Brentford’s Development Squad scored a goal in each half as they beat Under-21 Professional Development League Two South leaders Cardiff City.
Brentford included three trialists in the starting line-up – goalkeeper Mark Smith, who has played against The Bees for Queens Park Rangers’ Youth Team this season, and Chelmsford City attacking pair Aaron Greene and Joe Ward.
They also had Youth Team defenders Gradi Milenge and Lionel Stone in the team and 17-year-old winger Kojo Awotwi at right back.
With such an inexperienced team, and facing a Cardiff team that had dominated the division this season, it was no surprise that Brentford were on the back foot for much of the first half.
However, with Raphaël Calvet holding the back four together and Joe Maloney providing a defensive shield, Brentford were able to resist much of Cardiff’s pressure.
They went ahead at the end of the first half when Greene scored and Maloney doubled the lead early in the second.
With a two goal lead Brentford had enough to see the game out and inflict only the third league defeat of the season on Cardiff.
The Bees had to weather a bit of a storm at a chilly Griffin Park before getting ahead.
Smith saved a Brad Williams shot before a Rhys Healey effort was blocked and Kane Owen fired well over.
Calvet then made a vital clearance to prevent Healey converting a Tommy O’Sullivan cross.
Emmanuel Oyeleke’s role was more defensive than usual in midfield but Josh Clarke provided an attacking threat on the right.
He nearly set up a goal with a cross but Tom James prevented Milenge converting it.
O’Sullivan shot over for Cardiff before setting up Healey, who forced Smith in to a save.
During a period of end-to-end action in the middle of the first half, an Oyeleke shot was blocked and an Anthony Bell volley deflected wide at the other end.
Cardiff goalkeeper Ben Wilson got down well to prevent Ward tapping home a Clarke cross but most of the action was at the other end.
Theo Wharton missed a great chance to put Cardiff ahead when he fired wide from 15 yards with only Smith to beat after being set up by O’Sullivan.
Smith then saved an O’Sullivan chip before the visitors somehow failed to score when, following a short free kick, Calvet turned a Luke Coulson cross towards his own goal, Cardiff substitute Jake Watkins threw himself at the ball and missed when that seemed the hardest option and the ball bounced inches wide.
And that proved to be critical when Brentford went ahead in first half stoppage time.
Clarke got the better of Owen on the right, not for the first or last time, and drilled the ball across, Josh Yorwerth attempted to clear but only crashed the ball against his crossbar and Greene was waiting to drill it home.
In their three previous games Brentford have been ahead at half time and lost the game, conceding early goals in the second period.
This time it did not happen.
Maloney came close to scoring for Brentford just after the break, shooting over from 20 yards, and while Cardiff had chances, they could not score.
Stone intercepted a Watkins cross with Tyler Roche waiting before Smith saved from Jaye Bowen.
Smith then saved at the feet of Roche.
Brentford got their second goal just before the hour mark and Clarke was involved again.
Oyeleke won the ball in midfield and released the winger, his cross was cleared as far as Maloney and he smashed it in from 20 yards.
That seemed to kill Cardiff’s fight and the league leaders looked beaten from then on.
Clarke had a deflected shot saved and then fired wide as Brentford looked more likely to get the next goal.
Cardiff kept pressing and had late chances.
Bowen had two shots blocked and Smith saved a Yorwerth header.
They did get the ball in the net, through Bowen, but it was ruled out for offside.
And with that chance gone, Brentford had their clean sheet, and the win.
Brentford Development Squad: Mark Smith; Kojo Awotwi (sub Richard Bryan h/t), Gradi Milenge, Raphaël Calvet, Lionel Stone; Emmanuel Oyeleke, Joe Maloney, Montell Moore (sub Michael Onovwigun 61 mins); Josh Clarke, Joe Ward, Aaron Greene
Subs (not used): Joe Taylor, Fabian Rowe
Cardiff City Development Squad: Ben Wilson; Luke Coulson, Tom James, Josh Yorwerth, Kane Owen; Theo Wharton, Brad Williams (sub Jaye Bowen h/t), Magnus Eikrem, Anthony Bell (sub Tyler Roche h/t); Rhys Healey (sub Jake Watkins 38 mins), Tommy O’Sullivan
Subs (not used): Maxi Amondarain, Liam Matthews
By Chris Wickham