In the reverse fixture towards the end of last year, Clapton came out the winners on a very muddy and boggy pitch, so Brentford were keen to make amends on the perfect playing surface at Bedfont, despite the rain showers.

The home side started the brighter and only the heroics of the Clapton goalie stopped 2 or 3 good chances being converted. Despite some slick passing and fine attacking play from both sides, the first half ended scoreless. This doesn’t tell the whole story as Emily Boycott in the Bees goal made a brave and very important save at the feet of the onrushing attacker, and Nadia Peters diverted a dangerous cross onto her own post, which would otherwise have surely resulted in the Clapton player right behind her tapping it in. Both teams had long range shots that didn’t trouble either keeper.

The second half continued in the same vein, although the heavier rain made the ball skid of the surface, but it was Brentford who looked the most likely to opening the scoring. Twenty minutes in Kaitlyn Spencer-Dempsey emerged from a crowded box to head in a perfectly weighted corner. With so much to play for both defences looked a bit nervy at times, but it was the Bees that capitalized on a mis-placed pass from the Clapton keeper and Rebekah Wiltshire raced through to slot the ball into the goal with a low hard shot.

Nerves were jangling for the last 10 minutes as the visitors tried to come from behind but a solid determination from the home side ensured that Brentford took all 3 points and that important Runners Up league position. Nest week is a Cup match at home to Clapton. Some good individual performances led by Captain Mollie Holmes and a successful campaign with more to come. Next week is a Cup match at home to Clapham.

Bees: Boycott; Peters, Graver, Langston-Lloyd, Webb; Troth, Holmes; Stickley, Reid, Wiltshere, Spencer-Dempsey

Subs: Baranowski, Dalton, Goodwin, Penfold