MILLWALL LIONESSES came from behind to beat Doncaster Belles 2-1 on Saturday and win their fourth Women’s Super League 2 game in a row.
Courtney Sweetman-Kirk headed the away side in front at St Paul’s in the ninth minute before she hit the crossbar with a 30-yard strike as the Lionesses lived dangerously.
Charlie Devlin was then the width of the woodwork away from levelling for her side but did equalise ten minutes after the break with a brilliant lob over Belles goalkeeper Nicky Davies. Belles were reduced to ten when Sophie Barker picked up a second yellow card in the 71st minute, and four minutes later Billie Brooks struck the Lionesses’ winner from Ashlee Hincks’ cross.
Lee Burch’s side had Georgie Giddings sent off in added-time. Millwall midfielder Bonnie Horwood was pleased with the win that leaves her side third in the table. “I think in the first half we took a bit of time to settle into it but once we sorted our positions and everything we grew as the game went on, especially in the second half,” Horwood said. “We seemed to get a bit more time on the ball and pressed on from there.
“To be honest, I didn’t really notice having the extra player. We still did a lot of running but I think Georgia was a bit unlucky with that tackle when she was sent off later on. “I’m really pleased with everyone’s performance today. We really put in a good team effort, everyone worked hard, and we got the rewards.”
Horwood was also full of praise for on-loan Arsenal attacker Devlin: “The goal was a great finish, Charlie has done really well since she’s come in. She gives us pace out wide and up front.” Millwall Lionesses: 4-5-1: Quantrill; Brooks, Butler, Robe, Cowan (Read, 87); Wynne, Horwood, Giddings, Gaylor (Hincks, 60), Kempson (Fowle, 78); Devlin.