Source: London Bees

Bees maintain unbeaten away record

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Bees secure a valuable point on the road despite second-half fightback from Everton.

London Bees maintained their unbeaten away record for the new Women’s Super League season on Sunday by claiming their second point on the road with a 2-2 draw against Everton Ladies at the Select Stadium.

The Bees had a 2-0 lead at the break following goals for Lucy Loomes and a first for the club for Leigh Nicol, but were pegged back by a quick-fire brace from Danielle Turner early in the second half as they were forced to settle for a hard-earned draw.

Ahead of the game Julian Broomes named two changes to the side that lost last time out to Reading, recalling Aoife Hurley to the defence with Katherine Huggins in the other full-back position.

There was also a first involvement for club captain Billie Brooks, who was on the bench, as she continues her recovery from a knee injury.

The Bees started the game brightly and hit the woodwork after just two minutes when Leigh Nicol struck the post with a shot from outside the area that bounced away to safety.

However, their early endeavours were rewarded not long afterwards when they took the lead on 25 minutes, with Huggins marking her first start of the season with an assist by playing in Lucy Loomes who converted into the bottom corner.

The visitors were well on top, and went close to doubling their advantage on 38 minutes when Cheryl Williams forced a good save from Megan Walsh.

However, they took full advantage from the resulting corner as Nicol caught the goalkeeper out with a floated ball towards the back post that crept beneath the crossbar to put the Bees 2-0 up at the break.

Everton came out all guns blazing at the start of the second half and pulled a goal back within five minutes of the restart as Dan Turner collected the ball in her own half before embarking on a mazy run past four defenders and slotting into the net to make it 2-1.

The midfielder then notched a second goal inside six minutes, sliding in at the near post to level the scores and cap a whirlwind start to the second half.

Yet the Bees managed to ride the storm, making a substitution on 70 minutes as Ashleigh Goddard came on for goal-scorer Nicol with the game in the balance.

Everton applied plenty of pressure during the closing stages as they piled forward in search of a winner, with Sophie Harris forced into an excellent save seven minutes from time after Lucy Whipp had been sent through on goal.

Lindsay Johnson almost won it at the death for the hosts, seeing a header direct from a corner crash back against the crossbar with just four minutes remaining but at the final whistle there was nothing to choose between the sides following an enthralling game.

The result sees the Bees sitting in eighth place in the table after three matches, two points above Yeovil Town and Watford Ladies who are both still yet to get off the mark.

Next up for Broomes’ side is a home game at The Hive in two weeks’ time against fifth-placed Durham Women who currently sit just one point above them in the FA WSL2 table.

Everton Ladies FC Goal Scorers: Turner 50′,56′

London Bees Goal Scorers: Loomes 26′, Nicol 39′

Everton Ladies: Megan Walsh; Vicky Jones, Lindsay Johnson, Danielle Lea (Lauren Davis 46), Megan Alexander, Kelly Jones, Michelle Hinnigan, Jessica King (Faye Bryson 46), Danielle Turner; Danielle Young, Lucy Whipp.

London Bees: Sophie Harris; Aoife Hurley, Jade Dempster (c), Louise Fellows, Katherine Huggins; Leigh Nicol (Ashleigh Goddard 70), Cheryl Williams, Andria Georgiou, Cheryl Williams, Gemma Fraser; Lucy Loomes.

Attendance: 407.

Report courtesy of London Bees