Doncaster Rovers Belles remain in drop zone after defeat to Durham Cestria

That result moved Durham, who scored twice in either half, four points clear of Belles, but that is effectively five points when goal difference is taken into account.

Belles have yet to gain a point on their travels this season and their only goal in six away games was a late consolation in a 6-1 loss against Stockport County. Belles’ away record is the worst in the Division.

Defeat extended Belles’ FAWNL losing streak to seven games and overall it is now ten defeats in succession.

Can Belles avoid relegation? In theory, yes. Only four of the 12 teams in the division have reached the half way mark in their fixtures, so mathematically there is still a long way to go.

However, the reality is that with each defeat, Belles hopes of staying up diminish. Assuming their next two fixtures go ahead as currently scheduled, then anything they gain from this Sunday’s home game against current table toppers Huddersfield Town has to be considered an unexpected, but very welcome and much needed bonus.

It is then Belles’ first fixture of 2026 which is crucial. That is away to York City who are currently one place and one point better off than Belles in yet another game which Belles can not afford to lose, but almost certainly that will probably need to be revised to “must win”.

“Not losing” was the case with Sunday’s game against Durham and also the previous away game, at Chester-Le-Street Town, when Belles were comprehensively beaten in both.

Late goals in two of Sunday’s other results in the Division prevented things being even worse for Belles. Norton & Stockton Ancients remain six points ahead of Belles after title-chasing Leeds United snatched all three points. Huddersfield let a 2-0 lead slip against bottom placed Blackburn Rovers who levelled around the 90 minute mark, but then saw that possible first point of the season vanish as Town instantly made it 3-2.

To add to Belles’ problems, it very much appears that their planned two season plan of playing home games at Millmoor has come to a very premature end. The FA’s Full Time website has TBA (to be arranged) showing as the venue for Belles’ remaining home games this season. The abandoned home game against Norton & Stockton Ancients on November 30 had its kick off brought forward by an hour at relatively short notice a few days before the game.

A the time of writing Belles have not made any announcement about the Huddersfield game (and subsequent home fixtures) not being played at Millmoor. In their final post on Sunday’s game against Durham, the wording was as follows

“FULL TIME - A tough afternoon on the road. Thank you once again for your support in the North East today - we look forward to welcoming you again next Sunday as we take on Huddersfield Town.”

Last season Belles played their early home fixtures at the Eco-Power Stadium (which was due to host all home fixtures) before that was curtailed due to the need to protect the playing surface following heavy rainfall during September. That received a number of adverse comments on social media with Belles then playing home games at a variety of venues.

As things stand, it seems more a matter of when rather than if the dreaded R (for relegation) is added next to Belles in the table. It would be wonderful to be proved wrong, but as supporters have posted on social media, they too fear for Belles’ ability to avoid the drop to tier five.