Brentford Under-18s were knocked out of the FA Youth Cup on Tuesday night as Chelsea Under-18s secured a 2-1 win at Wheatsheaf Park.

A spirited performance saw the young Bees challenge their London rivals, however second half goals from Chelsea's Kobe Barbour and Chizaram Ezenwata gave the young Blues the advantage. Beau Redknapp's long-range free-kick gave Gary McDermott's side life but it wasn't enough as Chelsea won through to the fourth round of the competition.

Under the lights on a perfect night in west London it was the visitors who dominated the ball early, however they were matched by a compact Brentford defence providing no gaps to penetrate.

The first real chance of the game for either side came 22 minutes into the contest through a cross from Chelsea’s Reggie Walsh. His ball found Blues captain Shumaira Mheuka near the back post, but his effort was sent straight at Brentford goalkeeper Felix Lyon who secured the ball.

Despite Chelsea’s early possession dominance it was the hosts who almost opened the scoring on 26 minutes. Brilliant build-up play through the midfield saw Redknapp take possession with space in front of him, the midfielder pushing forward and launching at goal from outside the box, his strike smashing into the bar before being cleared.

With 30 minutes gone both sides had grown into the game as chances began to open up. Mheuka launched a shot on goal from outside the box but the shot was blocked by Brentford midfielder Otis Honor, Mathis Eboue’s effort for the visitors a minute later fading across the face of goal and out of play.

Two minutes later the Bees looked to threaten in attack as Aidan Golding headed down a cross inside the box, the ball falling perfectly for a Domeiro Bobb-Semple half-volley shot on goal, but it was well blocked by the Chelsea backline.

The battle down the left side continued to be an entertaining one between Brentford right-back Josh Zetter-Plummer and Eboue. The winger looked to get deep in the box on 38 minutes and cut the ball back, but it was interrupted by a sliding Zetter-Plummer before being kept out of the goal by Lyon.

As the game entered added time McDermott’s side looked the most likely to score next through Luka Bentt. After an Isaiah Powis long throw was cleared from the box, Honor’s slide tackle won the ball back for Brentford, Bentt taking possession and firing at goal, his effort kept out by Chelsea goalkeeper Freddy Bernal diving to his left.

The start to the second half was a complete flip on the start to the first 45 minutes, with both sides looking threatening in the opening minute. Brentford Under-16 striker Jai Nwosu had a powerful strike blocked, before Mheuka’s header bounced wide of the left post down the other end for Chelsea.

Following a halt in play to change referee due to an injury, Chelsea came close to breaking the deadlock on two occasions. Barbour broke forward on a fast counterattack and looked to cut back to his left foot near the edge of the box, but he was interrupted by Bobb-Semple.

A minute later Barbour took possession from a long cross near the edge of the box and looked to put it past Lyon who had left his goal, but the Brentford goalkeeper did well to dive quickly to his right to save a certain goal.

Riding a wave of momentum the visitors came inches from finding the opener on 56 minutes as Eboue pushed down the left side of the box before sending the ball goalward, the ball going across the face of goal and hitting the post before being cleared.

The damn wall broke a minute later as Walsh put in a nice ball to Barbour at the back-post, the substitute just needing to get body on ball to tap it home from close range to give the Blues the lead.

The advantage was nearly doubled six minutes later as Walsh put in another dangerous cross to the middle of the box, however Ezenwata’s header sailed just over the bar.

After dealing with Chelsea’s period of momentum the Bees steadied back into the game, substitutes Jai Bansoodeb, Chris Cohalan and Naeem Giscombe providing fresh legs.

Before being subbed off with 10 minutes to play Eboue had one last look on goal, however his left-footed effort sailed high over the bar.

Giscombe was into the action soon after being substituted on as he put a dangerous cross from the left side to Bobb-Semple cutting through the middle, but Bernal came out to secure the ball.

Chelsea made the hosts pay for the missed chance soon after, Ezenwata pouncing on a counter attack move and finding the left corner of the net from the right side of the box to double the visitors lead.

Despite going 2-0 down the Bees continued to push and they were rewarded in added time. After Bobb-Semple earned a free-kick outside the box, Redknapp stepped up to take the shot, putting a low piercing ball into the bottom right corner to get McDermott’s side back into the game with four minutes of added time to play.

The equaliser almost came after Lyon made a clutch save down the other end. Bentt made a strong run down the left side before crossing to Bobb-Semple in the box, but his header was just wide of the goal.

Brentford U18s: Lyon, Zetter-Plummer (Cohalan 55), Ogungbemi, Golding, Powis, Honor (Bansoodeb 55), Madden (Hanson 86), Redknapp, Nwosu (Giscombe 67), Bentt, Bobb-Semple

Subs not used: Nicholls, Bowen, Oladapo-Gamu

Booked: Zetter-Plummer 41

Chelsea U18s: Bernal, Richards, Waite, Subuloye, Emenalo, Holland, Rabbaj (Barbour HT), Walsh, Ezenwata, Mheuka, Eboue (Gordon 81)

Subs not used: Collinson, Diakite, Ebho, Hall, Greenwood

Booked: Barbour 90

McDermott: I'm super proud of the boys

Brentford Under-18s head coach Gary McDermott reflected on a positive performance in Tuesday night's 2-1 defeat to Chelsea Under-18s in the FA Youth Cup.

"I thought it was an excellent game. We played some good football, they obviously have a lot of talent ... you could see what their threats were and I thought we did so well to try and nullify them," he said.

"I'm super proud of the boys, they listened to all the messages during the week, out of possession, in possession. I felt we could've been a bit braver in the build and play through a little bit more, but super proud of them and super proud of how far they've come.

"They've worked so hard and to put in a performance like that was really good and just shows the development that they've made.

"They're allowed to be upset, we've just gone out of the FA Youth Cup which is not what we wanted, but the message was that we're proud and to keep doing what they're doing week in, week out."