Saltdean United Women beat Brentford Women 2-0 at the Gtech to apply pressure on the league leaders and tee up a thrilling title race.
The result cut the Bees’ lead at the top of the London & South East Regional Women’s League to three points, with Saltdean holding three games in hand on the leaders.
Saltdean, who have lost just once all season and conceded only three goals, inflicted Brentford’s third defeat of the campaign – having also beaten them 1-0 in the reverse fixture – to underline their credentials as favourites for promotion into tier 4.
It also ended an eight-game winning streak for Carly Williams’ side.
Brentford started brightly, forcing sloppy passes from the visitors, but despite several efforts, failed to seriously test Megan Lynch.
The Tigers grew in confidence and thought they had taken the lead when Danielle Lane struck, only for the assistant referee’s flag to deny her a 16th league goal for a tight offside call.
Saltdean broke the deadlock in the 24th minute, winning possession in midfield before Nikita Whinnett surged down the right and delivered a teasing cross for Lane to head back across goal.
Lane and Georgia Bridges, who have 34 league goals between them this season, continued to trouble the Brentford defence and almost forced an error, but the hosts scrambled clear.
Maddie Phillips drew a full-stretch save from the Saltdean goalkeeper just before half-time as Brentford struggled to break down the division’s tightest defence.
Brentford continued to search for an equaliser after the interval and came ever so close through Chelsie Berry, whose strike was inches away from curling into the top right corner.
Saltdean doubled their lead with 59 minutes on the clock, Bridges finishing a ruthless breakaway after the ball was squared across goal to the Tigers’ top scorer.
The Bees kept pushing, but Saltdean’s backline was rock solid, last-ditch tackles and assured clearances preserving the clean sheet.
“A fantastic opportunity”: Williams on playing at the Gtech
Sunday afternoon marked the first time Brentford Women played at the Gtech this term, and head coach Williams discussed the significance of this with the Hounslow Herald before the match.
“We’re seeing this as a fantastic opportunity to show how far the women’s program has come, how much the club as a whole is behind the women’s team, that progress, and being really ambitious and maintaining that push,” she said.
The women’s operation at the club is enjoying an upward trajectory, with the Bees clinching promotion last season and stepping up to the new division with ease, reflecting the smart investment and recruitment.
Over 4,300 spectators filed into the Gtech, many of whom were watching the women’s side for the first time, a prospect not lost on Williams, whose eager to grow the fanbase.
“What’s fantastic (is the) opportunity for my players to go and inspire the next generation of players that will be in that crowd as well,” she said.
Tickets were £5 for adults and free for juniors, with £2 from each ticket sale going back into the local community. That kind of ethos and wider engagement in west London played a key part in Williams’ decision to join Brentford last summer.
She added: “Bringing everyone into the club from a community perspective, and kind of the feel of what the women’s team is and what it’s about, is really key. I think the mission of the club is to support the growth of the women and girls sector.
“We really want to inspire that next generation, but also advertise that the women’s game is for supporters. It’s for everyone, and it’s a really inclusive, friendly environment. So families, Brentford men supporters, the women’s supporters, are coming week in, week out. We’re grateful for all the support.”