BRADFORD City WFC were just a crossbar’s width away from claiming their first points of the season as they lost 1-0 to second-bottom Doncaster Rovers Belles at Eccleshill United.

City made just one change to the side that came close against Hull City two weeks ago, with experienced defender Bethany Walker coming in for Ellen Kennedy, who moved to the bench.

As a result, Jen Clark moved into a more attacking role after spending most of the season in the back four.

As in the previous two games, Bradford started brightly. But it was Doncaster who had the first real effort with a speculative long range shot from former City player Hannah Shuttleworth that didn’t really trouble keeper Aimee Routledge.

Having scored in both City’s previous games, Falone Sumaili went close again as she latched on to a delightful through ball from Harriet Jakeman, but her shot curled wide of the far post.

With 20 minutes gone, dead ball specialist Zoe Roberts swung a free-kick in from the right and Sumaili rose above the Belles defence only to see her bullet header hit the bar.

At the other end, the hosts produced some resolute defending, notably from Ellie Edwards and Kate Donnan.

In recent games City have looked sluggish after the break, but this time they came out with renewed energy, typified by Roberts, who attempted a shot direct from the kick off as the Belles keeper was still on the edge of her box.

On 54 minutes Belles had the ball in the net, but the referee disallowed it following a clear shove on Routledge at a corner.

The majority of the second half was played out in midfield, but with 17 minutes remaining Walker left the field for treatment on a bloody nose just as Doncaster won another free-kick. City failed to clear their lines and Doncaster took the lead with a tame shot through the crowded box that took a massive deflection to wrong-foot Routledge.

In previous games City heads would drop, but they picked themselves up. Ellen Kennedy and Paris Durrant came on, and Kennedy again showed her pace with some excellent attacking runs.

Unfortunately City were unable to find a way through, and Belles took the points to keep in touch with third from bottom Sheffield FC, who maintained their three point gap with an emphatic 4-2 win at home to Hull.

Manager Steve Winterburn, back in the dugout after a two-week break, said: “This was the first match this season at the interval when I could confidently say to the players we have a chance.

"Work rates were good and the only thing that separated these two teams was a goalmouth scramble from a free-kick when we were defending with 10 players due to an injury.

"We were guilty of the ‘hot potato syndrome' for the last 20 minutes which was disappointing after a good 70 minutes. We have learnt more again as a team this week and the recent results have shown an encouraging improvement.”

Blackburn Rovers clinched the league title with a 3-0 victory over Derby County to claim the trophy with five games remaining.

City: Routledge, Roberts, Walker (Durrant, 79), Parrish, Edwards, Donnan (Kennedy, 68), Sales, Norde (c), Clark, Jakeman, Sumaili.

Next up for City is another home game against Fylde on April 14.