As one of the founders of the Women’s Super League, the Belles travelled to the Riverside Stadium as they played the league leaders Middlesbrough.
With both teams in desperate need of three points, this game was bound to be one to watch with the Belles being unbeaten in their last nine matches and Middlesbrough looking to extend their lead at the top of the table.
The reverse fixture in late September would see Middlesbrough as victors, winning 4-0 on the road and the Belles assistant manager Amanda Greenslade receive a red card and three match ban for dissent.
Today’s result was no better for the Belles as they were thumped 5-0 by Michael Mulhern’s side. So what went wrong for the Belles?
“We were way off the levels today”
Doncaster Belles manager Ciaran Toner didn’t hold back as he spoke his mind on the game after the Belles magnificent form had come to a halt.
Toner said: “The first half killed us, early on losing two goals to set pieces. We just didn’t pick up our numbers and didn’t make any first contact. It looked like we didn’t want to make the first contact. It just killed us really.”
“Middlesbrough are league leaders for a reason and congratulations to them. I thought they were better in all departments today. We just have to move forward”
Middlesbrough extend their lead at the top of the table
With Hull City and Durham Cestria chasing the league leaders, Boro managed to extend their unbeaten run to 15 games and increase the gap between them and their chasers to four points.
Boro winger Ellen Turnbull starred in the tremendous win as she scored a brace and won a crucial penalty in the early stages of the first half.
She made history as she became the first woman to score at the Riverside Stadium.
“It’s a pretty special feeling,” she said. “You can’t describe that feeling when you get a goal but it’s even better when you’re the first woman to do it at the Riverside.”
“Getting another one at the end tops it off as well!”
Following the Belles defeat, only three days later they will face off against relegation battling York City at the LNER Stadium.
Despite the significant loss, Toner still remains optimistic about the upcoming fixture.
Ciaran Toner said,” We have to be mindful of the games and the schedule, like I said we have a squad of players that are ready to play. Today we felt we had that but again, I felt it was disappointing.”
Continuing on, “I’m expecting a big response, but we know that it’s going to be a tough game as all the games are in this division. Today I was really disappointed with the application of a few things that we will need to address. “
A compact list of fixtures
Following the Belles defeat, only three days later they will face off against relegation battling York City at the LNER Stadium.
Despite the significant loss, Toner still remains optimistic about the upcoming fixture.
Ciaran Toner said,” We have to be mindful of the games and the schedule, like I said we have a squad of players that are ready to play. Today we felt we had that but again, I felt it was disappointing.”
Continuing on, “I’m expecting a big response, but we know that it’s going to be a tough game as all the games are in this division. Today I was really disappointed with the application of a few things that we will need to address. “
