Goals from Ellie Wilson and Amelia Hazard meant that the Bees took all three points off their London rivals and started 2020 with a morale-boosting win.

Lee Burch was dealt an early blow before kick-off as both of his strikers, Nikita Whinnett and Lauren Pickett missed the match with illness. Courtnay Ward-Chambers started as an unorthodox centre forward but rose the challenge brilliantly.

Bonnie Horwood almost gave the Bees the lead inside the first two minutes, she went for an audacious long-range effort that landed on the roof of the net.

The Bees took the lead on the 10th minute as Ellie Wilson finished an incisive Bees breakaway, it was a superb team goal from Lee Burch’s side as they went forward with speed and precision.

The Bees had chances to double their lead as Nicola Gibson saw a powerful strike blocked clear, before Courtnay Ward-Chambers was inches away from touching home a Georgia Robert free-kick.

But with twenty minutes on the clock, it was two for Burch’s side as Amelia Hazard poked home following a mistake from Lionesses ‘keeper Lucy Thomas.

Following that second goal, the Bees came under some pressure from their London rivals and defended resolutely as a corner kick was stabbed goalwards from six yards out.

The professional outfit continued to press but Burch’s side stood firm and looked very threatening on the counter-attack.

Horwood almost repeated her set-piece success from the Conti Cup five minutes before the break but her effort skimmed the post on it’s way wide. Burch’s side more than value for their two-nil lead at the break.

The hosts tried to put the pressure on at the beginning of the second half, however, the Bees restricted them to efforts from distance which didn’t trouble Quantrill.

Up the other end, Hazard’s speculative effort flew over the crossbar as a lively second half continued.

The Bees could have settled it with twenty minutes to play, as Hazard picked out Ward-Chambers but our number 12’s flick was just wide of the far post.

As added time approached the hosts threw everyone forward bar the ‘keeper from a corner. Priest met the set-piece but captain Quantrill held well to seal the deal for the Bees.

The victory means the Bees start 2020 with all three points and make it back to back victories over their London rivals.

Bees: Quantrill, Wilson, West, Robert, Brooks, Horwood, Ward-Chambers (Finburgh 90+1), Giddings, Gibson, Hazard, Will (Nunn ’80). 

Unused Subs: Hazelton, Forman, Dench 

ATT: 189