Lauren Pickett’s finely taken brace wasn’t enough to prevent Leicester City from claiming their first Championship point of the season.

The London Bees striker looked to have completed the perfect comeback from two goals down when she kept her cool in the Leicester penalty area to put her side 3-2 up in the 85th minute.

But Natalie Johnson’s header two minutes later rescued a deserved draw for the hosts.

A storming start from Leicester had stunned the visiting Bees as they notched a pair of spectacular goals in the first 23 minutes.

There were barely 150 seconds on the clock when Leigh Dugmore did well to control a volley beyond Sarah Quantrill from a Hayley James cross.

Lucy Johnson then left Quantrill helpless with a superb cross-shot from the left flank which looped into the far corner to double their lead.

Leicester looked comfortable until a misplaced pass from Aimee Everett allowed Pickett to run through and place a low shot beyond Scarlett Field in first-half injury time.

More fragile Leicester defending saw Nikita Whinnett latch on to a long punt forward from Billie Brooks to equalise in the 49th minute.

Horwood was denied by a superb point-blank save from Field but Leicester had second-half chances of their own.

Libby Smith saw a spectacular shot well tipped onto the bar by Quantrill and Lachante Paul, who caused numerous problems up front, rattled the foot of the post after a driving run.

The late goals then brought about a frantic finish to an entertaining game with Dugmore going close to winning it for Leicester.

To follow the action, buy tickets and sign-up for The FA Player’s live Barclays FA Women’s Super League coverage visit womenscompetitions.thefa.com