Brodsworth land exciting cup draw - at home to Belles

Brodsworth Main have hit what can only be described as a proverbial jackpot in the Women’s FA Cup as they have been drawn at home to Belles. Holly Findlay, Holly Housley and Lindsay Tugby are three former Belles players in the Brodsworth ranks that will have a point to prove as the team look to continue their cup run.

The exciting draw comes following a weekend of joy for Brodsworth Main who secured an emphatic 6-2 win in their first round qualifying tie at FC Farsley.

Brodsworth trailed 2-1 at the interval, Laura Ferguson’s goal sandwiched by Farsley’s goals. The second half saw Brodsworth back on level terms through Holly Findlay and then ahead through Ferguson’s second by the hour mark.

Bella Dean made it 4-2 with a fine strike and any hopes Farsley had of a dramatic salvage job were well and truly ended by goals in the closing minutes by Findlay and Jody Clarkson.

So, seventh tier Brodsworth progressed against higher ranked opposition from the North East Regional League Southern Division for the second round running.

Also important for the longer term development of the women’s section at Brodsworth is the money from the prize fund for progressing. Victory at Farsley secured £1,800 to go with the £1,000 Brodsworth received for their victory over Thackley AFC.

Elsewhere, Rossington Main’s hopes of advancing away to lower ranked Silsden were effectively dashed when a dismissal reduced them to ten players midway through the first half with the score at 1-1. Lauren Breen netted both Rossington’s goals in an eventual 4-2 defeat.

Meanwhile, Belles began life in the fifth tier as they attempt to regain their place in the FA Women’s National League at the first time of asking.

Their East Midlands Regional League Premier Division debut pitted them at home to their closest geographical opponents in SJR Worksop. A 2-2 draw with both Belles goals, by debutants Bradie Wild and Jess Frick, who netted the equaliser in stoppage time, earned Belles, who created enough chances, a point which had looked like eluding them. SJR were disappointed at having victory snatched from their grasp by Frick, a product of Belles youth ranks.

Last season Belles only avoided defeat after trailing in a league game on two occasions. Belles will be looking to take the momentum from their strong finish into this Sunday’s away game at Grimsby Town Academy.

Grimsby were promoted as Division One North champions in the spring and to mark their return to tier five, the game is being staged at Blundell Park. Early season results have proved crucial to the eventual Premier Division champions over the last several seasons. While Belles - buoyed by salvaging a point, will face opponents who will be in confident mood after they started the season with a 5-0 victory at Gainsborough Trinity

The opening round of fixtures in the 26-27 Sheffield & Hallamshire Women’s County League included a competitive debut for Rossington FC who recorded a 6-2 victory at Bramley Stingers in the newly formed Division Five.

Summer Pearson netted Rossington’s first goal and she ended the first half with a hat trick under her belt after the hosts had levelled at 1-1. Pearson added two more after the interval withEve Micklethwaite also scoring for Rossington.

Rossington Main Reserves, for whom Beth Dews, Alana Hartley and Sophie Vickers were on target , drew 3-3 at Sheffield Wednesday Reserves in Division Two.

Jill Edmonds 2 and Sophie Smith were the scorers for Brodsworth Main Development in a 3-0 win at New Lodge, both teams making the competitive in Division Four where Alyssa Brearley netted for Scawthorpe Scorpions in a 2-1 home defeat to Courage FC.

This Sunday’s fixtures also include: Ilkley Town v Rossington Main, Rossington Main Reserves v Kiveton Park, Wickersley Youth v Edenthorpe, New Lodge v Scawthorpe and Rossington FC v Kinsley.