Belles bounce back from a thriller against Durham Cestria to see off Sheffield FC 1-0 at the Home of Football Ground.
A frustrating first half with the rain coming down there was very little of slick football being played. At times it was scrappy however, the Belles were able to get into their stride and created their first real opportunity through a corner by Jess Andrew which was met by Hannah McWilliams, she saw her header float just wide.
The best chance of the first half fell to Jess Price. Some great work by Sophie Bell down the right-hand side, she fed through the ball to Price who saw her shot ran just wide of Sheffield FC’s left post.
Sticking to the diamond paid off for Andy Butler’s team as they limited Sheffield to long range shots that were easily taken care of by Ellie Sharpe in the goal. Full backs were working well with the wingers which was a key element all game.
The Belles started the better in the second half and on 57 minutes they took the lead. The Belles winning the ball back in their own half, Sharpe’s long clearance found Lilly Harrison, who threaded a ball through to Jasmine Saxton. She cooly rounded the Sheffield keeper to slot it home. That’s four goals in her last three games for the Belles, hitting form at the right time.
Switching to a flat 4-4-2 in the second half made the Belles look more solid and were able to see out a 1-0 to take back to Doncaster.
The Belles play their final pre-season fixture on August 8 as they travel to West Yorkshire to face Leeds United for the Julie Chipchase memorial, before their first league game away to Burton Albion a week away Sunday August 15.