J’Neil Bennett’s opener was cancelled out by a late Hendon flurry as Brentford B exited the London Senior cup following a 3-1 defeat on Monday evening.
After an even first half Brentford B opened the scoring following a well-taken penalty from Bennett only for Hendon to score three times late on ensuring defeat at Silver Jubilee Park.
The young Bees came into Monday night’s game full of confidence following their dramatic injury-time winner against Arsenal Under-21s in the Premier League Cup just a week ago.
Neil MacFarlane made six changes to the side that faced the Gunners with Vincent Angelini, Charlie Farr, Conor McManus, Max Wilcox, Nathan Young-Coombes, Tony Yogane and Angel Waruih coming into the team. It was the first appearance for Young-Coombes since he returned from his loan spell with AFC Wimbledon following injury.
The first half proved a frustrating one for the visitors with Hendon doing well to shut out the majority of Brentford’s attacks.
The B team had a good chance when right-back Farr delivered a deep cross to the back post where Young-Coombes was lurking.
Farr in action vs Hendon
The striker stretched to get his head on the cross but the ball was always flying past the striker as the number nine’s headed effort went wide.
Hendon centre-back Guri Demuria came close with a long-range effort on 12 minutes as the bounce caused Angelini some discomfort but the Brentford keeper did well to parry the ball away.
The Southern League Premier Division South side came inches away from getting themselves in front just after the 15-minute mark but were first denied by Angelini and then the post.
Angelini did tremendously well to save Niko Muir’s close-range shot before Solomon Sambou struck the rebound against the post from outside the box.
Brentford grew into the half but struggled to create any real goal scoring opportunities as they only managed to create half chances with crosses into the box.
The young Bees began the second half in a more dominant style with Michael Olakigbe showing glimpses of his pace on the right flank.
The winger nearly got on the end of a Conor McCanus cross but Hendon’s Demuria did well to block the number seven’s shot.
On 55 minutes the B team made the breakthrough courtesy of a well-placed J’Neil Bennett penalty.
Brentford B celebrate the opener
The away team struck on the counter-attack following a Hendon corner kick which broke for Tony Yogane.
The number 11 drove forward with the ball from his own half before playing through Young-Coombes who was brought down by Sambou before the referee pointed to the spot.
Bennett showed good composure as he picked out the top right corner in what was his third goal since signing for the young Bees.
Hendon got an equaliser against the run of play on 67 minutes through a scrappy goal from Niko Muir.
Max Dickov did well to initially block Muir's first attempt but the Hendon number 10 tucked the rebound into the bottom corner from close range.
Brentford continued to put on the pressure following the Hendon leveller with Dickov coming agonisingly close to putting the away side ahead once again.
Dickov was lively when introduced to the game
The full-back saw his shot from point-blank range cleared off the line by Hendon’s Josh Dawodu as the home side looked to hold on to a penalty shootout.
Hendon snatched a late winner in the second minute of injury time when a deep cross from Simeon Olarerin found Dave Diedhiou who nodded the ball into the path of Muir who got his second of the game through a simple tap in.
As the B team pressed high up the pitch in attempts to find an equaliser allowing Hendon to snatch another goal in the last minute of the game.
Shaun Lucien found himself in space inside the Brentford B box and he tucked the ball into the bottom corner ensuring Hendon’s victory.
Brentford B: Angelini, Farr (32’ Dickov), McManus (73’ Wilson), Adedokun, Crama, Olakigbe (69’ Holland), Wilcox (73’ Beckham), Young-Coombes (69’ Vine), Bennett, Yogane, Wariuh
Hendon FC: Agboola, Olarerin (78’ Allinson), Dawodu, Jackson (60’ Keita), Matsuzaka, Demuria, Lucien, Lonnton (78’ Diedhiou), Sambou (69’ Donnellan), Muir, Gordan
Subs not used: Keshavarzi
Attendance: 345