Women's Premier League season review

Belles battle on but Croydon clinch the title

Having smelt the sweet aroma of success in being crowned Premiership champions for the 1998-1999 season, Croydon approached the new campaign in determined fashion and at the end of it claimed the ultimate reward.

But the Surrey outfit were not to have their own way all of the time.

Arsenal's unusually slow start cast doubt upon their ambitions as the defending champions and Doncaster Belles matched each other step-for-step in the opening stages.

Until, that was, three games into the new campaign when the two drew swords up in Yorkshire.

A 2-1 victory by Croydon showed their reluctance to relinquish their title and on they marched, trampling upon teams throughout the National Division in preserving an unbeaten league record that stretched back to April 1998.

They were prevented from occupying the top spot for much of the campaign thanks to the consistent form of the Belles who, after that defeat, were to lose only once more in the league.

Belles' Leanne Hall

In May, Arsenal became the first team to have beaten Croydon in the league in an unbelievable 23 months as they cemented their place in the top three with a comfortable 3-0 home.

The Gunners were later to claim their third successive League Cup success by again disposing of Croydon 4-1 at Barnet.

Reading Royals' first taste of life in the top flight was soured as they, along with the other newly-promoted side Aston Villa, returned from where they came having endured a tough 10 months in a much improved women's National Division.

Tranmere Rovers continued their progress under manager Steve Williams with a creditable fourth place finish while those around them found themselves immersed in the unspectacular land of mid-table.

Despite another impressive campaign by the Belles, it was Croydon who made history in becoming the first club since the inception of the National Division to claim back-to-back titles.

A single point decided the title following an emphatic 6-0 victory over Aston Villa in their final game of the season.