Scott Hogan ended 18-months of injury hell as he netted on his comeback for Brentford Under-21’s this afternoon in a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace at Griffin Park. The striker hadn’t played a match since August 2014 following a knee injury but he took just seven minutes to find the net on his return, clinically finishing off a flowing Bees counter-attack.

In truth Brentford should have been out of sight following the opening exchanges but they were punished for missed chances as Palace struck twice in four minutes midway through the half. First Randall Williams rose highest to head home a Jason Lokilo cross and then Williams turned provider as Hiram Boateng sweetly volleyed home from 15 yards.

It looked for a long while like those goals would prove to be decisive but Andy Gogia ensured that Brentford took a deserved share of the points as he converted substitute Kyjuon Marsh-Brown’s cross with 25 minutes to play.

It was a much changed and much more experienced Brentford side than the one that was beaten 3-0 by Bristol City last Monday and they started brightly. Hogan was denied inside a minute of his return as Chris Kettings spread himself well at the near post and the Scottish-born goalkeeper was called into action again shortly after as The Bees somehow failed to open the scoring. Gogia latched onto a Reece Cole through ball and rounded Kettings only to hit the post before the goalkeeper saved with his legs from Bradley Clayton and then the rebound was sent wide by Herson Rodrigues Alves.

Flemming Pedersen’s side didn’t have to wait long for their goal however as a slick counter-attack opened up space for Cole to play though Hogan who, despite being out of action for 18 months, showed clinical instincts to control the ball with his first touch and then fire past Kettings from 12 yards with his second touch.

The Eagles had offered very little in an attacking sense early on but grew into the match as the half progressed. Luke Dreher missed a golden chance to pull them level as he dragged an effort from close range well wide of Jack Bonham’s goal but by the midpoint of the half they were ahead, the defending for both goals would not have pleased Head Coach Flemming Pedersen. Firstly, Lokilo was allowed too much space down the right wing and his pinpoint cross was headed past Bonham by Williams and then four minutes later, after Jan Holldack had been harshly penalised for a foul, Boateng found himself unmarked 15 yards out to sweetly volley home Williams’ free-kick.

The referee Joel Mannix had been happy to let a lot of challenges go in the opening half hour and he again saw nothing wrong as Connor Dymond appeared to foul Clayton inside the box as he shaped to shoot. Brentford were seeing a lot of the ball in the midfield with Palace looking for the pace of Corie Andrews on the break and it was the home side who ended the half the better. Zain Westbrooke’s deflected shot was easy for Kettings to claim, Gogia fizzed an effort narrowly wide after his first attempt was blocked and Hogan’s downwards header lacked the power to beat the Palace keeper.

At the other end Andrews shot straight at Bonham and Boateng whipped a free-kick well wide while, with the last chance of the half, Clarke cut onto his left foot but his skimming effort was comfortably held by Kettings.

The South London side came out in the second-half looking to hold onto what they had as they sank deeper towards their own goal allowing Brentford time and space on the ball. The Bees pressed forward and began to create chances. Alves should have done better from Cole’s corner before the latter’s free-kick forced Kettings into a smart save at his near post. Hogan was withdrawn on the hour, alongside Alves, with Zach Birse and Kyjuon Marsh-Brown coming on.

Birse almost made an instant impact as Mike Croll turned a wicked low cross over his own bar under pressure from the substitute before Marsh-Brown played a key part in The Bees leveller. The winger’s determined run was rewarded as his low cross reached Gogia at the back post and his shot had too much power for Kettings to keep out.

The equaliser deflated The Eagles and they retreated into a defensive 4-5-1 formation as time ticked on, ceasing to pose much threat as an attacking unit. Birse headed wide from a Cole corner before Kettings pulled off a stunning flying save to prevent Gogia curling The Bees in front. The German nearly won the three points right at the death but his low effort flashed narrowly wide of the post as both sides had to settle for a point.

Brentford: Jack Bonham; Josh Clarke, Jan Holldack, Chris Mepham, Tom Field; Zain Westbrooke, Reece Cole (sub Audrius Laucys 90 mins); Herson Rodrigues Alves (sub Kyjuon Marsh-Brown 60 mins), Bradley Clayton, Andy Gogia; Scott Hogan (sub Zach Birse 60 mins) Subs not used: Cameron Greaves

Crystal Palace: Chris Kettings; Ben Wynter, Mike Croll, Zeki Fryers, Christian Scales; Hiram Boateng; Jason Lokilo, Luke Dreher, Connor Dymond, Randall Williams; Corie Andrews Subs not used: Kleton Perntreou, Will Hoare