A torrid start to the season upon their return to FAWSL 1 for Doncaster Rovers Belles have yet to record a single league point. With just 6 games on the board have played the fewest league games out of anyone in the division. Not at all helpful in building any sort of momentum for a largely full-time squad. Changes off the field to have added to their woes, dismissing manger Glen Harris after 3 games, have also been without last season's top scorer Courtney Sweetman-Kirk after she fractured a leg in a friendly game. Close season signings Natasha Dowie and Becky Easton have left the club too.
Emma Coates has stepped up from assistant coach to become 1st team coach and moved quickly in the mid-season transfer window to bolster the squad with Lauren Cresswell returning to the club. Christie Murray and Marta Bakowska-Mathews have also joined along with Majumi Pacheco on loan from Liverpool Ladies. Has picked up a win beating Sunderland AFC Ladies 2-1 in the Continental Cup 1st Round, it's league points that need to be won however if the club wants to avoid relegation.
Face a tough test today against a side that for whatever reason had been tipped as relegation candidates themselves, Birmingham City Ladies. Lost their opening 2 league matches in FAWSL 1 but since then haven't looked back unbeaten in a run of 9 league games, 10 if you include the 1st Round Continental Cup win over Oxford United Women. 4 wins and 5 draws that see them sitting in 4th spot in the table looking at closing the gap of the leading trio.
Have seen a fair amount of change over the season to date themselves strengthening off the field financially have seen a few fans favourites depart, Karen Carney and Becky Spencer going to Chelsea Ladies at the start of the season, Over the mid-season break midfielders Jo Potter, Jade Moore and Remi Allen have all left. Manager David Parker is a big fan of giving youth its head not afraid to give the younger players a go. To that the club have brought in a few overseas players in to add strength and experience to the club, goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger joining from Paris St Germain, along with German stars Isabelle Linden and Marisa Ewers. Norwegian International midfielder Andrine Hegerberg is another new signing.
Doncaster Rovers Belles return to their home the Keepmoat Stadium for the 1st time since the end of March, the home game against Arsenal Ladies abandoned due to heavy rain making conditions unplayable in May. The stadium had played host to the Rugby League Challenge Cup semi-final on Friday the pitch still marked with the rugby lines and sponsors logo. Summer is here at long last and the weather was warm and sunny for the evening kick off there nice and early mainly because I thought it was a 6pm kick-off not 6:30pm.
Doncaster Rovers Belles starting XI - Nicola Hobbs, Majumi Pacheco, Sophie Barker, Leandra Little (C), Rhiannon Roberts, Kasia Lipka, Katrin Omarsdottir, Emily Simpkins, Carla Humphrey, Jess Sigsworth & Christie Murray.
subs - Anna Moorhouse, Samantha Tierney, Sue Smith, Yasmin Mosby, Rachel Newborough, Marta Bakowska-Mathews & Lauren Cresswell.
Birmingham City Ladies starting XI - Sophie Baggaley, Aoife Mannion, Kerys Harrop, Jess Carter, Emily Westwood (C), Andrine Hegerberg, Abbeyleigh Stringer, Connie Scofield, Chloe Peplow, Isabelle Linden & Charlie Wellings.
subs - Kirsty Linnett, Cheryl Edwards, Sian Johnson & Ann-Katrin Berger.
Doncaster kick off the game 1st half wearing yellow shirts and socks with blue shorts, new signings, Majumi Pacheco and Christi Murray start for Doncaster with Lauren Cresswell and Marta Bakowska-Mathews on the bench along with Sue Smith who is slowly returning to fitness after a long injury lay off amongst the substitutes. Birmingham lined up opposite are in their away colours an all red strip, are without several players naming just the 4 on the bench with, Freda Ayisi, Coral-Jade Haines, Alex Windell and Melissa Lawley amongst those unavailable. Sophie Baggaley returns in goal in place of Ann-Katrin Berger. New signings Isobelle Linen and Andrine Hegerberg start along with development player Connie Scofield making her 1st start for the 1st team.
A sing off between the fans from both sides at the start of the game the Belles fans not to be out done by the visiting Blues supporters. Doncaster push forwards into the Birmingham half, can't find the final ball as the visitors regain possession and play it long out into space on the right channel, Isabelle Linden goes after it wrapping her foot around the ball sending it into the six yard box, stepping out Doncaster goalkeeper Nicola Hobbs parries the bouncing ball, loose for a moment, Sophie Barker playing at right back today is behind her to kick the ball clear inside the six yard box.
