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Kasia Goal Not Enough To Earn Point

A Kasia Lipka goal on the stroke of half time was not enough for the Belles to gain the points that their performance deserved on a red hot afternoon in Tooting.

Doncaster, searching for their second away win of the season, started very brightly with Precious Hamilton firing narrowly wide in the opening minute of the game.

Hamilton was influential raiding down the right hand side as Chelsea struggled to deal with the winger's pace.

But it was Chelsea that took the lead against the run of play when Dan Buet's excellent corner from the left caused confusion, allowing Perry to nod past Mary Earps on 11 minutes.

Young Belles striker Jess Sigsworth went close to equalising when she latched on to a Hamilton pass, just dragging her shot wide of Telford's far post.

The Belles were dominating possession, playing some good passing football involving Prosser making her first start in midfield.

Aine O'Gorman twice tested the Chelsea goal in quick succession. Firstly cutting infield from the left to unleash a right foot shot that hit the crossbar before being denied shortly after by a smart save from Chelsea goalkeeper Telford.

But three minutes before the break, the Belles were caught with a sucker punch when another Buet delivery was met by Hincks, who glanced home to double the home side's advantage.

Belles pulled one back almost instantly, as Lipka's spectacular right footed effort sailed into the top corner past Telford.

Chelsea protested there was a hand-ball in the build up, but the Belles were deservedly back in the game.

Chelsea asserted themselves a little more after the break and it took Rhonda Jones’ intervention on the line to deny Hayley Moorwood a decisive third.

Hincks scuffed an effort from close range with 15 minutes to go before O'Gorman had a shot blocked as the Belles continued to look to salvage a point.