Wednesday 4th May 2011 at the Keepmoat Stadium, DoncasterFA Women's Super League
Doncaster Rovers Belles (1) 1
Andrea Worrall OG 35
Liverpool (0) 0
Admission £6, Programme £3, Attendance 261
Any moment now Liverpool's keeperAndrea Worrall is going to fumbleAine O'Gorman's cross cum shot into the goal, unlucky!
Women's football, it has it's knockers, but here at THE66POW you won't find any cringe-worthy sexist gags and misogynistic one liners being bandied about in a vainglorious attempt to get a few cheap laughs.
The women's game has developed beyond all recognition since I last ventured into South Yorkshire to see Doncaster Belles playing a home game at Armthorpe Welfare some years ago. In those days Donny Belles conquered all before them, even if they were a bit rough and ready around the edges at times. Fast forward into 2010-11 and it's all full time paid professionals, playing in first class stadiums, with games featuring live on ESPN ... and three quid glossy programmes!
The women's game has developed beyond all recognition since I last ventured into South Yorkshire to see Doncaster Belles playing a home game at Armthorpe Welfare some years ago. In those days Donny Belles conquered all before them, even if they were a bit rough and ready around the edges at times. Fast forward into 2010-11 and it's all full time paid professionals, playing in first class stadiums, with games featuring live on ESPN ... and three quid glossy programmes!
For the uninitiated, what kind of standard could you hope to find if you attended one of these games?Well, if you've got preconceived and stereotypical blinkers on, frankly you'd be surprised how talented some of these ladies are ... full time players, who train regularly do tend to be quite good at their job after all.
The question was asked of me why I don't watch more women's football, well ... I've only found the time to squeeze in 124 matches thus far this season, due mainly to work commitments and a long, long winter strewn with postponed matches ... there is only a finite number of league's and competitions one can get around between July and May and this league isn't high on my list of priorities to be honest, regardless of the ever improving football fayre on offer.But if I wasn't going to Wembley to watch Mansfield Town on Saturday (Christ! That sounds soooo good!), I wouldn't hesitate to have visited the Keepmoat again to watch the Belles v Arsenal match instead.
After tonight ... well, I'd watch WSL games again ... if there was nothing else happening within a reasonable travelling range.
That said, I have quite a broad interpretation of what reasonable means.
Text book penalty (hard and on target) from Rushea Littlejohnis well saved by Donny's Helen Anderson
Anyway, a big day out with a lively seven year old tomorrow means I better get some ZZZZZ's in before the impending hurricane strikes, so (as is the norm around here) more to follow in due course.
Liverpool's Nicky Twohig (5) is heading into the referee's notebook for this one
A girl can never have too many pairs of shoes
The tea hut they use at the Keepmoat for Belles matches is a bit posh. The
hospitality area at the back of the stand is open to everybody at Belles home
matches. There are free team sheets on all of the tables.
Anyway, a big day out with a lively seven year old tomorrow means I better get some ZZZZZ's in before the impending hurricane strikes, so (as is the norm around here) more to follow in due course.
Liverpool's Nicky Twohig (5) is heading into the referee's notebook for this one
A girl can never have too many pairs of shoes
The tea hut they use at the Keepmoat for Belles matches is a bit posh. Thehospitality area at the back of the stand is open to everybody at Belles home
matches. There are free team sheets on all of the tables.
