Town go top of the table

By dward

BRENTWOOD TOWN 3

WHITEWELL 1

(Eastern Region Women's League Division One South)

TOWN climbed to the top of the table and also maintain their winning start to the year.

"I was pleased with our performance," beamed manager Ian Bent after the match. "I felt we dominated for large periods against very hard-working opponents who never made it easy for us.

"I hope we can continue to work hard to keep this run going."

Bent sent his team out in a 4-5-1 formation that encouraged wingers Ash Debnam and Kerri Thomas to push forward.

Despite making a sluggish start, Town were handed the ideal opportunity to take the lead on the quarter of an hour mark.

Unfortunately, Sophie Lovell smacked a penalty against the woodwork after Rose had been upended inside the area.

Danielle Butler and Faraday could both have netted from close range, but failed to find the back of the net and it appeared the teams would go in goalless at half-time until Faraday found her range from a corner.

Her 44th minute flag-kick was delivered onto the head of Thomas, who scored her fourth goal of the season at the back post.

Nicole Manning could also have netted in similar fashion four minutes after the interval, but her header glanced against the top of the crossbar.

Then Faraday picked up possession down the inside-left channel and charged towards the byline before cutting back and dispatching the ball into the goal with her right foot.

Manning grabbed her second goal in as many matches 20 minutes from time as she met another Faraday corner with a powerful header.

The lead was reduced eight minutes later when Jodie Beaumont capitalised on a mistake by Izzy Vian in the Brentwood goal, but it was the hosts who came closest to scoring again through substitute Keeley Walker and Butler in the final 10 minutes.

Town travel to Sawbridgeworth Town on Sunday.