Brentford were left disappointed after a late Hackney equaliser ensured a 2-2 finish on Sunday afternoon at Bedfont Sports Club.

The Bees played out a dominant first half with Chloe Logie netting following an excellent move, before Ella Cottrell put Brentford two up heading into the break. In a second half which was disrupted by long stoppages of play, Hackney pulled one back on the hour mark and secured the draw after an unfortunate Brentford own goal deep into injury time.

Karleigh Osborne made three changes to the side that was beaten by Ashmount Leigh on the opening day of the season with Cara Graham, Ellen Wardlaw and Ella Cottrell added to the starting line-up.

Brentford got off to a great start in what was the side’s first home game of the season, it took the team just 18 minutes to make a breakthrough.

Nikki Woods displayed some great work down the right channel before crossing the ball into the path of Logie who showed composure to tuck the ball home from close range.

The Bees enjoyed the majority of possession in an opening half which saw the side look more settled in their new 3-5-2 formation.

Cottrell was getting lots of joy as she played just in behind Logie and it was the number 22 who put Brentford two ahead before the break.

After picking up the ball in between the Hackney midfield and defence, Cottrell drove forward before neatly curling her shot into the bottom corner from just outside the box to score her first goal of the season.

Brentford flew out of the traps in the second half, Woods thought she had put her side three ahead but her free-kick just outside the 18-yard box went inches over the bar.

Hackney, who had struggled to threaten the Brentford goal in the opening half saw their first chance of the game come 10 minutes after the interval.

Fea Falcons found herself in behind the Brentford defence and tried her luck from a tight angle but could only find the side netting with her shot on goal.

The visitors pulled one back on the hour mark after an initial shot Amy Nicholson was saved by Freya Walker, but the rebound bounced off the forward and rolled into the back of the net.

Lucy Bolitho added a different threat to the Brentford front line when she was introduced to the game on 65 minutes.

The striker used her physicality to move a Hackney defender off the ball on the edge of the opposition's box, but her shot from a tight angle was comfortably saved by Zoe Stubbs.

Hackney began to throw bodies forward in an attempt to find a late equaliser, on 88 minutes Regan Graver, who captained Brentford in the absence of Mollie Holmes, made an incredible block on the line to keep her side ahead going into the final minutes.

The Hackney pressure eventually paid off as the visiting side equalised six minutes into injury time when Nour Aboul Kheir attempted to block a cross, but her touch turned the ball into her own net.

Brentford Women: Walker, Graver, Graham, Aboul Kheir, Logie, Webb (Bolitho, 65’), Woods, Wardlaw, Worsley (Reid, 61), Cottrell (Arquette, 61), Read (Heavingham-Ford, 55’)

Hackney Women: Stubbs, McCann, McCready, Cagetti, Salter, King, Meean, Dyer, Tucker, Fulconis, Honer

Subs: Nicholson, White, Pendleton

Karleigh Osborne left frustrated

Speaking on the draw, Osborne said: “Disappointed is probably an understatement, I thought we was comfortable in the first half and didn’t look like we were under any real pressure.

“I spoke to the team and half-time and said they are going to come at us in the second half, which they did, and I felt we let them back in the game which led to a late equaliser.”

Link-up play between Chloe Logie and Nikki Woods was one of Brentford’s most positive points from the game.

Osborne praised the duo for a first half performance which saw the two forwards combine for the opening goal.

“Chloe and Nikki linked up really well,” said Osborne. “We played some good football and I still don’t think we have even broken into our stride.

“If I’m honest that’s one of the only positives I can think of right now, we have a lot to work on if we want to start seeing results go our way.”

The Bees will now look towards next weekend when they face Ruislip Rangers in the Women’s FA Cup first qualifying round at Bedfont Sports Club.

Osborne went on to explain how important it is that his team bounce back after a defeat and a draw from their opening two games of the season.

He continued: “We need to bounce back, it’s an opportunity to do well and get our name out there, it will be nice to have a break from the league and hopefully we will get some good support down at Bedfont.”