Doncaster Rovers Belles climb to third after crucial victory over Lincoln

Doncaster Rovers Belles recorded a key 3-0 home victory over Lincoln Women as they stretched their unbeaten East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League Premier Division start to four games.

Belles began the game in fourth place, a point behind Lincoln and finished it in third place, behind Loughborough Foxes on goal difference.

Jess Frick finished off a flowing move by dinking the ball over the keeper from six yards to put Belles ahead on 15 minutes. A close game ensued until the latter stages when Charlotte Gowlett doubled the lead on 84 minutes and she added her second in stoppage time. How important that goal could prove in the final table remains to be seen, but based on recent seasons whichever team finishes as champions only drops points in a handful of games.

As the table stands, if Belles, who have eight points, are to achieve their objective of winning the title and returning to the FA Women’s National League, they will most likely have to gain maximum points from their remaining 14 games which includes both meetings against leaders Mansfield Town.

Town extended their 100% start to five games, all without conceding a goal, when winning 4-0 at Stamford AFC and they have a significant fixture this Sunday when they play host to Loughborough. On paper, that is one of the few games where Belles can realistically expect other teams to take points off Mansfield.

Belles, themselves, can only sit back and await that result as they will be engaged in League Cup action, at home to Pride Park. Belles then have a County Cup tie the following Sunday before returning to League action on 22nd November.

It is quite likely that Belles’ crunch encounters against Mansfield will be among their last few games. Given the player turnover in the close season as well as a punctuated pre-season, it may well suit Belles for those games to be so timed.

Rossington Main suffered their first defeat in this season’s North East Women’s Regional Football League Southern Division campaign when they went down 2-0 at Altofts, a result which saw them drop one place to sixth. Rossington’s Reserves were also beaten 2-0, at home to Brinsworth Whitehill in Sheffield & Hallamshire Women’s County League Division Two.

Brodsworth Main Development were 4-0 home winners over Barlborough in Division Four where they stay in second place, a point behind Courage FC Development. Sophie Smith bagged a hat trick, as she opened the scoring and then netted twice late in the second half, while Lucie Smith was also on the mark for a 2-0 interval lead

Lyssa Brearley and Isabelle Hutchison scored for Scawthorpe Scorpions in their 4-2 home defeat to New Lodge.

Rossington FC won 4-2 at Kinsley Ladies to strengthen their position as Division Five leaders thanks to goals by Katie Clarke, Amelia Kamil, Katie Paton and an opponent. Rossington have 18 points from 8 games, a lead of 11 points over second place Bramley Stingers who have had six points deducted for fielding an ineligible player.

Brodsworth Main resume their Division One fixtures this Sunday, away to Millmoor Juniors, while their Development team are away to Courage FC Development. Rossington Main play host to Evolution.