Brentford Under-18s fell to a 2-1 defeat on Saturday afternoon in Professional Development League action against Ipswich Town Under-18s.

After leaking the opening goal of the game late in the second half, an early Josh Djoro goal in the second half equalised for Brentford. A second goal from Ipswich’s George Chenery was enough to secure the three points for the visitors, however.

The young Bees enjoyed most of the possession across the opening 10 minutes, their chemistry evident, however they were unable to add the final piece in the final third.

The visitors nearly struck first, as William Unadike rose to try and head a cross home on 13 minutes, however the ball trailed inches over his head and out of play.

Brentford goalkeeper Evan Anderson was called into action for the first time on 18 minutes as he came out of his goal to meet the ball and make a strong save as Unadike looked to run onto it.

The young Bees wrestled back momentum after some positive moves from Ipswich. Yerime Ouattara put Adam Poliakov in space down the right side on 25 minutes, Poliakov’s cross hitting Djoro inside the box whose shot was deflected away by the defence.

Poliakov was at it again three minutes later, the captain for the day beating his defender to the left and firing a powerful strike that went over the bar.

Ashton Boswell enjoyed one of Ipswich’s best moves on the half hour mark as he pushed the ball down the right side, however his shot was secured by Anderson in goal.

The visitors got some reward for effort on 39 minutes, a corner falling to George Chenery who was able to get a head to the ball among the mess of players to give them the lead.

The young Bees weren’t deterred, however, as they continued to enjoy time on the ball as they eyed an equaliser. They nearly got that as half-time approached, Kaya Halil breaking through the middle of the pitch and playing it to Domerio Bobb-Semple down the right whose cross was cleared away.

Brentford’s strong finish to the first half carried into the second, the young Bees able to equalise inside the first 10 minutes after the break.

After winning the ball back the ball found its way to Djoro inside the box, the forward cutting to his left and firing it home to get Brentford’s first.

Despite a promising start to the half from the home side, Ipswich continued to try and wrestle back momentum as they eyed a winner. Anderson was called into action twice in a minute, the keeper making a save diving to his right first and seeing the ball fly over the bar second off Unadike’s boot.

He couldn’t stop Ipswich’s eventual second goal on the hour mark, however, Chenery there to head home a corner for his second of the day.

Substitutes Greg Asemokhai and Michael McSorley were brought on a minute later and the latter had an immediate impact. Halil played the ball through to McSorley down the left side who fired at goal immediately, the ball skimming across the face of goal and out of play.

The young Bees nearly found an equaliser six minutes later after another solid piece of play. Bobb-Semple played it into Naeem Giscombe who found Halil on the left-hand side of the box, his shot was over the bar, however.

The back and forth continued as both sides played an impressive brand of football. Poliakov found Bobb-Semple on 78 minutes, the latter’s shot saved by Alan Fleischer in goal for Ipswich. The rebound fell to Poliakov who shot again, however it was deflected away.

Not deterred, the young Bees continued to eye an equaliser inside the final 10 minutes. Their best chance came in added time. Otis Honor’s corner hit Giscombe who played it back to Honor, he sent the ball to the middle of the box for Poliakov to run onto, but his shot was inches wide of the goal.

Brentford U18s: Anderson, Ouattara, Ivanov (Golding, 70’), Klimas (Asemokhai, 61’), Francis, Honor, Bobb-Semple, Halil, Djoro (McSorley, 61’), Poliakov, Giscombe (Payet, 77’)

Subs not used:, Wolfheimer

Ipswich Town U18s: Fleischer, Elliot, O’Sullivan, Heard, Chenery, Longwe, Boswell, Towler, Mauge, Eze, Unadike

Subs: McCann, Fletcher, Nicolaou, Iorpenda, Sains

Pittman thrilled with his side's performance

Jon-Paul Pittman was full of praise for his side following the defeat to Ipswich Town. Despite the result not going the young Bees' way, the performance was strong and Pittman was impressed with the 90-minute effort.

"Overall, delighted with the performance. Frustrated at the goals we conceded, we've spent a lot of time working on set plays and having people in the right places," said Pittman.

"Between both boxes today I think we were by far the better team, some of our combinations, minimal touches to play through, fantastic. Just that last cherry on the cake and putting it in the back of the net, we had so many chances to do that today and we couldn't quite get that right.

"If you carry on playing with that intensity and dominating the game in that way ... eventually the goals will come and then the results start to turn."