Brentford Women B’s Greater London Division One South season came to a close on Sunday with a 2-2 draw against South London Reserves at Gunnersbury Park.
Leah Robertson continued her scintillating goalscoring form with a first-half strike, with Paula Holguin adding a second for the Bees soon after to see them take a lead into half-time. South London responded with two second-half goals, and the points were shared on the final day of the season.
Having already claimed the league title, Tommy Ryan-Maynard’s side added a further point to their tally, finishing the campaign eight points clear of Hammersmith Reserves in second.
The game started at a fast pace and the ball moved up and down the pitch quickly, both sides attacking in transition without being able to trouble the respective goalkeepers.
The breakthrough came on 38 minutes through Robertson. Holguin smartly pinned her opponent during a Brentford throw-in before playing a pass into the path of Robertson with the outside of her boot, the forward then cutting inside and finishing into the bottom corner to open the scoring.
The west Londoners didn’t have to wait long to double their lead, as Holguin added a goal to her assist two minutes later. Brentford goalkeeper Evie Thorne Ford launched a long ball that cleared the South London back line, Holguin able to take possession, spin and fire the ball into the back of the net.
Despite the fresh legs of substitutes Esme Alaneme and Karina Hlek coming on at half-time, it was the hosts who struck first to halve the deficit in the second half. A South London throw-in bounced its way into the box before being fired home to make it 2-1.
A minute later, the game was even, as South London pounced on a loose ball and launched a strike from 30 yards that beat the hands of Thorne Ford and hit the back of the net.
The Bees responded positively and nearly had the lead back three minutes later. Boabonay slipped a neat ball across the box to Alaneme, who looked to score, but her effort was cleared off the line.
Four minutes later, Boabonay was played through by Kasha Petit and found herself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, who made a superb save to keep the game level.
Fighting for a late winner, the Bees had all the momentum. On 79 minutes, another dangerous long ball from Thorne Ford saw Georgia Wood play through to Alaneme, but her shot was again kept out.
With a minute to play, Wood came inches from the winner as she rolled past her defender and fired at goal, but the ball hit the inside of the post before rolling out for a goal kick, the game ending level.
Brentford Women B: Thorne Ford, Matthews, Holguin (Lesnard 56), Boabonay (Hlek HT), Robertson (Boabonay 68), Slade (Wood 56), Buckmire-Monro, Barbosa (Henry 71), Jaffer (Petit 56), Carty, Henry (Alaneme HT)