Zain Westbrooke’s first ever Youth Team goal secured a hard-fought three points for Jon De Souza’s side against Cardiff City.

The midfielder, who turns 18 on Tuesday, controlled a dropping ball and rifled a volley into the top corner with just four minutes remaining to complete a second-half comeback for The Bees.

The hosts had taken the lead on the stroke of half-time thanks to a fine improvised finish from Lloyd Humphries.

Bradley Clayton levelled things from the spot midway through the second-half before Westbrooke’s sumptuous strike meant Brentford would travel back down the M4 with all three points.

Jon De Souza made three changes for his first game in charge of the youth team as Reece Cole, Kyjuon Marsh-Brown and Julius Fenn-Evans were replaced by Jeremiah Kamanzi, Joshua Bohui and Clayton.

It was a cagey start to the game with both sides looking to press high but equally both sets of players looked comfortable and composed in possession.

It took until the 20th minute for the first real effort on goal and when it arrived Westbrooke’s effort flew harmlessly over the bar.

As the half wore on it was the hosts who began to take the ascendancy with the dangerous Humphries finding space between The Bees midfield and defence.

Jake Watkins had a shot blocked away by Audrius Laucys before a lovely bit of play from Humphries inside the D allowed Robbie Patten time to pick his spot but his effort glanced the post and rolled behind.

Humphries next contribution was more telling as he adjusted brilliantly to hook home from eight yards after Nik Tzanev could only parry a fierce cross with four minutes of the half remaining.

Kingsley Eshun’s shot was easy for Joe Massaro to gather before Tzanev made a crucial save to deny Humphries at the near post to ensure Brentford went in just the one behind.

If Cardiff had shaded the closing stages of the first-half they dominated the opening stages of the second-half.

They were helped by some sloppy work in possession by Brentford who lost their passing crispness as the hosts high pressing put them under pressure.

Tzanev made a fine low save to turn a header from Rollin Meneyese behind for a corner before Abdi Noor, who had been a real threat on the left for the hosts, broke in behind but lacked composure and slashed his shot wide from 18 yards.

A loose square ball allowed Watkins time to fire over from 20 yards and Eli Phipps fierce cross-come-shot flashed across the face of goal as the hosts sought the second goal.

Brentford had offered little in the second-half as an attacking threat but with the pace and skill of Joshua Bohui, in particular, they had the capability to create something out of very little.

That was how it proved midway through the half as Bohui’s run into the box drew a stray leg from Tom Pearson and the referee pointed to the spot.

Clayton rolled the spot kick low to Massaro’s right and into the back of the net to set up a pulsating last 20 minutes.

The goal, unsurprisingly, gave The Bees a huge boost and they looked far the more likely to get the game’s third goal.

Bohui led Cardiff’s defence on a merry dance before seeing his shot blocked away by Ash Baker on the rebound Westbrooke’s shot was blocked before Clayton’s effort was forced behind by a defender.

Clayton had another shot deflected behind moments before The Bees were denied by an incredible save by Massaro.

Tom Field’s right-footed effort was headed for the top left-hand corner before Laucys steered it back across goal only for Massaro, who was diving for the original shot, to throw up a hand and turn the ball over the bar.

However there was nothing the Cardiff goalkeeper could do to prevent The Bees taking the lead with four minutes remaining as Westbrooke controlled the dropping ball before volleying into the top corner from 25 yards.

It was a goal fit to win any game and so it proved as Brentford held on to move five points clear of third in the Under 18 Professional Development League Two South.

Cardiff City YT: Joe Massaro; Tom Pearson, Rollin Meneyese, Ash Baker, Dylan Rees; Robbie Patten; Abdi Noor (sub Aiden Chappel-Smith 73 mins), Will Taylor (sub Tom Burridge 69 mins), Lloyd Humphries (sub Jamie Veale 81 mins), Jake Watkins; Eli Phipps

Subs not used: Luke Wakeman, Shane Perry

Booked: Tom Pearson 67

Goals: Humphries 41

Brentford YT: Nik Tzanev; Chris Mepham (sub Seth Owens 63 mins), Gradi Milenge, Audrius Laucys, Tom Field; Makhosini Khanye (sub Dan Webster 90 mins), Jeremiah Kamanzi, Zain Westbrooke, Joshua Bohui; Kingsley Eshun (sub Julius Fenn-Evans 52 mins), Bradley Clayton

Subs: Jordan Carey

Booked: Jeremiah Kamanzi 90

Goals: Clayton 68, Westbrooke 86