With the excitement of the St Leger Festival gripping Doncaster, football fixtures across the region saw a reduced schedule, yet Rossington Main FC delivered a standout performance in their 4-1 home victory. Meanwhile, Doncaster Rovers Belles endured a thrilling but heartbreaking 5-3 extra-time loss to Norton Ladies FC in the FAWNL Plate.
Rossington Main FC Secure Dominant 4-1 Win
Rossington Main FC provided the highlight of the weekend’s football action as they secured a comprehensive 4-1 win over Corby Town at Oxford Street, marking an emphatic start to Greg Young’s tenure as interim manager.
Rossington got off to a flying start, with young forward Lewis Graham opening the scoring in the 7th minute. Graham received the ball outside the penalty area and unleashed a superb strike, leaving the opposition goalkeeper helpless. This early lead set the tone for the rest of the match, as Rossington controlled the tempo and created several chances.
The second half saw Rossington Main extend their dominance. In the 63rd minute, Manasse Kianga used his blistering pace to latch onto a long ball over the top, calmly slotting home to double the lead. Just three minutes later, Kianga struck again, scoring his tenth goal of the season with a powerful finish from outside the box, making it 3-0 and all but securing the three points.
Although Corby Town managed to pull one back late in the game, Rossington sealed the win when they netted their fourth goal, capping off a strong all-round performance. The victory maintains their strong league form and keeps the club in high spirits as they look ahead to their upcoming fixtures.
Doncaster Rovers Belles Fall Short in FAWNL Plate Thriller
While Rossington Main celebrated, Doncaster Rovers Belles faced heartbreak in their FAWNL Plate preliminary round clash against Norton Ladies FC. In a pulsating 5-3 extra-time defeat, the Belles fought hard but ultimately succumbed to Norton’s relentless attack.
The Belles started brightly and enjoyed much of the attacking play in the first half, with Hannah McWilliams striking the post as they searched for an opening goal. However, the teams went into the break locked at 0-0.
Ruby Barnes gave the Belles the lead in the 61st minute with a well-taken goal, but Norton quickly responded in the 69th minute when a shot from Bianca Owens was deflected into the net by Mille Fugler to make it 1-1. Just a minute later, the Belles retook the lead when McWilliams fizzed a ball across the box for captain Jess Tugby-Andrew to finish at the back post.
Norton equalised once again in the 76th minute as Owens found the bottom corner. In the 83rd minute, the Belles went ahead for a third time, with Jasmine Saxton heading home a cross from Arianne Parnham to put the visitors 3-2 up. Yet, in the final minute of normal time, Owens completed her hat-trick, sending the game into extra time at 3-3.
Norton took the lead for the first time in the 98th minute and added a fifth goal in the 109th minute, with Owens heading in off the bar to secure a 5-3 win. Despite a valiant effort, the Belles were eliminated from the FAWNL Plate in a hard-fought, high-scoring encounter. You can read the full match report here.
Limited Action Due to St Leger Festival
The St Leger Festival, one of the UK’s premier horse racing events, took centre stage in Doncaster this weekend, limiting the number of football fixtures in the area. Doncaster Rovers did not play over the weekend, having suffered a defeat to Harrogate Town in their earlier Thursday fixture. Doncaster City FC also had no scheduled matches, resulting in a quieter weekend for football fans.
Despite the reduced schedule, Rossington Main’s 4-1 win and the Belles’ thrilling, albeit disappointing, 5-3 loss provided plenty of drama for local football enthusiasts. With the festival now over, normal fixture scheduling will resume across Doncaster’s football scene.
Looking Ahead
Rossington Main will hope to carry their momentum into their upcoming fixtures, while Doncaster Rovers Belles will aim to bounce back from their FAWNL Plate exit as they shift focus to their league campaign. Meanwhile, Doncaster Rovers and Doncaster City FC will return to action next weekend, with both sides looking to improve on their recent performances.
