Barnet FC Ladies 2 Leyton Orient LFC 1

South East Combination League

Sunday 25 September 2005

At Hanwell Town FC

Barnet FC Ladies recorded their sixth successive victory with a home win against an improving Leyton Orient.Without the services of four first team players this was always going to be a stern test for the table topping Bees.

Barnet started the stronger and should have taken the lead on four minutes when a low free kick from Beth Curtis was latched onto by midfielder Emma Treanor only to see the keeper save low down to her left.

With confidence high after their winning start Barnet had a further chance to go ahead on 11 mins when Lizzie Goodwin cut in from the left but her shot was easily saved.Against the run of play Orient took the lead on 15 minutes when good play down the left resulted in a cross and an easy finish from an Orient forward.This was the first time that the Bees had been a goal behind all season and they responded by adding more pressure onto the Orient back four.The lead lasted just five minutes when the Orient central defender Phillips inadvertently lobbed her own keeper to bring the game level at 1-1.

Although not at their best, Barnet had further chances to take the lead but the Orient keeper was ensuring a frustrating afternoon for the Bees front-line.With the scores level at half time Barnet came out the more determined in the 2nd half and took the lead after just 25 seconds!Beth Curtis who had been probing the Orient back line all afternoon put an excellent ball through for Lizzie Goodwin to score a stinging left footed finish to give the Bees a 2-1 lead.

Orient stepped up a gear and were having much the better opportunities but found Bees keeper Jess Devoti in outstanding form.Twice she was required to tip the ball around the post much to the frustration of the Orient forwards.

With Player of the match Kerry O'Conner being as industrious as ever Orient could never quite relax and an excellent one-handed save was required to stop the Bees further increasing their lead.But the last attack of the game came from Orient but fortunately for Barnet the Orient striker screwed her shot wide of Devoti's goal to keep Barnet 100% winning start intact.

Although, by far a convincing performance Barnet have shown a determination to grind out results which will stand them in good stead for the remainder of the season.

Barnet Team: Jess Devoti, Davina Smith, Hannah Grover, Cerrie Byrne, Madeleine Hills, Lizzie Goodwin, Katie Wicka, Emma Treanor, Hayley Johnson, Beth Curtis, Kerry O'Connor

Substitutes: Holly Dawson (for Kerry O'Connor 75mins), Stacey Sowden and Charlotte Herson (not used)

This Sunday (2nd October) Barnet FC Ladies entertain BedfordTown in a South East Combination fixture at HanwellTown, kick-off 2.00pm