Brentford Women continued their unbeaten run to the season with a 7-0 win over Richmond & Kew on Sunday afternoon.
Late first half goals to Ashley Cheatley and Carolin Engelhard gave the Bees the momentum going into half-time at Ham Playing Fields, followed up with goals from Maddie Phillips, Chloe Logie twice, Samantha Read and Cheatley in the second half to secure the victory.
On a cold and gloomy day in west London, both sides came out strongly to start the game, neither team giving an inch as they searched for an early edge.
Logie came close to giving the Bees the lead on seven minutes as she found the back of the net, however she was ruled offside.
They nearly went one better two minutes later, Chloe Webb’s ball down the left side freeing up Cheatley who pushed her way into the box and crossed to Nikki Woods, her strike well saved by Maya Nelson in goal for the hosts.
Logie was involved again just after the 10-minute mark, the striker shooting fast after taking possession as Nelson quickly approached, the keeper making a strong save.
While Brentford dominated possession in the early stages, the hosts made life difficult for the Bees, strong pressure meaning offensive moves were hard to piece together.
Logie continued to be a presence up front, the number nine taking the ball under pressure and firing at goal on multiple occasions, none of which were able to get past Nelson.
Richmond & Kew’s best chance of the opening half came on 34 minutes, Jessica Roberts finding herself open and shooting at goal, her shot going over the bar and out of play.
Eyeing an opener before the half-time break, the Bees got just that on 40 minutes, Logie pushing down the right side and crossing to Cheatley who fired it home for a 1-0 lead.
The lead became two five minutes later, the ball bobbling around in the box off a Brentford corner before Engelhard found a gap in the defence and fired it home.
After a back-and-forth battle in the opening half, Brentford came out of the break in scintillating form, the Bees scoring three goals inside 17 minutes of play.
Phillips got the ball rolling on 53 minutes, her cross from the right side falling off Nelson’s hands and into the goal for the visitors’ third.
Phillips was at it again five minutes later, her cross coming off a Richmond & Kew defender and falling perfectly for a Logie header to make it four just before the hour mark.
Logie had her second three minutes later as she ran onto a ball down the right side of the box and fired at goal, beating Nelson to make it 5-0.
She nearly had her hat-trick moments later, however her powerful strike from the edge of the box was kept out by Nelson diving to her left.
Read made it six as the clock ticked over the 70-minute mark, the defender meeting Woods’ free-kick strongly inside the box and heading it home.
Woods was at it again with another superb cross on 87 minutes, Cheatley there to head it home for number seven, completing a dominant second half display.
Richmond & Kew: Nelson, Hilton, Bourne, Langston-Lloyd, Riley, Underhill, Morris, Brinkley, Roberts, Leigh Bridges, Curwen
Subs: Bent, Coade, Willis-Sloanes, Byrne, Close
Brentford Women: Witek, Phillips, Engelhard (Graver, 61’), Holmes (Aboul Kheir, 76’), Logie (Matthews, 74’), Webb (Gbajabiamila, 76’), Woods, Cheatley, Worsley (Troth, 76’), Read, Potter
Osborne rapt with second half response
Head coach Karleigh Osborne was pleased with his side's five-goal second half display after a tough opening 45 minutes.
The even spread of goalscorers pleased Osborne, as did the continual development of the side as a whole.