Report: Brentford Women 1-1 Sutton United Women (3-4 on penalties)

Megan Taylor was the hero as Sutton United Women came from behind to beat Brentford Women on penalties, booking their place in the next round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup and inflicting a first defeat of the season on the Bees. 

In wet and windy conditions, Brentford came out of the traps quickly, putting Sutton under pressure within the first minutes but failed to create a clear chance. That was until the 10th, when they took the lead through Esme Alaneme, whose cross from the right looped over the U’s goalkeeper Taylor. 

With three players missing due to them being cup-tied, it was a game in which Lucy Clark’s side struggled to get into, finding it hard to get a spell of possession, but they still managed to create some opportunities, Gabrielle Williams being brought down in the box, but the referee waved it away. Ella Meehan’s header then caught Brentford goalkeeper Tatiana Sanders off guard, and left her scrambling to make the save, which she did, at the last moment, tipping it over the bar. 

It was 45 minutes that Sutton ended better than they started, with the half-time whistle coming at the wrong time for the U’s.

The first sight of goal in the second half came for Brentford, but Taylor was able to jump on the ball, beating Harris-Walters to it. It wasn’t long before the Sutton goalkeeper was called into action again, somehow stopping Alamene from doubling the Bee’s lead, in a save she didn’t seem to know much about. 

Trailing at the break, it was a start the U’s could ill afford, riding their luck until a swift counter with some great work by Williams and K’Shaella Burch-Waldren gifted Phoebe Langley the opportunity to bring Sutton level, but the midfielder agonisingly hit the post from inside the box. 

With chances at a premium, it was an opportunity that the South West London side could hardly afford to squander, and they were nearly punished 10 minutes later, Mai Louvrier missing the target after the ball dropped to the French midfielder from a corner. 

However, Sutton never let their heads drop and after Lewis Potter gave the ball away from a goal kick, Williams was there to capitalise, scoring her 12th goal of the season, to drag the U’s level with 15 minutes to play. This seemed to shock Brentford, who were yet to lose a game all season, and in a flash, the U’s were nearly in front, Langley’s shot narrowly going wide after taking a deflection. 

In the closing moments, the U’s continued to force the initiative, piling on the pressure, forcing the home side onto their heels, yet as the game crept into injury time, the pendulum swung once again, this time Brentford with a series of chances but neither side could find a winner, sending us to penalties. 

Every FA Cup shootout winner has a hero, and today in Bedfont it was to be Megan Taylor, saving three of six spot kicks, to guide Sutton into the Second round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, in a day that everyone involved in the club will remember forever.

The draw for the next round will take place tomorrow on TNT Sports.