Welfare Ground, Moorends, home of Club Thorne Colliery based in Doncaster, South Yorkshire and play their trade in the Central Midlands League. As of this season, it is now also home of Doncaster Rovers Belles who play in the Women’s National League Division One Midlands.
I certainly don’t have the best record of watching the Belles sadly… 3 games, 3 losses and no goals scored… Surely tonight will put an end to that? New season, new beginnings!
Tonight the Belles face Sheffield FC Women in the first league game of the season and Match Days Joe has kindly invited me to be his co-commentator tonight for Switch Sport Radio! How about it!
Training duties are done for the night… Although a little early as I head through Hillsborough to Grenoside, onto the M1, onto the M18 and off into Thorne which sees me here with around 25 minutes to go until kick off.
Free entry for me at this game! VIP! Match Days Joe is all setup and here is my view for the game along with the commentary dream team!
The players take their long walk out to the pitch from the dressing rooms to a huge applause! The Women’s game is on the rise! A very good attendance at Thorne here tonight! The Bell is ringing which means it’s time for only one thing…
Kick Off! 5 minutes in and Belles play a long ball forward, Sophie Brown gets to it and she gets into the box on the right, she shoots… Good piece of defending there from the Sheffield defender as she gets something on the ball and the keeper collects comfortably.
11th minute and the Belles play a ball over the top again to Sophie Brown, a bit of pace from her now as she drives into the box on the right, she gets a shot away at a tight angle… Keeper saves! Had to be saved though.
It’s an end to end affair here so far but Belles looking the more likely just but both teams are defending well here, it’s going to take something special to break each other down you feel. 25 minutes now and Belles come forward from the left, Halima Essa brings the ball down well and plays it through to Shannon Durkin in the box, she shoots… Good defending again from Sheffield as the defender gets something on the shot to help the keeper.
36th minute and Sheffield FC come forward now, Tiana Hicks has the ball from around 35 yards out, she goes for goal… OH WHAT A GOAL!!! WHAT! A! GOAL! THAT! IS!! Out of absolutely nothing! A sensational strike from Hicks dips into the top corner! No goalkeeper in the world could save that! An absolute beauty! Sheffield FC lead! 0-1!
43rd minute and here come the Belles now, Olivia Harness has the ball from around 30 yards out, she’s going to try her luck… OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! UNBELIEVABLE!! Anything you can do I can do better!! It’s another SENSATIONAL strike from range!! It dipped over the keeper and rattles the net! The first time I’ve ever seen the Belles score! Was it worth it? YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT WAS!! Belles are level! 1-1!
Right on half time now and the Belles win a free kick on the by line on the right hand side, Jess Andrew will take and she plays it into the middle… Ooooooh! So close! It nearly went all the way in like Ronaldinho’s free kick against England back in 2002 but it’s just wide and that is the last action of what was a great first half with the score at 1-1.
Second half… Half-time analysis done and we are back underway, 54th minute and Tiana Hicks has been brought down and Sheffield have a free kick from around 35 yards… But Hicks is staying down and the physios are on. It’s not looking good for Hicks as play is stopped and she will need stretching off… Horrible when it happens! Let’s hope for a speedy recovery! Alex O’Neill takes the free kick… Off the wall! Played into the middle… The flag is up! Offside!
A very scrappy game this half with both teams not creating anything sadly…
87th minute now and the Belles have a free kick on the left from around 35 yards out, Jess Andrew will take, she goes for goal… OH! Tipped onto the bar by the keeper! So close again from Andrew!
Into the 90th minute and the Belles are pressing for the winner here! They have it on the right and it’s played into the middle… Oh dear! The Sheffield defender has leaned into that… PENALTY! Right at the death! I have to agree with the Referee there! You can’t lean in like that! The fans ecstatic but can the Belles finish the job? Jess Andrew steps up… YES! She buries the spot kick and the Belles have the lead!! 2-1!
Can the Belles hang on here…? Yes they can! Game over! It’s a massive 3 points for the Belles which could prove to be vital in their season. Manager Andy Butler is here to give his thoughts on his teams performance.
FT: Doncaster Rovers Belles 2-1 Sheffield FC Women
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 3/10 – Great crowd in tonight! A few cheers and jeers here and there but great to see a good number in.
- The Ground: 8/10 – As good as it’s ever been for me!
- Expense: 10/10 – Free!!
- Overall Experience: 9/10 – I had a great time on the mic tonight! Great to see Match Days Joe as always and a great game! Just wish the second half was a little bit better though…
30/40