Sophie Barker and Courtney Sweetman-Kirk hit screamers as Doncaster Rovers Belles produced a five-star display to lay down the gauntlet to the rest of FA WSL2.
Barker bagged her first Rovers goal in style with a sumptuous half-volley and headers from Emily Roberts and Rhiannon Roberts put Belles out of sight before the break.
Belles put the exclamation mark on the win with two second-half stoppage-time goals as Leandra Little bundled home the fourth before Sweetman-Kirk unleashed a stunning 45-yard lob to put the icing on the cake.
Aston Villa Ladies 0-5 Doncaster Rovers Belles
FA WSL 2
Sunday 5 April
Sutton Coldfield Central Ground
Rovers went ahead on 24 minutes, as a Villa half-clearance fell perfectly for Barker on the edge of the box and she fired a beautiful half-volley into the top corner, giving keeper Jess Myers no chance.
Myers made a superb fingertip save to claw Emily Roberts’ effort out of the bottom corner but, from the resulting corner, Rhiannon Roberts nodded home Barker’s far-post delivery to make it 2-0 on 35 minutes.
And Belles added a third on the stroke of half-time as Villa failed to deal with another set-piece, this time a Sue Smith free-kick, and Emily Roberts thumped home a fine header off the post from 12 yards.
The second half was far more subdued but Smith’s late corner went straight in to make it 4-0, before Sweetman-Kirk caught Myers off her line with a brilliant long-range chip to complete the rout.
Aston Villa Ladies (4-2-3-1): Jess Myers; Hayley Crackle, Jade Richards, Emily Owen (Maisie Baker 76), Hannah George; Alicia Robinson (Maddy Cusack 63), Sherry McCue; Olivia Fergusson (Bethan Merrick 23), Kerri Welsh, Abi Cottam; Katie Wilkinson.
Subs not used: Lauren Haynes, Elisha N’Dow, Katy Moran
Bookings: Emily Owen.
Doncaster Rovers Belles (4-1-4-1): Nicola Hobbs; Lyndsey Cunningham, Rhiannon Roberts, Leandra Little, Lauren Cresswell (Hope Knight 65); Kasia Lipka; Sue Smith, Bethany England (Nicole Dale 82), Sophie Barker (Sophie Stamp 65), Emily Roberts; Courtney Sweetman-Kirk
Subs not used: Sam Tierney, Molly Johnson, Reanne Thomas.
Attendance: 335
Referee: M Griffiths
