Five second-half goals saw Brentford Women cruise to a 6-1 victory at Bedfont Sports Club on Sunday afternoon.
Despite taking an early lead the Bees went into the break with the score line level at 1-1 but a 10-minute hat-trick from Chloe Logie and Jodie Reid’s first of the season saw Brentford Women blow away the visitors in the second half.
The women’s first team came into the game unbeaten in their last six matches with three points at Bedfont Sports Club keeping Karleigh Osborne’s side in the race for the league title.
The Bees made the perfect start and got themselves ahead just four minutes in with Troth grabbing her fourth of the season.
Nikki Saunders picked up the ball deep into the visitor's half before driving forward and playing a neat pass into the path of Troth whose first-time shot from the right side of the box found the bottom left corner.
Despite being disappointed to concede so early into the game Sport London E Benfica replied with a leveller just eight minutes later.
In what was a dominant start to the game for Brentford, Liz Ashcroft got in behind the home side’s defence with her shot from 10 yards sneaking past Freya Worsley before the ball clipped the post and rolled into the net.
Although the hosts were controlling possession chances proved to be hard to come by as the away side’s defence was doing a good job of keeping the Brentford attacking talent away from their goal in the opening half.
Troth put in a solid performance for Brentford
Kirsty Matthews and Logie were forced into shooting from range for the majority of the half but some brilliant play from Saunders nearly saw the Bees go into the break with the lead.
The winger showed great skill to beat Kattia Ormeno on the edge of the area before making her way into the box only for the number 12 to scuff her effort on goal which made for a comfortable save for Wadey.
The women’s first team may have been slightly disappointed with their first-half performance but more than made up for it in the final 45 minutes.
Logie put the hosts ahead two minutes after the break with her first of three goals in just 10 minutes.
Saunders was involved again with the forward going on another stunning run before the ball fell to Logie who showed excellent composure to curl her effort into the top right corner from just inside the box.
The number nine was at it again on 53 minutes when Regan Graver played through the striker following an amazing solo run from defence, Logie’s shot from close range crept in despite Wadey getting a strong hand onto the ball.
Logie and Graver celebrate
The 18-year-old couldn’t be contained and showed her quality once again four minutes later scoring from close range, giving her side a three-goal advantage.
The Bees were playing some terrific football and were beaming with confidence with Osborne looking to his bench as his side looked to close out the game.
The introduction of Reid proved to be a positive one as the number 16 made it 5-1 on 67 minutes.
The Midfielder claimed her first goal of the season after she lobbed the visitor's keeper from the left flank in stylish fashion.
Brentford wasn’t finished yet and neither was Logie who got her fourth on the game minutes before the full-time whistle, taking the forward to a staggering 30 goals for the season.
A smart cross from substitute Nicole Goolab found Logie who was able to bundle the ball into an empty net from point-blank range, ending a perfect second-half display from the women’s first team.
Karleigh Osborne’s thoughts
Speaking after the win, Osborne said: “It’s a great win in terms of the score line, 6-1 says that we were fantastic today but if I’m totally honest I don’t think we was anywhere near our normal levels.
“I thought in the first half we could have been so much better and we gave them too much time on the ball but of course, I’m over the moon that we got the three points, sometimes you just have to win games like that.”
Although the head coach wasn’t pleased with what he saw for much of the first half, the former Brentford first-team defender acknowledges the fact that his team made a quicker start to the game than in previous weeks.
“It was nice to get that early goal, we have made a few slow starts to games in recent weeks so it was good that we got an early lead,” explained Osborne.
“I thought the goal would settle us but it didn’t really, these games are difficult, Sport London Benfica are a team that step up against us and have caused us problems before so you have to give credit to them for that.”
Karleigh Osborne post Sport London E Benfica
The Bees stepped it up in the second half with Logie showing her class once again as she helped her side to victory.
Osborne talked on how much he enjoys working with the striker and also gives credit to Reid who got her first goal of the campaign for the women’s first team.
“Chloe is massively important to this team, she scored four today and could have maybe got a few more chances if we moved the ball quicker but she’s super vital to what we do and how well we have been doing,” said Osborne.
“We have good depth in this squad, Jodie has been fantastic all year for us, it’s not been easy for her but whenever I call upon her she always produces and today I’m pleased she got her goal because she deserved it.”
Now seven games unbeaten in all competitions and league leaders, Osborne believes his side has all the momentum they need to take into next Sunday’s Capital Cup Final against title challengers Dorking Wanderers.
He continued: “It will be a tough game against Dorking, we seem to make it hard for ourselves against them but I hope we’re past that.
“It’s going to be a wonderful occasion but we’ve got to play the game and make sure we’re ready to produce a performance, it’s about making sure we are ready and concentrated on winning the game.”