Brentford’s Development Squad picked up their first win of the league season with a comfortable 6-0 victory over Colchester United’s Development Squad.
An experienced Brentford team were far too good for a Colchester side that contained few players with many First Team appearances.
Emmanuel Oyeleke headed the first for Brentford and started the rout.
Antonio German scored twice, Tom Adeyemi and Aaron Pierre grabbed one each and substitute Charlie Adams sealed it with a late individual goal.
The result did not flatter Brentford, they could have had many more, and they simply had too much experience and knowhow for their visitors in the Professional Development League Two South clash.
With Kevin O’Connor imperious in midfield, Brentford’s retention of possession was top drawer and while Leon Legge bossed the defence, German, Adeyemi and Oyeleke ran Colchester ragged in the first half and Leon Redwood and Stuart Dallas joined in after the break.
The first goal came when Ryan Fredericks, who was a menace whenever he went forward, tricked his way clear on the right and crossed for Oyeleke to head home.
Colchester goalkeeper Shaun Phillips kept out a curling Dallas shot but Brentford only really took control once Oyeleke, who had been playing just behind German, and Adeyemi, who was on the left of a midfield three, switched.
From then on, The Bees took complete control and until Adeyemi was removed at the break, he took centre stage.
A cross from the right by Adeyemi was headed just over by German and another ball from the same side was taken off the feet of Dallas as he prepared to score.
Legge headed just over for The Bees before German nodded in a Jake Reeves free kick with Colchester appealing for a foul.
It was three seconds later when Adeyemi headed in a German cross and there were chances for more.
Reeves and German had shots blocked and when Oyeleke headed back, Adeyemi was denied by a defender and Legge’s effort was scrambled away.
Colchester’s attacking potency was limited – Alex Gilby missed the target with two efforts – but they could have scored midway through the half.
Antoine Gounet sliced a clearance and then failed to gather as Freddie Ladapo dribbled round him, the Colchester striker lofted his shot towards goal only for it to be taken by the wind and drop towards Gilby, Pierre bundled the Colchester man over but referee Thomas Brooks waved away appeals for a foul.
Leon Redwood came on to play on the left after the break, replacing Adeyemi, and Brentford had width on both sides with Oyeleke in behind German again.
This gave them real domination and the chances continued to come.
Fredericks set up the fourth when he darted forward three minutes in to the second half and cross for Pierre, up from the centre of defence, to turn it in from close range.
Redwood had a shot blocked and then saw a toe-poked effort scrambles away after he challenged the goalkeeper.
The pick of the goals came ten minutes after the break – Oyeleke exchanged passes with Reeves before picking out a pass to match the run of German, the striker chipped the ball over the advancing Phillips and in to the net.
Phillips denied Redwood soon after and then saved at the feet of Dallas before Reeves saw an effort saved.
The closest Colchester came to scoring was when Scott Barron headed inches over his own bar – Gounet made a comfortable low save from Jordan Sanderson and Ladapo saw an effort blocked but there was little danger of any sort of response from the visitors.
Brentford sealed the win when Adams darted forward from the left, beat two or three men and slotted the ball past Phillips for make it a round half dozen.
Brentford Development Squad: Antoine Gounet; Ryan Fredericks, Leon Legge, Aaron Pierre, Scott Barron; Kevin O’Connor; Stuart Dallas, Jake Reeves, Tom Adeyemi (sub Leon Redwood h/t); Emmanuel Oyeleke (sub Charlie Adams 70 mins); Antonio German (sub Luke Norris 70 mins)
Subs (not used): Alfie Mawson, Sam Griffiths
Colchester United Development Squad: Shaun Phillips; Tosin Olufemi, Billy Roast, Bradley Hamilton, Tom Bender; Jordan Sanderson, Merrick James-Lewis (sub Frankie Kent 85 mins); Ryan Melaugh, Alex Gilby, Jack Simmons (sub Macauley Bonne 60 mins); Freddie Ladapo (sub Tom Lapslie 78 mins)
Subs (not used): Jack Curtis, Michael O’Donaghue
By Chris Wickham