Three Leyton Orient goals dismissed an early strike from Holly Hawkes and an exquisite second-half free kick from Kasey Clifford as the Bees left Whitbread Sports Ground empty handed, despite a strong performance.

With both sides sitting first and second with just one point separating them in the Greater London Women’s Football League Division One North table, the match was always going to be a tight affair as the two standout teams in the division clashed.

League leaders Leyton Orient started strongly, coming close just a few minutes in after their left winger attempted to whip a ball into the box with the wind carrying her cross towards the Brentford goal and hitting the far post before going out of play.

Despite the hosts starting well it was the Bees who took the lead through Hawkes.

Midfielder, Karen Abou-Abdallah did extremely well to dispossess the home team’s number eight and play a ball in the direction of Hawkes, who was able to slot home into the far right corner giving her side the lead just five minutes in.

Orient managed to get an equaliser on 24 minutes after their striker found herself one on one with Emily Boycott. The Brentford number one made a big save only for the rebound to be finished on the edge of the area making the score line level going into the second half.

Just like the first half it only took the Bees five minutes to get their goal in the second 45, this time it was Clifford with a spectacular set-piece finish.

After Nia Bowman was fouled on the edge of the box the B Team captain stepped up and powerfully struck her free kick into the top left corner leaving the host's keeper with no chance.

The Bees were in front for the second time in the game and were showing real confidence in their play, they came close to making it 3-1 just a few moments later through Madeline Heavingham Ford. The defender was inches away from giving her side a two-goal advantage as she got onto the end of a deep corner, but her effort went just wide of the post.

Orient made it 2-2 on 80 minutes after their number eight delivered a free kick into the box which was met by their centre back who nodded past Boycott.

The home team followed this up with another goal just four minutes later which proved to be the winner as their left winger cut inside of Bowman and curled the ball into the far corner.

The Bees put on a lot of pressure following this but were unable to break down the Orient low block seeing the hosts solidify their position at the top of the table.

Following the defeat, Brentford Manager Tommy Ryan-Maynard gave his thoughts on the game.

He said: “I’m really frustrated that we didn’t manage to come away with anything as we did really well and put on a good performance, we had some chances that we probably would have finished on another day and in the end we got punished for not taking them.

“I’m proud of the girls, they put in a real shift and everyone worked hard to try and get something from the game but we fell just short. Sometimes this happens in football and I’m sure we will learn from some of the mistakes we made but in terms of work ethic I don’t think we could have given much more.”

Brentford Women B Team: Boycott, Jones, Kaur Boparai (72’ Henry), Claringbold, Hawkes, Abou-Abdallah (70’ Harwood), Halpin (45’ Sumpter), Bowman, Weaver (30’ Dzikowska), Clifford, Heavingham Ford