Brentford FC Women’s First Team succumbed to a 5-2 defeat to Abingdon United Women in the Second Round Qualifying of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup. Abingdon United, a division above Brentford, showed their quality in the second half, notching four without reply to completely turn the game around and knock The Bees out.

The Bees got off to a blistering start which saw them score twice inside the opening 10 minutes through forward Axelle Courlander. Just 90 seconds into the game, captain Mollie Holmes threaded a wonderful through ball to Rebekah Edwards down the left, the winger in turn picked out Courlander who had got across her defender at the near post and finished into the roof of the net.

About five minutes later, a dangerous looping back pass from the Abingdon left back left her goalkeeper no choice but to catch the ball, handing Brentford an indirect free kick from close range. The ball was laid off to Courlander who drove her shot low and hard through a sea of bodies to make it 2-0.

Head Coach Karleigh Osborne has praised Courlander’s work ethic and said: “I’m really pleased for ‘Axe’. She wasn’t playing at the beginning, but she has worked her socks off to get into the team and today she’s bagged herself a brace so I’m over the moon for her.”

On the stroke of half time the away side pulled one back on the counterattack. A great through ball on the right eventually found its way inside and it was a beautiful first-time finish into the top right. That set them up to complete a second half turnaround.

Just five minutes into the second period Abingdon had their equaliser. A beautiful diagonal ball was met perfectly by the left winger who took it in her stride and finished with aplomb.With the momentum swinging their way, the away side capitalised fully and completed the turnaround around 55 minutes in. A long shot was parried by Brentford keeper Emily Boycott and then tapped home from the rebound, making it 3-2.

The fourth came from a well worked team goal, a nice one two in midfield was followed by a perfectly weighted through ball, their striker made no mistake and slotted home calmly into the bottom left-hand corner. A rampant Abingdon grabbed a fifth goal with about 10 minutes left to play. It was brilliant work from their left winger who beat her defender, before picking out a sublime pull back for the number 10 to arrive on and finish expertly into the top left.