Brentford B were beaten 2-1 by Betis Deportivo Balompié following a tight game at the Ciudad Deportiva Luis Del Sol on Thursday evening as the young Bees played the first of two fixtures in Spain.
In a game which offered the B team an opportunity to test themselves in a different climate, the young Bees put up a good fight despite finding themselves a goal down inside five minutes.
An own goal from Betis defender Alejandro Vergaz on 52 minutes levelled the score line only for substitute Yassin Fekir to score the winner for Betis.
Brentford played a back three which consisted of Ji-soo Kim, Erion Zabeli and Val Adedokun with Charlie Farr and Conor McManus utilised as wing-backs. New signing Riley Owen partnered Ethan Brierley in the central midfield positions whilst Romeo Beckham, Tony Yogane and Ethan Laidlaw formed a front three.
Betis displayed some early quality and managed to get themselves ahead when Pablo Busto delivered a cross from the right flank which found Assane Diao at the far post who nodded his header past Vincent Angelini.
Despite falling behind early, the young Bees grew into the game with Ethan Brierley providing some stability to the side as the youngster helped drive the visitors forward with his range of passing.
Brentford enjoyed spells of possession in the opening half but were unable to create any goal-scoring opportunities as they worked their way into the final third.
Angelini was forced into making a top save for the Bees when Betis goal scorer, Assane, attempted to sneak his shot into the bottom corner with his effort from outside the Brentford box.
Neil MacFarlane’s side began the second half with intensity as they looked to find a leveller after a half which offered little chances for the side.
Brentford displayed their high-intensity style of play with Ethan Laidlaw at the forefront of the visitor's press.
It was the striker's work rate which forced Betis defender Alejandro Vergaz into a mistake, his misplaced back pass rolled into the back of an empty net seven minutes after the break as the young Bees found themselves on level terms.
The hosts began to get forward in numbers after gifting Brentford a route back into the game with the side managing to get themselves back in front on 69 minutes.
Substitute Yassin Fekir found the bottom corner with a powerful strike from outside the box with his goal putting Betis ahead again.
The Bees had a great chance to level the game for the second time just after the Betis goal when Charlie Farr found himself in behind the Betis defence.
The wing-back squared the ball to Max Dickov but the Brentford substitute was unable to turn the ball into the net as his shot went just wide of the post.
Brentford B: Angelini, Farr, Adedokun (Booth, 80’), Zabeli, Beckham (Dickov, 60’), Brierley (Waruih, 81), Laidlaw (Trialist, 76’), Owen, McManus, ji-soo, Yogane
Subs not used: Rose, Headman, Holland, Wilson, Tavaziva
Betis Deportivo Balompié: Guilherme, Busto, Visus, Vergaz, Lucas Alcazar (Pleguezuelo, 76’), Mateo (Soulleymane, 76’), Sorroche, Dani Perez (Fekhir, 62’), Ortiz (Mawuli, 76’), Assane (Reina, 89’), Marina (Morillo, 62’)
Subs not used: German, Sierra, Damian, Godino, Enrique, Dario Germil
Adedokun left in a positive mindset
Val Adedokun felt there were positives to take following the B team’s match against Betis on Thursday night. He captained the B team with the 20-year-old feeling there is plenty to build on as the side were narrowly beaten.
He said: “I thought it was probably our best game since we have come back from the summer break, obviously there is a lot to improve on and we want to win but in terms of looking at things we did well, there are a lot of positives we can take.”
With the Bees finding themselves a goal down in the opening minutes of the game, Adedokun spoke on how he felt it took the team some time to adapt to the environment they were playing in.
“It was a difficult start," said the Irishman. "We had to adapt to the heat, it was very hot and humid, they (Betis) were very good on the ball, so it took us a while to adapt but once we did, we played the football that we wanted to play and we did well.”
The B team have welcomed five new arrivals in a summer which has also seen a number of players move out on loan or depart the club.
Adedokun feels it will take time for the team to form a bond which will translate into positive results.
He continued: “It always takes time, it’s the start of the season, we have some new players and they need help from the senior players in the squad and the quicker that happens the better.
“We’re looking towards our first Premier League Cup game, the club and the staff give a lot of support to the players and it’s one big family.”
Match update in Spain
Following the match with Betis, the young Bees were due to play another fixture in Spain against AC Milan Primavera on Saturday 19 August, but due to logistical issues for the Italian side, they can no longer fulfil the fixture.
Neil MacFarlane's side will now face another youth side from Real Betis in an 11am kick-off in a behind closed doors match. There will be updates of this match during the game, as well as a match report and highlights.