Has been a tough season for Doncaster Rovers Belles so far this season following promotion back to FAWSL 1 after a 2 season absence. Close season thing's were looking great too, investment in training facilities, full-time contracts for the players, new signings all hinted towards a season pushing up the table rather than battling relegation. That however is exactly where the club finds itself 10 league games played 0 points on the board 10 defeats in the league the last one coming 3 weeks ago a 4-1 loss at home to Sunderland.
Having had and then adding to a potent attack it boded well for goals being scored for Doncaster however injuries to Sue Smith who hasn't featured at all this season, along with top goalscorer last season Courtney Sweetman-Kirk and more recently Jess Sigsworth haven't helped, Natasha Dowie came and went too. A change of manager has done little to improve fortunes on the pitch and it has been very hard to build any momentum in the FAWSL with the stop start nature of the season. Doncaster have played just the 10 league game since the start of the season in March. Now they have 6 games in six weeks 2 of those matches against Reading a 6 point gap win tonight and not only will they pull them closer but Sunderland and Notts County on 9 points each could get dragged into the relegation fight.
Promoted as FAWSL 2 Champions last season, Reading FC Women have yet to win a game in the top flight. Have got points on the board however drawing 6 of the 13 matches played so far, more so in the early part of the season haven't picked a point since the end of July. With 3 games left to play two of those against Doncaster home and away on the final day of the season know a win tonight could be huge in terms of ensuring they remain an FAWSL 1 club come the end of the season. That all important 1st win will be a huge relief and release for whoever can come out on top.
A warm end to September a few dark clouds around the Keepmoat Stadium pitch looked in great condition a good surface to play on. The circus was in town next door but the two sets of fans some of the most vocal and loyal around had no time for clowning around both willing their team to that 1st win.
Doncaster Rovers Belles starting XI - Nicola Hobbs, Mayumi Pacheco, Sophie Barker, Samantha Tierney, Leandra Little (C), Rhiannon Roberts, Kasia Lipka, Katrin Omarsdottir, Emily Simpkins, Marta Bakowska-Mathews & Christie Murray.
subs - Anna Moorhouse, Lauren Cresswell, Carla Humphrey, Rachel Newborough, Rebecca Raynor & Bethany O'Donnell.
Reading FC Women starting XI - Mary Earps, Rebecca Jane, Harriet Scott, Molly Bartrip, Kirsty McGee (C), Kayleigh Hines, Remi Allen, Emma Follis, Lauren Bruton, Nia Jones & Melissa Fletcher.
subs - Chloe Sansom, Rachel Rowe, Helen Ward, Jade Boho-Sayo & Amber Stobbs.
It's Doncaster to kick off the 1st half wearing yellow shirts and socks with blue shorts. Reading lined up opposite wearing white and blue hooped shirts, blue shorts and blue and white hooped socks. Reading get a throw inside their own half as Doncaster look to play the ball long out to the left, attacking up the right moving the ball inside Rebecca Jane looks to go on the overlap past Melissa Fletcher get in behind the Doncaster defence, steps up well catching her offside as she receives the return ball.
A cagey opening couple of minutes to the game the ball going long Samantha Tierney tackles Reading's Remi Allen in the midfield as she brings down a long pass from Harriet Scoot at the back preventing her pushing it forwards for Nia Jones operating in the centre of the Reading attack tonight. Winning a throw out left inside the Doncaster half the ball is played into Lauren Bruton, turns in field driving into the box tries to knock it on past the defence lined up in front of her, the ball is intercepted and cleared.
Christie Murray is playing up top for Doncaster in attack the ball fired into her back to goal outside the box sees her touch and spin away to her right turn in behind head for the area beyond, Reading captain Kirsty McGee recovers smartly tackling to win the ball outside the box. Murray is again the target the ball played into her coming to the right side outside the area, turns with the ball into the area is closed down quickly the ball played out by Reading as the counter, Emma Follis carrying it on through the middle of the park sends it on out to Fletcher on the right charging into the box tries to take it around Mayumi Pacheco the defender slides in to play the ball behind for a corner kick.
