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Bristol Academy moved level on points with Women's Super League leaders Liverpool after a 3-1 win against bottom team Doncaster Belles.

Natasha Harding and Lucy Staniforth gave Bristol a 2-0 half-time lead.

A Jemma Rose own goal brought the Belles back into the game, but Nikki Watts struck midway through the second period to clinch Academy's victory.

Bristol are second behind Liverpool on goal difference, while Doncaster have now suffered back-to-back defeats.

Watts might have opened the scoring early on but put a good chance wide of the target.

Her fellow striker Harding made no such mistake, though, as she netted a close-range shot from winger Ellie Curson's 20th-minute cross.

Midfielder Staniforth doubled the lead with a superbly struck 25-yard drive eight minutes before the interval.

The visitors were handed a way back into the game when defender Rose headed an intended clearance into her own net five minutes after the break.

But Academy retained their grip and ran out comfortable winners after Watts fired a 63rd-minute shot into the roof of the net.