Sports Gazette

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Brentford Women 7-0 Clapton Community: Table-Topping Bees Triumphant In Their Return To The Gtech Community Stadium

Brentford Women marked their highly-anticipated return to the Gtech Community Stadium with a goal-laden display as they ran out 7-0 winners over Clapton Community in front of 3,585 appreciative fans on Sunday.

Striker Ashley Cheatley starred with a well-taken hat-trick while her strike partner Chloe Logie bagged a brace. Samantha Read and Nikki Woods also got on the scoresheet for the Bees, who continued their unbeaten start to their LSE Division 1 North campaign.

Karleigh Osborne’s side were dominant from the first whistle to the last, racing into a 3-0 lead early doors. Cheatley opened the scoring in the 7th minute, finishing from close range after being set up Logie. Two minutes later, Read scored her second goal in as many games to double her side’s lead. Cheatley then returned the favour to Logie in the 13th minute by setting her up for Brentford’s third.

Buoyed by a vociferous set of away fans that remained in fine voice throughout the game, Clapton gradually gained a foothold in the game after the home side’s stunning opening salvo. Both sides carved out some presentable chances but Brentford were good value for their 3-0 lead heading into half-time.

Speaking to the Sports Gazette post-match, Brentford skipper Mollie Holmes revealed that the home side were not satisfied with their first-half display, showcasing the high standards the team holds itself to. “Although we were 3-0 up in about 15 minutes, I don’t think we really showed our true selves and the way we can play. So I think in the second half we wanted to set that right and we got the three points – happy!” Holmes explained.

Ten minutes into the restart, Cheatley bagged her second of the game after being set up by a superb through-ball from Woods. The striker’s electric pace was on full display, with the Bees’ two-up-top formation troubling the Clapton backline throughout.

Woods, who shone in her attacking midfield role for Brentford, then scored her side’s fifth goal in the 69th minute, pouncing on a loose ball in the box to fire home. In a post-match chat with the Sports Gazette about her eye-catching display on the day and her personal targets for the season, she said, “I would like to beat what I got last season – I think I was on 19 goals, so hitting that 20 mark is definitely something I’m aiming for.”

Cheatley sealed her hat-trick in the 82nd minute before coming off to rapturous applause. The lively striker, who was representing the Bees at the Gtech for the first time, said to the Sports Gazette post-match, “I’m buzzing, I didn’t expect to come out here and have a hat trick but as soon as I was on the pitch I was just a bit more comfortable. Nerves were high before the game but when we started playing and getting settled in it was much better.”

There was still time for Logie to add her second in the 90th minute, firing home the rebound after substitute Habeebat Gbajabiamila’s shot was saved.

As impressive as they were in front of goal, former Bees defender Osborne would undoubtedly be pleased with his side’s excellent defensive organisation. Goal-scorer Read and her defensive partner Carolin Engelhard were strong in the tackle and composed on the ball as Brentford confidently played out from the back. Evie Witek was solid in goal, making a couple of smart saves to preserve her side’s clean sheet.

Osborne said after the match, “I’m over the moon with the result and the second half performance especially, I’m super proud of this group we constantly challenge them as staff, and they just keep on getting better.

Sports Gazette also got a chance to ask hat-trick hero Cheatley about the side’s prospects for the rest of the season, and whether going unbeaten was a possibility. The striker replied in a characteristically confident fashion, “I definitely think [we can go invincible this season]. Why not? We’ve got a lot of quality in the squad, it’s a team performance, and I’m buzzing with it!”

Author

  • Vaibhav Joshi

    Vaibhav is a sports journalist from New Delhi, India, with a keen interest in football, cricket, and tennis, and is always willing to learn more about all other sports under the sun. Having chosen his allegiances circa 2003 aged 10 and stood by them since, his sporting loves include Manchester United, the Indian cricket team, and Andy Roddick.

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