Julian Barker with a round-up of all the weekend’s talking points from Doncaster Belles, Brodsworth Main and Rossington Main

Doncaster Rovers Belles have made an encouraging start to what they hope will be a short-lived stay in the fifth tier of women’s football that is the East Midlands Regional League Premier Division. They carried on against Grimsby Town from where they left off in their opening game against SJR Worksop.

Two late goals against Worksop salvaged a point after trailing 2-0 and Nat Shaw gave them an early lead against newly promoted Grimsby, who were unbeaten last season, in a game played before an attendance of 689 at Blundell Park.

The Belles in action against Grimsby | Howard Roe

placeholder image — The Belles in action against Grimsby | Howard Roe

Grimsby levelled through Beth Wharton to send the teams in level at the interval. Belles all but wrapped up the points with three goals in the opening ten minutes of the second half. Imogen Burnley, Betty Cheetham and Ruby Jex-Oldfield struck in a purple patch.

Cheetham added her second with just 20 minutes left and Taylah Charlton completed the scoring with her first goal in Belles’ colours in the last ten minutes.

Belles manager Lee Mitchell is hoping to lead the team to a successful season. | Julian Barker

The final score edged out the 5-0 Belles registered in their second game of last season, but Belles scored just 12 goals in their other 21 League games as they were relegated from the FA Women’s National League.

Belles supporters have had to endure some lean times over the past few years. Truly positive results have been strictly rationed. Will the 2026-27 season see firm foundations laid in the rebuild in the club’s quest to regain former glory?

The early signs offer much promise. In Lee Mitchell they have a manager who knows the East Midlands scene very well.

So, Belles have four points from their opening two games and they lie third in the table with the two teams - Mansfield Town and Lincoln Women - above them both on maximum points. That pair along with Loughborough Foxes Vixens, who have four points, can rightly be considered serious rivals to Belles in the quest for the title and sole promotion place.

Belles host Loughborough in their next League game on Sunday 27th September, but before then there is this Sunday’s all-Doncaster clash away to Brodsworth Main in the Women’s FA Cup second round qualifying. Belles used Brodsworth’s Welfare Ground, as their home venue in the early years this century and there is expected to be a healthy crowd on Sunday to see if underdogs Brodsworth can cause an upset against their near neighbours who boast an illustrious record in the competition.

With three former Belles players - Holly Findlay, Holly Housley and Lindsey Tugby - in the Brodsworth team, the tie has several of the ingredients to make it arguably the tie of the round.

Rossington Main began their North East Regional League Southern Division fixtures with a 7-5 win at Ilkley Town. Former Belles striker Lauren Breen, the Division’s second highest scorer last term, could well go one better in 26-27. She made a fine start with five of Rossington’s tally. Louise Harris and Alice Linsell were the other scorers.

Rossington’s Reserves were also goal hungry in their Sheffield & Hallamshire Women’s County League Division Two encounter at home to Kiveton Park where they finished 8-0 winners thanks to goals by Beth Dews 2, Bethan Wallace 2, Millie Guest, Alana Hartley, Megan Jones and Sophie Vickers.

Rossington FC made it two wins from two in Division Five. Summer Pearson followed her opening game five goal haul with four in the 7-2 home victory over Kinsley Ladies. Susanne Chibeba, Katie Clarke and Sarah Lavender-McGhie were the others on target.