London Bees produced a spirited second-half comeback to earn a valuable point against Hashtag United in a thrilling FAWNL Cup group stage clash.
It was Layla Kenly who sparked the game into life early on, darting past her marker down the right before firing a shot just wide of the target.
Moments later, goalkeeper Tia Ginn was called into action at the other end, standing tall in a one-on-one situation to deny the Hashtag forward, before swiftly gathering the loose ball to keep the score level.
Both teams created chances in a lively opening spell.
Millie Isherwood unleashed a powerful effort from outside the box that was destined for the top left corner, only to be denied by a stunning save from the Hashtag keeper.
Ginn continued her strong performance, rushing out again to stop an attack following a well-timed through ball from the opposition midfield.
Midway through the half, Lily Whitelock lit up the midfield with a dazzling solo run, driving to the edge of the box before unleashing a fierce strike that unfortunately sailed just over the crossbar.
The Bees came close again following a deflected effort from Kenly that earned a corner.
Though the initial delivery was cleared, the ball fell to Sandra Martins, who struck a powerful rebound effort, only to see it blocked once more by the resolute Hashtag defence.
Despite the Bees’ pressure, it was the hosts who broke the deadlock in the 34th minute.
A low ball across the box was met by Adesan, who tapped home to give Hashtag United the lead.
Just minutes later, the Bees were forced into a change, with Sam Lanza replacing the injured Kenly.
As the game edged towards half-time, Hashtag doubled their advantage through Tomlin, who picked up the ball well before the halfway line, charged forward through midfield, and coolly slotted it into the net to make it 2-0 at the break.
Half-Time: Hashtag United 2-0 London Bees
The second half began with the Bees looking to take control, pushing the hosts back and trying to break down their defensive line.
Sandra Martins looked lively on the right wing, delivering dangerous crosses and even testing the keeper herself, but McSheffrey in the Hashtag goal was equal to the challenge.
Manager Dan McKimm made tactical changes to energize the team, bringing on Betty Larkin and Megan Burrows in place of Millie Isherwood and Brionne Fowle.
The changes paid off, as the Bees began moving the ball with greater speed and purpose, exploiting space and creating more opportunities in the final third.
Defensively, the Bees remained solid, with the backline doing well to keep the hosts from extending their lead. And their perseverance finally paid off.
Martins once again found joy on the right, sending in a pinpoint cross that was met by Larkin, who found herself completely unmarked in the box.
She made no mistake, calmly slotting the ball home to bring the Bees back into the game.
Just two minutes later, the comeback was complete.
Whitelock delivered a dangerous free kick into the box, causing chaos for the defence. The ball eventually fell to Cheyenne Flynn, who fired it into the net to level the score at 2-2.
As the game entered the final ten minutes, both sides pressed for a winner.
Rebekah Wozniak made a crucial recovery run to halt a late Tags counterattack, allowing Ginn to rush out and safely collect the ball.
At the other end, Larkin found space for a final effort, but her shot flew just over the bar.
The final whistle confirmed a well-earned point for the Bees, who showed great resilience to fight back from two goals down and secure their first point in the FAWNL Cup group stage.
Full-Time: Hashtag United 2-2 London Bees
Line-Up: Ginn, Heil, Clement, Flynn, Martins, Isherwood (61’ Larkin), Fowle (Burrows 61’), Vigo, Wozniak, Kenly (Lanza 35’), Whitelock.
Goals: Larkin (72’), Flynn (74’)
The Bees return to The Bees Stadium next Sunday as they face Chatham Town in a Division One South East league clash, kicking off at 2pm.