The Belles suffered only their second defeat of manager Ciaran Toner’s reign as they slipped to a 2-1 reverse at Chester-le-Street Town.
Jasmine Saxton netted her 20th goal of the campaign late in the game but the Belles could not find a leveller as the run of four straight wins was brought to an end at Moor Park.
Ellie Sharpe made a superb save to push away Molly Wilcock’s powerful low drive to the near post from the corner of the box as Chester-le-Street started the stronger.
Jenny Ashton fired straight at Sharpe moments later before Rhiannon Gray went close with an attempted lob.
The hosts continued to look the more dangerous and Katie Ellison rattled the woodwork after the Belles failed to clear a free kick into the box.
The Belles finished the half the strong and Saxton almost put them ahead after dispossessing Chester-le-Street keeper Paris Banks only to fire narrowly wide.
Chester-le-Street took the lead two minutes into the second half. Erin Third smashed a shot off the crossbar from distance with Ashton darting in to head home the rebound.
The response from Belles was good and Hannah McWilliams dropped a header narrowly wide from an Arianne Parnham cross.
But they suffered a setback when Lindsey Tugby-Andrew was sent to the sin bin for ten minutes.
Sharpe denied Ashton after she had latched into a cross from Jasmin Badillo.
And the hosts extended their advantage as Gray drilled in from 30 yards.
The Belles pulled a goal back two minutes from time when Saxton superbly brought down a cross from Lilli-Mae Broadhurst and fired beyond Banks.
Belles: Sharpe, Johnson, J Tugby-Andrew, Yates (Broadhurst), Housley, Parnham, Gigg (Abadi), L Tugby-Andrew, McWilliams, Sneddon (Barlow), Saxton. Subs not used: Rattenbury, Morris.