Aston Villa 0 Doncaster Rovers Belles 4

Belles defender Rhiannon Roberts’ first-half header and second-half goals from Rebecca Rayner, Jess Sigsworth and Kirsty Hanson ensured Neil Redfearn’s side went into the international break sitting pretty at the top of the table.

With second-placed Millwall Lionesses held 1-1 at home to London Bees, Belles’ victory saw them move three points clear at the summit.

It was the away side that started brightly, causing problems for the Villa defence as Hanson shot narrowly wide before she turned provider to pick out Emily Simpkins at the back stick, who saw her header go the wrong side of the post.

Moments later, the Belles made the early pressure count as Sophie Walton’s free-kick found Roberts unchallenged in the six-yard box to head home for a deserved lead on 12 minutes.

The home side’s best chance in the first half fell to Amy West but she failed to direct her header on target after slipping her marker, with the visitors going into the break 1-0 in front.

After the break, Doncaster doubled their lead on 67 minutes as advantage from the referee after Sigsworth had been brought down saw midfielder Rayner power home a shot from inside the box.

Striker Sigsworth added a third on 76 minutes as she danced around three Villa defenders to fire into the bottom left corner and moments later, Hanson raced clear to round goalkeeper Sian Rogers and add gloss to the score.

The visitors went in search of a fifth as Sigsworth brought a good save down to her right from Rogers but they settled for a 4-0 win.

Aston Villa (4-3-3): Sian Rogers, Hayley Crackle, Jodie Hutton, Chloe Jones, Elisha N’Dow, Jade Richards, Alice Hassall, Aoife Hurley, Amy West, Ebony Salmon, Elizabeta Ejupi

Substitutes: Ashlee Brown for Hutton 66, Beth Merrick for Hurley 78

Substitutes not used: Amy Goddard, Phoebe Warner, Tash Baptiste, Ellen Martin, Asmita Ale.

Bookings: N’Dow 87

Red Cards: None

Doncaster Rovers Belles (4-5-1): Bethan Davies, Rhiannon Roberts, Leandra Little, Rachel Newborough, Mayumi Pacheco, Emily Simpkins, Samantha Tierney, Sophie Walton, Jessica Sigsworth, Rebecca Rayner, Kirsty Hanson

Substitutes: Izzy Whittle for Rayner 82, Sophie Barker for Simpkins 90, Monique Watson for Sigsworth 90

Substitutes not used: Emily Batty.

Bookings: None

Red Cards: None