The Belles maintained their good start to the season by blowing Long Eaton United away inside the opening half at Oxford Street.
Two goals from Hannah McWilliams, either side of Nadia Khan’s strike, secured the points as Andy Butler’s side mirrored the previous week’s result at Holwell Sports - winning 3-0, with all the goals coming in the opening period.
It took just five minutes for the Belles to go ahead, with Lily Wishart - making her first start of the season - whipping in a deep cross from the right which McWilliams allowed to bounce before hitting it first-time past the advancing Merle Schmid.
The Belles are making a habit of fast goalscoring starts this season, and they went looking for a quick second.
A corner won by Jenna McGee after 12 minutes nearly brought the second goal, as Charlotte Dinsdale got on the end of Kirsty Smith’s cross but could not steer her effort on target.
Khan got away after 15 minutes following a pass from McWilliams, but after beating a number of defenders was then squeezed out. McWilliams had another shot herself after 18 minutes, but it was straight at Schmid who held it well.
Khan did make it 2-0 after 19 minutes. McGee’s pass bypassed the right-back and after cutting inside both centre-backs and the keeper, Khan calmly slotted the ball home into the bottom-left corner.
Schmid made a great save after 22 minutes, blocking McGee’s effort from a corner, but she was beaten again inside 60 seconds when a visiting player handled the ball in the area.
McWilliams stepped up to score her second of the game, her fourth of the campaign already, by firing the ball hard to the keeper’s right.
That blistering start had left the visitors shellshocked, but they battled back well as the half ended and Shanae Thomas smashed the ball off the crossbar following Jordan Atkin’s cross. Ellie Sharpe also had to be alert in time added on to get down low and hold Atkin’s snapshot.
The second period was a much tighter affair, with chances at a premium for both sides.
Sophie Scargill and Emily Gillott had shots for the Belles but neither tested Schmid, while Molly Boultree and Milly Fugler had the best efforts for the hosts without worrying Sharpe.
