Women's football: Belles beaten again as Breen bags a point for Rossington

Currently in the higher of the two relegation places, they have just over a third of their season to go with eight games remaining out of the scheduled 22 with arguably the most crucial being the home encounter against Chester-Le-Street Town on March 29 in a fixture which is a prime example of the proverbial ‘six-pointer’.

As the table stands, Belles are two places and three points adrift of Town with York City (nine games left) being two points better off than Belles. Belles are scheduled to play each Sunday in March with their home game against title-chasing Leeds United (postponed last Wednesday) needing a new date.

Last weekend’s results saw no change to the points tallies of the trio from whom one will join bottom club Blackburn Rovers (who need a miraculous transformation in fortunes if they are to stay up) in dropping down to the fifth tier.

York’s visit to Wythenshawe fell victim to a waterlogged pitch, while Belles lost 1-0 at Chorley where the hosts had a shot deflected onto a post in the opening stages before Belles themselves were twice denied by the woodwork - Charley Evans and Abi Coley the players thwarted. Chorley’s goal came early in the second half.

However, there was a hugely positive result for Belles elsewhere as Chester-Le-Street lost 3-2 at home to Blackburn who had gained just one point from their 15 games beforehand.

Belles are at home to Cheadle Town Stingers this Sunday. The game at Retford FC’s SL2 Rail Stadium brings recently-appointed Belles manager Dylan Wimbury up against his former team. Wimbury’s FAWNL record as Cheadle manager was impressive. They missed out on a second successive promotion when pipped to the title on goal difference by Middlesbrough last season, while they had all but assured themselves of safety this season when they won each of their first six games.

Their form has dipped since then, taking just seven points from seven games of which four ended in draws, so they remain a difficult team to beat and they are not out of the title equation, being just four points adrift of leaders Huddersfield Town.

Under Wimbury, Cheadle recorded a hat trick of 3-0 victories in their encounters against Belles who will be hoping to rectify matters this Sunday.

* Belles Under-21s exited the FAWNL Reserve Plate at the semi-final stage when beaten 3-1 at home by their Middlesbrough counterparts.

* Rossington Main produced a fine battling display to gain a point away to second place Handsworth in the North East Regional League Southern Division. A 1-1 draw was no less than Rossington deserved. Lauren Breen put them ahead after 31 minutes with a fine strike from a few yards outside the box and she was close to adding a second soon after.

Handsworth levelled on 82 minutes and Main keeper Faith Hodson had her busiest spell in the 13 minutes of stoppage time to preserve the point which bolstered Rossington’s mid-table position in their debut season at tier six.

* Sophie Vickers equalised for Rossington’s Reserves in their 1-1 draw at Edenthorpe, whose goal was scored by Jasmine MacDonald, in Sheffield & Hallamshire County League Division Two where Laura Ferguson 2, Holly Findlay and Tara Fisher were on target for Brodsworth Welfare in a 4-0 victory at Dearne & District. Scawthorpe Scorpions lost 2-1 at Maltby Juniors in Division Three.