Continuing a run of high-scoring games, Lincoln City Women beat Doncaster Rovers Belles 7- 2 away on Wednesday night.
A flurry of goals in the second half, including a hat-trick from Abbie Murrell, saw Richard Cooper's side convincingly defeat the Belles to continue a recent run of good form which now stretches to three consecutive victories.
The home side took the lead through Chloe Bethell, but The Imps levelled courtesy of a strike from Katy Thornley before the visiting side nudged ahead when Amy Kay struck from close range. Thornley scored her second early in the second half, then Murrell scored a brace ahead of the Belles pulling one back but The Imps weren't finished there. A spot kick from Eden Pederson stretched the Imps' advantage again then Murrell rounded out the scoring on a fantastic evening in South Yorkshire for the City Women.
The Imps made three changes from last weekend's winning line up. Olivia Leslie, Erin Wilson and Daisy Marsh started in place of Amy Hunt, Heather Pettit and Chloe Brock-Taylor, who was forced to watch due to injury. One of this summer’s signings - Erin Bellaby - made their First Team debut, coming on from the bench in the 68th minute to replace Erin Wilson.
Under the floodlights, in a match that proved more testing than the two recent meetings with Solihull, Lincoln came from behind to dominate the game. Without playing to their full potential, the players managed to turn their performance around in the second half.
After evenly matched opening exchanges, Belles took the lead in the 18th minute when Chloe Bethell nipped around Amy Halloran in the Lincoln goal and scored into an empty net.
Katy Thornley levelled in the 27th minute, beating the keeper at the near post from close range.
The Imps took the lead just after the half hour mark. Eden Pedersen's corner found Thornley, whose attempt on goal was knocked in at the line by Amy Kay.
Half Time
Doncaster Rovers Belles 1 LCFC Women 2
Lincoln came out with more vigour in the second half. In the 50th minute, Thornley scored her second goal of the game when her initial shot rebounded from the Belles' goalkeeper to her feet and she fired it home.
Twenty minutes later, Abbie Murrell found the bottom corner of the net and made the score 4-1.
Belles pulled one back before two goals came in quick succession for the Imps. Murrell scored from a half-volley from 20 yards out and a couple of minutes later was brought down in the box, earning Lincoln a penalty.
Pedersen stepped up to the spot and sent the keeper the wrong way, scoring her first goal since signing for the team this time last season and making the score 6-2.
Murrell completed her hat-trick two minutes into injury time. A through-ball from Thornley allowed her to find the top corner of the net.
Full Time
Doncaster Rovers Belles 2 LCFC Women 7
Manager, Richard Cooper, said “We said a few things at half time. We knew that they [the players] wouldn’t be happy with their own performances. They set high standards for themselves and they knew that they weren’t doing themselves justice and thankfully they came out and got a reaction, which was very pleasing from our perspective but it’s not something that we should need to do.”
Lincoln hope to continue their winning streak when travelling to the West Midlands to face Sporting Khalsa in the FA Cup Third Round Qualifying on October 27th.
