Brentford picked up their first away win of the season with a 2-1 victory over Dulwich Hamlet Reserves on Sunday.
An even first half between the two sides opened up in the second 45 minutes. Ellen Wardlaw was able to break the deadlock just after the hour mark with a long range shot, only for Dulwich to reply moments later. It was Nikki Woods who secured all three points for the Bees with her strike on 81 minutes.
The opening 15 minutes was an end-to-end contest, both sides enjoying attacking moves but neither team able to add the finishing touches.
Woods nearly found the net on six minutes from a free kick, however it was well saved by the Dulwich keeper who tipped the ball over the bar.
Back and forth play ensued, the Bees enjoying plenty of possession but unable to put it all together in the final third.
A header from Nour Aboul Kheir on 30 minutes nearly found the back of the net, when the Brentford midfielder got on the end of a corner from Woods but her effort went just wide.
While the Bees were able to find plenty of the ball through the midfield, Dulwich looked to cause a threat on the counter with attacking moves of their own.
A Brentford defence of Aya Mirjan, Regan Graver, Cara Graham and Chloe Webb held strong to go into half time at 0-0.
Out of the break Woods continued her attack on the goal, a shot on 48 minutes flying just over the bar.
A strong individual effort by substitute Lucy Bolitho on 61 minutes saw the attacker turn her opponent opening up a clear shot, but her powerful strike was well saved by the Dulwich keeper.
A Freya Worsley shot just cleared the bar four minutes later, however the Bees were rewarded for their pressure on 66 minutes through Wardlaw’s long range strike which lobbed the oppositions keeper to find the back of the net.
The lead was short lived though as, Dulwich Hamlet pounced on a chance inside the box to level the score on 72 minutes.
The home side continued to press, with a free kick saved by first team debutant Evie Witek only into the path of a Dulwich Hamlet attacker, however the follow up shot went just wide.
Brentford pushed for a winner and got the ball into Woods with the winger able to go one better than her earlier misses, sending a shot over the keeper’s finger tips and into the bottom left corner.
A tense final 10 minutes ensued but the Bees held strong to earn their first three points on the road this season.
Brentford Women: Witek, Mirjan (Ferns, 60'), Graver, Graham (Read, 65’), Aboul Kheir (Reid, 45’) Holmes, Logie (Bolitho, 45’), Webb, Woods, Matthews (Wardlaw, 45’), Worsley
Karleigh Osborne pleased following away win
Brentford Women head coach Karleigh Osborne was full of praise for his team's second half performance against Dulwich Hamlet Reserves, with goals from Ellen Wardlaw and Nikki Woods sealing the victory.
Osborne feels his side now have all the momentum they need to push on in the league following their first away win of the season.