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Williams Double Downs Belles

Goals from Dunia Susi and a brace from ex-Belle Rachel Williams were enough to see Birmingham stretch their lead at the top of the table to seven points, as both sides returned to action following a 10-week break for the recent World Cup in Germany.

However the scoreline did not tell the full story of the match as the Belles threatened on a number of occasions and found another ex-Belle, Blues goalkeeper Marie Hourihan in excellent form.

League leaders Birmingham started on the front foot and in the eighth minute, they had a deserved lead. An error from Belles’ centre-half Kylla Sjoman allowed Dunia Susi through on goal. Her strike was well saved by Mary Earps but Susi reacted quickest to nod home the rebound.

Izzy Christiansen then tested Earps with a volley from Susi's cross but the Belles hit back and almost levelled the scores through a spectacular 25-yard strike from Shelly Cox which brought out a superb diving save from Hourihan

Birmingham’s slick passing was proving too much for the Belles in the opening 20 minutes, but the away side managed to work their way into the game – with captain Katie Holtham firing just over the bar from 25 yards after a good passing move.

But with half-time approaching, it was Birmingham who doubled their lead. A perfect through ball from Izzy Christiansen set England international Karen Carney in on goal, with Belles’ new signing Rhonda Jones forced to trip her inside the box. The league’s top scorer Rachel Williams made no mistake with the penalty, sending Earps the wrong way with a side-footed effort.

Doncaster were to produce the second half's first effort, Vicky Exley firing just wide after latching onto a pass from Maria Karlsson. Doncaster started the half at a high tempo and again nearly had a goal back when Vicky Exley’s sharp turn and shot from the edge of the area flashed wide of Marie Hourihan’s goal.

The home side hit back with Williams playing a fine pass to release Carney down the right and her near post cross was volleyed just wide by Ballard, under pressure from Jones.

The Belles needed to find a way back into the game and began to put Birmingham under pressure, with the Birmingham attacks becoming more sporadic as debutant Jones impressed in the centre of defence for Doncaster and Earps was quickly off her line to avert any danger on a number of occasions.

With Doncaster pressing for a way back into the game, Bethany England was unlucky with a curled effort that crept just wide and in the 79th minute Blues’ goalkeeper Hourihan had to be at her best to tip an Exley free-kick wide of the far post.

Birmingham substitute Stef Curtis was quickly involved in the action as Williams flicked a header into her path but her shot lacked power and was saved by Earps.

Despite the Belles’ pressure, the home side got the third goal to kill off the game at the death. A Jo Potter free-kick from deep was met by the impressive Williams, whose diving header gave Earps no chance.