Brentford Women’s FA Cup journey started strongly with a 2-0 win over Tonbridge Angels on Sunday afternoon.

Ilana Harris-Walters got the Bees off to the perfect start early in the first half with her first goal for the club. Maddie Phillips followed suit with an early second half goal to open her 2025/26 account to secure a solid victory.

The Bees wasted little time going on the attack and had the lead inside five minutes through Harris-Walters. Paula Holguin took possession in a central position in the box before a defender poked the ball away into the path of Harris-Walters who smashed it home.

Carly Williams’ side continued to dominant possession as they eased into the contest. On 12 minutes Lucy Potter put a dangerous cross across the box, Khyri McKenzie meeting it at the back post but putting her shot wide.

Although Brentford continued to dominate possession and field position, clear-cut chances were few and far between, Tonbridge defending strongly to deny the Bees.

As the half hour mark ticked over a corner fell to Holguin who fired at goal, but it was blocked out for a corner by the Angels’ defence.

After scoring last time out McKenzie had her eyes set on goal, however her strike was sent straight towards Lois Bartlett in goal for the hosts.

As half-time approached defender Carolin Engelhard pushed forward with a brilliant solo effort, however her shot sailed across the face of goal and out of play.

Out of the break the Bees mirrored their first half effort and scored early on to double their lead. Phillips took a free-kick from long range, the ball sailing over Bartlett’s hands and into the back of the net.

The west Londoners came close to adding a third soon after as Asees Sangha broke down the left side of the box and crossed to Harris-Walters at the back-post, but her shot was just wide of the goal.

The Bees continued to heap the pressure on the hosts as they eyed a third goal. On 56 minutes Maï Louvrier fired a shot into the post, the ball falling to Sangha whose shot was kept out by Bartlett. The rebound fell to Louvrier who had her second effort saved by Bartlett to end a chaotic 10 seconds.

On the hour mark Harris-Walters continued to prove a hassle down the right side, the winger crossing to Potter at the back post whose outstretched leg just missed the ball.

Despite Brentford's dominance, Tonbridge enjoyed a late spell of momentum as they looked to get their first goal of the afternoon. A brilliant individual effort from Amelia Cooper saw her have a look on goal, but her strike sailed over the bar.

As full-time approached, a long-range strike was kept out by Brentford debutant Evie Thorne Ford in goal but fell directly in the path of Aimee Churchill who put the rebound over the bar,

The Bees held on and booked their place in the next round of the FA Cup. Attention now turns to Ashford Town in league action at Wheatsheaf Park on 28 September.

Tonbridge Angels: Bartlett, Smolarek, Driscoll, Herbert-Smith, Cresswell, Frankum, Churchill, Curtis-Barnes, Cooper, Storrs, Mayhead

Subs: Rhodes, Kemp, Harrington, Nowakowska, Gregory

Brentford Women: Thorne Ford, Phillips, Graver, Potter, Engelhard (Morrice-Bartlett 85), Harris-Walters (Worsley 79), Sangha (Alaneme 61), Down, Louvrier, McKenzie, Holguin (Berry 61)

Carly Williams: Ultimately we got that result over the line

Brentford Women head coach Carly Williams reflected on the Bees 2-0 win over Tonbridge Angels in the FA Cup.

"I think obviously we wanted to get the win and progress into the next round, I think with the overall performance we're all reflecting and know we can probably perform better than we did today, but ultimately we got that result over the line that we needed," she said.

"Our reflection at half-time was definitely that we were dominant and we needed to be more ruthless with the chances we were creating ... I think we saw lots of positive bits that we changed in the second half.

"Obviously having a danger in different parts of the pitch and players managing to come on and get first goals is really important. Ultimately with togetherness being one of our main values, we're really happy for that spread of goals, as long as we get the goals."