A three-goal second half saw Brentford Under-18s defeat Mansfield Town Under-18s 3-1 in their opening Professional Development League Cup clash.
The young Bees went into half-time at Radford & Hymas Academy down 1-0, however responded strongly to score three times in the second half through Yerime Ouattara, Jovan Kasujja and Naeem Giscombe.
In sunny conditions, the opening 10 minutes was an even affair as both sides warmed into the game.
Brentford started promisingly and dominated possession, midfielders Chris Cohalan and Jai Bansoodeb controlling play through the middle of the pitch.
Scoring opportunities were few and far between, however, as both sides struggled to piece together the finishing touches in the final third.
The stranglehold was broken on 28 minutes as Mansfield found themselves on the counter attack. Breaking forward the hosts were fouled in the box, the referee pointing to the spot. Josh Walters stepped up and scored to open the scoring.
Despite going down, the young Bees responded positively and looked dangerous in the final third as the first half progressed, but were unable put the ball in the back of the net.
On 43 minutes Giscombe played through to Kasujja, but the forward‘s shot blocked and cleared by Mansfield's defence.
Kasujja was onside again two minutes later off a Bansoodeb pass, however his shot was blocked again and put behind for a corner.
The resulting corner bounced around in the box before being met by Kasujja, his shot sailing over the bar.
Out of the break the Bees started the better of the two sides. Giscombe’s cross on 46 minutes eventually found Domeiro Bobb-Semple at the back post, however his shot was saved by Lincoln Woolf in goal for the hosts.
Soon after Bansoodeb had Brentford’s best look on goal, but his shot was also kept out by Woolf.
Three minutes later, the west Londoners got reward for their efforts, Ouattara’s strike finding the top-right corner make it 1-1.
The Bees continued on in impressive fashion and took the lead just after the hour mark. Giscombe’s cross from the right side was met by Kasujja sprinting into the box, the forward making no mistake from close range.
With under 10 minutes to play it was 3-1, Bobb-Semple playing through to Giscombe who took a touch to his right and fired the ball into the bottom-right corner.
Brentford now turn their attention back to league action on Saturday as they travel to face Coventry City at The Alan Higgs Centre.
Mansfield Town U18s: Woolf, Peets, Stubbs, Oldershaw (Ali 73), Hassall, Mott, Murray, Morgan-Chambers, Spink, Walters, Grimes
Subs not used: Pell, Cappin, Nicholls, Cheetham
Booked: Walters 89
Brentford U18s: Nicholls, Fanoiki (Bowen 65), Ogungbemi, Golding, Powis, Cohalan (Zetter-Plummer 65), Giscombe (Lawal 82), Ouattara, Kasujja, Bansoodeb, Bobb-Semple Subs not used: Lyon
Booked: Kasujja 90