Bees Fall Short Despite Promising Start Against Dulwich as the game ended 2-1 to the visitors in the first game of the League Cup.
London Bees returned to action with several changes to their starting line-up following Sunday’s clash with Chesham and despite the fresh faces, the Bees wasted no time settling into their rhythm.
Just seven minutes in, Betty Larkin opened the scoring with a well-taken finish.
The move began with a superb long ball over the top from goalkeeper Tia Ginn, finding Layla Kenly in space on the right.
Kenly drove past her marker and delivered a precise cross into the box, where Larkin calmly slotted the ball into the bottom-left corner.
Larkin came close to doubling her tally shortly after, but her effort drifted just wide of the post.
Dulwich Hamlet gradually found their footing and began to test the Bees’ defence with a series of direct balls over the top.
However, the backline held strong, with Ginn alert and quick off her line to deal with the danger.
Cheyenne Flynn came close to extending the lead from a corner, rising highest but unable to direct her header on target.
Meanwhile, Millie Isherwood, making her first start since last season, nearly marked her return with a goal, firing a powerful shot from the edge of the box that forced a solid save from the Dulwich keeper.
An injury to a Dulwich player briefly halted play just before the break, but the Bees went into the interval with a 1-0 lead.
Half-Time: London Bees 1-0 Dulwich Hamlet
The second half began on a disappointing note for the Bees, as Dulwich Hamlet equalised within five minutes of the restart.
A solo run from their winger sliced through the defence before finishing clinically to level the score.
Isla Callison let fly from the left side of the box, but her powerful effort sailed just over the bar.
Shortly after, Kenly chased down a defender to win a corner, but the resulting delivery was well dealt with by the visitors.
Dulwich began to grow in confidence, pressing higher and forcing the Bees onto the back foot.
With around 20 minutes remaining, manager Dan McKimm looked to shift the momentum by making a flurry of changes, introducing Lily Whitelock, Sam Lanza, Brionne Fowle, and Destiny Rosier-Welsh.
Unfortunately, the substitution window was immediately followed by another blow, as Dulwich took the lead just a minute later, turning the game on its head and leaving the Bees with work to do.
The hosts pushed hard for an equaliser as Fowle came close after rising to meet a corner, but the delivery was just beyond her reach.
Despite the relentless effort in the closing stages, the Bees couldn’t find the breakthrough.
The final whistle brought frustration for McKimm’s side, as the Bees finished their opening League Cup fixture on a 2-1 loss.
Full-Time: London Bees 1-2 Dulwich Hamlet
The Bees are back in action this Sunday at The Bees Stadium as they take on AFC Sudbury in the Division One South East League.
Line-Up: Ginn, Hoteit (Rosier-Welsh 69’), Clement, Fylnn, Isherwood, Burrows (Fowle 69’), Vigo, Larkin (Lanza 69’), Davidson (Heil 60’), Kenly, Callison (Whitelock 69’).
Goals: Larkin (7’)