Following Brentford Women’s First Team’s draw to Sport London E Benfica in the London South East Regional Women’s Football League Division One North, Manager Karleigh Osborne thought his side were unfortunate not to pick up all three points.

Osborne said: “It feels like we dropped two points rather than gaining one, we weren’t at our best, our football wasn’t as fluid as it usually is I feel that we gave them too much respect and they were there for the taking.”

After an even opening half hour, the hosts took the lead after Kimberley Castro ran onto the end of a lobbed pass heading the ball towards goal with Brentford keeper, Emily Boycott making a good save, but Castro was able to head in the rebound from just four yards out, giving Sport London E Benfica the lead at the break.

Speaking on his half-time team talk Osborne said: “I gave a clear message to the girls, tidy up your play look after the ball and move it better than we did in the first half.

“There was too many occasions when we lost our personal battles, but I thought we rectified this in the second half. The subs that came on did well and made a difference, we had two B Team players come in, Calli Weaver and Madeline Heavingham Ford, and I was really pleased with their introductions to the game."

After pressing the home side for the majority of the second half, the First Team eventually got their deserved equaliser and it was Chloe Logie who levelled the score line on 85 minutes.

The Brentford number nine made it 11 goals this season after an excellent cross from Sophie Troth from the right flank found Nikki Saunders at the far post. Saunders headed the ball towards goal with the opposition’s keeper saving it into the path of Logie, who was able to tap home from five yards out.

“I was pleased with the character we showed, we were missing a few players so we had to make some changes which can be unsettling, but I was delighted to see how the girls kept going and eventually getting their goal.

“It goes to show that when we play at our best and show the energy and aggression that we possess we cause all teams problems, but we need to find a way of showing this consistently.”

Logie thought she had snatched a winner with just a minute remaining after she showed great skill to flick the ball over Jessica Wadey and used her strength to protect the ball and volley it into the roof of the net.

However, the referee gave a free kick to the home side as Logie was deemed to have fouled Wadey before putting the ball into the back of the net, much to Osborne’s frustration.

“For me it should have stood, I personally think Chloe was hard done by in that situation. She used her body to roll the defender and it was an unbelievable goal striking it on the volley as cleanly as she did. We can’t complain too much about this as we had other chances where we should have scored and killed off the game.”