Brentford Women were held to a 2-2 draw by Barking Women in the London and South East Premier Division at Mayesbrook Park on Sunday afternoon.
Maddie Phillips opened the scoring from the penalty spot before an unfortunate own goal from Lucy Potter brought Barking level. The hosts then turned the game around through a stunning strike but Brentford showed their resilience late on as Wiktoria Kiszkis struck to rescue a point for Carly Williams’ side. The result means the Bees remain unbeaten after their opening five league games.
Brentford took a deserved lead after a well-worked move. Phillips started the passage of play with a sensational pass before Wiktoria Kiszkis' cross was handled inside the box, leaving the referee with no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Phillips stepped up from 12 yards and confidently converted the penalty to put Brentford ahead.
The away side could have had a second very quickly after the first goal as Ashley Cheatley cut inside from the wing and unleashed a sharp shot from the edge of the box but it hit the top of the crossbar.
Despite the dominance, Barking grabbed an equaliser on 26 minutes as a lofted cross into the box caused confusion for the away team's backline and deflected off Lucy Potter into the net.
Barking were proving to be a tough test for the Bees as they sat deep in a low block but just before the half-time whistle, Cheatley was played through on goal however her left-footed shot flew wide of the goal.
The second period began in similar fashion to the first, with the visitors continuing to press for a go-ahead goal.
Cheatley came close to finding that second goal when she swivelled inside and fired from just outside the box, but the goalkeeper reacted well to push the effort away.
Phillips was next to try her luck skipping past multiple challenges before driving into the box and striking from inside the area but again the Barking goalkeeper was positioned well to claim the ball.
The home side took the lead against the run of play as Amelia Parsons struck a sensational shot which flew past second-half substitute Saskia Reeves-Priestly.
It did look like Barking would hold on but Cheatley and Kiszkis combined as the latter steered her shot inside the box past the goalkeeper into the net.
That was how the game would end as the points were shared on this occasion.
The next test for the Bees comes at Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday 27 September as the team take on Newhaven. (3pm kick-off BST).
Get your tickets for that clash with Newhaven here.
Barking: Hand, N.Pridie, Clifford, Saylor, Ray, Wills, Malcolm, F.Pridie, Parsons, O'Brien, Harvey
Subs: Callaghan, Salmons, Smith
Brentford: Francis-Pownall (Reeves-Priestley 46), Phillips, Potter, Cleverly, Giddings, Kiszkis, Smith, Cheatley, Gilligan (Harris-Walters 46), Black, Constantine (McCrea 61)
Subs: Louvrier, Worsley
Booked: Phillips 69