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In front of a world record 5,116 people at the Gtech Community Stadium, four second half goals from Brentford saw the hosts come back to defeat Watford Ladies Development on a memorable afternoon. Lilly Hall had given the visitors the lead in the first half, but Sophie Troth, Kirsty Matthews, Chloe Logie and Eleonora Cotterall struck in the second half to seal a sterling win for Karleigh Osborne’s team.

Brentford manager, Karleigh Osborne made just one change for the fixture with Jodie Reid taking the place of club captain Mollie Holmes, who was sidelined with injury. Watford Head Coach, Jordan Williams kept the same side from the visitors last game. 

Brentford came into this game unbeaten at home, whilst sitting second in the league. In his programme notes, Osborne said “We are delighted to have this opportunity to showcase ourselves at a Premier League setting”.  

Nikki Saunders was looking threatening early on for the Bees down the left and the first chance of the game fell Brentford’s way 12 minutes in, after some superb work by Kirsty Matthews down the right, she played the ball into top scorer Chloe Logie, whose prodded effort rebounded back off the post and away to safety. 

That miss was to prove costly for the Bees as Watford broke down the other end and after Lilly Hardrava had saved well from Natalie Cloy, it was Lilly Hall who was first on hand to stab the rebound home and give Watford Development the lead 14 minutes in. 

Brentford then looked to respond instantly with Matthews again causing havoc down the right, cutting in and firing a low left footed effort which Tia Ginn was eventually able to palm to safety. With half an hour gone, Brentford were presented with their best chance of the half with Kirsty Matthews running onto a delightful through ball from Chloe Webb. Matthews was unable to stab her effort past Ginn in the Watford goal who preserved the visitors lead. 

The pressure kept on coming from the hosts with Chloe Logie once again wondering how she hadn’t poked home her 12th league goal of the campaign. Racing onto another through ball, this time from Nikki Saunders, the B Team graduate lifted her effort over the onrushing Ginn but the ball bobbled agonisingly wide. Nikki Saunders was then next to go close, but yet again, Ginn was out well to deny an equaliser. Watfords resistance, in the first half at least, wasn’t to be broken as they went into the break, 1-0 ahead. 

Half Time - Brentford 0-1 Watford Development

The visitors got the second half started with a lead to protect. Nikki Saunders was looking to link up with the ever dangerous Logie, but the formers through ball was just too far for Logie to latch on to. Watford’s resistance was finally broken just four minutes into the second half when Brentford won a corner and Jodie Reid flighted the ball in. Sophie Troth directed this towards the goal and after a deflection which evaded Ginn and brought the hosts level at 1-1. The turnaround was almost complete just two minutes after the equaliser with Kirsty Matthews seeing her low effort beat Ginn, but her shot was hit the upright and bounced wide of the goal. 

Karleigh Osborne then made his first role of the dice, throwing on Demi Edwards in place of Reid, who set up the equaliser. As the clock ticked over the hour mark, the Brentford turnaround was complete, The excellent Kirsty Matthews raced onto a terrific through ball from substitute Demi Edwards leaving Ginn in the Watford goal no chance with the finish and to put Brentford 2-1 up.

Lilly Hadrava in the Brentford goal had to be alert to keep out Watford goalscorer Hall with a good near post save but minutes later the Bees had secured a two goal cushion. A free kick out on the right hand side was floated in by Matthews, and there was Chloe Logie to finally get her name on the scoresheet with her 12th league goal of the season and give the hosts a some wiggle room.

Brentford did have a chance to add a fourth as Logie took the ball past Ginn, but Demi Edwards couldn’t cap off the victory with a fourth, seeing her effort cleared off the line.

Watford did make injury time nervy for the hosts, winning a penalty after a poor challenge by Hadrava, and thsi was converted by Safiya Dean to make it 3-2. Brentford, however, acertained the points in added time when substitute, Eleonora Cotterall latched onto the ball and rifled it from 20-yards out to put a fourth past Ginn.

Full Time - Brentford 4-2 Watford Development

Brentford:

1.  Lilly Hardrava (Gk)

2.  Nadia Peters

3.  Regan Graver

5.  Afiya Johnson

9.  Chloe Logie

10. Sophie Troth 

11. Chloe Webb

12. Nikki Saunders

15. Kirsty Matthews

16. Jodie Reid

18. Laura Miller 

Subs: 

4. Madeline Heavingham-Ford

17.Orla McComb

13. Alexandra Nord

20. Demi Edwards

22. Eleonora Cotterell. 

Watford Development:

1. Tia Ginn (GK)

4. Reese Ayres

5. Maine Dakin

2. Mia Bristol

3. Shayni Marriner 

6. Iva Hrisimova

8. Harley Carr

14. Natalie Cloy 

11. Lilly Hall

10. Sophie Amanor 

7. Rebecca Lovelace

Subs:

13. Sakina Dhirani 

17. Erin Shacklock

19. Maddi Armstrong

15. Cristal Anderson

22. Saifya Deam