Donny look for double victory

Doncaster Rovers Belles LFC  v Birmingham City LFC
The FA Women's Premier League National Division
2pm, Sunday 26 April 2009
Redditch United FC, Redditch 

A two-match tussle between Doncaster Rovers Belles and Birmingham City is set to decide which team finishes fourth in the FA Tesco Women’s Premier League.

The Belles entertain the Blues on Sunday and then travel to the Midlands for the reverse fixture on the following weekend.

Birmingham, who have only these two games left, are currently fourth – but Donny are just three points behind so a rapid double would see them overtake their rivals.

And England U20 midfielder Rachel Williams, who has enjoyed a tremendous first year of top flight football with Doncaster, is confident of success.

“We are definitely capable of winning both games,” says Williams, who has been outstanding since joining Donny from Northern Division’s Leicester City last summer.

She played a key role in taking her team to the Premier League Cup Final and this week stepped up to the senior England squad for Thursday’s game against Norway.

Williams was not handed a debut in England’s 3-0 win but says: “It was great to be involved in the squad and I learned as much as I could from the experience.

“After playing in the U20 World Cup Finals in November and now getting called up for the seniors, it’s been a brilliant season for me.

“But I’ve still got a long way to go as a player and I know that doing well for the Belles will help me to hopefully stay part of the England squad.

“We’ve had a really good season so far and I want to end it on a high by finishing fourth, which would mean real progress for the club along with reaching a Cup Final.”

The Belles lost out to Arsenal in the League Cup Final and with a new-look team this season were never likely to challenge for League honours.

But after a period of decline following their glory days in the final two decades of the last century, they seem to be on the way back.

“Fourth place would be the club’s highest finish for years,” points out Williams, “and after all the hard work we’ve put in we deserve it – and we can do it!”