Belles will play at the Eco-Power stadium this Sunday as they host Lincoln City Women in a FAWNL Division 1 Midlands local derby.
The two teams met on the very first day of the season at the LNER stadium, home of Lincoln City FC, in an exciting end-to-end game and in front of a bumper crowd, and Belles are hoping for a similar response from the Doncaster public this weekend.
Seven goals were shared in that game, with goals from Sophie Brown, two penalties from Jess Andrew, and a late finish in added time from Halima Essa seeing Belles run out 4-3 winners to take the three points.
Belles are currently second in the league with Lincoln City one place behind in third. The visitors are on sixteen points from eleven games, with five wins, one draw and five defeats, with Belles two points above but with three games in hand. In their last five games in all competitions, the Imps have lost two but have won their last three games, including a 13-0 thumping of bottom club Long Eaton Utd and a 2-1 victory against Wem Town last Sunday.
Belles returned to winning ways in the league last Sunday, seeing off Leek Town 4-0 at Moorends in a bad tempered affair, and manager Nick Buxton is keen to continue where they left off in what he expects will be a keenly-contested derby.
Nick said:"Against Leek we didn't play as well as we could have done, but once we got on top we showed that we can be strong going forward and scored three quality goals and forced the foul for the penalty. I expect the Lincoln game to be as tough and exciting as the first game at the LNER - they have picked up in the last few games and have moved quickly up the league and will want to come away with the points, so it’s going to be a hard game. On the other hand, if we play to our many strengths we will cause them problems, and they will have to worry about how we are playing rather than the other way around.
"The game at the LNER was a fantastic advert for womens' football both in the quality of the football and the number of people attending the game. It shows what can be done if the will is there and we hope the people of Doncaster turn out in big numbers to support us this Sunday and hopefully we can play at the EcoPower more regularly.
Belles’ latest signing Leah Hardy returns against her previous club, having left Lincoln last month. Hardy scored for Lincoln against the Belles in that opening day 4-3 defeat for the Imps. A win for Belles will keep up the pressure on league leaders Stourbridge going into the Christmas break.
The game kicks off at 2pm at the Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster, DN4 5JW.
You can read more about the build up to the game here.
Tickets are on sale now, priced at £5 for adults and £1 for 17s and under.
Season ticket holders at Doncaster Rovers and Doncaster RLFC can buy adult tickets for £3 while junior season ticket holders will gain free entry.
A free ticket offer has been sent to schools in the area, with a voucher code to redeem at the Club Doncaster Box Office.
All discounted/free tickets (e.g. schools offer, Rovers and Dons season ticket holders) must be claimed before 4pm on Friday, December 9.
Tickets will be available to purchase on the day but will be at full price for all.
Parking at the Eco-Power Stadium for the game can be booked for £1.50.
To buy your tickets now, click HERE.
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