The Doncaster Ladies 1's faced Durham University’s 3rd team in tough conditions, with heavy weather making for a challenging start. Despite the difficult circumstances, the team showed resilience and a determined performance throughout.
Durham came out of the blocks quickly, displaying great work rate and structure. Their pressing play and ability to flood the ball area caused Doncaster early problems, and they capitalised with a couple of goals in the opening stages.
After the first quarter, Doncaster began to settle into their rhythm and play their hockey. Linking well through the halfbacks and midfield, the team started to build momentum with some strong small-unit play. This paid off when a flowing move down the right involving Connie, Sophie, and Lucy and was finished at the back post by Abigail , giving Doncaster a deserved goal back.
Unfortunately, Durham struck again to extend their lead to 3–1, and despite Doncaster pushing hard in the final quarter, the score line remained unchanged. The team adopted a man-to-man approach late on, ramping up the pressure and forcing Durham onto the back foot. Bea, on her return debut, was particularly impressive and came close to scoring, while Beth in goal pulled off an excellent save to keep Doncaster in the contest.
Although the result didn’t go their way, the Doncaster Ladies showed real grit and improvement as the game progressed, with plenty of positives to take forward into their next fixture.

L2
Slazengers v Doncaster 2
8 : 2

Doncaster ladies 2’s travelled to Slazengers on Saturday.
Slazengers won the toss and had first push back and didn’t take long in breaking through Doncaster’s defence to score their first goal within 3 minutes . They continued to dominate scoring another 2 in quick succession. Doncaster battled back and with some excellent play from midfield out wide to Izzy L who ran the base line making a fabulous cross for Holly P to pick up and slot home for Doncaster’s first goal .
Slazengers didn’t let up and although Doncaster worked hard defending excellently, they were no match for the long balls that Slazengers kept firing down the pitch, capitalising on their break and scoring a further 2 goals. Caitlin (GK) was not deterred and when a penalty flick was awarded against Doncaster, Caitlin managed to save the penalty keeping the half time score 5-1.
Doncaster carried on battling in the 2nd half with some excellent play transferring around the back , and linking play from midfield to forward but Slazengers keeper continued to keep their goals at bay.
Slazengers continued to play the long ball - and managed to score 3 goals in the 2nd half . Doncaster continued battling and managed to win several short corners late into the 2nd half, and with a well worked corner Emily M managed to find the back of the net from a cross and in on the back post . The final score was 8-2. Whilst the scoreline doesn’t reflect it, there are lots of positives to take into next week, and things to learn from and develop as a team

L4
Doncaster 4 v Chesterfield 3
3 : 0

It was the first League match for the 4th team and with new juniors stepping up to senior level it could prove to be a challenge. However, Doncaster started on a positive note and dominated the first half with brisk passing and great interceptions. Shots on goal and short corners came but it looked like no goals in the first half. Finally after 20 minutes another short corner, Sue shoots a flier just wide of the post and Ruby got stick to ball and deflected it in. A great goal!
Chesterfield were by no means out of it as they were effective on the counter attack, but credit to our defence, Kerry, Grace and Lulu, they tackled effectively and made good clearances. Cerys in goal made great stops when called upon and clean kicks to defenders which made their job a lot easier.
The second half Doncaster settled and continued to press. Midfield, Jane, Priya, Sophies (D and M) and Saffy, worked hard to control their passing and were able to find the forwards and then support in attack. Short corners followed but in driving rain it was hard to grip the stick and and control the ball. Laria and Ruby continued to use their speed up front and shots followed. Eventually Sue threaded a ball through to Ruby who was able to time her run perfectly round a defender and her shot gave the keeper no chance.
Laria was rewarded for all her runs with a goal late in the second half. A good pick up and run into the D with a cracking shot. A 3-0 win was well earned as Chesterfield never gave up. A great result in challenging conditions.

M2
Durham City v Doncaster 2
2 : 0

A soggy start to Saturday saw Doncaster 2s take on Durham City in less than ideal conditions. The rain set the tone early, and with a slow start, Donny found themselves 2-0 down before we could really settle into the game.
HT: 2-0
A much needed half time team talk aided the second half performance and chances started to come with pressure applied onto the Durham defence. Unfortunately the final touch wasn’t there and with a few big chances not put away no goals were scored in the second half. Despite not coming away with points there were plenty of positives to take away into next week’s game at home to York.
FT- 2-0

