The Belles kick the new year off on the road this Sunday (January 7) as they travel to Leeds United for a first Yorkshire derby of 2024 at the Bannister Prentice Community Stadium.
It will be the first time Ciaran Toner takes to the away dugout in National League Division One North and he will be looking to make it back-to-back league wins.
Last time out the Belles backed up a 13-0 cup win over Millmoor Juniors Development with a 2-1 league victory over Chorley to move up to eighth place.
That success over the Magpies saw a 35-yard strike from skipper Jess Tugby-Andrew before Jasmine Saxton netted a second-half winner at the Eco-Power Stadium.
This weekend’s hosts sit six points ahead of the Belles in fifth place but are on a winless streak in the league that stretches back to October.
The Whites have however enjoyed both 7-1 and 6-2 wins in the Women’s FA Cup over Chester and West Didsbury & Cholton respectively before losing out to Darwen in the second round proper.
The Belles will be out for revenge this weekend with the last meeting between the two sides ending in a 3-1 defeat for the Belles at the Iqbal Poultry Stadium despite Ella Mortimer’s late strike in front of a 300-strong crowd.
Jasmine Saxton will be looking to close in on double figures for the season this Sunday after scoring in her last two matches to take her own personal tally to eight for the season.
Leeds has a prolific scorer of their own though with Jessica Rousseau currently sat second in the divisions goalscoring charts with 14 goals in 15 appearances.
For those fans backing the Belles this Sunday, the address is: Bannister Prentice Community Stadium, LS25 2PF.
If you can’t make the trip over to West Yorkshire this weekend, you only have to wait until next Sunday, January 14 to see the Belles back on home soil as they welcome Stockport County to the Iqbal Poultry Stadium.
Tickets for the Belles first home game of 2024 are priced at £4 for adults, £3 for 14-17-year-olds and £1 for under 13s. To purchase, please click HERE.