Radburn with the first shot on target as the ball drops to the Doncaster midfielder a good 25 yards out she goes for goal a good effort Bardsley isn't troubled though is in position to collect. The counter attack is rapid the ball into the feet of Manchester City's new signing Daphne Corboz the American slips the ball forwards looking to send striker Nikita Parris through on goal, Nicola Hobbs is alert in the Doncaster goal a quickly out to clear the ball.
Hobbs is put under pressure not long after with the ball played back to her from her defence with Manchester City's attackers snapping at their heels the back pass a little short forcing Hobbs into a rapid clearance which comes straight to Parris 20 yards out, she goes to strike early with the goal exposed Doncaster are thankful when she pulls the shot wide of goal 15 minutes played.
A lively opening to the match Doncaster are working hard to close the ball down especially in midfield are happy to let Manchester City have the ball in defence limiting the passing options the longer ball sent in is something they are confident of dealing with. Christiansen plays a good ball forwards rolling it into Duggan's run as she steals into the box her strike on goal is blocked by Rhiannon Roberts conceding a corner. Played in from the left clears the heads of the players attacking the near post drops to Lucy Bronze unmarked beyond who 10 yards out gets a strike away too much height goes over the crossbar.
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| Jill Scott fends off Doncaster's Kasia Lipka |
Is a really great battle on the pitch developing between Doncaster's Sue Smith and Manchester City's Lucy Bronze, with Smith getting the better of Bronze skipping past her on a couple of occasions. With Sweetman-Kirk and England both chasing down the ball at the back Smith is always looking to be available on the left of attack, England this time wins the ball and plays it out to her taking the ball down the flank Smith sends in a good cross is initially intercepted by Stokes, Doncaster regain possession get it out to Smith again this tie the looping cross is met by the head of England central to goal doesn't get enough on it though to evade Bardsley in the Manchester City goal.
Ten minutes of the first half left to play Manchester City have a free kick after Jennifer Beattie is fouled by Lorton-Radburn 35 yards out, captain Steph Houghton over the ball goes for goal plenty of venom on the ball coming in low dipping before it reaches Hobbs the keeper produces an unorthodox but brilliant save to stop the ball with her shins, has Little tracking back to make sure no sky blue shirt can get onto the loose ball.
Smith with good footwork on the ball does well to skip past Bronze again on the left sweeps the ball into the box looking to pick out Sweetman-Kirk she can't get onto the end of it travels through to Sophie Barker on the far side of the area, he first time strike is blocked at close range by Stokes.
Half-time Doncaster Rovers Belles 0-0 Manchester City Women.
An absorbing first half not too many chances created and the best of those have fallen to Manchester City Women. Have soaked up a lot of pressure as Doncaster have put in a lot of effort to close the ball down and prevent it being played through the middle. Thought they were starting to tire towards the end of the half though would be interesting to see if Doncaster could maintain that pace as the teams came out for the 2nd half.
Manchester City out onto the pitch early for the 2nd half kick off and are on the offensive straight away loose the ball and Doncaster counter attack Sweetman-Kirk and England linking up in attack exchange passes as England plays Sweetman-Kirk in inside the area she attempts to return the ball Manchester City have too many bodies back intercept and clear.
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| Doncaster's Courtney Sweetman-Kirk with Steph Houghton |
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| Isobel Christiansen |
Manchester City have started the 2nd half much more positively have pushed their defence higher up the pitch and Bronze and Stokes are pushing on to better support Duggan and Corboz left and right. Stokes and Duggan combine on the left the full back going beyond Duggan and breaking into the box Duggan plays the ball for her to attack Doncaster central defender Roberts is across to slide in a put in the block.
Roberts is called into action again makes the sliding tackle to deny Parris an opportunity on goal after good work from Jill Scott in the Manchester City midfield almost sends Parris through on the edge of the area. Pushed back by Manchester City it is harder for Doncaster to get their attacking players on the ball. Doncaster make a change with Sophie Barker the player coming off and Emily Roberts coming on to join the attack.
Playing on the right of the Manchester City attack Corboz is doing well with the ball at her feet causing Doncaster a few problems looks to attack has Scott with her on the overlap wins a corner. The set piece played in from the right is cleared Corboz regains possession to keep the pressure on plays the crossfield pass over to Stokes on the left her cross whipped in is an inviting height for Parris to attack with her head in the centre of the six yard box, can't quite get enough on it to deflect it goal wards.
GOAL! It's Corboz involved in the build up as Manchester City double their lead on 68 minutes, on the ball taking it towards goal to the right outside the box has Christiansen in front of her making a great supporting run, Corboz plays the ball forwards for her to attack, Hobbs has to come racing out off her line to attempt to close Christiansen down throws herself at the ball, Christiansen gets her foot to it first beating her and setting up Parris on her left to tap the ball home into an empty net 0-2.
Corboz is looking lively wants to get in on the scoring action herself as she attempts the shot distance on the right of the area has Hobbs a little concerned as the ball goes across her turning though she watches it roll wide of the far post. Manchester City make their first change on 72 minutes with Jill Scott coming off and Krystle Johnston coming on. Another change too for Doncaster with Sam Tierney on to replace Kasia Lipka.
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| Manchester City Women's Toni Duggan looking to take on Doncaster defence |
Doncaster attacks are limited forced back by Manchester City, England is still putting in a lot of running up top trying to force an error does win her team a corner played into the area the ball is cleared out only as far as Smith she fires it back in towards goal left of goal the ball is deflected behind before the 2nd corner is cleared.
GOAL! Manchester City goal number three is scored by Duggan but plenty going on before she plays the ball into the back of the net. Corboz again with the ball causing the problems puts the ball into the area with Duggan coming in off the left flank closing in on goal her shot is saved by Hobbs six yards out a scramble for the ball as it comes back to Corboz racing in she attempts to set up Parris in the middle her effort on goal is blocked the ball pops out invitingly to Duggan who is free to stroke the ball home to make it 0-3 with a little over five minutes left to play.
Double change for Manchester City Women as two more of their Lionesses are given a rest Houghton and Bronze come off with Emma Lipman and Abbie McManus. Doncaster with their final change to with Lorton-Radburn off Reanne Thomas coming on. Makes little difference as Manchester City continue to press into injury time Beattie has a go from long range in the dying seconds the ball is well over the bar, makes no difference though as the final whistle blows and Manchester City begin the defence of the Continental Tyres Cup with an opening group match win. 0-3.
A strong 2nd half performance from the visitors pushing players onto Doncaster with both Corboz right and Duggan left using the space in front of them well both looking to take players on with the ball at their feet.
A harsh scoreline for Doncaster who put in a good deal of effort to limit Manchester City attacks especially in the first half but as they tired found themselves pushed deeper and put on the back foot.
A record crowd for the Keepmoat Stadium, 1274 there to watch the match great to see and lets hope they want to come back and see more.
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