M3
Doncaster 3 v Wakefield 3
3 : 1

Doncaster welcomed Wakefield 3's to the John Marshall Arena for the first home game of the season. Doncaster started strongly and had most of the play. After a few chances came and went, the first goal came from a short corner with Tom B shoving the ball into the top corner.
The second came just before the break and another short corner but this time the goal came from debutant Lucas H who slapped it home.
Wakefield had reinforcements at half time with a fresh pair of legs turning up. They came out fighting but couldn’t do much against the Doncaster dominance.
A third for Doncaster came from a breakaway with a lovely ball played through to Will H by Lucas H. Will was calm in the D and slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
Wakefield grabbed one back against the run of play with a wild deflection from a ball crashed into the D that gave Leo in goal no chance to react.
Doncaster could have finished 4-1 up when a delightful reverse slip by Tom B left Will Harris on the penalty spot with just the keeper to beat. He somehow got too much on his flick sending the ball over the bar into near orbit.
The game finished 3-1 and a well deserved win for the 3's.

M4
Chesterfield 2 v Doncaster 4
2 : 3

Doncaster’s 4th team got their first away match of the season off to a winning start with a hard-fought 3–2 victory over Chesterfield 2nds.
Travelling with a young squad and only a bare eleven after some late drop-outs, the side showed character and maturity well beyond their years. Notably, Ollie W making his full debut and immediately looking at home.
Doncaster began brightly, settling into their rhythm quickly. Their sharp ball retention and fluid passing play soon paid off, with Noah W opening the scoring early on. The attacking unit of Jack, Noah, Ollie, Zac, and the, not so young, experienced Tom B looked dangerous throughout. Noah then doubled his tally with a composed finish, giving Doncaster a deserved 2–0 lead.
Chesterfield, however, pulled one back against the run of play just before half-time with a breakaway goal, making it 2–1 at the interval.
The second half started slowly for Doncaster, and Chesterfield capitalised with a fortunate strike down the left wing to level the score at 2–2.
But Doncaster showed real resilience, regaining control of the match. A neat passing move between Tom B and Mackenzie down the right created the decisive chance, with Mackenzie calmly slotting home what proved to be the winner.
The final whistle confirmed a 3–2 win for Doncaster – their first of the season. It was a performance built on excellent work rate, composure, and the maturity of the youngest players in the side, who impressed throughout

M5
Doncaster 5 v Acomb 2
2 : 2

Doncaster Men’s 5th Team shared the spoils in a gripping 2–2 draw against Acomb 2nd Team on home turf, in a match that showcased both promise and lessons for the season ahead.
The home side seized the initiative early, fuelled by the lively pressing and relentless energy of their youthful forward line supported this week by Fearn. The attackers harried the Acomb defence from the first whistle, creating turnovers and keeping the visitors pinned deep in their own half. Their efforts paid off when C. Palmer found the net in the first half, capitalising on sustained pressure to give Doncaster a deserved lead.
After the break, Doncaster continued to threaten, and Palmer struck again at the start of the second half, doubling the advantage. The team’s confidence was evident as they continued to create chances and disrupt Acomb’s attempts to build from the back.
Between the posts, M Seaton delivered a standout performance. The Doncaster goalkeeper made a string of crucial saves throughout the match, denying Acomb on several occasions and playing a key role in preserving the lead. His composure and shot-stopping were instrumental as Acomb pushed forward in search of a way back.
As the match wore on, however, Doncaster gradually lost control and allowed the visitors back into the contest. Acomb capitalised on lapses late in the game to score twice in quick succession, levelling the score and snatching a draw in the closing minutes.
Despite the disappointment of surrendering a two-goal cushion, Doncaster can take many positives from the match: the vibrant pressing of their young attackers, Palmer’s clinical finishing, and Seaton’s excellent goalkeeping. The team will look to build on these strengths while learning to maintain focus for the full ninety minutes in future fixtures.

Sunday 21st September

M1
Neston v Doncaster 1
5 : 2

The longest away day of the season first up for Doncaster Men’s 1XI as we took to the M62 for a trip to Neston on Sunday.
Not an ideal start as one of the umpires was 15 minutes late so push back was delayed slightly, and when we got underway at 2:15, the travelling side started brightly. Ben Pickles put us ahead with a smartly taken corner, but sadly that was the only time Doncaster were in the lead.
A few lapses of concentration, quality and discipline ultimately cost us. Neston fought well on the day and were well worth the win. The game slipped out of our grasp and we gave them something to hold onto - we were always just too far out of reach and although we managed to score 3 goals, conceding 5 in the other end simply isn’t good enough….and it could have been more if keeper Davidson hadn’t saved a stroke and a host of other efforts from the hosts.
Not how we wanted to start but a set back is a set up for a come back and we’ll aim to open our account this Sunday against Ben Rhydding.

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