A Jai Bansoodeb winner ensured a 2-1 victory for Brentford Under-18s over Coventry City Under-18s in the Professional Development League.
Going into half-time 1-1 following Naeem Giscombe's early strike, the young Bees dominated the second half, Bansoodeb's goal seeing Brentford take home all three points at The Alan Higgs Centre.
In windy conditions the game was evenly poised to start, both sides enjoying time in possession across the opening 10 minutes without penetrating the opposition’s backline.
It was the young Bees that took an early lead on 14 minutes as Giscombe scored his second goal in as many games. The winger pounced on a loose pass from Coventry in their own half and found himself one-on-one with Oscar Richards in goal, making no mistake as he put the ball in the bottom right corner of the net.
Settling into the game and riding a wave of momentum the visitors continued to press as the half-hour mark approached. A chaotic 30 seconds saw multiple Brentford shots blocked in the box, the ball falling to Yerime Ouattara at the edge of the box. The midfielder fired at goal, but his shot was just wide of the right post.
A minute later Connor Wolfheimer was dragged out of the young Bees’ box to contest a ball, which flew high in the air before falling to the hosts. It was sent goalward, but Staitham Bowen stood strong to block the ball off the line.
Wolfheimer was called into action soon after as a low, powerful strike raced towards the bottom corner, the goalkeeper diving low to his left to keep the ball out.
After some close calls Coventry found an equaliser as half-time inched closer. A loose pass in Brentford’s half was intercepted by Joshua Stidder, the winger pouncing and putting it past Wolfheimer to make it 1-1 before the break.
Following a frenetic opening half the second 45 minutes started in opposite fashion. Jovan Kasujja had a glancing look on goal on 62 minutes, however his shot was blocked and cleared.
Five minutes later the hosts came close to taking the lead as Alfie Wright found himself with a look on goal from close range, however Wolfheimer was there to make a superb save.
Less than a minute later Bansoodeb went one better for the young Bees. Receiving the pass from substitute Coran Madden, Bansoodeb faked to his right and turned back onto his left near the edge of the box, firing the ball into the top right corner to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.
Madden, playing in his first league game since signing with the club during the week, continued to be a threat. His cross found Nathaniel Ogungbemi on 77 minutes, however the defender’s strike was right of the goal.
As the game entered its final 10 minutes, Coventry’s Wright found space in the box and scored, however he was ruled offside.
Brentford continued to attack as they eyed a third goal. Brilliant build up play through the middle saw Madden free up Ogungbemi down the left, his cross finding Giscombe whose shot smashed into the post.
On 90 minutes Madden came inches from scoring his first PDL goal. Giscombe’s cross from the right found Madden at the back post, but his tap in was superbly saved by Richards.
Brentford finished the game strong to secure the win, making it two wins in a row across all competitions.
Coventry City U18s: Richards, Critchlow-Woyo, Williams, Witts, West, McBride, Stidder (Russon 66), Richards-Dore, Lincoln, Wright (Petty 83), Pugh (Nidjebu 66)
Subs not used: Uzochukwu, Thompson
Booked: Pugh 51, Lincoln 75
Brentford U18s: Wolfheimer, Zetter-Plummer (Fanoiki 82), Ogungbemi, Golding, Bowen (Cohalan 63), Powis, Giscombe, Ouattara (Oladapo-Gamu 88), Kasujja, Bansoodeb, Bobb-Semple (Madden 63)
Subs not used: Nicholls
Booked: Bansoodeb 53, Kasujja 71