New signing Orla McComb came off the bench to score a late goal on her debut as the Bees overcame a stern Hackney side on Sunday afternoon.
The Women's First Team had the opportunity to go four games unbeaten in all competitions as they took on a Hackney side who proved to be a tough challenge, despite struggling for points in the London South East Regional Women’s Football League Division One North.
Prior to the game Manager, Karleigh Osborne, expressed the need to put the visitors on the back foot early on and his side executed this as they pushed forward right from the off.
On six minutes Demi Edwards forced Hackney number one, Naomi Gross, to make a save after the attacker shot from just outside the box but her effort lacked power making the ball easy to gather for the goalkeeper.
Kirsty Matthews tested Gross a few minutes later but her left footed strike from 30-yards out proved to be another comfortable save for the keeper.
Despite controlling possession in the opening half hour, the hosts struggled to break down the opposition who sat deep in a low block.
The best chance of the half for the Bees came on 32 minutes after Matthews played a brilliant ball to Chloe Logie over the top of the Hackney defence. The striker, who has been in great form recently, would have been disappointed with her effort as her lobbed attempt went just wide of the post.
The away team only had one shot on target in the first half coming through Lizzie Tucker who found some space inside the Brentford box, but her strike was straight at Lilly Hadrava.
As the second half began, the visitors continued to slow the rhythm of the game with constant fouls and clearances as they seemed to be playing for a draw.
Despite this, it was Hackney who got the first chance of the half with Amy Nicholson’s strike from 10-yards out forcing Hadrava into making an excellent save.
The Bees came close themselves on 54 minutes following some lovely link up play between Chloe Webb, Edwards and Logie. Webb played a slick pass into Logie, who found Edwards on the edge of the area, but the number 20 struck the ball over the bar.
Brentford came agonisingly close to getting what would have been a deserved goal, but Gross did exceptionally well to keep the score line level.
Nikki Saunders showed great skill on the left wing to get round Hackney left-back Tash Hippolyte, before unleashing a powerful strike towards the keeper's near post. Gross pulled off a great save tipping the ball onto the post and showed excellent recovery to get up and save the rebound from Matthews.
The chances kept coming for the home team, this time it was Logie on 70 minutes, the number nine found herself in space just outside the box and let fly, but her strike was stopped again by Gross.
The Bees left it late but finally got their goal on 87 minutes and it was McComb on her debut.
After being awarded a free kick on the right side of the pitch, substitute Jodie Reid delivered a deep cross into the far post towards Regan Graver whose touch put the ball into the path of McComb leaving the defender to tap home into an empty net.
It was far from their best performance, but McComb’s goal ensured the First Team left Bedfont Sports Club with all three points.
Brentford Women First Team: Hadrava, Peters, Graver, Johnson (68’, McComb), Holmes, Logie, Troth, Webb, Saunders (70’, Cottrell), Matthews (68’, Reid), Edwards (60’, Miller)