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Belles

Belles 3 Long Eaton 1

19 February 2020

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Goals from Nadia Khan, Jasmine Saxton and Chloe Bethell helped the Belles to a 3-1 win over Long Eaton United on Wednesday night.

The win saw the Belles make it three wins from three since the turn of the year in the FAWNL Division One Midlands, with all victories coming at Oxford Street.

Nikki Emery's spot-kick threatened to get the visitors back into the game just after the interval after the Belles took a two-goal lead into the break, but Bethell's strike 20 minutes from time saw the Belles pick up another three points.

The Belles hit the front from the off with Khan trying her luck from the edge of the box with a half-volley, though her effort went wide of the post.

She would find the back of the net just two minutes later as the Belles went ahead on 14 minutes.

Saxton drove forward into the box and although she was tripped by visiting skipper Kat Clarke, she still managed to slot the ball under Merle Schmid and into the path of Khan who had the simplist of tasks by scoring into an empty net.

Sophie Scargill looked to put the Belles further in front five minutes later as she took aim from just outside the area, though this time Schmid was down well to turn the ball around the post with the shot looking destined for the bottom corner.

The Belles got their second just after the half-hour mark from the spot as Hannah McWilliams was fouled by Mille Fugler; Saxton stepped up to send Schmid the wrong way and grab her third goal in two games.

Emery tried her best to get Long Eaton back into the game straight away but unleashing an effort on goal from distance, but Ellie Sharpe was behind the ball all the way to make the save.

Shell Kilmartin was next to try her luck from distance, though she was unable to force Sharpe into a save, instead shooting wide of the post.

Clarke hit the crossbar in the last act of the first half from an Amy Wells corner as the visitors looked to find a way back into the game, though they wouldn't have to wait long after the interval to get that chance.

A handball in the Belles box was spotted by Georgia Ball and Emery stepped up to fire into the corner and reduce the deficit on 50 minutes.

The Belles though never looked like giving up their lead though and substitute Bethell would go close to grabbing the Belles' third after latching on to Kirsty Smith's through ball, forcing Schmid to make a smart save at her near post.

That combination would prove to be successful on 69 minutes however with Bethell putting the game to bed with a tidy finish.

Smith sliced through the Long Eaton defence with a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Bethell who took a touch to control before firing into the near post.

The visitors looked to add another goal to their tally late on through Fugler's free-kick from 30 yards out, but Sharpe was again behind the ball and the Belles would see the game out comfortably to claim a third league win in a row.

The Belles now face a trip to Leafield Athletic in the FAWNL Division One Midlands on Sunday as they look to maintain their good start to life under Andy Butler.


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