A Courtney Sweetman-Kirk double helped Doncaster Rovers Belles overcome a resilient Yeovil side, who will be disappointed to have not picked up their first points of the new season.
The Belles striker took advantage of a rare mistake from Yeovil’s Helen Bleazard to open the scoring, after an under hit back pass allowed her a free run at goal.
Bleazard soon made up for her monumental error, beating defender Lauren Cresswell with ease and chipping a delightful cross in to the box for Paige Stewart, who smashed the ball home for the equaliser.
The first half started lively with the visitors having some promising chances early on, the best of which fell to Corinne Yorston, who hit a sweet volley which was expertly tipped over the bar by woman of the match Nicola Hobbs in the Belles net.
It took 30 minutes before the Belles registered an effort on target – Leandra Little’s header hitting the bar from a Sophie Barker corner.
Eventually the deadlock was broken on 39 minutes when Bleazard gifted Sweetman-Kirk her third goal in as many games.
The Belles’ lead didn’t last long however, and Stewart got the goal Yeovil thoroughly deserved 5 minutes later.
The high tempo continued after the break with chances for Sue Smith and Bethany England for the hosts, before Little almost put past her own keeper to give Yeovil the lead, after a dangerous Yorston cross.
England then went close again, poking the ball just wide as the game entered the final twenty minutes – a period in which Yeovil dominated.
Belles keeper Hobbs was worked relentlessly in the closing stages, having to claim corner after corner to keep the visitors from finding the winner.
Arguably against the run of play, the deciding goal came with 5 minutes to go after some neat play in the Belles midfield allowed Sweetman-Kirk to find space on the right.
The 24 year-old played a neat one-two with Emily Roberts before unleashing an unstoppable left-footed effort which sailed past Yeovil keeper Charlotte Haynes.
A few last-ditch chances went begging for Yeovil before Reanne Thomas thought she had sealed the victory for Rovers, only to be flagged offside after the ball had found the back of the net.
The win made it two from two in the league for Glen Harris’ side who travel to Aston Villa next on April 5.
