Lifeline for Doncaster Rovers Belles ahead of Sunday's huge relegation clash
Staying up or going down? The fate of Doncaster Rovers Belles will be decided over the next two Sundays, but in the worst case scenario they could be relegated this Sunday.
Belles face Chester-Le-Street Town in a very significant FA Women’s National League Division One North fixture at Retford FC’s SL2 Rail Stadium on Sunday (April 19) and they were handed a huge favour when their opponents lost 3-0 at neighbours Durham Cestria on Thursday night.
That result means Belles can now maintain their FAWNL status based on their own results, but only if they win both their remaining games. Belles visit Norton & Stockton Ancients in their final game of the season on Sunday, April 26.
Belles are currently in the higher of the two relegation places, two points behind Chester-Le-Street who in turn are just a point adrift of York City and it is one of these three teams who will be relegated along with Blackburn Rovers who will finish in bottom spot.
The ifs and buts are as follows:
Belles win both their remaining games - safety assured without having to rely on other results.
Belles lose to Chester-Le-Street and York avoid defeat in either of their two games before the final Sunday - relegation to the fifth is a mathematical certainty for Belles whose fixture at Norton is a dead rubber.
Belles draw vs Chester-Le-Street and it all hinges on the final Sunday when Belles would have to win and Chester-Le-Street lose. If Chester-Le-Street avoid defeat on the final day, then Belles’ escape options narrow to themselves winning at Norton and hoping York gain no more than a single point from their three remaining games.
If Belles beat Chester-Le-Street, it will then all hinge on the final Sunday when Belles would be a point ahead of Chester-Le-Street, with York’s place in the overall equation clearer this time next week.