The Bees returned to winning ways after a hard-fought 5-1 win over Cardiff City Ladies in the FA Women’s National League. 

 

The game started off slowly but it was the Bees that made their impression on the fixture first as Jo Wilson struck first.

 

The prolific striker latched onto a lofted through ball from Danielle Puddefoot and slotted it calmly past Laura O’Sullivan.

 

Meg Wood nearly doubled the advantage straight away when she got on the end of a cross from Jade Bell and shot towards goal.

 

Not long after, a goalmouth scramble nearly saw Puddefoot score from a tight angle on the volley, but O’Sullivan got down low to make the save. 

 

The Bees continued to push for a second goal and it almost came in the 24th minute when Wilson and Courtnay Ward-Chambers linked up on the edge of the box and forced a save from their ‘keeper to win a corner.

 

From the resulting set-piece, Hannah Porter forced a fantastic fingertip save from the Wales and Cardiff ‘keeper to prevent Sian Osmond’s side from extending their lead.

 

O’Sullivan continued to frustrate the hosts as Flo Gamby’s effort from range hit the post, courtesy of the goalie getting down quickly to push it away from goal. 

 

In the early part of the second-half the visitors won a free-kick which Chloe Lloyd struck the crossbar with, but it was the hosts who were the stronger after the break.

 

Gamby doubled the advantage early in the 49th minute when she scored from close-range with a low strike into the bottom right corner, after latching onto a ball hooked back into the box.

 

In the 56th minute the Bees won a penalty courtesy of a Cardiff handball. Puddfoot’s first shot was saved but she scored from the rebound to extend the Bees’ lead to three. 

 

The host’s lead was extended further in the 64th minute when the ball found the back of the net from a corner off a Cardiff player’s head. 

 

In the 86th minute, Sian Osmond’s side added a fifth as Chiara Lape scored her first senior goal when a cross from Bell created chaos in the Cardiff box to allow her to knock the ball into an unguarded net. 

 

Cardiff scored a consolation goal late on when Cori Williams’ looping header went over Hazelton to make it 5-1. 

 

Bees: Faye Hazelton, Danielle Puddefoot (Parker Dunn 64’), Hannah Porter, Flo Gamby, Courtnay Ward-Chambers (Chiara Lape 78’), Lauren Heria (Millie Constantine 78’), Sophie Lee (Amber Tullett 90’), Megan Wood, Jade Bell, Ashleigh Goodard (Frankie Webster 78’), Jo Wilson.

 

Goals: Jo Wilson (11’), Flo Gamby (49’), Puddefoot (56’), OG (67’), Chiara Lape (86’).

 

Cardiff: Laura O’Sullivan, Libby Piggott (Zoe Smith 34’), Katie Jones (Lucy Attwood 46’), TJ Gauvin, Chloe Lloyd, Ellie Sargent, Kelly Isaac, Cori Williams, Caitlin Williams, Harriett Lamb, Ruby Scahill. Subs (not used): Klaudia Wojtyczka, Izzy Newns, Kaitlyn Morgan.

 

Goals: Cori Williams (87’).

 

Referee: Guy Thrower.

 

Attendance: 56.