New signing earns the Bees a draw against Wycombe Wanderers in latest pre-season friendly

The game got off to a lively start, with both sides showing plenty of intent in the opening stages as they battled for possession and looked to create early chances.

Wycombe Wanderers registered the first effort on target, but Maddison Millington-Stanbury was equal to it, getting down well to make an important early save for the Bees.

The Bees settled into the game nicely, moving the ball well and creating some promising opportunities. Sam Lanza was a constant outlet down the wing, stretching the defence with her runs and narrowly missing a through ball that ran through for a goal kick.

Moments later, Lanza was involved again, cutting inside from the flank before curling a right-footed effort towards the top corner, only to see it drift just wide.

Around the midway point of the first half, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock. A well-worked move created space for the Wycombe attacker, who calmly slotted the ball into the bottom-left corner beyond the reach of Millington-Stanbury.

The Bees responded well and were rewarded before the interval. New signing Abbie Bensted capitalised on a misplaced back pass from the Wycombe goalkeeper, intercepting the ball before coolly finishing into the empty net to bring the scores level heading into the break.

Half-time: London Bees 1-1 Wycombe Wanderers

The Bees made three changes at the interval, with Trialist A, Thea Budden and Betty Larkin introduced to provide fresh energy for the second half.

The game continued in a similar fashion after the restart, with both teams enjoying spells of possession and moving the ball from end to end, but clear-cut chances proved hard to come by.

Millington-Stanbury was called into action on several occasions, producing a number of assured saves to keep the Bees level.

At the other end, Lanza and Bensted both came close to finding a winner, but Wycombe defended resolutely to deny the Bees a late breakthrough.

Despite several encouraging moments in the second half, neither side could find a decisive goal, and the referee’s full-time whistle confirmed a hard-fought draw.

Full-time: London Bees 1-1 Wycombe Wanderers

Lineup: Millington-Stanbury, Heil, Breen, Lanza, Mulvaney, Bensted, Vigo, Wozniak, Buttigieg, Campbell, Stanley

Goals: Bensted (32’)