Doncaster Ladies’ first game after the Christmas break was the long trip to Whitley Bay and Tynemouth. Both teams started well but it was Doncaster who were creating the better of the early chances. Doncaster began to dominate possession midway through the first half and the opposition had their keeper to thank on several occasions making fine saves from efforts by Woods, Karditsas and Dodds. It looked like the deadlock would be broken shortly before half time when a Doncaster shot into the area through a group of defenders found Sarah Thorpe by the back post whose deflection missed the goal by the finest of margins.

Whitley Bay were happy to sit deep and invite Doncaster pressure and the pressure told on 41mins when Amelia Milton got the ball and with some excellent work across the base line into the area played a lovely pass to Bexx Woods who made no mistake lifting the ball into the top left corner over the diving keeper 1-0 Doncaster. Whitley Bay tried to get back into the game but were thwarted by an excellent save by Steph Lonyon in goal and quality defending by the whole Doncaster team, limiting them to only a few clear chances. Doncaster were unable to find a second goal to kill the game off but got the win they needed to keep them in the hunt for promotion. It was an excellent team performance and a well deserved three points - 1-0 Doncaster.

Doncaster host Sheffield Hallam on Saturday at Town fields with a 12pm start.