Late goals in each half condemned Brentford B to a 2-0 defeat away from home against West Ham United Under-21s on Wednesday evening.
Despite a performance full of positivity for large parts, it was the Hammers who came out on top with goals from Sean Moore and Oliver Scarles.
The young Bees headed to the east of the capital aiming to build on their 1-0 win over Leicester City U21s last time out. Reggie Rose came in for Vincent Angelini in goal after his international call-up with Scotland Under-21s whilst Ji-soo Kim lined up alongside Benjamin Fredrick and Conor McManus as a defensive three and Charlie Farr and Val Adedokun occupied the wing back roles.
Ethan Brierley started centrally with Riley Owen whilst Romeo Beckham and Tony Yogane were deployed either side of Nathan Young-Coombes at the top end of the pitch.
It was a first half which saw Brentford comfortable in possession with the likes of Brierley and Owen seeing a lot of the ball. The Bees had their first chance when a perfect first touch from Young-Coombes took him away from the defender, but with most of the West Ham half to cover with the ball at his feet, the forward’s cross was then cut out by the Hammers’ back line who raced back.
Rose was first called into action shortly after as he pushed away an effort from Thierry Nevers from the edge of the box. Brentford were then forced into an early change with Young-Coombes replaced by Iwan Morgan following a knock to his shoulder and that came during a period where Brentford were dominating.
An inch-perfect Beckham cross from the right almost found the feet of Yogane but for another clearance before West Ham managed to get themselves in front at the break. Fortuitously for the home side, Sean Moore’s effort from distance crashed against the post before the ball rebounded and hit the back of Rose before ending up in the net.
It was the hosts who saw more of the ball in the first 15 minutes or so of the second period as they looked to dictate things. Rose was called into action on 51 minutes as he denied Nevers at his near post following a low through ball into the box.
Things began to turn and the Bees had a good chance towards the hour mark when another Beckham crossed low was missed by Morgan before Adedokun’s powerful follow up effort was just wide of goal.
On 77 minutes Brierley played an impressive ball over the top to beat the West Ham press and it found its way to Farr on the right. A ball to the back post found the head of Morgan who nodded back across goal for Isaac Holland who shot well but his effort was well blocked.
The Bees then thought they’d levelled but for an impressive save from the West Ham keeper when substitutes Max Dickov and Angel Waruih combined with a low cross from the former met the midfielder’s right foot and the ball was destined for the bottom corner but for the quick reactions of the West Ham shot stopper.
As the Bees piled on the pressure the home side then broke from a Brentford corner and the ball was slotted into the path of Scarles who passed into an empty net as they managed to work the ball past on the onrushing Rose to seal the win.
West Ham United U21s: Knightbridge (Terry, 62) Robinson (Mayers, 81) Luizao (Chukuemeka, 81) Orford (Earthy, 58), Laing (Scarles, 39) Casey (Battrum, 75), Moore, Tarima, Kodua, Nevers (Chesters, 58) Clayton
Brentford B: Rose, Farr (Dickov, 81), Adedokun, Fredrick (Zabeli, 83), Ji-soo (Waruih, 71), Beckham (Laidlaw, 71) Brierley, Young-Coombes (Morgan, 22, Hay, 81)), Owen, McManus, Yogane (Holland, 64)
Subs not used: Anderson
MacFarlane takes positives from performance
B team head coach Neil MacFarlane felt his side deserved more from the match for their performance level having created a host of chances on the night.