Brentford were made to work hard as they progressed to the third round of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win over tier-four side London Seaward on Sunday afternoon in front of a great Bedfont Sports Club crowd.
Nikki Woods netted from an unbelievable angle, chipping the goalkeeper with five minutes to go to find the winner. The Bees were getting increasingly frustrated as they missed a number of chances but Woods delivered in the crucial moment to ensure progression to the next round.
The Bees played a back three which consisted of Sam Read, Carolin Englehard and Regan Graver with Chloe Webb and Maddie Phillips utilised as wing-backs.
Mollie Holmes partnered Freya Worsley in the central midfield positions whilst Woods played in behind a front two of Logie and Cheatley.
It was a slow start from Karleigh Osbourne's side as the away team grabbed a foothold of the game, early on.
Katherine Long had the game's first attempt, striking a fierce shot from distance but Evie Witek stood strong to parry the ball away from danger.
The first 20 minutes flew by and Brentford started to play with the confidence they showed in the last round. Cheatley went close to repeating her first round proper heroics, attempting an overhead kick which she came ever so close to connecting with.
Osbourne’s side were building momentum after a slow start and Maddie Phillips was next to go close firing on goal, but her shot was blocked at the crucial moment.
Phillips did well to beat her opponent on the right flank, putting in an inviting cross which Cheatley narrowly headed wide.
Brentford Women were firmly on top of this cup tie and should have taken the lead as Cheatley did extremely well to beat two opponents but her eventual shot with only the keeper to beat was saved well by the London Seaward shot-stopper.
The second period began in similar vein to how the first-half ended as the home side remained the dominant team. Phillips went close, rifling a shot from just inside the box which came close to opening the scoring.
The pressure from the home side remained and Chloe Logie did extremely well to divert an effort on goal with a defender behind her, but the London Seaward goalkeeper made a fantastic save to deny the striker.
It was last-ditch stuff from the away side as a combination of defenders blocked a Cheatley shot which seemed certain to find the back of the net.
Brentford Women were putting in a good account of themselves against the National League side, as the second period was one-way traffic.
The deadlock was finally broken with five minutes to go and it was last season's Women's Player of the Season Nikki Woods who found the back of the net, chipping the London Seaward goalkeeper from an almost impossible angle.
That was how the game would end as the Bees secured their spot in the draw for the third round which sees tier-two sides enter the competition.
Brentford Women are in action next weekend as they turn their attentions to the League Cup where they take on Sport London E Benfica. The game will take place on Sunday 1 December with kick-off scheduled for 3pm.
Brentford Women: Witek, Phillips, Graver, Engelhard, Holmes, Logie, Webb (Matthews 77), Woods, Cheatley, Worsley, Read (Potter 77)
Subs: Cottrell, Gjabiamila, Troth, Reid, Walker
London Seaward: Baker, Rogers (Davies 78), Harris, Mckervitt, Butler, Mayne, Cannon, Malcom, Long, Mercer (Awan 75), Obrtan
Subs: Ratteray, Aungter, South