Brentford Under-18s earned a hard-fought three points with a 2-0 win over Cambridge United on Saturday at Wheatsheaf Park.
The hosts went into the break a goal up following a strike from Remy Bennison, but a superb second-half performance earnt the Bees a well-deserved victory. Following the dismissal of Evan Anderson, Freddie Taylor was forced to go in goal with no keeper on the bench. The right-back made some great saves before Michael McSorley struck late on the counter attack to claim the victory for the hosts.
It was a positive start from the young Bees who displayed some nice patterns of play early on.
Bennison looked dangerous on the left flank with the winger coming close inside the opening 10 minutes with a shot from distance which went just wide of the post.
Brentford were finding most of their joy on the wings with Emeka Peters getting the better of the Cambridge left back on a number of occasions in the opening half.
Cambridge proved to be a threat from set-pieces with striker Randy Bulakio’s height testing Brentford’s centre-backs.
The home side took the lead on 28 minutes following a good spell of possession when Bennison found himself in behind the Cambridge back line and composed himself before slotting the ball into the bottom corner.
The young Bees dominated the remainder of the half following the opener as Cambridge struggled to create any real passages of play in the final third.
The visitors made a good start to the second half with Bulakio forcing a good save out of Evan Anderson in the Brentford net with a volley from close range.
Bulakio was causing the Brentford back line problems and on 55 minutes the striker was taken down by Anderson who saw a red card for his challenge.
Down to 10 men and with no goalkeeper on the bench, Freddie Taylor stepped up to go in goal for Brentford.
Taylor was called right into action with the full-back making two great saves in the Brentford net before Kerron Samuels blocked Bulakio’s shot sending the ball over the bar.
Brentford still looked dangerous on the counter despite only have 10 players on the pitch, Michael McSorley had a great chance to double the home side’s lead, but the striker dragged his shot wide from 12 yards.
Cambridge were ramping up the pressure but the home side were showing unbelievable levels of determination to keep the visiting side out.
Brentford managed to grab their second goal on the counter attack four minutes before full-time with McSorley tucking the ball away in neat fashion as the Bees earned all three points.
Brentford U18s: Anderson, Taylor, Francis (Ivanov 68), Grey (Samuels 50), Headman, Agyei, Peters (King 68), Poliakov, McSorley, Halil, Bennison (Shield 60)
Cambridge United U18s: Briggs, Crace, Murefu, Inyama, Sowden-Fletcher, Ewens-Finolay, Gray, Holmes, Bulakio, Ebanks-Blake, Munday
Subs: Mckoy, Arnett, Murefu, Okolie, Page