Brentford B fell to defeat in their opening Premier League Cup Group E fixture, losing 1-0 against Exeter City Reserves at St James Park on Tuesday evening.

Benjamin Arthur, Yunus Emre Konak, Myles Peart-Harris, Julian Eyestone and Romelle Donovan all featured, but the result brought an end to Sam Saunders’ side’s impressive five-game winning streak in all competitions.

The young Bees began the game in confident fashion, moving the ball with purpose as they sought an early goal.

Peart-Harris had an early opportunity to test the goalkeeper as he unleashed a shot with the first chance of the game but Jack Bycroft was in the right position to save and hold onto the ball.

The pressure from the away side continued to grow as the half progressed and Ollie Shield went close after good work from Donovan as his deflected shot fell just wide of the post.

Brentford should have taken the lead through Shield, who controlled Donovan’s excellent cross-field ball, but opted to shoot rather than square across goal, with Bycroft saving well to keep him out.

The away side began the second half determined to take the lead and they thought they did when Donovan found Peart-Harris, who finished expertly, but he was adjudged to have been offside.

A fantastic team move followed on 51 minutes, as Arthur drove forward down the wing, finding Donovan with an accurate reverse pass, but the latter failed to keep his shot from inside in the box down as it flew over the bar.

The pressure did not stop from the Bees as Chanse Headman's header from a Donovan cross on 54 minutes just went wide.

Ethan Laidlaw curled effort then beat the keeper but whistled past the post.

Despite Brentford’s dominance, the Grecians nearly snatched the lead when substitute Jude Horn looked certain to score, only for Eyestone - who had been largely untested - to produce a stunning save. Aidan Bown pounced on the rebound, but Headman’s heroic goal-line clearance kept the hosts out.

On 70 minutes, Brentford carved out a golden chance of their own when Josh Stephenson drove into the box. With a team-mate free for the square pass, he opted to shoot, but Bycroft bravely blocked with his face to keep the scores level.

For all the chances the away side created, it was Exeter who would go on to win the game, and claim their second win in the PL Cup, as Luca Woodhouse rose highest from a free-kick to steer past Eyestone.

Brentford will face each group opponent twice, with the reverse fixture of Tuesday's match scheduled for Monday 24 November at Wheatsheaf Park.

Saunders' side are next in action on Monday 6 October when they return to Professional Development League action against Swansea City.

Exeter City Reserves: Bycroft, Francis (Perkins 78), Yfeko (Cartwright 46), Higgins (Horn 56), Woodhouse, Dean, Oakes, Wilson (Bown 66), Birch (Appleton 66), Cummins, Cayless

Booked: Cummins 45, Cayless 81

Brentford: Eyestone, Shield (McKNight 86), Stephenson, Headman, Arthur, Konak, Donovan (Grey 90+1), Owen, Peart-Harris, Bentt (Boni 66), Laidlaw

Unused subs: Rose, Picotto

Booked: Donovan 44, Peart-Harris 62, Owen 73