London Bees held Millwall Lionesses to a draw in a tight contest at The Den to maintain their ‘bogey team’ status over their capital rivals.
The Bees struggled last year in their inaugural FA Women’s Super League 2 season, finishing with just eight points, four points however coming by the way of their two fixtures with Millwall.
Millwall Lionesses 0-0 London Bees
FA WSL 2
Wednesday 18 March
The Den, London
And with the additions of experienced players to the squad in pre-season, supplementing their promising youthful crop, they showed resilience in the face of a bustling Millwall side.
Lionesses manager Dan Mlinar said afterwards it was two points dropped, rather than a point earned.
“We’re disappointed with that result, it’s two points dropped,” he said. “We created not just chances but good chances: four one-on-ones; ten opportunities, six on target and four off.
“We were dominant so I thought we were in control of the game, we should have taken all three points but we will take positives from it. We will play worse than that this season and win. And we can play better.
Millwall Lionesses manager Dan Mlinar
“We need to be a little bit more clinical in the decision making. They’re all confident girls but we just need make sure what’s the right pass, what’s the right decision and doing it at the right times."
The best of those chances fell to 16-year-old Rinsola Babajide on 26 minutes.
She beat team-mate Megan Goss to Lily Agg’s through ball, the youngster went one-on-one with goalkeeper Sophie Harris, who pushed her wide from where she could only hit it over.
Both teams looked energised after the break, Bees’ Cheryl Williams forcing a fine low save by Sarah Quantrill before Harris impressively denied the lively Babajide and Agg.
From there on Millwall asserted their control, Babajide striking the upright with a 20-yard curling effort after substitute Shirvae Edwards found her unmarked.
But they were unable to find the breakthrough, composure lacking when in front goal.
Millwall Lionesses (4-2-3-1): Quantrill, Cowan, Cole, Lennon, Strugnell, Fisk, Sherwood (Edwards 61), Babajide (Albert 77), Agg, Goss, Billson (Butler 86)
Substitutes: Edwards for Sherwood 61; Albert for Babajide 77; Butler for Bilson 86.
Substitutes not used: Gibbs, James
London Bees (4-2-3-1): Harris, Hurley, Dempster, Connor-Iommi, Howells (Benson 85), Goddard, Fellows, Francis, Nicol (Anderson 64), Williams (Huggins 87), Loomes.
Substitutes: Anderson for Nicol 64; Benson for Howells 85; Huggins for Williams 87.
Substitutes not used: Riches, Georgiou, Wakefield
Attendance: 205
Referee: L.Benn
