Jon De Souza's Youth Team laid down a huge marker in the race for the U18 Professional Development League Two South play-off places with a 2-1 win over Charlton Athletic at Jersey Road.

James Ferry scored both goals for The Bees before the half-hour as Brentford dominated the early stages.

The second-half was a more battling affair which suited the visitors and they got back into the game with ten minutes to go as Joshua Umerah tapped home at the back post.

Brentford should have wrapped the game up but Seika Jatta hit the side netting before Zain Westbrooke and Kingsley Eshun were denied by Dimi Mitov in the dying seconds.

Jon De Souza made four changes from last week's win over Ipswich Town and they were forced into another early change as Gradi Milenge picked up a facial injury ending his afternoon just five minutes in.

That defensive re-shuffle saw Audrius Laucys move in to centre-back with Jeremiah Kamanzi coming on at right-back.

The Addicks were pressing Jon De Souza's side high up the pitch however The Bees patient passing play was finding gaps around that press.

The early chances fell to the visitors but neither Brandon Hanlan or Sam Bone could get their long-range efforts on target.

With Ademola Lookman and Hanlan on either wing supporting Umerah Charlton's front three were pushing onto The Bees backline.

However they were not too interested in tracking back, giving Courtney Senior and Seika Jatta the opportunity to attack their full-backs one on one.

It was from one of those one on one battles that The Bees took the lead as Senior drove into the box only for his run to be ended illegally by Elah Assiant, Ferry picked his spot and placed the penalty past the stretch of Dimi Mitov.

Charlton looked to respond but, as so often over the course of the 90 minutes, were repelled by some committed Brentford defending.

Umerah's effort was blocked by Seth Owens before Regan Cook fired well over the bar after fine work between Bone and George Lapslie.

Brentford were enjoying plenty of joy down the left side and that was where the second goal came from as Bradley Clayton and Kingsley Eshun combined well to find Ferry who found the bottom corner from 15 yards.

Lookman sent a free-kick well over the bar, Hanlan shot straight at Cameron Greaves before Greaves made a fine save in the dying seconds of the half to turn Lookman's header behind.

Charlton had found it difficult to impose their direct physical style on The Bees in the first-half but they found more joy in the second-period.

Brentford weren't able to pass the ball with the same crispness and The Addicks began to pen The Bees further back into their own half.

Umerah shot straight at Greaves, Lookman fired over from the edge of the box and Umerah headed over from a corner.

As the half progressed it became more fractious as the referee struggled to keep control of the match and both sides were on the receiving end of some questionable decisions from the man in the middle.

Brentford were starting to play more on the break and Tom Field could have made it three but he was leaning back and skied his shot over the bar from 12 yards.

For all their pressure Charlton hadn't really threatened to get back into the game but that changed midway through the half as Lookman completely missed his kick from eight yards with the whole goal to aim at.

Umerah curled a shot over from 18 yards and Owens produced a brave block to thwart Hanlan.

Brentford were defending for their lives and Laucys made a flying block to deny Hanlan before Jatta had a golden chance to make it three but having latched onto Clayton's through ball he rounded Mitov only to hit the side netting from a tight angle.

That miss proved even more costly a minute later as, with Owens off the pitch receiving treatment, Hanlan squared from the byline and Umerah couldn't miss from five yards.

Owens injury was to end his game meaning The Bees had to play the last 10 minutes with 10 men and without either centre-back who had started the game.

Despite that disadvantage it was The Bees who came closest to scoring the fourth goal of the night but Mitov saved well from Zain Westbrooke and on the follow-up Eshun was denied by a combination of Kenneth Yao and Mitov.

After seven minutes of injury time the referee blew up as Brentford held on to record a second straight league win.

Brentford YT: Cameron Greaves; Audrius Laucys, Gradi Milenge (sub Jeremiah Kamanzi 6 mins), Seth Owens, Tom Field; Seika Jatta, Zain Westbrooke, James Ferry (sub Chris Mepham 68 mins), Courtney Senior (sub Reece Cole 46 mins); Bradley Clayton, Kingsley Eshun

Subs not used: Tom Roberts

Charlton Athletic YT: Dimi Mitov; Elah Assiant (sub Sevdar Bokciu 63 mins), Kenneth Yao, Ezri Konsa, Aaron Barnes (sub Daniel Hetcher 85 mins); Sam Bone (sub Mikhail Kennedy 80 mins), Regan Cook, George Lapslie, Ademola Lookman; Josh Umerah, Brandon Hanlan

Subs not used: Chris Millar, Jordan Beeney