LITTLE: LAST CHANCE TO WIN BACK SOME PRIDE
WHEN quiz questions are asked in the future about the 2016 Women’s Super League 1 season, will Doncaster Rovers Belles be a Pointless answer?
The Belles head to Reading today for the final game of the campaign with zero points to their name after a chastening re-introduction to the top flight.
Promoted 12 months ago from WSL2, along with Reading, Donny have drawn a demoralising blank while the Royals – despite lying immediately above them – have taken points from seven of their 15 games.
The stats don’t lie, admits Donny captain Leandra Little, who is searingly honest in her assessment of her team’s annus horribilis.
“To get relegated is one thing,” said Little, “but to go through a whole campaign without picking a up a single point would be embarrassing.
“There are so many contributory factors to what’s happened this season and, without being part of the club, no-one would be able to see the whole story. But, even allowing for all that, we obviously haven’t adapted well to WSL1.”
The warning signs were evident from the first three games of the campaign, following which the club parted company with manager Glen Harris.
Their marquee signing, England striker Natasha Dowie, quickly followed out of the door. And, with fellow forward Courtney Sweetman-Kirk sidelined with a season-long injury, goalscoring was always going to be a problem.
Add that to injuries and illness affecting other key players, most notably former England winger Sue Smith, and top flight survival looked increasingly unlikely.
Harris’ replacement, Emma Coates, in her first managerial role at WSL level, was unable to stem the flow of defeats that led to Donny’s demise.
Central defender Little said: “I’m a big fan of Glen Harris. I’d played under him previously at Lincoln and I was disappointed to see him leave the club.
“But I’ve been fully supportive of Emma, who I think has got a great future. It’s been really tough for her with so many uncontrollables to cope with.
“But, as a club, we’ve remained positive. As players, we’ve learned an awful lot and recently we’ve learned how to stay in games for longer periods.
“We’ll be aiming to do not only that at Reading but also to come away with some points on the board, to at least end the season on a positive note.”
A Belles victory would avenge September’s 4-1 defeat at home to the Royals and give Little something to celebrate on Tuesday, her 32nd birthday.
But, whatever the result, the Donny girls will be happy to get the season finished and look to produce a brighter 2017.
“The aim will be to bounce back as quickly as possible,” said Little, “although it won’t be easy because WSL2 is tough.
“But next year’s Spring Series will give Emma the chance to set the team up as she wants, with the players she wants, and that will put us in good stead for a crack at promotion in 2017-18.”