Doncaster Belles relegated after defeat to Notts County

Doncaster Rovers Belles' relegation from FA WSL 1 was confirmed when they were defeated 2-1 by Notts County.

Carla Humphrey scored her first goal for Doncaster but that did not prove enough to save Emma Coates' side, as Aileen Whelan and Jess Clarke scored twice in three minutes to win it for the visitors.

The Belles came into the match knowing only three big wins would save them and they started on the front foot, Arsenal loanee Humphrey sliding them in front after just seven minutes.

But, as happened against Sunderland last month and Liverpool last week, a spirited Belles side went into the break behind, despite having taken the lead.

The home side failed to clear Jo Potter's free-kick in the 22nd minute and Whelan lashed home, after goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse denied Jade Moore.

And Clarke then scored a brilliant individual goal in the 25th-minute,cutting in from the left and curling a beautiful shot into the top corner.

Both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances after the break and the Belles' failure to unlock the County defence sealed their relegation.

However, Coates believes her side will emerge next season all the stronger.

"We've learned lessons this year so that, if we come back up, we'll do it the right way, the Belles way and learn from what we've done wrong," she said.

"Maybe we've been naive in the past but we didn't come up as champions. It's even tougher coming up in second and we had a big turnover of players over a short space of time.

"I want to keep this team together and build something long term.

"Rebecca Rayner for example is going to have a really long, successful career and Carla got the goal she deserved.

"We've got to get it right next year, it's exposed what we've done well but what we've got to strengthen too."