Doncaster Belles: Departing boss Emma Coates thrilled with perfect send-off

Outgoing Doncaster Rovers Belles boss Emma Coates got the perfect send-off with a resounding 6-0 win against Aston Villa.
Emma CoatesEmma Coates
Emma Coates

The victory was Coates’ last game in charge before leaving and taking up a coaching role within the England Women set-up.

It moved unbeaten Belles up to third in the FAWSL2 table.

Coates said: “I asked the girls for a clean sheet and three points and they’ve done it with a great performance on top so I’m thrilled.

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“The fluidity and creativity is something we’ve been working on and it’s really coming together. The hard work in training has come together and I’m really pleased for them.”

Coates, who joined Belles in 2014 as a coach, will now hand over the reins to assistant manager Kate Rowson.

She said: “Leaving a club that has invested and believed in me so much is always bittersweet.

“We’ve had a turbulent year and it’s so hard leaving people behind.

“Hopefully they’ll continue to thrive in the women’s game.”

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Coates added: “It’s pleasing that we’re unbeaten. It speaks volumes that as a team we were disappointed with the two draws in recent weeks.

“Today was about managing the game and the girls have taken that on board.

“Hopefully that stays with them going into the rest of the season.”

Two goals from Kirsty Hanson and Jess Sigsworth along with strikes from Rebecca Rayner and captain Leandra Little secured a comfortable win.

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Sigsworth’s brace opened up her account for the season. On the striker, Coates said: “I’m really pleased for Jess, all forwards live on confidence. She had an early chance but that last goal you could have had the whole team in the net and they wouldn’t have stopped it!”

Belles face FAWSL1 outfit Birmingham City Ladies at St Andrew’s on Sunday in the Continental Cup.