The Bees took a decent away point back to London after a goalless stalemate with Lewes at The Dripping Pan.

The hosts struck with woodwork on two occasions but the Bees stood firm to hang onto a point and keep a valuable clean sheet

Lee Burch was handed a boost in the build-up as top scorer Lauren Pickett was back from illness and back in the starting line up.

Meanwhile, new signing Evie Gane started from the bench after signing on Saturday.

The hosts started quickly and almost took the lead inside the 1st minute, as King raced through on goal, however, Sarah Quantrill was out to deny her as she stopped her effort with her feet.

Moments later the Rooks had the ball in the net but thankfully the linesman raised his flag and the goal was chalked off.

With 19 minutes on the clock, the hosts came within inches of taking the lead as Katie Rood’s long-range effort crashed off the crossbar.

The Bees grew back into the contest and saw two close-range free-kicks blocked away by the Rooks in an opening half-hour of few clear openings.

Just before the break, Emma Jones fired a free-kick at goal that was smartly stopped by Sarah Quantrill before the resulting corner was cleared from the goalline.

With neither side able to break the deadlock, the sides headed back into the changing rooms on level terms after a cagey opening 45 minutes at The Dripping Pan.

Burch introduced new signing Evie Gane from the bench at the break as she came on for Georgie Giddings.

The Bees had the best opening of the early second-half exchanges, as a well-worked move fell to Bonnie Horwood, but her effort was straight at Issy Foster who made a good stop.

With 25 minutes left on the clock, the hosts should have led as Jones raced clear, beat Quantrill but the post denied her as the ball bounced back into our skipper’s hands.

As we entered the last 10 minutes there were chances for both sides. Firstly Rood glanced a header just wide from a dangerous Rooks free-kick, meanwhile, Courtnay Ward-Chambers flashed an effort wide of the post.

The point means it’s back to back clean sheets for Burch’s Bees and they remain unbeaten since the turn of the year.

Bees: Quantrill, Wilson, West, Robert, Brooks, Pickett (Nunn 73′), Horwood (O’Leary 84′), Ward-Chambers, Giddings (Gane 45′), Gibson, Hazard. 

Unused Subs: Finburgh, Hazelton, Dench, Forman.