By Charlie Hopper
Second-half goals from Jess Holder and Ocean Rolandsen helped the MinsterBelles pick up a 2-0 win on the road at Middlesbrough Women to confirm their place in the Women’s National League Division One North for another season.
Before kick-off, Manager Chris Holloway was forced into a change with Elisha Hardcastle moving to the bench and Ruby Gibbs starting in midfield. The home side, who were looking to keep their unbeaten record at home intact, made a strong start to the game with Beth Guy heading over the bar before Lauren Robson’s shot was saved by Becky Sidwell early on. Robson was then at the centre of another attack as she beat the offside trap, cut in on goal and attempted to find a team mate only for the ball to be cleared away. Midway through the first-half, Holloway’s side started to take control of the game with Jess Holder firing over the bar before Ella Duffield saw her shot saved by Laura Wareham. In the 40th minute, Holder won the ball in the midfield, raced towards goal before her shot drifted wide of the goal. The final action of the first half came in the form of a chance for Robson, who latched onto a brilliant through ball but she failed to hit the target.
Holloway’s side made a promising start to the second half and broke the deadlock in the 55th minute. Sophie Tinson raced through on goal before she was taken out by Abby Towers inside the penalty area. The defender was immediately shown a red card and Holder converted the penalty to give her side the lead. Both Rolandsen and Tinson went close to doubling the advantage with two great chances. First Rolandsen fired over the bar from the edge of the area before Tinson’s strike rolled inches wide of Wareham’s goal. The lead was then doubled in the 82nd minute through Rolandsen. Substitute Fliss Jones was threaded through on goal but was taken out by Wareham on the edge of the area. The resulting free kick was then curled brilliantly into the top corner by the Midfielder. The MinsterBelles defence stood strong in the final minutes to round off a superb win and stretch the unbeaten run to four games.
Holloway’s side now turn their attention to the County Cup Final as they take on Thornaby Women at The Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough.
