Women's Report | Late sting from Bees sends Cards out of Capital Cup

Brentford advanced into the Capital Women’s Cup semi-finals thanks to a late strike against Woking. Despite the Cards’ valiant effort, it wasn’t to be their day on a windy occasion at Bedfont Sports Club.

The Bees came out all guns blazing from the first whistle and tested Amy Jenkins in goal several different times. The first chance came just two minutes in when their striker was played through on goal, but Amy made a brilliant save by tipping the ball over the bar. Just a minute later, she pushed the ball over once more, this time from a free-kick on the edge of the box. Within the space of the opening five minutes, she made her third save after getting down low to push the ball away for a corner.

Just before the half-hour mark, the visitors were forced into a change after Gracie Price was involved in a collision. The midfielder was unable to continue and was replaced by Helen Ogle.

It took a while for Woking to register their first attempt on goal, but it came when Helen won the ball high up the pitch and played in Trudy Bryan-Kerr whose right-footed shot just skimmed past the post.

HT: Brentford 0-0 Woking

There was one change at the break, with Kaitlin Howard replacing Trudy. The skipper was handed over the captain's armband, ready for the second half.

In a game with plenty of turnovers, it was difficult for either side to create many chances from open play, however, in the 52nd minute, a ball was played in behind the Brentford defence which Gaby Hobday used her pace to run onto, but her effort was held by the goalkeeper.

The hosts could have taken the lead earlier on in the game if it wasn’t for Laura Mitchell’s sensational last-ditch challenge. The defender managed to get her body in the way from a shot inside the six-yard box, to clear the danger off the line.

Woking hand a small five-minute spell in the second half where they managed to create a few chances in succession, starting with Sheena Nichol playing a great ball into the area which found Frances Cotter at the back-post, but her effort was magnificently saved by the ‘keeper. Next up was a great cross from Bianca Underhill who found Sheena, but her header hit the post before the ball was then cleared.

With only seven minutes of normal time remaining, it was the Bees who went ahead. The ball found its way out on the right-hand side before being fired at goal, forcing a brilliant save from Amy, but the rebound was played back into the box and smashed home from close range. Heartbreak for the visitors.

With five minutes left on the clock, Ellie Boddy made her way, to be replaced by Sophie Burgess.

With time ticking away, Woking had thrown everything forward, to try and force the game into penalties. Helen played a great first-time ball in behind the defence to Charlotte Keenan but her shot went agonisingly over the bar. With one final throw of the dice, Sheena was presented with a free-kick, around 25 yards out in the final minute of injury time. She took aim and was unlucky to have her effort saved, in what happened to be the final piece of action from the game.

FT: Brentford 1-0 Woking

Despite the disappointment of defeat, it was a brilliant cup run to be a part of, with many heroic moments along the way. Whilst it’s not what the team had hoped for, attention will now turn to the final three league games and the Chairmen’s Cup, where there is still plenty to play for.



Woking Starting XI: Jenkins, Boddy (85), Cotter ©, Mitchell, Underhill, Price (28), Theocharous, Nichol, Bryan-Kerr (46), Hobday, Keenan

Subs: Ogle (28), Howard (46), Burgess (85)

Attendance: 117

Player of the Match: Amy Jenkins