Leatherhead Women 0 Brentford Women 3: Match report and reaction | OneFootball

Brentford Women worked hard to earn a 3-0 away victory at Leatherhead Women on Sunday lunchtime to move within two wins of securing the London and South East Regional Women's Division One North title.

The west Londoners broke the deadlock on 45 minutes via a Lucy Potter header, before a wonderful second-half double from Maddie Phillips sealed the victory.

The Tanners started as the better side; Lilly Hadrava had to make an early save as Jess Thomas struck well from range and the Bees goalkeeper did well to hold on in the first minute.

She was called into action again on five minutes as her pass didn't have enough on it and Megan Button intercepted, then shot from the right side of the box. Hadrava had to recover and parried well.

Regan Graver was then positioned cleverly to clear a cross off the line at the back post seconds later.

Brentford's number one was working hard to keep them level and produced a wonderful diving save on 13 minutes low to her right to turn away a powerful strike from Button.

Karleigh Osborne's side created their first chance on 17 minutes when Chloe Logie held up the ball excellently and threaded Alissa Down through on goal. She was closed down well but managed to get her shot off and drew a strong save from Eva Phillips in the Leatherhead net.

The home side came again though and broke well with three-on-two. Cassie Brown rolled in Button who was denied once more at the near post by Hadrava.

Nikki Woods was lively and almost got the west Londoners ahead, nicking the ball off her full-back on 25 minutes and forcing Phillips to block well with her legs.

With 10 minutes to go before half-time, Logie was inches away from opening the scoring, rattling the post after a clever swivel on the edge of the box.

Freya Worsley headed Woods's corner narrowly wide and the sides looked destined to head into the break level.

Then, on the brink of half-time, Woods's delivery was misjudged by the Leatherhead defence and Potter, who had been booked five minutes prior, nodded home amongst the bodies to give the Bees the advantage.

Brentford started the second 45 in much better fashion, doubling their lead within five minutes. Wing-back Phillips broke onto Down's pass and thumped her strike into the roof of the net to give the visitors some breathing room.

Osborne's side had found their groove; Phillips almost had a second, cutting across her half-volley well but sent it just over the bar.

The rain started to pour but it didn't dampen Brentford's spirit. On 59 minutes Phillips added a third and her second of the day with a goal of the season contender. Carolin Engelhard found her just inside the opposition half and she drove with the ball then unleashed a thunderous strike from 35 yards to beat her namesake in Leatherhead's goal.

The west Londoners worked tirelessly to keep their first clean sheet in four games, and the centre-back trio of Engelhard, Graver and Samantha Read were superb as a unit in front of Hadrava.

With five minutes left to play, the Bees' keeper made the best save of the day, a superb reaction block from 12 yards to keep Leatherhead out and round off a masterful performance between the sticks.

The Bees need two more wins to secure promotion, and are next in action away at Denham United Women on Tuesday 22 April (7.45pm kick-off BST).

Brentford: Hadrava, Phillips, Graver, Down, Engelhard, Holmes, Logie (Gbajabiamila 65), Woods, Worsley (Aboul Kheir 68), Read, Potter (Troth 68)

Unused subs: Webb

Booked: Potter 40

Osborne reacts to clean sheet and victory at Leatherhead

Brentford Women head coach Karleigh Osborne reacts to moving to within two wins of promotion.

"It's a really good result, Leatherhead are a good team," said Osborne.

"We've put ourselves in a really good position, we've worked our socks off for it."