In a dramatic FAWNL Plate Preliminary Round tie, Doncaster Rovers Belles faced Norton Ladies FC, eventually succumbing to a 5-3 defeat after extra time.
The Belles dominated much of the first half, creating several opportunities. Hannah McWilliams came closest to breaking the deadlock when she struck the post, but the teams went into the break at 0-0, despite the Belles’ superior attacking play.
The breakthrough came in the 61st minute, with Ruby Barnes giving the Belles a deserved lead. However, Norton responded in the 69th minute when a shot from Bianca Owens was deflected into the net by Mille Fugler, levelling the match at 1-1.
Just a minute later, the Belles regained the lead. A cross from McWilliams found captain Jess Tugby-Andrew at the back post, who squeezed the ball home to make it 2-1. But the lead didn’t last long, as Owens struck again in the 76th minute with a well-placed shot into the bottom corner, making it 2-2.
In the 83rd minute, the Belles went ahead for the third time. Arianne Parnham delivered a pinpoint cross, and Jasmine Saxton rose high to head the ball into the top left corner, putting the Belles 3-2 up. Yet, with just a minute of normal time remaining, Bianca Owens completed her hat-trick, slotting the ball into the bottom left corner to bring the game level once again at 3-3.
The match headed into extra time, where Norton took the lead for the first time in the 98th minute. The Belles pushed for an equaliser, but as they committed players forward, Norton capitalised. In the 109th minute, Owens scored her fourth goal, heading the ball in off the bar to make it 5-3.
Despite the Belles’ best efforts, they were unable to find a way back into the game, exiting the FAWNL Plate in the preliminary round after a hard-fought, high-scoring encounter. The team showed resilience and determination but were ultimately undone by Norton’s clinical finishing, particularly from Owens, who played a pivotal role in Norton’s victory.
