Highlights: Sutton United v Brentford Women
Despite Ashley Cheatley’s 15th goal of the campaign, Brentford Women drew 1-1 with Sutton United away from home in London and South East Premier action on Sunday.
The Brentford no.16 broke the stranglehold early in the first half to give Carly Williams’ side the lead, but it was cancelled out soon after by a Sutton penalty. Wiktoria Kiszkis seemed to have scored a late winner for the Bees, but it was ruled out for offside after a long discussion between the referee and his assistant.
In windy conditions at David Weir Leisure Centre the west Londoners started strongly, dominating possession in the early stages.
After an early Ilana Harris-Walters’ cross was dealt with by Sutton goalkeeper Lizzy Knight, Imogen Cockerell broke forward down the right side and made her way into Brentford’s box, however her right-footed shot sailed over the bar.
On six minutes Millie Constantine’s cross from the left side looked perfectly placed for Abbi Smith near the edge of the six-yard box, but the ball fell inches too short for the no.15 and bounced at an awkward height, the attacker unable to get a boot to it.
As the clock ticked over 10 minutes Cheatley found the opener for the Bees. Breaking forward on the counterattack the no.16 found herself in space on the right side of Sutton’s box before calmly slotting it home into the bottom left corner.
The half-hour mark approached and it was the hosts who struck next. Milly Cutler was played through into the Brentford box and clashed with Saskia Reeves-Priestley in goal, the referee pointing to the spot. Cutler’s penalty strike was met by Reeves-Priestley’s hand diving low to her right but had the power to hit the back of the net to equalise for Sutton.
Building some momentum the U’s almost found the lead on 30 minutes as Emma Spear’s cross from the right side hit Cutler at the near post, but Reeves-Priestley did well to interrupt the play and force the ball out for a corner.
The ensuing corner found Cutler at the back post in space, but her strike went wide left of the goal.
On the brink of half-time the ball fell to Maï Louvrier on the edge of Sutton’s box and the midfielder launched at goal off the half-volley, but the strike sailed over the bar.
In added time of the first half Cheatley played a well-timed ball through the backline to Smith, but the play was halted by Ella Meehan who’s outstretched leg cleared the danger area for the hosts.
Sutton United v Brentford Women
Out of the break Williams’ side started with intent and kept the ball locked in Sutton’s half through the early stages.
On 52 minutes Smith found space inside the box to take a touch to her left and fire at goal, but her left-footed strike was sent straight to Knight.
Kiszkis was brought on at half-time in her return from two games off and she immediately teamed up with Cheatley. The slick build-up play between the two eventually saw Cheatley play the ball over the top to Kiszkis, the no.9 shooting across her body but sending the ball straight to Knight.
On 65 minutes Sutton put the pressure back on the west Londoners as Brianna Gilbert-Lawal broke forward down the left side and into the box. She cut the ball back to K'Shaela Burch-Waldron at the near post, but it was well defended and cleared by the Bees.
Williams’ side responded and seemed to take back the lead as Cheatley finished a well-placed ball from Katie Gilligan through the backline, but the flag was up and she was ruled offside.
Sutton responded immediately through an Eden Clark free-kick, but her effort from outside the box sailed just over the bar.
A minute later Chelsie Berry broke forward down the left side and ran onto a long ball and looked to score, but Knight was up to the task and closed the space well to clear the danger.
Soon after Rebecca Teale was played through down the right side of Sutton’s box and fired at goal, but the ball cannoned into the side of the net.
With 10 minutes to play the ball remained camped in Sutton’s half, Brentford building the pressure. Smith played a short corner to Rhian Cleverly who played it back to Smith, the no.15 running straight at the box before cutting it back to Kiszkis, but her shot was blocked.
Both sides continued to fight for a winner and on 83 minutes the U’s came close. Burch-Waldron’s cross found Irede Adetunji at the back post, but her header was placed wide of the goal.
A minute later Smith ran onto a long ball over the top into Sutton’s box, took a touch off her chest and fired at goal, but it was kept out by Knight.
With a minute to play Kiszkis seemed to have scored the winner as she ran onto Cheats’ well-placed ball and lobbed Knight, finding the back of the net. After the referee’s discussions with his assistant, the goal was ruled out for offside.
The west Londoners now turn their attention to Dartford in the FA Cup first round at Honeycroft next Sunday.
Sutton United: Knight, Cockerell, Allen, Crook, Meehan, Heavingham-Ford, Spear, Modak, Clark, Oliver, Cutler
Subs: Burch-Waldron, Durrant, Rafique, Adetunji, Gilbert-Lawal
Brentford Women: Reeves-Priestley, Potter, Cleverly, Harris-Walters (Teale 70), Smith, Cheatley, Louvrier (Worsley 88), Gilligan, Black, Cochrane (Kiszkis HT), Constantine (Berry HT)
Subs not used: Francis-Pownall
Williams: I thought we'd done enough to win
Reaction: Carly Williams on Sutton United draw
Brentford Women head coach Carly Williams reflected on her side's 1-1 draw with Sutton United away from home, extending the side's unbeaten start to the campaign.
"It's a difficult pitch to play on, I think we worked hard and we created some good chances. Obviously disappointed to draw the game because I thought we'd done enough to win it there," she said.
"We've got a couple of players that rotated in there (up top) today, I thought we did well, I thought they found each other well but we just couldn't find that last bit of quality to get us in on goal.
"We controlled the game well and we had large spells where we dominated the game."