Hertford 2- Brentwood 2

This week Brentwood travelled to Hertford for their second match of the new season. The lateness of the game saw Brentwood start the match slowly and soak up some immediate pressure from the Hertford forward line, however they soon settled into their game and the midfield pair of Natalie Gilder and Shirley Osmotherly started controlling the play with some solid distribution to the forward line. Brentwood were first to break the deadlock when a well worked move on the right by Gemma Chambers released Cat MacMillan up front who found Nikki Brimson in space in the dee to slot the ball around the keeper into the goal. Buoyed up by this early goal Brentwood continued to apply pressure, however Hertford got the breakaway and were able to equalise with a good deflection by the Hertford striker in front of goal. Hertford then went searching for a second following a number of short corners, but good defensive running from captain Emily Walker and a number of saves in goal by Lorna Parsons kept them out. Brentwood found themselves 2-1 up about 5 minutes from half time when Osmotherly took on a number of Hertford players to find space in the dee and smashed the ball into the bottom corner of the goal.

The second half started positively for Brentwood who were looking to extend their lead. Some good passages of play on the right hand side by Haylee Adams and Lisa Payne created opportunities for Sophie Cis to cause havoc on the right wing, and Brentwood were unlucky not to be awarded a succession of short corners. Frustrated by the game Brentwood pushed high however a turnover of possession saw Hertford attack in numbers and Brentwood found themselves overloaded at the back as Hertford found the equaliser. Some good distribution out of defence from Amy Causer enabled speedy Georgina Henwood to make some threatening runs up the left hand side in the final few minutes of the game, however Hertford defended well and Brentwood were unable to find the winner with the match finishing 2-2.

Next week Brentwood are back at home with a 12.30pm match against Letchworth.