Brentford Women’s B team got back to winning ways after a late strike from Josie Shand ensured the 2-1 win over AFC Leyton.
In what was a hard-fought game the Bees were forced to fight back from an early AFC Leyton goal grabbing an equaliser just before half-time through Abigail Claringbold before Shand came off the bench to win the game for the visitors.
The women’s B team were keen to get back to winning ways in the Greater London Women’s Football League Division One North after the defeat to East London Ladies in their previous game.
Tommy Ryan-Maynard’s side got off to a bright start and had a great chance to get themselves ahead just five minutes in.
Kasey Clifford played a great ball out to Cheyenne Faulkner on the left wing with the number 18 delivering a cross to Claringbold, just as the striker was about to shoot an AFC Leyton defender did well to get across and poked the ball out of play.
Despite the positive start from Brentford, it was the hosts who took the lead on 10 minutes with the goal coming from a corner.
The visitors didn’t manage to clear the initial cross allowing the ball to drop to an opponent who was able to tuck her shot into the net from close range.
Brentford’s reaction to conceding was a positive one as they looked the stronger side for much of the first half.
Calli Weaver
Claringbold looked lively in the attacking areas and came close on 24 minutes after she found herself in space just inside the AFC Leyton box but her shot on goal wasn’t with enough conviction allowing for a comfortable save.
The home side’s keeper was in good form and kept AFC Leyton in the lead not long later when she stopped Clifford’s one on one effort.
The attacking midfielder made a clever run to get in behind the opposition’s defence but her shot towards the near post was saved well by AFC Leyton’s keeper.
After constant pressure the women’s B team finally got their deserved equaliser four minutes from the break when a free-kick from Clifford was parried out by the AFC Leyton keeper but into the path of Claringbold who was able to tap the ball home into an empty net.
Similar to the opening half Ryan-Maynard’s side began the second half well playing some good football as they looked to get themselves ahead.
On the hour mark Clifford was denied again by the home team’s keeper after the captain’s shot from just outside the box was tipped around the post by the AFC Leyton number one.
The Bees had a firm foothold in the game and showed their resilience as they were patient in their play leading to the winner on 88 minutes.
Claringbold & Shand celebrate the winner
Claringbold was involved again with the forward showing great desire to force a mistake out of the opposition’s defender allowing Shand to pick up the ball deep inside the AFC Leyton half.
The number eight showed good skill to beat a defender before reaching the edge of the box where she drove her shot into the bottom left corner securing the win for the women’s B team.
Speaking after the win, head coach Ryan-Maynard was left proud of his side and their efforts to grind out a result.
He said: “It was a fantastic game from both teams, AFC Leyton caused us problems with their pace in the final third but we played brilliantly and moved the ball really well.
“We could have been slightly quicker when we had the ball but overall, I’m very happy with how we performed.
“Everyone played a big part for us in the game and we even had certain individuals out of position but everyone put a big shift in to help us get the three points.”