Brentford FC Women’s First Team came back from two goals down to earn a point away from home against a Dulwich Hamlet side who started the day three points and one place above them. A goal apiece from winger Ellen Wardlaw and first half substitute Jodie Reid was enough for The Bees to peg the home side back and claim a hard fought 2-2 draw. Head Coach Karleigh Osborne was pleased with the resilience his side showed to come back, but still felt as though Brentford could have kicked on and with more composure in key moments, grabbed all three points.
Karleigh said: “We showed great character to get back into the game and display that ‘never die attitude’ which was definitely a positive. But then, it was frustrating that we couldn’t remain calm. I think once we got into that position and were drawing, we became wasteful, and our decision making wasn’t the best.”
Dulwich started the game the brighter of the two sides and got their reward 13 minutes into the contest. Brentford failed to clear their lines inside the box and were punished when the ball was tapped home from close range.
After just half an hour The Bees faced a two-goal deficit and with a mountain to climb if they were to get anything from the game. Like the first goal the second came from another failed clearance and the away side paid the price for their mistake. Things got even worse for Brentford when two key players went off injured, firstly captain Mollie Holmes suffered an elbow injury and then the dangerous Rebekah Edwards was withdrawn with an Achilles issue.
However, on the stroke of half time, Brentford managed to pull a goal back through Ellen Wardlaw. The winger’s powerful effort took a slight deflection and beat the opposing keeper to make the score 2-1 going into the break. The Bees continued their momentum in the second half and 55 minutes in found an equaliser through a superb goal by substitute Jodie Reid.
Both sides were doing their upmost to score that decisive goal but as the final whistle blew, they had to settle for a point each. Brentford are on the road again next week as they travel to Walton Casuals to play in the Capital Intermediate Cup.