A Jade Smedley brace helped Doncaster Belles’ under-16s sink South Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday, writes Marie Gibb.
The hotly-anticipated game following the festive period saw the Belles begin brightly with several players lining up against former team-mates.
Doncaster fired in their first goal through Libby Challinor who nestled a superb effort into the bottom corner with 30 minutes gone.
Pressure from Kaitlyn Doncaster saw her rewarded as she bagged a fantastic goal from an acute angled shot five minutes after Belles’ opener.
The Belles’ midfield and defensive partnership proved solid throughout with the likes of Challinor, Smedley, Kelly Griffiths and Melissa Waters all praised for their performance, effort and determination.
Good work from Doncaster caused the Sheffield goalkeeper to be out of her net and Anya Snow capitalised, slotting home Belles’ third before half time.
Just before the break the Belles were denied a penalty after a challenge in the box as Doncaster went into the interval 3-0 up.
Sheffield came out from the break hoping to grab an early goal, however, the Belles were quick to assert their control on the game as they shut out their opponents.
Ten minutes into the second half saw Smedley twist and turn the Sheffield defence before lobbing the ‘keeper for her first of the game.
Fluent passing continued from Doncaster as Sheffield struggled to carve out the clinical opportunities that would get them back into the game.
However, they were helpless to stop a Smedley attack as she struck her second of the game after latching onto a Caitlin Gunnell throw.
Melissa Waters received the ‘Belle of the Ball’ gone for her industrious performance.