The Eco-Power Stadium, the setting for tonight’s Sheffield FA Women’s County Cup Final between Doncaster Rovers Belles and Huddersfield Town Women.
It’s been a long time coming has this game after the Belle’s Semi-Final win over Barnsley Women. Me and Match Days Joe will be on commentary for Switch Sport for tonight’s game! We both oversaw the Quarter Final where the Belles won 4-0 against Kiveton Park Ladies but tonight is the big one!
Work is done for the day and now it’s the short journey over to Doncaster from Barnsley down the A635 onto the A1 and into the stadium car park.
Match Days Joe is here already so for me it’s through reception? This is all very official! A press pass as well! Through the tunnel and into the commentary box! What a view this is!
It certainly makes you appreciate the job that is commentary that’s for sure! A healthy crowd is starting to arrive here which is great to see in the Women’s game! The teams are out for their warm ups and we are live on Switch Sport with Commentator Kev on the other side. The warm ups are done and the crowd is getting bigger and bigger!
Out come the teams and it’s a mini wall of noise for the Belles who have outnumbered the Huddersfield support here tonight you have to say! The teams are ready and so are we! Is it 5 in a row for Huddersfield or is it a first win in 13 years for the Belles?
Kick Off! 7 minutes in and the Belles play it to Sophie Scargill on the right, great skill and she gets a cross in, keeper doesn’t get there and it falls for Abi Coley to hit it towards goal… OH! It’s off the line! She didn’t quite get enough on it and it’s cleared by Huddersfield. So close!
1 minute later and it’s Huddersfield down the right, it’s played across low… Oooooh! Izzy Trevillion gets there to deny a certain goal! Great defending!
16th minute now and it’s a Huddersfield throw in on the right in their own half, it’s played back to the keeper… Oh dear! Sophie Brown might get there… The keeper gets there… And she just about claims the loose ball, close!
31 minutes on the clock and Huddersfield get the ball into the box from the right, it’s headed down for Britt Sanderson and she gets a shot away… OH! It’s a brilliant save! Ellie Sharpe got down quickly to stop Sanderson scoring a certain goal!
41 minutes now and the Belles come forward, it comes for Lindsey Tugby and she shoots from 25 yards… OH! It’s tipped onto the bar and over for a corner! So close again! The corner is whipped in… And cleared by Huddersfield. A great first half for the Belles but it’s 0-0 at half time.
Second half, 54th minute and Huddersfield have started the second half as the better team. They play down the right, it’s played to Britt Sanderson who gets into the box and shoots for the near post… Side netting!
66th minute and it’s a corner for Huddersfield, in it comes… Britt Sanderson with the header… IT’S IN! Ellie Sharpe can’t keep it out and Huddersfield have the lead here! 5 in a row is on! 0-1!
The Belles need a response now! Can they replicate their first half form? 80th minute and the Belles play a long ball into the box, Abi Coley might get there, she does as the keeper misses it… She plays it back for Lindsey Tugby to shoot… It’s over! Weaker foot didn’t help there…
Into stoppage time now and it’s a free kick on the halfway line for the Belles, they’ve got to get it into the box, it’s lumped forward, it’s cleared by Huddersfield… That’s it! Huddersfield have won it! 5 in a row! The winless run in this competition goes on for the Belles… Huddersfield proving to be just too strong in the end!
A show of appreciation from the fans to the 2 teams as they collect their respective medals but it’s all about Huddersfield as Howard Webb presents the trophy to the champions: HUDDERSFIELD TOWN WOMEN!
FT: Doncaster Rovers Belles 0-1 Huddersfield Town Women
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 7/10 – A really nice atmosphere here today! A lovely family friendly atmosphere set by 500 odd fans here tonight!
- Build-Up: 4/10 – Not bad!
- Expense: 10/10 – £0!
- Overall Experience: 9/10 – Really enjoyed being a part of the press here tonight with Match Days Joe! I would’ve loved to see the Belles win though personally.
30/40