Brentford Women’s first team made it five consecutive wins in the LSE Regional WFL Division One North as they beat Richmond Park 1-0 away from home on Sunday afternoon.

Regan Graver got the game’s only goal in the second half in a performance where Karleigh Osborne’s side created a host of chances and perhaps deserved to win by a bigger scoreline.

There were a couple of half chances early on for the home side with Lauren Hawkley almost getting on the end of a low cross into the box inside the first minute but for an important intervention from Emily Boycott in goal. Richmond then had a shot from the edge of the box from Indya Norton but her left footed effort edged wide of the left-hand post.

That seemed to spring the Bees into life and they had a golden chance to take the lead on nine minutes when Sophie Troth flicked the ball into the path of Kirsty Matthews and she headed over one of the defenders on the edge of the box into the path of Chloe Logie, but her low effort forced the Richmond keeper into a good save.

The next 10 minutes saw Brentford create a host of opportunities that they should have taken the lead from. Logie’s tireless running saw her intercept a pass from one of the Richmond defenders before she charged in on goal but she shot just wide. Troth was next as Logie teed her up but her shot was also wide whilst Freya Worsley’s speculative effort from the edge of the box met the keeper’s hands fairly comfortably.

On 30 minutes the Bees hand their heads in their hands once again as the game somehow remained level. A powerful free-kick from Jodie Reid forced the keeper into a save as she pushed the ball in front of her and it fell kindly for Worsley but, under pressure from the defenders just a few yards out, her shot could only find the cross bar as the sides went in level at half-time.

Richmond once again started quite brightly after the referee’s whistle with Hawkley seeing her effort saved by Boycott before Mica Walsh pounced on a loose ball and shot wide. The Richmond player then had another chance just a minute later but once again Boycott made a comfortable save with the shot from the edge of the box straight at her.

Nikki Woods, formerly Saunders, then made an impact from the bench as she brought a fresh impetus to a side who were pushing to go in front as the half moved past the hour mark. She had a first time left footed shot go over the bar before Matthews got on the end of a cross from the left but her header was well saved. Woods then drove down the right before crossing low for Logie on 68 minutes. The striker managed to prod an effort at goal but for a nick off of one of the defenders to take it behind for a corner.

A Matthews shot which was pushed behind for a corner then finally paid dividends as Brentford went in front. A Woods corner found the head of Graver who was unmarked and she made no mistake as her effort ended up in the left-hand side of the goal to deservedly put the Bees ahead on 75 minutes.

Regan Graver netted her first of the season

Richmond pushed for an equaliser but were unable to create any real clearcut chances. There were free-kicks and crosses into the box which the Bees had to deal with as they saw out the win to keep the pressure on Dorking Wanderers in the search for the title.

Brentford Women’s first team: Boycott, Graver, Johnson, Holmes (Matthews, 83), Logie (Lopez Ezzahiri, 90+4) Troth (Woods, 58) Webb, Matthews (Cottrell, 79), Reid, Worsley, Dalton

Subs not used: Goolab, Heavingham-Ford

Richmond Park: Witek, Dykes, Hawkley, Tyrer, Adlam, Jervis, Pacatte, Porter, Norton Coetzee, Engelhard

Subs: Walsh, Persson, Harrison, Bansoodeb

Karleigh Osborne’s thoughts

Women’s first team head coach Karleigh Osborne felt his side should have put the game to bed earlier but was pleased with the side’s mentality as they found a way to win.

Reacting to the game, he explained: “I’m super pleased with the result and getting the win. I think we made it harder than it needed to be but I’m pleased. To be fair, the performance was good and we had a lot of chances but we were wasteful in the final third which was disappointing."

Watch the full interview here