GOAL! Jane plays the corner ball long and high towards the far post, Doncaster captain, Leandra Little gets her head to the ball glancing it on out to the left, Reading go after it and regaining possession as Doncaster look to clear their box the ball is at Bruton's feet pushing inside towards the top of the area fires in a cross in across the six yard box with Follis in space adjusts her feet well to turn the ball in the air towards goal sending it under the diving, Nicola Hobbs and into the back of the net to give the visitors an 8th minute lead 0-1.
 |
| Emma Follis bringing the ball on for Reading the attack leading to the corner and the opening goal |
Both Doncaster full backs, Pacheco on the left, Sophie Barker on the right are looking to get forwards join the attack. Barker up on the right plays the ball inside to Marta Bakowska-Mathews. Her ball finds Tierney inside the box right of goal, turns and hits the shot along the ground, Mary Earps all in pink gets herself to the ground quickly has the ball smothered as she makes the save.
 |
| Doncaster Rovers Belles Mayumi Pacheco |
On the opposite wing the ball is played long from the centre out to Kasia Lipka moving into space that side for Doncaster, slips as she looks to bring the ball under control, manages to get it on down the line for Pacheco bombing past her on the overlap, the full back squares the ball into the box a couple of yards inside, Katrin Omarsdottir looks to spin and shoot as the ball comes to her, the strike is wide going behind at the near post.
Fletcher wanting the ball played long to her out on the right, controls well knocking it in field before turning to head into the Doncaster area, Pacheco getting back at her concedes the corner kick on the right. The ball is played long again is half cleared runs out to Kayleigh Hines free waiting around the top of the box, looks to lift the ball back in over the top runs wide out of play for the goal kick.
A quick counter attack from Doncaster bringing the ball up the right side, Bakowska-Mathews feeding the ball into Murray outside the box from distance tries for goal looking to chip the keeper, Earps getting back on her line does well to tip the ball over the bar, everyone's expecting the corner, however to everyone's surprise a goal-kick is given.
 |
| Christie Murray attacking for Doncaster Rovers Belles |
 |
| Doncaster Rovers Belles Marta Bakowska-Mathews |
Earps is called into action to save inside her six yard box as Doncaster press the ball lift it up towards Bakowska-Mathews top of the area heads on for Murray left of goal peels away to her right back to goal falling as she goes to shot, Pacheco arrives to take the ball and blast it towards goal inside the six yard box, Earps making the save, doesn't matter however as on the far side the assistants flag is raised for offside.
From a throw on the left Bakowska-Mathews helps the ball on into the middle for Emily Simpkins snap shot from outside the box the effort blocked, cries for handball but nothing given the rebound taking it into Lipka who shoots putting the strike over the crossbar as the game passes the half hour mark.
GOAL! A free-kick for Reading wide left midway inside the Doncaster half, a move that looks like it's been worked on in training the ball is rolled in towards the top of the area, Fletcher coming towards it, lifts it up over everyone at the far post two Reading players break forwards clear that side the closest sends the ball under the advancing Hobbs in towards goal, Little back on the line manages to keep it out but the ball isn't under control, Jones closing bundles the ball over the line to score 0-2.
 |
| Nia Jones scores Reading FC Women's 2nd goal |
Half-time Doncaster Rovers Belles 0-2 Reading FC Women
Reading hit back straight away from the restart very nearly restoring their 2 goal lead, the ball is played on the diagonal out to Follis left she is stopped by Roberts inside the box, the defender looks to play the ball out from the back passing into midfield it is lost, Follis peeling away into space on the left turns back into the box receiving the ball squares it into the six yard box a couple of yards out Jones makes contact turns the ball goalwards comes back off the post, Hobbs throws herself on it before Jones and get a 2nd go.
Reading lead 2-0 at the Keepmoat Stadium with an early goal to settle any nerves another late in the half to have control have on the whole defended well prepared to drop deep giving Doncaster very little space to exploit in behind. A mountain to climb for Doncaster now, need the next goal if they wish to have any chance of getting something out of the match. It's Reading to kick-off the 2nd half, no changes at half-time.
GOAL! Exactly what Doncaster were looking for right from the start of the 2nd half as they pull a goal back. Play is over on the left inside the Reading half the pass inside picking out Simpkins in a central position 25 yards out plenty of power on the shot as she drills the ball in along the ground, Earps dive too late the ball racing past her into the bottom corner 1-2.
 |
| Emily Simpkins pulls it back to 2-1 for Doncaster Rovers Belles |
Lipka flicks the ball on up field to Murray who is shoved over as she tries to head the ball giving Doncaster a free-kick midway inside their opponents half, central Simpkins over the ball takes on the shot, a great effort arrowed in with plenty of pace, Earps is equal to it tipping the shot up over her crossbar. Corner on the right the ball is flung into the six yard box far post Earps comes through bodies to punch clear only succeeds in knocking it down to the floor, an over head kick the ball is swept up over the bar.
