Sophie Troth reflects on Brentford Women's First team's results in January.

The Bees made a solid start to the new year scoring 11 goals in just three games competing in a friendly and two cup competitions.

Sunday January 8

Women’s First team vs Maidenhead United Ladies 2-2

Karleigh Osborne’s side began their 2023 campaign against National League outfit Maidenhead United Women. Chloe Logie scored twice for the host’s with her final goal coming on 90 minutes ensuring the draw for Brentford after a tight game between the two sides. The Bees, who are in the running for promotion from the London South East Regional Women’s Football League Division One North proved to themselves that they could compete against a team who are placed two tiers above them in the women’s football pyramid.

Chloe Logie vs Maidenhead

Speaking on the result, Troth said: “That was a great way for us to start the year, I feel that has given us confidence heading into the second half of the season but in my opinion, we already knew when we play our normal game we can beat teams at that level.

“It was a tight game but I felt like we matched them in all areas and could have even got the win because we had a fair few chances.

“Maidenhead are a really strong National League side so to be able to push them right to the end proves there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be winning the league this season and getting a step closer to that level.

Sunday January 15

Women's First team vs UCL Academicals Ladies 8-1

The Women’s First team’s next challenge came in the Third Round of the Capital Cup where they faced UCL Academicals Ladies. The Bees came into the game with huge amounts of momentum following their result against Maidenhead and completely dismantled their opponents to ensure their place in the quarter-finals of the cup competition. Two-hatrick’s from Nikki Saunders and Kirsty Matthews along with a Chloe Logie double saw the home team put eight past UCL Academicals displaying the quality they possess in attacking areas.

Talking on the big win, Troth explained: “We took how we played against Maidenhead into this game against slightly weaker opponents and completely blew them away.

“Sometimes when we play teams in a division below, we can slightly drop our own standards which I think is natural, so for us to go out there and put on a show like we did was great.

“We have some brilliant players throughout the team but we are especially strong in the attacking areas of the pitch and the score line proved that.

“We’re hungry to go all the way in a cup this season, the B team won their own cup competition last year and we want a taste of that success.”

Sunday January 29

Women's First team vs Sutton United Women 1-2

After two positive results Osborne’s side faced another tough challenge in their final fixture of the month, Sutton United who ply their domestic trade in the league above the Bees travelled to Bedfont Sports Club in hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the League Cup. There was nothing to split the sides in the first-half with the game proving to be a rather scrappy affair with limited chances involved. The match sprung to life in the second half however, with Sutton taking the lead just three minutes after the break. Brentford had a few good opportunities to get back on level terms following the away side's goal but lacked the same cutting edge in front in the final third which came so easily in the previous game. The home team found themselves two goals down with 10 minutes to go and despite pulling one back through Chloe Webb it wasn’t enough to rescue their League Cup journey.

Reflecting on the defeat, Troth said: “It was a frustrating game and after two good results I think it proved to us that we still have a lot of things that we can work on.

“We’ve come up against Sutton twice last season where we won and drew so to get beat after being in such good form was tough to take.

“In the first half we were poor, and our second half performance was so much better but it was just one of those games where we struggled to get into our rhythm.

“I think the main thing for us is to become more consistent, it’s not easy with our fixtures always changing but we need to concentrate on the things we can control and that’s what we do out on the pitch.”