Looks like it'll be an open game with both sides looking to get the ball up the pitch rapidly, again Doncaster come on bringing the ball into the Birmingham half, Aoife Mannion steps in to win the ball back from Jess Sigsworth peeling away to the left, puts the ball up into Chloe Peplow ahead of her on the right, plays it forwards straight away, Linden looking to provide the run skipping in behind the Doncaster defence, the pace on the ball is a little heavy, can't reach it before it runs out of play. A good tempo to the game little goalmouth action in the opening 10 minutes.
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| Birmingham City Ladies, Charlie Wellings holds Doncaster's Majumi Pacheco off the ball |
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| Birmingham City Ladies, Abbeyleigh Stringer tussling with Doncaster's Carla Humphrey from the ball |
Jess Sigsworth taking the ball on down the right wins Doncaster a corner, the defenders come up from the back, the ball swept into the middle of the area, Little making the run jumps to head the ball, not the connection she wanted as the ball is turned away from goal out to the left, Katrin Omarsdottir goes to retrieve it turning as swinging a cross into the box, Birmingham captain Emily Westwood heads clear, the counter attack is on the ball put up to Wellings inside the Doncaster half, Pacheco is the last defender, vital she gets her head on the ball, does well winning the ball.
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| Leandra Little sends her header wide of the Birmingham City Ladies goal |
A good midfield battle going on is starting to lead to a few free kicks being given away Doncaster try to take a quick on don't get anywhere, another is given away inside the centre circle, Little goes forwards as central defensive partner Rhiannon Roberts goes to take it, plays the ball low into Omarsdottir back to goal 20 yards out central her pass is flicked on by Carla Humphrey to her right puts Simpkins through into the Birmingham box, is closed down quickly pushed wide before she can get the shot away.
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| Connie Scofield making her 1st start for Birmingham City Ladies |
Humphrey nips in to win the ball in the midfield for Doncaster her pass picks out Sigsworth on the left, a powerful runner on the ball drives her way inside looking to get into the box, can't find the half a yard needed to get a shot away the ball charged down is cleared, runs into Humphrey 25 yards out lobs the ball back in towards goal, Baggaley is back pedaling sees the ball drop onto the roof of her goal.
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| Isabelle Linden drives forwards with the ball for Birmingham City Ladies |
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| Andrine Hegerberg sees her effort fly wide of the Doncaster goal |
Carter driving down the left with the ball is brought down by Lipka, from the wide position the ball is lifted up into the Doncaster area, Little clears with her head putting the ball out for a throw deep on the right, Carter comes across to take it going long into the box again, Doncaster don't deal with it and like the earlier effort, the ball is headed on with Wellings getting up to head the ball towards goal, heading for the top corner, Hobbs gets across making a great save pushing the ball wide for the corner kick with the 45 minutes played.
Half-time Doncaster Rovers Belles 0-0 Birmingham City Ladies
Goalless at half-time against two sides that are fairly evenly matched, few chances created and the best of those have fallen to Birmingham. Good pressure put on the ball by Doncaster but often deep when they begin an attack Birmingham are able to regroup keep a solid defensive shape. With few chances being created it could come down to just the one being converted into a winning goal, question is which side will score it as they come out for the 2nd half.
Birmingham to get the 2nd half underway, the ball put into Peplow on the right charges forwards is stopped by Pacheco's tackle. Positive start by Doncaster pushing forwards Barker coming up the pitch is free to receive the ball and lift the cross up into the area, Harrop heads it clear of danger. On the opposite side of the pitch Pacheco storms forwards with the ball at her feet runs into traffic on the edge of the area, keeping the ball lays it inside with Lipka providing a midfield run takes on the shot 25 yards out, lifts the attempt over the crossbar.
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| Doncaster Rovers Belles, Kasia Lipka |
Carter and Harrop have switched positions at the start of the 2nd half Harrop now inside alongside Westwood with Carter out left. The Birmingham defence is busy early on in the 2nd half Doncaster pushing bodies forwards, the risk is a rapid counter attack Linden laying claim to the ball in the middle sends it forwards into Wellings 20 yards out running with the ball shifts it between her feet before shooting running along the ground Hobbs is behind it gets down to claim the ball. Barker bringing the ball on down the right plays it into Sigsworth who whips an early ball into the Birmingham area, Murray has made the run into the centre of the six yard box, as in the 1st half however Baggaley is across in front of her to jump up and pull the ball down into her body.
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| Scottish International, Christie Murray |
Good pressuring from Murray leads to a mistake from Harrop as she turns to roll the ball back to her keeper, Omarsdottir alert central races into the box getting there just before the onrushing goalkeeper taking the ball around her the Icelandic International turns to shoot put the ball into an empty net, is denied by Mannion making a superb recovering tackle getting back on her to take the ball of her toes and behind for a corner kick. 1st change for Birmingham on 60 minutes with Linden the player coming off to be replaced by Kirsty Linnett who has missed the best part of 5 months of the season out injured.
