The third qualifying round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup competition was played last Sunday, 13th October and your Roving Team watched the all Middlesex tie between Brentford Women and Sport London e Benfica Ladies at Bedfont Sports FC. 

This promised to be an intriguing match. Sport London e Benfica currently compete at a higher level in the Women’s Pyramid than Brentford. Benfica play at tier 5 in the London and South East Regional League Premier Division while Brentford are a tier below in Division 1 North.

However, Brentford are the form team this season. They have won all 5 of their league matches, scoring 24 goals and conceding 4. They reached this stage of the Women’s FA Cup by beating North Leigh 18-1 away in the 1st qualifying round and Tilehurst Panthers 12-1 at home in the 2nd qualifying round.

Benfica entered the competition in the 2nd qualifying round and also recorded a convincing victory, 7-0 at Tunbridge Wells Foresters. They have won 2 and drawn 1 of their 6 league matches, with a goal difference of +7.

The crowd of 289 were provided with an entertaining game. Brentford dominated play but they were unable to capitalise on this in a scoreless first half. However, they were eventually rewarded for their persistence 10 minutes after the break, with a good headed goal from a corner. They remained in control and added a second goal midway through the half. However, Benfica fought back and put the home defence under pressure in the closing stages of the game. They were unfortunate not to reduce the deficit in time added on but the score remained 2-0 in Brentford’s favour.

Brentford attacked from the start and visiting goalkeeper, Jessica Smith was tested in the 4th minute by Nikki Woods’ cross cum shot from wide, which she tipped over her crossbar.

Nikki Woods was very much involved at this stage. Her low drive was saved by Jessica at her right-hand post. Nikki’s low cross was defended at the expense of a corner and then her shot from the corner of the penalty area was taken by the keeper.

Play switched to Brentford’s left wing and Chloe Webb crossed but Ashley Cheatley couldn’t quite connect.

Benfica’s first serious attack came in the 18th minute, when Kimberley Castro tricked her way up the right wing and pulled the ball back to Erika Riera, whose shot was too high.

Brentford resumed their offensive.  Jessica Smith took Maddie Phillip’s high ball from the right. Then Maddie crossed from the by-line to Freya Worsley, who tested Jessica with a low drive.   

Solid defending, in the form of timely tackles and interceptions and some good blocks, was largely responsible for keeping the Bees at bay for the remainder of the first half.   

Brentford custodian, Evie Witek saw very little of the ball in that period of play.

Score at half time: Brentford 0 Sport London e Benfica 0

The Bees continued to pressure the visitors’ defence. Chloe Webb progressed up the wing and crossed for Ashley Cheatley, who fired into the side netting from an acute angle.

Chloe Webb set up Freya Worsley, whose lob was taken by Jessica Smith.  

Jessica then made a good save, tipping Ashley’s shot over her crossbar.

The resulting corner enabled Brentford to break the deadlock. Nikki Woods’ kick found Freya Worsley, who netted with a superb header from around 10 yards. The goal was timed at 55 minutes.

Samantha Read went close with 2 shots inside a minute. Maddie Phillips’ long range free kick was well held by the keeper.

In the 66th minute Brentford scored their 2nd goal. Ashley Cheatley’s initial shot, following a corner was blocked but the ball rebounded to her to hit home. 

A minute later, Nikki Woods crossed for Chloe Logie to head wide.

Benfica now started to get into the match and mounted some meaningful attacks. Kimberley Castro, who hadn’t stopped running throughout the match, was prominent in these.

Kimberley made progress into the Brentford box but her shot was blocked.

Kimberley then picked up a loose ball and took it through the middle but she was thwarted by the advancing Evie Witek, who saved at her feet. Then Evie just beat Kimberley to a through ball.

Ashley Cheatley got to a cross and almost guided the ball into the net.

A good Benfica move ended with Georgia Frost’s shot just clearing the bar.

Benfica were desperately unlucky not to score in the 5th minute of additional time. Kimberley Castro’s shot from a very narrow angle on the left beat Evie Witek, hit the inside of the far post and then bounced back along the goal-line into the goalkeeper’s hands. 

Referee Richard Coker controlled the proceedings admirably, well supported by his assistant referees.

Final score: Brentford 2 Sport London e Benfica 0

TEAM LINE-UPS

Brentford: Evie Witek, Carolin Engelhard, Samantha Read, Lucy Potter (Regan Graver 79 mins), Maddie Phillips (Habeebat Gbajabiamila 85), Mollie Holmes (capt) (Sophie Troth 79), Freya Worsley, Chloe Webb, Mikki Woods, Chloe Logie and Ashley Cheatley.

Unused substitutes: Nour Aboul Kheir, Paula Holguin, Kirsty Matthews and Elenora Cotterell.

Head Coach: Karleigh Osborne   

Assistant Coach: Sean Hillier.

Sport London e Benfica: Jessica Smith, Jasmin Davidson, Christina Safanos, Kendal Drake, Arielle Broussy, Georgia Frost (capt), Amelia Shiner, Erika Riera, Kimberley Castro, Evelyn Torres Diniz (Olivia O’Malley 60) and Paula Varel Lorez.

Unused substitutes: Carla Muriel Jaramilo, Kattia Ormeno, Priyangha Santhilvasan, Sarah Goodman, Ana Rubio and Alexandra Herrun.

Manager: Jose Viana   

Assistants: Matthew Lazarus, Jesse Reynolds and Duarte Santana.

Referee: Richard Coker   

Assistant Referees: Mohammed Kauser and Benedict Wong.

Attendance: 289

Two of the other Middlesex clubs involved in this round won their matches. Actonians beat Dartford 2-0 at home and Queens Park Rangers won 2-1 at Herne Bay. 

Unfortunately, Ashford Town (Middlesex) lost 2-1 away to Dorking Wanderers.

Brentford have been drawn at home to Ascot United in the 1st round proper on Sunday, 3rd November. Queens Park Rangers and Actonians both have away ties, to Penn & Tylers Green and Oxford United respectively.

Report: Jim Taylor

Photography: Chris Benn

PICKS

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