Bees hit five past Hammersmith in latest pre-season outing

London Bees continued their pre-season preparations with a convincing 5-0 victory over Hammersmith.

The Bees started brightly, enjoying the majority of possession and moving the ball with purpose as they looked to break down the Hammersmith defence.

The visitors threatened on occasion themselves, producing several promising attacks that kept the Bees’ back line alert and tested the defence in the opening stages.

The first clear opportunity fell to Shamoy Campbell, who delivered a dangerous cross across the face of goal towards Sam Lanza at the back post. Lanza stretched to make contact but was inches away as the ball drifted out for a goal kick.

At the other end, Maddison Millington-Stanbury was called into action after Hammersmith broke into the penalty area. The Bees goalkeeper reacted quickly, rushing off her line to smother the ball before the visitors could get a shot away.

The breakthrough arrived on the half-hour mark. Grace Breen delivered an excellent corner into the heart of the penalty area, where Rebekah Wozniak rose highest to power a header into the back of the net and give the Bees a deserved lead.

Hammersmith looked for an immediate response, with their winger cutting inside from the left before curling an effort towards the top corner. Millington-Stanbury produced an outstanding save, stretching high to tip the ball away and preserve the lead.

Just before the interval, Campbell was forced off after picking up a slight knock and was replaced by Daisy Beard.

Half-Time: London Bees 1-0 Hammersmith

The Bees stepped up another gear after the restart and doubled their advantage within ten minutes of the second half. Daisy Beard’s inviting cross found Che Thomas, who guided a well-placed header into the bottom corner to open her account for the club.

Thomas wasn’t finished there. Minutes later, she won possession high up the pitch before unleashing a superb long-range strike that flew into the top corner, making it 3-0 with an excellent individual effort.

Midway through the second half, Dan McKimm freshened up his side with a number of substitutions. Jamie-Lee Hindle-Bamford replaced Millington-Stanbury in goal, while Fran Vigo, Betty Larkin and Niamh Cashin were also introduced.

The changes had an immediate impact. Larkin found space inside the penalty area before calmly slotting home into the bottom corner to extend the Bees’ lead.

Thomas came close to completing her hat-trick in the closing stages, but the Hammersmith goalkeeper produced a fine save to deny her effort from finding the top corner.

There was still time for one more goal before the final whistle. Larkin turned provider, laying the ball into the path of Vigo, who struck first time from the edge of the area to fire home and complete an emphatic 5-0 victory.

The Bees now turn their attention to this coming Sunday as they host Arsenal U21 in the next fixture of their pre-season preparations.

Full-Time: London Bees 5-0 Hammersmith

Lineup: Stanbury-Millington (Hindle-Bamford 67’), Heil, Breen (Cashin 67’), Burrows (Vigo 67), Lanza (c) (Larkin 67’), Trialist A, Bensted, Thomas, Wozniak (Buttigeig 46’), Campbell (Beard 38’), Smith

Goals: Wozniak (30’), Thomas (55’, 60’), Larkin (73’), Vigo (88’)