Brentford Under-18s were defeated 3-2 by Watford Under-18s at Jersey Road on Friday afternoon.
Enrique Roca put the young Bees ahead early in the first half of the Professional Development League clash; however, his strike was cancelled out by three straight goals by the visitors. Yerime Ouattara’s late goal in the second half gave Brentford hope of a late equaliser, but it wasn’t to be.
Both sides came out with an attacking style of play to start the game, Roca and Watford’s Marat Galajevs both having shots interrupted on respective counter attacks inside the opening five minutes.
Gary McDermott’s side took an early lead through Roca. A superb build-up in open play saw Nathaniel Ogungbemi freed up on the left side, his cross finding Roca at the back-post, who made no mistake from close range.
Despite going down early and with Brentford dominating possession, Watford continued to press hard and cause the young Bees difficulties. After winning the ball back, Jael Norville fired at goal from inside the box, his effort blocked by Josh Oladapo-Gamu.
Less than a minute later, Galajevs crossed to Cayden Lamothe at the back post for Watford, but his effort was wide of the goal.
The hosts continued to dominate possession without threatening the young Hornets’ backline. On 24 minutes, the visitors won the ball back high up the pitch again, Norville putting his effort over the bar.
As the half-hour mark approached, the young Bees continued to control the ball. Ouattara had the side’s best look on goal since the opener; however, put his shot from the edge of the box wide of the goal.
One minute later, Kymani Smith Daley found himself on the break and with a good look on goal, but Felix Lyon made a superb save in goal for the young Bees.
Two minutes after that, it was roles reversed, with Daley finding the back of the net to equalise for Watford.
The visitors continued to look dangerous as the rain began to fall in west London, with Lamothe and Galajevs both firing shots across goal before the break.
After half-time, Watford wasted little time going ahead. After winning the ball back deep in Brentford’s defence, Norville received a pass inside the box, took a touch and fired it home to make it 2-1.
As the hour mark approached, Ogungbemi put a dangerous cross into the box from the left side, but the hosts couldn’t make contact with the ball as it bounced through the pack of players and out the other side of the box.
Eyeing an equaliser, the young Bees continued to press with substitutes providing fresh legs. On 66 minutes, Beau Redknapp played the ball to Reuben Lawal down the left side; his effort on goal was kept out by Sebastian Thrussell in goal for the visitors.
Watford continued to attack too and, on 73 minutes, Lamothe pushed forward on the counter attack, with his shot kept out by Lyon. The ensuing corner fell to Jonny Scriven in the box, who headed it home to make it 3-1.
Despite a win looking increasingly unlikely, McDermott’s side continued to press and they were rewarded with five minutes to play. Jovan Kasujja had a shot blocked off the line, with the ball remaining in play and eventually finding its way to Ouattara, who smashed it home to give the young Bees life.
Ouattara had the chance to add an assist to his tally in added time as he crossed to Staitham Bowen at the back post, but the defender was unable to put the ball home, the game ending in a 3-2 Watford win.
Brentford U18s: Lyon, Fanoiki (Lawal 58), Ogungbemi, Oladapo-Gamu, Powis (Bowen 78), Honor, Roca (Bansoodeb HT), Cohalan, Trialist (Redknapp 58), Y. Ouattara, Kasujja
Subs not used: Nicholls
Booked: Lawal 79
Watford U18s: Thrussell, Lyall-Rajendra, Notley, Scriven, London, Moulton, Daley (Sticca 84), Akinyimika, Norville (Cowie 90), Galajevs, Lamothe
Subs not used: Akinyimika, John-Baptiste
Booked: Akinyimika 72, Daley 84, Moulton 90+6