Brentford Under-18 were beaten 3-2 in a competitive contest to Cambridge United in the South East Youth Alliance League on Saturday.

Three first half goals to the home side set up their win at Cambourne Village College, however a spirited comeback by the young Bees made for a tense final few minutes of the contest.

Brentford coach Lydia Bedford made a handful of changes to the side that beat Milton Keynes Dons 3-0 two weeks ago, with Connor Wolfheimer, Byron Wilson, Yaw Agyei and Trae Payet making their way into the starting line-up.

A free-flowing opening five minutes kicked off proceedings, both teams enjoying promising attacking moves without troubling the scoreboard.

Ronan Ismaili was able to get some reward for effort for Cambridge United, his long-range shot finding the back of the net on nine minutes.

The young Bees continued to press after going 1-0 down, Ollie Shield’s shot on 16 minutes rebounding off multiple defenders to hand Brentford a corner.

Shield found himself with a chance to score again seven minutes later, his shot well saved by Cambridge United’s keeper. Emeka Peters nearly went one better a minute later, however his shot went high.

The home side wasted little time going back on the attack, George Munday gaining possession in transition and finding the back of the net to make it 2-0.

They added a third goal shortly after, Ismaili kicking his second to make it 3-0.

The young Bees continued to press despite the scoreboard, Peters finding himself one-on-one with Cambridge United's keeper just before the break who produced a quality save.

Shield was rewarded for his efforts two minutes later, putting the ball in the bottom right corner to send Brentford into half time down 3-1.

An energised Brentford side came out to start the second 45 minutes, with multiple shots on target in the opening five minutes.

Freddie Taylor’s header went over the bar on 46 minutes, followed by two well defended shots off Kaya Halil and Peter’s boots.

The young Bees continued to press and create goal scoring opportunities, Halil able to gain some reward for effort on 74 minutes, pouncing on a Cambridge defensive mistake and chipping the ball over the keeper to bring the deficit back to 3-2.

Sensing the momentum had shifted, Brentford continued to attack. On 78 minutes, Remy Bennison beat the keeper who left his goal, however his shot rebounded off a defender onto the post. Shield was there to follow up, his shot falling just short of the line before being cleared. Halil made it three shots in as many seconds, but his shot hit the right post, Cambridge United eventually clearing the ball.

With minutes to play the young Bees continued to look for an equaliser, with Wolfheimer even getting in on the action after leaving his goal, putting a header on target on 90 minutes that was well saved before the referee blew his whistle for full time.

Brentford U18s: Wolfheimer, Taylor, Bennison, Wilson, Asemokhai, Halil, Peters, Booth, Shield, Agyei (trialist, 68’), Payet (Ivanov, 61’)

Subs not used: Djoro, Anderson

Cambridge United U18s: Briggs, Dawson, Hipwell (Gray, 60’), Scales, Holmes, Sowden-Fletcher (Ebanks-Blake, 67’), Munday, McKoy, Bulakio, Ismaili, Kaunda

Subs not used: Caffell, Earley

Lydia Bedford praises second half response

While disappointed with her side's opening 40 minutes, Brentford Under-18 coach Lydia Bedford was rapt with how the team responded in the second half to turn the game around.

"I felt like (in the) first half we were off our normal standards and as a result they score three very clinical goals from reasonably direct play and I think we gave ourselves a mountain to climb at that point," said Bedford.

"I was very pleased with the response right before half time and the goal that Ollie scored, I think that showed what we were capable of doing.

"I'm very proud of the second half performance, the last half an hour, the resilience they showed after we got the second (goal) back."

Bedford was full of praise for substitute Konstantin Ivanov who helped shift the energy and momentum of the game when he came on in the second half.

"When you bring your subs on you want them to have an immediate impact and Kon immediately got the ball on his left foot and started to create some two vs ones with Remy which gave Remy more success," said Bedford.

"Sometimes it just takes one or two players as catalysts and then everyone else buzzes off of that."