Brentford Women were narrowly beaten 3-2 by Ashmount Leigh on Sunday afternoon in the opening game of the season.

After finding themselves two goals down at the break, Brentford looked poised to go on and win the game as the side had all the momentum following two second half strikes from Chloe Logie. It was Ashmount Leigh who left with all three points as the home team scored late on to win the game.

The Bees fielded a back three which included two summer arrivals in Samantha Read and Aya Mirjan, who accompanied Regan Graver at centre-back, whilst Chloe Webb deployed the left wing-back position with Kirsty Matthews playing at right wing-back.

A midfield of Nour Aboul Kheir, Freya Worsley and Jodie Reid played behind a front two of Nikki Woods and Chloe Logie.

Brentford got off to a positive start and looked sharp in the opening stages of the match, following a pre-season that saw the side play a variety of different teams that play their league football in divisions above the Bees.

Woods came close to opening the scoring for the visitors when the forward got in behind the Ashmount Leigh defence, the Brentford number 12 dragged her shot wide of the post, but it was good early signs from the visitors.

Despite Brentford dominating the ball early on it was Ashmount Leigh who took the lead on 22 minutes.

Harriotte Underwood powerfully headed a set-piece into the back of the net putting the hosts ahead against the run of play.

Chloe Logie came close to finding an instant equaliser for Brentford, but the striker scuffed her effort from close range after latching on to a loose ball.

The Bees were controlling possession as they searched for an equaliser but were caught on the break as Hannah Williams drove Ashmount Leigh forward.

The winger cut inside from the right flank with her strike forcing a save from Freya Walker but the keeper could only parry the shot into the path of Georgina Wickham, who tucked the ball into an open goal.

Brentford were doing everything but finding the back of the net, as the Ashmount Leigh goal remained under threat until the referee blew his whistle for half-time.

It took the Bees just 12 minutes to pull one back in the second half, with Logie opening her account for the season as the striker headed home the rebound after an excellent long-range strike from Woods crashed against the bar.

The constant pressure from the away side finally paid off as Logie got her second and levelled the score line for Brentford.

The number nine chased down Ashmount Leigh keeper, Katie Peers, who was trying to play out from the back forccing a mistake from the home team’s number one allowing the striker to slot the ball home into an empty net.

It was all Brentford after the equaliser, but Ashmount Leigh managed to find a later winner after Danielle Boyd profited from a loose pass which allowed the midfielder to fire into the back of the net.

The Bees came close to equalising again late on into injury-time, but Lucy Bolitho saw her header go inches wide after getting on the end of a corner from Woods.

Brentford Women: Walker, Mirjan (Graham, 55’), Graver, Aboul Kheir (Cottrell, 90’), Logie, Webb (Bolitho, 75’), Woods, Matthews, Reid (Arquette, 65’), Worsley, Read

Subs not used: Heavingham-Ford

Sean Hillier left disappointed with opening day defeat

Following the defeat Brentford Women’s assistant head coach Sean Hillier says he felt his side lacked concentration during the game.

He said: “It’s not the way that we wanted to start the season, it was a very frustrating game, we showed great character to get back into the match, but we then conceded a decisive goal.

“I think it was a mixture of confidence and concentration, we started off really well but then we made a few mistakes which seemed to just knock us.”

Hillier went on to explain what his message was to the players at half-time and talked on how pleased he was to see a positive reaction from his side following the interval.

“I told the team that they have to match Ashmount’s physicality and effort,” said Hillier. “They were picking up a lot of second balls and my main worry was that they looked more confident than us.”

“I was very happy with the reaction, we got the two goals and had more chances to win the game so I don’t know if it was another lapse in concentration which led to them scoring another goal.”

The first team will now turn their attention to next weekend’s clash against Hackney Women at Bedfont Sports Club, as the side will look to collect their first league points of the season.

Hillier continued: “It’s very important that we bounce back, it’s our first home game of the season and it’s going to be an aggressive match against Hackney.

“I think the players will learn from the defeat which will put us in good stead for the rest of the season.”