The First Team hosted Dulwich Hamlet Ladies on Sunday 5 January on the 4G pitch at Bedfont but unfortunately scheduling issues meant the Development Team’s home game had to be postponed to a later date. The game against Dulwich was seen as a winnable match but a combination of missed chances, injuries and illness, along with some sloppy passing and defensive errors, saw the Bees go down to a 3-0 defeat.
Both teams were away the following Sunday with the First Team quickly out of the blocks against Regents Park Rangers, Rebekah Wiltshire netting early on. Wiltshire added a second just after the restart but the hosts hit back to level things up at 2-2. The Bees then passed up a golden chance to win it late on, missing a penalty in the dying minutes.
The Development Team also had a disappointing afternoon losing 3-1 away at Ashford Town B. A lacklustre first-half performance saw The Bees go in 3-0 down. Will Blithing's side rallied after the interval with Shannon Read pulling one back from the penalty spot but it proved to be just a consolation.
Into the second-half of January and there was a pick-up in both results and performances. The First Team secured their first Greater London Women's Football League Division One win of 2020 with a 2-0 victory over Hampton and Richmond Borough. Wiltshire was again on target for Karleigh Osborne's side, taking her tally to ten for the season, with Jodie Reid adding a second to wrap up a fine three points.
The Development Team also registered a first victory of the New Year, knocking out higher division opponents Edgware Town Ladies in the Third Round of the Capital Cup. Good work down the left enabled Jasmine Williamson to nod The Bees in front. Kasey Clifford's fine free-kick restored the advantage after Edgware had briefly levelled. Into the second-half, Williamson got her second as, despite a late second for Town, Brentford held on to progress to the semi-final.
The final weekend of the month saw the First Team share eight goals in a thriller with Comets at Bedfont. Regan Graver and Nicole Goolab put The Bees two up early on but the visitors hit back to level before the break. Brentford led twice more after the break thanks to goals from Jess Stickley and Reid but on both occasions defensive slips allowed Comets to get back into it.
The draw means the First Team have taken five points from their four league matches this season to sit seventh in the table.
It was also an action-packed outing for the Development Team last Sunday as they put five past second-bottom Hillingdon Abbots to move up to third in Division Three West. The early stages of the game didn't go to plan, Clifford's superb long-range effort cancelled out by a pair of Elishia Allen goals for home side. Clifford then made it 2-2 with a fine lob before The Bees took control towards the end of the first-half. Harpreet Heer netted twice before the interval with Shannon Read's 19th of the season completing the scoring after the break.
Both sides are in action this weekend. The First Team host Tottenham Ladies Thirds in the John Greenacre Memorial Trophy, while the Development Team travel to local rivals QPR Development, who have maximum points from their eight league matches.
Both squads have seen new signings make important contributions over these recent matches, so please register your interest in joining by emailing: