In what was billed as a potential title-decider, the visitors took the lead through a Leandra Little before Helen Ward equalised for the hosts. They were only level temporarily as Bethany England restored the Belles’ lead which they held until the 89th minute when Bianca Bragg fired home to steal Reading a point at the death.
In what you would perhaps expect in a game of this magnitude, the opening was cagey with both sides looking to break the other down. It was the Belles, though, who had the best chances of the early exchanges. After she was fed by Sue Smith, Bethany England found herself with space in the area, but the angle was tight and she could only fire into the side netting.
Both sides were mainly restricted to long range efforts as the defences triumphed. Reading’s top scorer, Emma Follis, had a go from range which was comfortable for Nicola Hobbs. Emily Simpkins then took aim for the visitors from 25 yards out, but her drilled effort went wide.
The scoring was finally opened on 22 minutes, and it was the Belles who deservedly took the lead. A stunning Sue Smith free-kick was met at the back post by Leandra Little who powered a header past the helpless Grace Moloney.
This goal seemed to buoy the Belles, and they could have doubled their lead moments later. A deep Courtney Sweetman-Kirk cross was met by England, but her looping header went narrowly over the bar.
Reading, however, were still a threat and thought they should have had a penalty on 25 minutes. Emma Follis broke into the area and, after a heavy first touch, went down as Nicola Hobbs claimed the ball. Whilst she claimed contact, the referee waved away her protests.
It was still the Belles carving out the best chances, and they had two glorious chances to double their lead. Firstly, some great build-up play saw Smith lob a ball into the path of SImpkins who could only volley wide from within the area. Then, only minutes later, Kasia Lipka had time and space to shoot from range but her effort went over the bar.
These misses took greater significance when Reading equalised on 36 minutes. After Nicki Watts found some space down the right, her chipped cross was met by striker Helen Ward who nodded home from close range.
This reprieve was only temporary though, as the Belles retook the lead only three minutes later. After Reading couldn’t fully clear a free-kick, Lipka put the ball back into the area for England to head past Moloney from 12 yards out.
As the half ticked into injury time, there was almost a third goal. The pace of Sweetman-Kirk saw her break away from the Reading backline but as she looked to loft the ball over the head of Moloney, the goalkeeper did well to keep her effort out
It was always going to be difficult for the Belles in the second half as Reading looked to get back on level terms straight away. An early chance fell to Bianca Bragg, but Little did well to force her wide meaning her effort could only find the side netting.
The hosts were having a great deal of possession, but were struggling to create any meaningful chances. Those which they did were generally comfortable for Nicola Hobbs or snuffed out by the Belles backline who performed admirably throughout.
With just one minute remaining, Reading grabbed an equaliser. Again Watts was the architect, as her cutback found Bragg who fired past Hobbs from close range.
There were still chances to come however, as the Belles forced a series of late corners that Reading could only scramble clear as the visitors looked to get a decisive tough.
A draw was probably a fair result, and the point keeps the Belles two points clear of Reading at the top of FA WSL 2.
Reading FC Women Goal Scorers: Ward 38′, Bragg 88′
Doncaster Rovers Belles Goal Scorers: Little 22′, England 39′
Report courtesy of Doncaster Rovers Belles
