Both Reading and Doncaster Rovers Belles continued their domination of WSL2 with easy wins over Durham and Watford, respectively. Reading remain top with a four goal advantage over Doncaster. Both sides have 25 points from their 10 matches. The leading pair now sit 9 points above the chasing pack.
A brace from Emma Follis helped WSL2 leaders Reading comfortably beat Durham 3-0. Royals’ captain Kirsty McGee put the hosts ahead after 13 minutes before Follis netted either side of half time to make sure of the points.
The Wildcats left McGee unmarked from a corner and the Reading skipper powered a header that was too powerful for Durham keeper Helen Alderson. Reading pressed for a second and came close when Lois Roche struck the bar from a 30 yard free kick.
The Royals did double their lead just before half time. Follis getting on the end of a Laura-May Walkley pass, beating Alderson to the ball before finally tapping into an empty net.
Follis added a third on 71 minutes touching in from close range after Nicola Watts’ driving run caused chaos in the Durham defence. Alderson prevented an own goal from her own defender but Follis was ready on the spot to pounce on the loose ball.
Reading boss Kelly Chambers spoke of her delight at the workmanship of her squad. “I’ve got a great group of 22 players that I know I can put anywhere in my starting XI and they’ll perform for me.”
Meanwhile in Doncaster, the Belles put 5 past bottom of the table Watford. Debutant Jade Lorton-Radburn was amongst the scorers as Sue Smith, Bethany England and Courtney Sweetman-Kirk also netted.
Former England international turned part-time pundit Sue Smith curled a perfectly placed free kick into the top corner from 30 yards after 4 minutes to open the scoring.
Lorton-Radburn then bravely headed in Doncaster’s second. The midfielder signed for the Belles during the mid-season break. The former Yeovil and Bristol player beat Watford keeper Shayla Burgess to the ball to meet Sophie Barker’s deep cross.
The Belles continued their first half domination when Sweetman-Kirk converted after Burgess had spilled Sue Smith’s deflected cross. Sweetman-Kirk then added her second and Doncaster’s fourth, finding the top corner with a powerful shot across the keeper.
The second half didn’t provide Watford with any respite as Doncaster piled on more pressure. Bethany England curled in a beautiful finish on 54 minutes to make it 5. England has now scored 5 goals in 10 appearances this season.
New signing Jade Lorton-Radburn spoke after the game about the joys of scoring in her first game for Doncaster Rovers Belles. “I really enjoyed playing and I guess getting a goal on my debut kind of topped that off as well.”
She added, “The atmosphere around the club is great, they’re setting out to get promoted this year, and every person throughout the squad wants to work hard for that to happen.”
