Doncaster Rovers Belles 0-9 Liverpool Ladies

Doncaster Rovers Belles suffered their second heavy defeat this week when they lost 9-0 to Liverpool Ladies, a game in which the visitors led 7-0 by half-time.

Liverpool got off to a flyer. Three minutes in Amanda Da Costa’s effort was denied by the crossbar, before captain Gemma Bonner blasted in the rebound.

It got worse for Doncaster soon after. Nicole Rosler was fouled by Victoria Williams from behind when bearing down on Nicola Davies. Williams was last the defender so was promptly dismissed for her troubles. Louise Fors stepped up to take the resulting spot-kick, left-footed she slotted, unnerved, into the bottom-right corner, sending Davies the wrong way.

Down to ten players, the Belles failed to readjust and after waves of the Merseysider’s attack, Davies was beaten again after twenty-one minutes. After some neat passing build-up, Fara Williams slid a perfect ball through to Corina Schroder who beat the offside trap, before pulling back to Natasha Dowie, situated on the penalty spot, who slotted home the third.

It was 3-0 for only seconds. Millie Bright misjudged a challenge on Da Costa in the box, and Dowie stepped up for the resulting penalty. She opted for the bottom left-corner, and although the keeper dived the right way, the kick was perfectly placed.

Liverpool’s next two goals were distance shots. Fara Williams first struck with a low effort into the bottom right corner; she scored again with a stunning blast which flew into the top-left of the goal, five minutes later. 6-0.

 Liverpool were certainly showing why they had been tipped by many to win the title, whilst Doncaster were definitely rocked. Nicola Rosler went beyond Leandra Little as if she wasn’t there before sliding it back to Dowie, who netted her hat-trick. 

The visitors knew the job was done and produced a more relaxed second half-performance, and they waited thirty-minutes before adding to their tally. Nicole Rosler cut inside from left and hit a stunning right-footed effort into the corner of the goal. Nine minutes prior to this Doncaster had lost Bethany England to injury subsequently creating seven minutes added time. Liverpool completed the scoring in the third minute of the stoppage time period. Lucy Bronze pulled the ball back from the byline, before Kate Longhurt smoothly made it Doncaster Belles 0-9 Liverpool Ladies.

Doncaster Belles Team: Nicola Davies, Lyndsey Cunningham, Naomi Chadwick, Leandra Little ©, Kasia Lipka, Sue Smith, Millie Bright, Bethany England, Victoria Williams, Ashleigh Mills, Rhiannon Roberts. Subs: Emma Higgins, Julie Melrose, Danni Cox, Emma Johnson, Lauren Cresswell, Lucy Sowerby.

Liverpool Ladies: Rachael Laws, Whitney Engen, Fara Williams, Gemma Bonner ©, Lucy Bronze, Katrin Omarsdottir, Natasha Dowie, Louise Fors, Nicole Rosley, Amanda Da Costa, Corina Schroder. Subs: Sarah Quantrill, Becky Easton, Samantha Chappell, Sophia Roccio, Jess Holbrock, Sarah Gregorius, Kate Longhurt