Premier Division leaders Sunderland Ladies returned to league action for the first time since mid December but came undone as they
lost a closely contested game at Doncaster Belles.
The visitors looked rusty early on and took a while to settle as Doncaster
dominated the play and keeper Rachael Laws was on hand to prevent the Belles from taking the lead. Sunderland eventually got into
their stride as Sophie Williams set up Kelly McDougall but Hourihan saved well. Laws was again called into action as Exley went clear
on goal and Steph Bannon completed the clearance.
HT...Doncaster Belles 0 vs 0 Sunderland
The swirling wind was making play difficult for both sides but Doncaster were delivering the more fluent football as Williams, Hamilton and Exley went close.
The home side eventually made the breakthrough after 74 mins following a long through ball which Rachael Williams latched onto to
beat Laws with a shot across the face of the goal. The Wearsiders came close following McDougall’s in swinging corner as a Demi Stokes
effort was beaten away and Bannon’s follow up was scrambled clear. The Belles made the game safe 2 mins from time following hesitancy
in the Sunderland defence as Doncaster went on the counter attack and Williams again capitalised sliding the ball past Laws into the
corner of the goal. The visitors pulled a goal back in the final minute as Bannon forced the ball home from close in following a corner.
However as skipper Bannon had retrieved the ball and was making her way back to the centre circle, an incident occurred involving
a Doncaster player which was not seen by any of the officials. As a result the only action taken was the sending off of Sunderland's
captain, much to the dismay of the visitors.
FT ...Doncaster Belles 2 vs 1 Sunderland
Sunderland...Laws,
Holmes, Bannon, Wilson, Devine, Bronze, McDougall, Nobbs, Stokes, Gutteridge(Danby), Williams.
Subs (not used)... Alderson, Greenwell,
Christon.
Manager Mick Mulhern was disappointed after the game...”Unfortunately we never really got going today and were obviously rusty after such a long layoff. However I can take some positives. We never gave up and were creating chances right up until the last minute. Little mistakes cost us dearly at both ends and I honestly believe our efforts deserved a share of the points.”