Lipka works the ball well on the right getting in behind before lifting her cross long into the box, Bakowska-Mathews coming in goes across Omarsdottir as the Icelandic international gets her head on the ball glancing it wide of the Reading goal. Bruton picking up the ball some 40 yards out tries to lob the ball over Hobbs goes wide of her goal beyond. The action is end to end as Doncaster push on looking for an equalising goal, Reading trying to extend their advantage.
GOAL! The next goal comes on the 60th minute and it's a blow to Doncaster, joy for Reading as they score to make it 1-3. The visitors hit back on the counter attack the play stretched across the pitch the ball is played long up to Follis on the left, clever foot work to beat Roberts challenge comes inside and shoots from outside the box whipping the ball in over Hobbs dips under the bar and into the back of the net. Slides along the grass in celebration before being buried under her teammates.
 |
| Reading FC Women's Remi Allen |
Reading continue to press forwards Allen has broke from midfield to get into the box the cross is swept in long from the right, Allen knocks it wide of Hobbs as she goes to turn and shoot left of goal, Roberts lunges in and wins the tackle to prevent the shot. Up the other end Doncaster's Lipka drives on with the ball carrying it into the area moving right of goal cuts the ball back in towards Murray waiting at the top of the six yard box, looks to hit the shot on the spin, is blocked a pointblank range.
Reading have a free-kick on the right players up from the back the ball is picked up by Hines peeling away at the far post, sees her shot blocked as she fires it into the six yard box looking to play it across goal. Doncaster make their 1st substitution Carla Humphrey comes on replace Tierney.
20 minutes left on the clock, Doncaster have to press on looking for goals risk leaving space at the back. Allen on the ball 30 yards out lifts it up into the box with Jones making a move through the middle into the area, does well to chest the ball down as she turns, is just too close to Hobbs the keeper gathering before she can knock it either side of her. Follis is down off the ball on the far side play is stopped. Can't continue carried off the pitch Reading ready Rachel Rowe to come on join the attack. Not long after Reading make another change Bartrip coming off with Helen Ward coming on.
 |
| Reading captain, Kirsty McGee clears the ball from defence. |
Throw on the right for Doncaster the ball played into Humphrey she pushes on with the ball Reading sit off her as they drop back into their area, Humphrey can't find a way through the ball won back and sent forwards as the visitors counter. Doncaster make another chance Rebecca Rayner coming on to replace Murray in attack.
Ward gets in behind on the left as she steals in on Roberts to win the ball takes it on into the area looks to open up her body play the shot across goal drags her effort wide across the face of goal. Reading look in good shape going into the last 10 minutes can be patient at the back. 3rd change for the visitors Amber Stobbs coming on for Jones.
GOAL! Reading get the ball up the other end of the pitch quickly as they break up a Doncaster attack, the ball played up towards the area from the right, Rowe making the run to get into the area is 1st to the ball takes on the early shot sending a low shot under the diving Hobbs into the bottom corner before running away in celebration 1-4.
5 minutes left Doncaster bring off Omarsdottir send on Bethany O'Donnell. The robust tackles Doncaster have a free-kick inside their own half the ball flighted up to O'Donnell holds the ball up well before passing it to Pacheco squares the ball into the box from the left Reading clear, is won back and a strike comes in from distance the low drive running wide of goal.
Into added time Ward tricks her way into the box left side shots aiming near post, Hobbs across to cover the angle holds onto the ball. Doncaster keep pushing on win a free-kick wide on the right, Barker to play the ball into the box, McGee head it clear runs outside the box to O'Donnell pulls the trigger fires her shot over the crossbar. Reading break late on Rowe clear on the right side whips the cross in over everyone in the six yard box falls to Ward totally unmarked at the far post drops to her knees to head the ball puts it wide across an empty net. The final whistle blows and it's joy for Reading celebrating their 1st ever FAWSL 1 league victory, heartbreak for Doncaster as they slip even further into trouble with the games running out.
Full-time Doncaster Rovers Belles 1-4 Reading FC Women
Reading win 4-1 to move onto 9 points and move above Sunderland and Notts County into 6th place in the table 2 games left to play. Played well, defending deep keeping a good shape scoring early in the game to put their opponents on the back foot. Must feel confident of staying up now. Another hammer blow for Doncaster still without a win 2-0 down at half-time had hope pulling a goal back early 2nd half but for the 2nd game in a row succumb to a 4-1 still have 5 games left a huge October coming up 15 points still to play for the gap 9 points they have to keep fighting.
No comments:
Post a Comment