The Bees went into the game on the back of three consecutive defeats in all competitions and quickly found themselves behind on the 4G in Northolt, Jolene Foster with a superb 30 yard free-kick that found the top corner inside six minutes.
However, Nathan Mobey and Justin Ali’s side were level nine minutes later with a wonderfully worked team goal. The ball was patiently moved down the left-hand side before Rebekah Wiltshire played a one-two with Emily Reynolds and then curled a shot past former Bee Naomi Swift.
Both sides continued to trade chances before The Bees took control in a five-minute spell before the interval. Laura Palfrey showed great strikers’ instinct to react quickest to a loose ball inside the six-yard box to poke The Bees ahead before a lightning break from a defensive corner saw Lisa Grant play through Gel Burgess to make it three with a composed finish.
Actonians’ hit back instantly as a defensive lapse direct from the kick-off allowed Tayla MacPherson to pick up the ball inside the D and roll home under Emily Boycott. Sophie Lee could have restored the two-goal advantage before the interval, but she shot over from eight yards.
After enjoying the better of the first-half, The Bees came out strongly after the break. Swift made a superb diving save to deny Palfrey a second of the afternoon within 60 seconds of the restart but she could do little three minutes later to prevent the striker getting back on the scoresheet from 12 yards. A clumsy challenge on Grant in the area gave the referee little option but to point to the spot; Palfrey stepped up and fired the penalty low into the corner.
Having lost out twice in their personal battle, the Actonians’ keeper did get a measure of revenge on the hour mark as she denied Palfrey a hat-trick with a brilliant close-range reflex save. The Bees next attempt on goal was from considerably further out and was considerably more successful; Amols Brett crashing a free-kick into the top corner from all of 40 yards.
It was a fitting way to wrap up the points as Brentford moved up to sixth in the Greater London Women’s Football League Division One table ahead of a game against Sutton United Ladies at Bedfont Sports next Sunday, kick-off 2pm.
The Development Team suffered another sobering afternoon in Division Two North as top-of-the-table Walton Casuals Ladies struck double figures for the second week running. A 1-0 half-time score at Bedfont Sports gave little indication of what was to come as Casuals ran riot after the break; Allana Francis-Ashmeil struck a hat-trick with Jessica Downes-Evans also scoring twice in the rout. There’s a bottom-of-the-table clash next Sunday with Camden Town Ladies the visitors to TW14.