Following the resumption of grassroots football, a crIsp, bright fresh and fresh winter morning saw Regents Park full of action as far as the eye could see. Brent’s Under-11 Girls went into their first post-Lockdown match looking for a fourth consecutive victory but LSS were to prove a difficult proposition.
Taking advantage of the conditions, LSS started strongly, with Brent’s Owen reduced to taking long-range shots as the LSS defense contained both her and Brent wingers Kennedy and Wales.
Brent came back into the game with Corbett in midfield gradually applying pressure. In the tenth minute and against the run of play a long ball punted upfield by LSS’s diminutive ‘keeper split the Brent defence was split and the ball fell kindly for the LSS striker to lash the ball into the net.
With Brent’s regular goalkeeper absent due to being in self-isolation, all of the team had a spell in goal and unfortunately their lack of experience was punished when Brent fell further behind to a second goal shortly before half time.
With Brent 2-0 down and trailing for the first time this season they had to dig deep and find the resolve to get something out of the game.
Brent started the second period in lively fashion and defender Swaby passed a long ball to Wales who embarked on a run down the left wing. Wales then found an unmarked Owen who cooly slotted home. However, after a delay of several minutes and a discussion with the LSS manager the referee ruled the goal out due to an earlier infringement.
Brent were now fired up and with Corbett and Cochrane-Hanley dominating midfield the pressure finally turned into a goal with Kennedy released down the line by Rattigan and delivering a perfect cross for Corbett to fire into the net.
At 2-1 down Brent were now dominating the game and determined to get the equaliser. Brent levelled the match thanks to a great solo effort by Kennedy who scored from 20 yards out.
Brent ended the game pushing for victory, but were kept out by resoulte defending and good goalkeeping by LSS. The 2-2 draw was a fair result, leaving Brent still undefeated this season.