Hat-trick hero Fliss Gibbons was delighted to help her side get back to winning ways as Millwall picked up a 5-3 win over London Bees in a pulsating FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup match.
The Lionesses came into the match on the back of four consecutive league defeats but they weren’t to be denied this time and battled from behind to take victory.
Ashleigh Goddard opened the scoring for Bees after 30 minutes with a curling effort from the edge of the box and from then the goals kept coming.
Millwall Lionesses 5-3 London Bees
FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup
Group stage
Wednesday 22 July
Beckenham Town FC
Gibbons hit back shortly after with a tap in following some elaborate build-up play before Emma Whitter restored the lead after evading a series of ineffective challenges.
Gibbons then netted her second immediately after as Bees keeper Imogen Riches watched the ball loop past her and in off the bar before Whitter cleverly lobbed Sarah Quantrill from the left wing.
But the Lionnesses kicked on after the break as Ciara Sherwood restored parity and Gibbons slotted home her third.
Rinsola Babajide then rounded off proceedings on 84 minutes and Gibbons admits the win was just what her side needed.
“I’m so happy. It’s more important for the team to get back to winning ways, but I’m really happy to have scored a hat-trick,” she said.
“I never expected it. Coming from behind and coming back off four losses, it’s good to bounce back from that.
“I never expected it. Coming from behind and coming back off four losses, it’s good to bounce back from that”
Fliss Gibbons Millwall Lionesses
“The girls deserved it – it was a hard-working performance. It was important that we matched them and showed we can beat the other teams in our league.”
For London Bees there were plenty of positives to take from the game – most notably the performance of Whitter who helped herself to two goals on the night.
But for Whitter the goals were scant consolation as her side left empty handed and suffered their eighth defeat of the season in all competitions.
“It doesn’t really mean anything that I scored the goals, we didn’t win, and that’s what‘s important at the end of the day,” said Whitter.
“Don’t get me wrong, I am delighted to have scored, because I’ve been out for such a long time, and to come back here where I’ve played for so long and score two goals, it’s great.
“But I’m still upset that we lost. It didn’t work for us today but we move on to the next one now.”
Millwall Lionesses (3-5-2): Sarah Quantrill, Dionne Lennon, Grace Fisk, Jordan Butler, Lauren Davis, Francesca Strugnell (Meghan McKeag 68), Francesca Ali, Ciara Sherwood (Rinsola Babajide 76), Lilli Maple (Danielle Carlton 55), Ashlee Hincks, Fliss Gibbons. Subs not used: Lottie Ivison, Megan Goss
London Bees (4-4-2): Imogen Riches, Kara Howes, Jade Dempster, Aoife Hurley, Katherine Huggins, Paige Wakefield, Paula Howells, Rebecca Anderson (Andria Georgiou 76), Ashleigh Goddard, Emma Whitter (Sydney Hinchcliffe 87), Lucy Loomes (Amber Gaylor 68). Subs not used: Sophie Harris, Billie Brooks, Samantha Miller, Katie Bowes
Attendance: 189
Referee: AJ Attbold
