Brentford Under-18s battled out a tight 2-2 draw with Northampton Town in their return to South East Youth Alliance League action on Friday night.

Goals to Emeka Peters and Adam Poliakov nearly steered the young Bees to a win at Uxbridge Football Club, however a brave Northampton Town side made sure the points were split at the final whistle.

Brentord started the contest impressively, consistently putting the visitors’ defenders under pressure with dangerous balls into the box.

Captain Ollie Shield, who has spent much of the season up front, has switched to right back in recent weeks and set the tone early, his cross from the right side on five minutes finding Remy Bennison, whose shot was well saved by Northampton Town keeper Marcus Bald.

Brentford continued to put balls into dangerous positions, but despite their efforts, couldn’t find the back of the net in the opening 15 minutes.

Ethan Laidlaw had Brentford’s best chance on 20 minutes, beating multiple defenders before his powerful strike rebounded off a defender and out of play.

He nearly went one better on two occasions minutes later, running onto dangerous balls from Peters and Kaya Halil, however his shots were saved and went wide right respectively.

Despite Brentford dominating the opening 30 minutes of play, Northampton Town continued to attack when in possession, Reuben Wyatt finding himself one-one-one with young Bees keeper Evan Anderson after breaking down the left side before putting his shot wide right on 28 minutes.

The visitors went one better three minutes later, Harry Guess receiving the ball on the right egde of the box and sending a powerful strike into the back of the net to make it 1-0.

With 15 minutes until the break the young Bees searched for an equaliser, eventually finding one on 45 minutes. Laidlaw made a break down the right side following a Josh Djoro pass, his cross from the right side then finding Peters at the back post who put the ball in from close range to make it 1-1.

The young Bees started the second half exactly where they had left off in the first 45 minutes. A Beaux Booth cross found Remy Bennison on 47 minutes, his shot deflecting off a defender for a Brentford corner. The ensuing cross found defender Kerron Samuels open in the box, however his shot went just over the bar.

As was the case in the first half, despite Brentford’s best efforts to cross the ball into the box and put Northampton Town under pressure, the final strike couldn’t find the back of the net on multiple occasions.

Booth nearly put the young Bees up on 63 minutes, his powerful strike from the edge of the box well saved by Bald and cleared away.

Despite Brentford’s chances to open the second half, it was the visitors that struck first, Guess breaking down the right side and finding Charlie Carroll in the box, who found the back of the net to make it 2-1.

Northampton Town nearly secured a win minutes later, Guess again crossing the ball dangerously into the box, the ensuing shot going just left and hitting the post before going out of play.

Anderson found himself called upon on 77 minutes to keep Brentford in the game, the young keeper making a strong save diving backwards to knock the ball away, before clearing away the rebound shot.

His efforts were rewarded minutes later as Brentford equalised, a Freddie Taylor free-kick finding Poliakov in the box, his header hitting the back of the net to make it 2-2.

Poliakov nearly scored a last gasp winner minutes later, however his shot was well saved by Bald.

As the second half entered added time, Anderson was called upon again, the keeper making a strong save before diving on the ball as the visitors hunted the rebound, enough to secure a 2-2 draw.

Brentford U18: Anderson, Shield (Francis, 75'), Bennison (Payet, 75'), Samuels (Asemokhai, 75'), Trialist, Peters (Taylor, 62'), Booth, Djoro, Poliakov, Laidlaw (Ivanov, 62'), Halil

Northampton Town U18: Bald, Cartwright, Jenkins, Licorish-Mullings (Baxter, 67'), Owen, Wyatt, Scott, Hart, Guess (Collin-Kolawole, 82'), Jevterevs (Carroll 46'), Rayfield (Badero, 82')

Subs not used: Smith

Bedford pleased with response ahead of FA Youth Cup

Brentford Under-18 head coach Lydia Bedford was pleased with her side's response after finding themselves down by a goal twice during the clash with Northampton Town.

Ahead of the young Bees FA Youth Cup contest against Tottenham Hotspur next Tuesday, Bedford said it was a pleasing sign to see her side get back into the game.

"I'm pleased that we went behind twice and responded twice, so when you're thinking about momentum and going into the FA Youth Cup, coming out of tonight with something is really important," said Bedford.

"Also the boys having the understanding that they can come back and get themselves into the game is really key and I think the subs had a good impact on that too."

The young Bees pressure on the visitors' defence was evident throughout the game and although some dangerous crosses into the box didn't eventuate in goals, Bedford was pleased with the way her side played.

"I felt the first five to 10 minutes was a bit frantic, but I felt like once we settled into a rhythm there was some really nice patterns of play tonight," said Bedford.

"We've really encouraged the boys to cross early and I felt like we got the ball into wide areas effectively and got the ball into the box, probably didn't capitalise enough on the opportunities we created."

Poliakov signs on with Under-18s

We are pleased to announce that our Under-18s have added Adam Poliakov to the side on a contract until the end of the 2023/24 season.

The midfielder will add a further option to Lydia Bedford’s side in the midfield for the remainder of the campaign.

Bedford praised the rising star for the work he has put in with the young Bees.

"Brilliant reward for Adam, he's shown some great promise in the Under-18s," said Bedford.

"He's always made an impact since the moment we saw him and really pleased for him to be rewarded ... I think he's got lots of potential and we're really excited to have him on board."