Brentford Under-18s kicked-off their pre-season campaign with three 40-minute clashes against Leeds United, Wigan Athletic and Oldham United at St George’s Park on Saturday.

The tri-series fixtures saw a host of first-year scholars feature for Gary McDermott’s side for the first time since stepping into the U18 set-up at Jersey Road, alongside returning second-year scholars and three Under-16 players.

The young Bees enjoyed two wins and a loss in the three fixtures as they now look toward an exciting remainder of the pre-season and 2026/27 season.

Brentford U18s 1 Leeds United U18s 3

In sunny conditions at St George’s Park Brentford started with intent against Leeds. On three minutes Coran Madden made a slick run through the middle before looking to play to striker Jai Nwosu, but the pass had too much pace on it and was met by the Leeds goalkeeper.

Andrew Noni nearly went one better three minutes later as he took the ball across the edge of the box before looking to score, the ball cannoning into the post in an early near-goal for Brentford.

McDermott’s side were rewarded for their early dominance and took the lead soon after. A threatening Micaiah Fanoiki run down the right side saw the right-back cross to Nwosu at the back-post, the striker making no mistake from close range.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Leeds quickly found themselves deep in Brentford’s box and through a well-placed ball into the bottom left corner, levelled the game at 1-1.

Leeds had a second on 20 minutes as they pounced on a loose Brentford pass in their own half, rounding Felix Lyon in goal for the Bees and finishing into an empty net.

The Whites had a third on 28 minutes, however it was ruled out for offside. That kicked McDermott’s side into gear as they put multiple dangerous crosses into Leeds’ box, the best a corner that found Ellis Foster-Jones, however his header sailed wide.

Down the other end Leeds found their third, a well-placed cross from the right side finished well to make it 3-1.

Despite conceding, the west Londoners continued to threaten when in possession. Nedved Owusu’s strike from inside the box was saved, before Fanoiki’s cross to Nwosu free inside the box missed his outstretched foot by a whisker.

Brentford U18s: Lyon, Fanoiki, Foster-Jones, Oladapo-Gamu, Danso, Cohalan, Trialist A, Noni, Nwosu, Madden, Owusu

Brentford U18s 3 Wigan Athletic U18s 0

McDermott made eight changes to his side for the second game against Wigan and was immediately rewarded.

Inside the first minute Under-16 forward Hatim Belhaj was taken down inside the box, the referee immediately pointing to the spot. Chris Cohalan stepped up and calmly slotted the ball into the right side of the net after sending the goalkeeper left, the Bees leading early.

On 15 minutes Wigan made a dangerous move down the right side, the cross towards the near post kept out by Lyon diving quick to his left.

Following an entertaining start, chances were few and far between for both sides. That changed on 31 minutes.

Belhaj won the ball back on the halfway line and immediately counterattacked through the middle. The midfielder outmuscled multiple defenders as he kept control of the ball before playing through the line to Dwayne Mason, the winger finding the back of the net with a neat finish to make it 2-0.

McDermott’s side didn’t have to wait long for their third goal to put the game out of reach. A loose pass in Wigan’s half was pounced on by U16 striker Oliver Theobald, who found himself one-on-one with the Wigan goalkeeper and finished well.

Brentford U18s: Lyon, Oladapo-Gamu, Cohalan, Trialist B, Mason, Balogun, Theobald, Nutter, Zetter-Plummer, Belhaj, Serme

Brentford U18s 4 Oldham Athletic 1

Despite the clash being the last of the day, Brentford and Oldham started their clash enthusiastically.

Inside the first minute trialist A made a superb move past multiple defenders inside Oldham’s box before firing at goal, his shot saved. The rebound fell back to his boot, however his ensuing effort sailed over the bar.

Eight minutes later a dangerous corner fell off the pack to Josh Zetter-Plummer, the right-back steadying himself before launching the ball back toward goal, however it was inches wide as it hit the post.

Down the other end an Oldham corner found its way to the back post and looked to be headed in, however Brentford goalkeeper Kai Agyei did well to track back and tip it away from danger.

The breakthrough came through Owusu. The winger took possession on the left side of the box and didn’t hesitate to whip a superb strike into the right side of the net to give the Bees the lead.

A second came less than a minute later, Owusu and Madden combining to help drag Oldham’s goalkeeper out of his goal, the latter then able to finish into an empty net.

Despite Brentford’s early dominance it was Oldham who scored next, a well-worked corner eventually finding its way into the back of the net to make it 2-1 on 31 minutes.

Four minutes later trialist A found space from a short corner from Madden and immediately looked to score, but his powerful strike was kept out.

Soon after it was trialist B who secured the win for McDermott’s side, a well-worked counterattack seeing him find space in the box to fire the ball past the Oldham goalkeeper for Brentford’s third.

The Bees weren’t done there, though, as Nwosu found space in the box in added time, turned and fired it home to ensure a 4-1 win.