Brentford Under-18s were defeated 3-1 by Cardiff City Under-18s in Professional Development League action on Saturday at Leckwith Stadium.
After going into half-time down 1-0 , the young Bees saw the deficit doubled just after the break. Jai Nwosu scored soon after to get the visitors back into the game, however the hosts secured the three points with a late penalty.
Fielding a squad featuring a mix of U18 and U16 players, as well as B team goalkeeper Connor Wolfheimer, the Bees competed strongly.
Amaru Goppy, Ellis Foster-Jones, Ibrahim Serme, Cameron Giles and Dwayne Mason each made their PDL debuts, with Goppy, Foster-Jones and Serme taking their places in the starting XI. Nwosu has featured previously for the U18s, making his debut in a 3-1 win over Crewe Alexandra in September.
In sunny conditions Cardiff jumped out to a positive start and found the opener inside five minutes. Pouncing on a loose Brentford pass in the Bees half, the ball found Riley Hilaire-Clarke who took a touch to his left before curling it into the top left corner from near the edge of the box.
The visitors weren’t deterred though and almost mirrored their opponents’ goal four minutes later. Winning the ball back high up the pitch the Bees found Nwosu, his powerful left foot strike kept out by Cardiff goalkeeper Sam Jones.
The game settled into a steady rhythm, however neither side was able to put pressure on the opposition backline. Hilaire-Clarke came close to finding his brace on 23 minutes as he ran onto Jack Sykes’ cross from the right side, however his effort sailed high over the bar.
Jai Bansoodeb continued to impress through the midfield as the game progressed. He took possession under high pressure on 26 minutes and fought his way clear before playing to Ibrahim Serme who found Nwosu. One-on-one with his defender he played to his left and fired at goal, but it was over the bar.
Bansoodeb was at it again two minutes later, this time with a chance on goal. The Bees won the ball back deep in Cardiff’s half, playing to Archie Trimboli who immediately whipped a cross from the right side into the middle of the box. Bansoodeb met the ball on the bounce, however put his effort over the bar.
As the half-hour mark ticked over Harry Watts looked to be through on goal for the hosts as he ran onto a high ball, however his attempt to lob Brentford goalkeeper Connor Wolfheimer bounced right of the goal and out of play.
Enjoying a period of momentum the hosts came close to doubling their lead twice as the half-time break approached. Watts’ effort cannoned into the post, before Staitham Bowen cleared another shot on target off the line.
On the counterattack the west Londoners looked dangerous and on 38 minutes Trialist B looked to finish off the Bees latest attack, however T-Jay Parfitt was there to make a timely block with his outstretched leg for Cardiff.
Wolfheimer’s first big save came on 39 minutes as Mannie Barton found himself one-on-one with his defender on the left side and tried to tuck it into the top left corner. Wolfheimer was up to the task and did well to keep it out for a Cardiff corner.
Out of the break the hosts started strongly and were rewarded inside two minutes. After Hilaire-Clarke was taken down inside the box on the counterattack, the referee pointed to the spot, Barton stepping up and scoring to make it 2-0.
Sykes almost made it three soon after as he pounced on a loose Brentford pass, however his shot cannoned into the bar.
The Bees made Cardiff pay for the missed opportunity as Nwosu scored five minutes later. Recovering a loose ball, the U16 striker rounded Jones in goal and put it home to make it 2-1.
Cardiff looked destined to get their two-goal buffer back four minutes later as they led a three-on-one counterattack, however Wolfheimer did brilliantly to cause Sykes to move to his left, his shot smashing into the side of the net.
Brentford substitutes Naeem Giscombe and Isaiah Powis had an immediate impact after coming on just after the hour mark and the Bees looked the better of the two sides the longer the second half went.
As the game entered the final 10 minutes the west Londoners were pressing for an equaliser. Bansoodeb’s corner found Bowen on 84 minutes, however his header sailed over the bar.
Cardiff nearly put the game to bed a minute later as Ellis Yorke had a look on goal, but it was well kept out by Wolfheimer diving to his left.
Despite Brentford looking promising across the second half, the game ended with a Cardiff penalty as Bowen pulled Barton down inside the box, the winger stepping up and scoring to make it 3-1 at full-time.
Brentford now turn their attention to the FA Youth Cup against Chelsea on Tuesday night at Wheatsheaf Park.
Tickets are available here.
Cardiff City U18s: Jones, Williams, Cartwright, Parfitt (Reynolds 61), Walsh, Hobson (Phelan 84), Hilaire-Clarke, Watts, Sykes, Tobin (Yorke 75), Barton
Subs not used: Donovan, Prickett
Brentford U18s: Wolfheimer, Trimboli, Goppy (Giles HT), Bowen, Foster-Jones (Powis 63), Trialist A, Nwosu, Serme, Kasujja (Giscombe 63), Trialist B (Mason 63), Bansoodeb
Subs not used: Agyei
Booked: Kasujja 45, Foster-Jones 46