A Nadia Khan shot against the crossbar was perhaps the best chance for the Belles as they drew 0-0 against Peterborough United at the Idverde Training Ground in the FA WNL Division One Midlands.
Belles manager Andy Butler made two changes to the side that narrowly lost to Huddersfield Town in the County Cup, with Sophie Bell and Izzy Trevillion coming in for Emily Cahill and Freya Rattenbury.
The hosts were first to test the goal when a header by Katie Steward was superbly saved by Ellie Sharpe to her left-hand side. A few minutes later, Steward had a further chance to give Posh the lead when put clean through, but she put her effort wide with only Sharpe to beat.
The game opened up as both teams shared the early possession looking for the opening goal. On 15 minutes Andy Butler’s side came close to breaking the deadlock. A lovely pass by Trevillion found Saxton who turned her marker and set up the advancing Bell, but she fired her shot just over from 20 yards. At the other end, good build up play by the hosts again found Steward, but her shot from the edge of the box went well over the bar.
In an entertaining contest, both sides were moving the ball forward quickly: Peterborough with a more direct approach and the Belles building through midfield using their passing game. Both defences were also proving difficult to break down, though just before half-time a quick Belles counterattack saw Khan fire a shot from 20 yards out, only to see it take a deflection and hit the Posh crossbar on its way out for a corner.
Andy Butler made a tactical substitution at half time, with Cahill replacing Holly Housley, and Lauren Breen moving to left wing back.
The Belles started to dominate play and were on top in the early stages of the second period. They had two further chances to take the lead when on 65 minutes a Breen corner to the back post found Charlotte Dinsdale whose volley struck the foot of the post. Just sixty seconds later, a great cross by Bell down the right found Breen who got past her defender but fired her shot just over the bar.
For the rest of the half the play ebbed and flowed and remained tight, with both teams not lowering their intensity in the search for the winner, although clear cut chances were hard to come by as both defences stood firm.
However, the Posh almost stole the points deep into added time. Hannah McWilliams was harshly adjudged to have handled in the wall after having a free kick blast straight at her. The Belles were relieved to see the subsequent thunderous free kick by Katie Lowder cannon back off the post with the rebound going wide.
The draw sees the Belles extend their unbeaten league run to three games and keeps them in touching distance of the top spot with three games remaining.