Brentford put on a strong display in the season opener winning 2-1 against Coventry City on Saturday morning.
The young Bees played with a back four which consisted of Freddie Taylor, Matas Klimas, Greg Asemokhai and Konstantin Ivanov. Otis Honor, Adam Poliakov and Josh Djoro formed a midfield three whilst Emeka Peters, Michael McSorley and Domeiro Boob-Semple equired the forward positions.
Brentford started well and put early pressure on the home side, an early attack saw a Peters cross blocked for a corner with his resulting set piece finding Klimas.
The defender got on the end of a Coventry clearance and swung his foot at the ball, but his shot was blocked from close range.
Brentford got themselves ahead on 8 minutes through Michael McSorley who finished off an excellent move.
After a scrappy clearance outside the Coventry box, Honor headed the ball towards Peters who ran to goal before passing the ball around the oncoming keeper and finding McSorley who past home from close range.
Coventry nearly levelled the scoreline moments later when Dave Mantle got on the end of a cross but his shot from six yards out sailed over the bar.
Coventry gained some control in the game following the early Brentford goal, but the Bees still looked dangerous on the break.
Just after 20 minutes the visitors could have doubled their lead when Domeiro Bobb-Semple played through Adam Poliakov, the midfielder drove towards goal and forced a great save from Elliot Meredith.
Evan Anderson kept Brentford ahead with a fabulous save just after the half hour mark.
Coventry’s Constantine Panayiotov turned well in the box to get space for a shot, but Anderson blocked his strike with a firm hand.
Brentford didn’t make the best start to the second half and the home side capitalised on this.
Four minutes after the break Coventry levelled the scoring when Jack James’ strike from 25 yards found the top right corner.
On the hour mark the young Bees were denied the lead when an Asemokhai header was cleared off the line following a corner from Peters.
Klimas and Asemokhai proved to be a strong centre back partnership for Brentford as Coventry began putting on the pressure late on in the second half.
A few second half changes from Bedford saw Brentford gain control of the ball against in the second half.
The visitors went ahead on 73 minutes thanks to a brilliant long-range strike from Peters.
The winger picked up the ball on the left flank before driving forward and unleashing a powerful strike which flew into the top right corner leaving the keeper with no chance.
Brentford defended well to stop any Coventry pressure as the away side went on to secure all three points away from home.
Brentford Under-18s: Anderson, Taylor, Ivanov (Outtarra, 76’), Honor (Francis, 67’), Asemokhai, Klimas, Bobb-Semple (Giscombe, 71’), Poliakov, McSorley, Djoro (Boni, 67’), Peters
Subs not used: Trimboli
Carded: Asemokhai 84’, Poliakov 91’, Boni 92’
Lydia Bedford pleased with opening day victory
Head coach Lydia Bedford was proud of her players performance as her side made a great start to their Professional Development League campaign with a win over Coventry City Under-18s.
She said: “I’m really pleased that we managed to get three points on the opening day of the season, we had to dig deep at times in the game and I think the players did a great job of that.
“We dominated the ball in the first half but the second half came quite scrappy so it was about putting ourselves in a position to win the game and Emeka did that with a great strike.”