GOAL! What a return to action Linnett scores with her 1st touch of the ball! The ball is with Doncaster in front of their area Birmingham close it down the ball is deflected favourably into the path of Linnett finding room to break into the box left of the D, Hobbs rushes in to close her down going to ground, Linnett lifts the ball over her and scores 0-1 giving Birmingham the lead.
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| Super sub, Kirsty Linnett scoring with her 1st touch of the ball |
Carter is up ended by Barker as she attacks down the left. Peplow to take the free kick sends the ball long to the far side of the area Hegerberg gets hold of it on edge of the box, pulls the trigger her shot taking a deflection off a Doncaster defender sending it wide for a corner kick.
Doncaster lift their tempo even further pushing on Little plays a good long pass out to Murray on the right wing holding the ball up Sigsworth comes to provide support Murray rolls the ball into her, Sigsworth sees Humphrey forwards in the Birmingham box plays the pass into her then makes the run to receive the return ball, gets it, Carter closes her down quickly stops her getting a shot away Sigsworth ends up fouling Carter.
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| Jess Sigsworth, looking to take players on every time she had the ball at her feet |
20 minutes left to play, Sigsworth is working hard up front to make something happen for Doncaster, picking the ball up in a central position, takes on the defender in front of her getting past her has Humphrey looking to break clear to her right, picks her out play is stopped as Humphrey strays offside. The free kicks are still being given away Barker leaving Hegerberg on the ground in the middle of the pitch, is okay after treatment, Mannion to play the ball up into the area, Roberts get's up highest to clear the ball.
Baggaley gets there just ahead of the onrushing Sigsworth inside her area left of goal as Murray plays her through on goal, the Doncaster striker left on the ground injured as Baggaley kicks the ball the pair coming together, Baggaley has to get back to defend her goal as the attack continues Doncaster getting bodies forwards, reclaim possession of the ball Omarsdottir bursting into the box left side blasts the ball towards goal, Baggaley going to ground parries it with her gloves deflects it across her six yard box in front of goal comes at Murray quickly can't control it giving the Birmingham defence a chance to scramble it away, play eventually stopped so that Sigsworth can receive treatment.
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| Doncaster Rovers Belles, Katrin Omarsdottir and Birmingham City Ladies, Chloe Peplow |
Sigsworth is barely back into the action returning to the pitch goes after a long ball put into the right channel is caught by Carter accidentally another painful knock, Doncaster bring her off sending on Lauren Cresswell with 10 minutes left to play. A throw deep on the right for Doncaster, Barker receiving it turns the cross back towards to face of the area from the byline, Humphrey racing onto the ball goes for goal, blasts the ball over the bar.
Hegerberg fouled in the centre circle takes the resulting free kick sending the ball long and high into the Doncaster area central, Hobbs goes up to punch the ball is clattered by Harrop attempting to get to it, Hobbs gets the free kick. Pressing forwards the full backs up the pitch Birmingham counter attack, Wellings looking to get in between the Doncaster centre backs, Roberts does superbly going to ground lunging for the ball taking it away from Wellings and into Little who sends it long. Tierney drives through the middle looking to force her way into the Birmingham box is stopped by Mannion on the edge of the area.
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| Birmingham City Ladies, Kerys Harrop |
3 minutes of normal play left Doncaster continue to press numbers forwards, Birmingham defending get the ball up top for Linnett to chase on the left side, sends a sweeping ball across the face of the Doncaster area, picks out Peplow is a long way from goal as she attempts to header it down lacking any pace is gathered by Hobbs. Little goes forwards to join the attack late on of a quickly taken throw on the right side Barker sends a great delivery into the box, Little rises to meet it six yards out puts the ball over the crossbar.
Doncaster pile everyone forwards a minute left Tierney lunges in to win the ball back on the right, Barker in close attendance latches onto the loose ball whipping the cross into the area, is just beyond Omarsdottir as she stretches out a leg desperate to bring it down, Birmingham regain possession make a late change Wellings the player replaced, Cheryl Edwards coming on. Late attack for Birmingham in injury time Linnett getting to the byline on the left into the area can't lift her cross over Hobbs coming to cover her near post.
The final whistle blows and it's Birmingham City Ladies who win the 3 points beating Doncaster Rovers Belles 1-0 super sub Kirsty Linnett with the goal off her 1st touch. Sees them join Arsenal Ladies on 20 points are 3 points off the leaders, have played more games than those above them but a top two finish is very much a possibility. Was a game of few chances both sides battled hard and for Doncaster the search for a league point goes on 5 points adrift at the bottom a frustrating result will feel a draw would have been a been a fair result. Played 7 lost 7 have plenty of games left and still all to play for just need to find that positive result.
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