Doncaster Rovers Belles

Doncaster Rovers Belles manager John Buckley is hoping to complete a league double on Thursday night, when Lincoln Ladies visit the Keepmoat Stadium in the Women’s Super League.

The Belles opened up the inaugural Super League campaign with a 1-0 victory at Sincil Bank, and Buckley is confident his players have the capabilities to repeat the result this time around.

He said: “I have full faith in my players and know that they have the ability to give anyone a game.”

“They work extremely hard and perhaps haven’t been getting the results that their performances merit in all matches.

“There is no doubt that Lincoln will be looking to avenge the defeat earlier in the season but I see no reason why we can’t get the result we want.

“We will approach this game like every other because we know how tough it will be, but we put no particular special emphasis on this match just because it’s Lincoln. Every game in this league is just as important to us.”

As the season approaches its penultimate game, Buckley was full of praise for how his young squad has equipped themselves over the course of their debut Super League season, despite having one of the smallest budgets.

“I am proud of the way my team has played this season and I think we are improving all the time. We have one of the youngest squads in the League, and in Jess Sigsworth the youngest player. The fact that we are improving will stand us in good stead.”

“Lincoln have done ok this season, but if we had the budget that they've had, I'd expect to finish in the top two or three in the table.”

Buckley will have the opportunity to make changes to his starting 11 as he welcomes back Abbie Prosser and Beth England into the squad that lost to Arsenal.

However he will not be able to call upon the services of influential midfielder Kasia Lipka, who is out injured. Strikers Becky Hall and Katie Anderton are also unavailable because of injuries.