Doncaster Rovers Belles get a flier in WSL Spring Series but Sheffield FC Ladies lose at home

Doncaster Rovers Belles got off to a perfect start in the FA WSL Spring Series with a comfortable 4-1 win over early league leaders London Bees.
Courtney Sweetman-Kirk bagged a brace for  Belles.  Photo by Glenn Ashley PhotographyCourtney Sweetman-Kirk bagged a brace for  Belles.  Photo by Glenn Ashley Photography
Courtney Sweetman-Kirk bagged a brace for Belles. Photo by Glenn Ashley Photography

A brace from Courtney Sweetman-Kirk, a first for the club from Christie Murray and a sensational Emily Simpkins strike were enough to seal the three points for Belles in their first match of the Spring Series.

Courtney Sweetman-Kirk said: “It was a nice way to start – it’s been a nightmare for me so it’s nice to be back at the Keepmoat and scoring goals again.

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“Last season was tough for the girls and it was even worse watching from the sidelines and we’ve worked hard on building that confidence back up.

“Winning 4-1 against a side top of the league is a good way to do that, we needed it against a top side and it was comprehensive, which is good for us.

“We wanted to make a statement, score some goals and put in a good performance.”

* Belles (4-3-3): Davies; Newborough, Little, Tierney, Pacheco; Simpkins, Lipka, Barker; Murray, Sweetman-Kirk, Hanson. Subs: Rayner for Newborough 60, Bakowska-Mathews for Murray 71

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Sheffield Ladies FC manager Zoe Johnson called on her squad to pick themselves up after a disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Everton, who are the only team to have won all their games in the FA WSL 2 Spring Series.

Sheffieldlooked like getting a point 1o minutes from time when Sherry McCue equalised Claudia Walker’s opener, but the visitors clinched things with their next attack, Ellie Gilliatt put the ball into her own net from close range as she tried to clear a cross.

Johnson called on her squad to pick themselves up after a disappointing defeat.

“Out of possession we haven’t been up for the battle, we haven’t won any first or second balls, the girls have got to really come back and show some real grit, determination and desire to get results.”

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* Sheffield: Draycott, Jackson, McCue, Murphy, Gilliatt, Ward, Lord-Mears, Cain, Makin (Davies 77), Dixon (Jones 56), Flint (Dale 56).

* To buy tickets to an FA Women’s Super League match near you click here: http://www.ticketstores.co.uk/fawsl/