Brentford Women 3 Ashmount Leigh 1: Match report and reaction | OneFootball

Brentford Women beat Ashmount Leigh Women 3-1 on Sunday afternoon as they returned back to the top of the LSE Regional WFL Division 1 North.

The 17th win out of 17 games in the league came thanks to a first-half goal from Carolin Engelhard, before two goals in the second half cemented the victory despite a late charge from the visitors.

Karleigh Osborne opted for three at the back, and centre-half Engelhard almost gave Brentford an early lead, heading Nikki Woods' corner goalbound, but she saw her effort denied by an excellent goal-line clearance on three minutes.

Woods then had a chance of her own, stretching to volley Freya Worsley's clipped pass just wide with 10 minutes played.

Ashmount Leigh sat tenth in the division before kick-off and frustrated the Bees. The visitors had a chance to go ahead when a lofted free-kick into the box from Danielle Boyd bounced around the six-yard box, but it was eventually cleared.

Kirsty Matthews was full of energy and nearly scored a wonderful opener, nutmegging a defender after bringing the ball down in the area before curling a deflected effort wide of the right-hand post.

Chloe Logie had the next chance for the west Londoners, taking down a cross from the left brilliantly with her thigh before pivoting and unleashing a fierce strike matched by a superb diving save from Lou Brooks in the Ashmount Leigh net.

Woods had an effort from the edge of the box on 32 minutes but it was too close to the keeper.

Alissa Down went close from a short corner but again the visitors cleared off the line.

On 39 minutes, it took something special from Engelhard to break the deadlock. Skipper Mollie Holmes passed the ball out to Brentford's number five, who took a touch and unleashed a wonderful strike from range that curled away from Brooks and into the bottom corner.

Chloe Webb crossed the ball dangerously across the goalmouth with the final kick of the half, and Osborne's side went in at the break 1-0 up.

The Bees came out with renewed energy in the second period; Matthews picked up the ball 20 yards out and scored a screamer from range five minutes after the restart.

Then, three minutes later, they had a third as Down bent a delightful free-kick from a yard outside the penalty area into the bottom-right corner to make it 3-0.

It wasn't plain sailing though; the visitors pulled one back with 15 minutes to play as Becks Dunt beat three defenders and slotted home.

Webb burst forward from wing-back on 85 minutes and looked like she had made the win certain, but saw her effort dribble just wide of the post after Logie's low cross.

There was a late scare for the Bees following a corner that caused chaos in the six-yard box, but Lilly Hadrava managed to stop the ball from crossing the line.

The final chance fell to substitute Habeebat Gbajabiamila, whose pacy run and strike drew a strong save from Brooks as the game finished 3-1.

Brentford Women are next in action against Leatherhead Women on Sunday 13 April.

Brentford: Hadrava, Graver, Down (Cotterill 67), Engelhard (Potter 67), Holmes (Troth 67), Logie, Webb, Woods (Gbajabiamila 67), Matthews, Worsley (Kheir 67), Read

Booked: Read 64

Osborne pleased with how his squad 'dug deep'

Brentford Women head coach Karleigh Osborne emphasised how his side would have to find different ways to win.

"I'm pleased with the result, we played some good stuff at times," said Osborne.

"We lacked a little bit of composure in the first half, but I thought it was better second half.

"Sometimes we are going to have to dig results out and today was one of those days."