Julian Barker with a comprehensive round-up of the latest Women’s Football talking points

Doncaster Rovers Belles drew 1-1 at home to Loughborough Foxes in a potentially significant East Midlands Women’s Regional League Premier Division match on Sunday.

Betty Cheetham headed the Belles goal from a centre by captain Ruby Jex-Oldfield. As was expected the game was a close encounter.

Loughborough were runners up last season and one of the teams I expect to finish in the top four next spring. The others are Belles, Lincoln Women and Mansfield Town.

Both Holly Housley (Brodsworth Main) and Betty Cheetham (Doncaster Rovers Belles) were on target for their respective teams | Julian Barker

placeholder image — Both Holly Housley (Brodsworth Main) and Betty Cheetham (Doncaster Rovers Belles) were on target for their respective teams | Julian Barker

The last two had won both their opening games before Sunday when Mansfield’s 1-0 win at Lincoln moved them three points clear at the top, with Belles in third place on five points.

Belles now face three successive Sundays of Cup action beginning against Workington Town in the Women’s FA Cup. That is followed by a home tie against Handsworth in the East Midlands League Cup. Then it is second round action in the Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA Cup action (draw not made at the time of writing).

October ends with the first round proper of the Women’s FA Cup (if Belles progress) or a scheduled League game against Mansfield (if they were also to lose next Sunday).

Brodsworth Main booked their place in the County Cup second round following a 3-1 home win over Dinnington Town. Holly Housley, Holly Findlay and Jess Tate were on target to forge a three goal interval lead with Dinnington reducing the arrears in the second half.

Rossington Main made it two wins from two in the North East Women’s Regional League Southern Division, returning from their trip to FC Farsley with a 4-2 win under their belts thanks to a hat trick by Lauren Breen and single from Amy O’Brien.

Breen, second top scorer in the Division last season, is well placed to go one better this time around. She netted five times in Rossington’s opening League game.

Rossington, the only 100% team left in the Division, lie third but with games in hand on both the unbeaten teams above them.

Brodsworth Main Development more than doubled their pre-match goals for tally with a 14-1 victory at West End Terriers in the Sheffield & Hallam Women’s County League Division Four.

Lucie Smith was top scorer with 5, followed by Sophie Smith 4, Amy Lyons 3, Brooke McGonnell and Elyse Thornton. They top the table with maximum points from the first three games.

Scawthorpe Scorpions gained their first points, winning 7-2 at Sheffield Medics. Lyssa Brearley bagged a hat trick, with Molly Thrustle 2, Ruby Burke and Isabelle Hutchison also on the mark.

Rossington FC dropped their first points of the season in Division Five. Hayley Briggs was their scorer in a 3-1 defeat at Bramley Stingers whose win moved them three points clear at the top of the table.

This Sunday’s fixtures: Doncaster Rovers Belles v Workington Town, Rossington Main v Lower Hopton, Handsworth Reserves v Brodsworth Main, Brinsworth Whitehill v Rossington Main Reserves, Dronfield Town Development v Edenthorpe, Frickley Athletic 2nd XI v Brodsworth Main Development, West End Terriers v Scawthorpe Scorpions, Rossington FC v Bramley Stingers