Doncaster Rovers Belles restarted their FA WSL 2 campaign where they left off as they beat Watford Ladies 5-0 on Saturday.
The Belles and the Hornets came into the second half of the season with mirror-image league records. The first nine games seeing second-placed Doncaster win seven and bottom side Watford lose seven.
FAWSL 2 Results on Saturday
Doncaster Rovers Belles 5-0 Watford
Reading 3-0 Durham
For more FAWSL fixtures, click here
So the ease with which Rovers claimed this victory was unsurprising, with Sue Smith scoring from a free kick after just four minutes.
Jade Lorton-Radburn bagged a debut goal 15 minutes later, putting Sophie Barker’s cross past Shayla Burgess with a towering header.
Belles’ top scorer Courtney Sweetman-Kirk scored from close range after keeper Burgess spilled Smith’s cross and Nicole Pepper failed to clear.
The striker then gave Donny a four-goal lead to take into the break with a powerful effort from a narrow angle.
Courtney Sweetman-Kirk bagged a brace for Donny Belles
Kasia Lipka narrowly missed the target from just outside the box on 48 minutes but her through ball teed up Bethany England for a confident finish.
Rovers kept going in an attempt to increase their goal difference, which separates them from league-leaders Reading, who won 3-0 against Durham.
Reading manager Kelly Chambers believes she has the squad to challenge for glory, though, after watching her side restart their FA WSL 2 campaign with three points.
Skipper Kirsty McGee put Reading ahead after 13 minutes when she was left unmarked from Lois Roche’s corner and her header proved too hot to handle for Durham goalkeeper Helen Alderson.
Their second arrived just before half-time when Laura-May Walkley's ball over the top found Follis. She beat Alderson to the ball before slotting into an empty net.
Kirsty McGee netted for Reading
And the Royals managed to add some extra gloss to the match when Follis tapped in from virtually on the goal-line after Alderson had prevented an own goal from Nikki Watts' cut-back.
"I've got a great group of 22 players that I know I can put anywhere in my starting XI and they'll perform for me,” said Chambers.
"We've made some great additions that will strengthen our squad even more, add more competition and keep people on their toes.
"Today, the performance wasn't what I expect of my players - we weren't at the races, which is a shame because in the last two weeks of training they have been.
"But it's about getting three points and they did that today."
There are six more games in the FAWSL on Sunday, including Arsenal v Liverpool which is live on BT Sport at 6pm. Click here for details of all Sunday's games...
