Brentford Under-18s had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Bristol City Under-18s at Robins High Performance Centre on Tuesday afternoon.
Michel Boni’s first goal of the season midway through the first half put the young Bees in front but the hosts equalised early in the second period to ensure the points were shared in the Professional Development League.
On a windy day in Bristol, Brentford attacked with the breeze in the first half, with both sides taking time to adjust to the conditions. On two minutes, Harry Hogg almost scored the unlikeliest of goals for the hosts as his corner cannoned into the near post before being cleared.
On nine minutes, Brentford impressed with end-to-end play as they played out from the back through Bristol City’s press. Ollie Shield managed to break through and make a run through the middle of the pitch, playing the ball down the right to Nedved Owusu, whose shot hit the post, before Emeka Peters' effort on the rebound was blocked and sent out for a corner.
The young Bees thought they had the opener soon after as the hosts put the ball in their own net, however, Boni was deemed to have impacted play and ruled offside.
Despite the goal being ruled out, the visitors were on top. Four minutes later, Shield put in a dangerous cross to Boni at the far post, who headed it back across goal to Luka Bentt, however young Robins goalkeeper Jack Witchard secured the loose ball.
Bristol City’s best chance of the opening half came soon after as they pounced on a loose Brentford pass in their own half. Hogg took possession and sent the ball goalwards, however it went left of the post and out of play.
The west Londoners broke the stranglehold two minutes later. Another strong run through the middle from Shield freed up Owusu down the right, the winger pushing into the box and cutting the ball back to Boni who tapped it home on 28 minutes.
Despite the momentum being with Brentford as they played with the wind, the hosts had their chances in the opening 45 minutes. On 33 minutes, Rushon Walker-Brown saw an effort fall wide of the post.
As half-time approached, the Bees went close to doubling their lead. Aidan Golding played a superb ball over the top to Bentt, however, the defence recovered to stop him from getting a shot off.
As the game entered first-half stoppage-time, Boni had two chances to add his second goal. Witchard made a strong save to deny his first opportunity from close range before his shot a minute later was blocked and cleared.
The hosts started the second half the better of the two sides and they quickly found an equaliser, Excellent Ikpeama heading home from Walker-Brown’s cross on 49 minutes.
Now playing against a strong breeze, the visitors adjusted and the game evened out across the next 20 minutes, with both sides enjoying time on the ball without threatening in attack.
Brentford goalkeeper Connor Wolfheimer was called into action on 67 minutes as he prevented Walker-Brown from turning the game on its head.
While both sides continued to attack, chances were few and far between, until a pulsating final 10 minutes.
Ikpeama’s shot on 80 minutes was over the bar, before Kaya Halil sent a shot over the frame at the other end.
The visitors went close to a winner as the game entered its final minutes, Owusu’s cross finding Domeiro Bobb-Semple, whose effort hit the bar.
Bristol City nearly went one better in added time but captain Jaiden Foxwell’s shot crashed against the post as the match ended level.
Brentford now turn their attention to Saturday afternoon's away fixture against Watford.
Bristol City U18s: Witchard, Thelwell, Davies, Foxwell, Hooper (Ababio HT), Inman, Walker-Brown (Barimah 81), Hogg, Jackson, Ikpeama (Wood 81), Walker (Kalkowski 70)
Subs not used: Sainsbury
Brentford U18s: Wolfheimer, Shield (Halil 62), Ivanov (Trimboli 79), Golding (Bowen 90), Powis, Francis, Owusu, Honor, Boni (Bobb-Semple 70), Bentt, Peters
Subs not used: Anderson