SUNDAY 21st March 2010, 2 PM Kick Off
Bracken Moor, Stocksbridge PS
Doncaster Rovers Belles 3 – 0 Rotherham United Ladies
Match Report by Julian Barker
Doncaster Rovers Belles won the Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA Women’s
Cup for the third season running, so taking their successes in the
competition to 7, but it was Rotherham United, the valiant runners-up, who
left their impression on those watching.
Belles went into the game waiting to find out if they had been accepted into
the FA Women’s Super League (due to start in 2011, with the successful teams
announced a day after the final), but for the first half one would never
have guessed at the fact that Rotherham are two tiers below their more
illustrious opponents in the pyramid.
Rotherham captain Helen Lynskey had a glorious opportunity to open the
scoring, but probably did realise how much time and space she had after
Zuzana Pramukova’s strike came back off the bar with Marie Hourihan in the
Belles goal beaten
Opting to head the ball away from the direction Hourihan was heading, it was
agonising to see the ball clear the far post.
Pramukova fetched a fine save from Hourihan and Rachel Rutherford had a free
kick tipped over as Rotherham rose to the occasion and produced arguably
their best display for a long while
At the other end Belles had a few chances, but without creating the same
level of alarm as Rotherham had done in the opposite goalmouth
The interval arrived with the deadlock still to be broken, but it was asking
a lot for Rotherham to maintain the forcefulness of their first half display
for a second 45 minutes
Indeed, the game evolved into the proverbial one of two halves with the
balance of play changing hands completely
Rotherham had an early let off when Rachel Williams’ rising shot hit the
bar
Belles captain Vicky Exley was brought down just outside the area ten
minutes after the break, the infringement being punished with her free kick
finding the back of the net
Pramukova had the ball in the net when she met a deep free kick, but referee
Mateusz Kiecz was well positioned to give an offside before the ball had
crossed the line .
Millie Bright made it 2-0 on 72 minutes and Exley netted her second six
minutes later on the counter attack to produce a final score more in keeping
with the respective status of the two finalists.
Doncaster Rovers Belles were presented the Sheffield & Hallamshire Women’s
Challenge Cup from Brian Jones, Chairman of Sheffield & Hallamshire FA.
Officials
Referee Mateusz Kiecz (Doncaster)
Asst Ref Paul O’Shea (Sheffield)
Asst Ref Ashley Mallett (Mexborough)
4th Official Darren Tingle (Worksop)
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