Brentford B put in a rampant second half display as they beat Crewe Alexandra 5-1 at the Mornflake Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Both Ryan Trevitt and Alex Gilbert grabbed two goals each whilst substitute Max Dickov got on the scoresheet moments after coming on in the second period.
There was a strong selection to choose from for B Team Head Coach Neil MacFarlane as both Gilbert and Trevitt returned to the side having not been involved in the 2-2 draw with QPR Under-21s last week. In their way stood a Crewe side which featured some members from their First Team squad who were building minutes, whilst the remainder of their squad were made up of players from the League Two side’s youth set up.
First half
It was a game which took time to spring to life early on and it took until just after the quarter of an hour mark for the Bees to really threaten as possession was traded frequently. Midfield player Yehor Yarmoliuk, who continues to adapt well to life in a Brentford shirt, received the ball centrally and threaded a pass through to Gilbert. The ball was then squared for Trevitt as he forced the Crewe keeper into a smart save with his low effort.
Ryan Trevitt and Alex Gilbert grabbed two goals each
17-year-old duo Tony Yogane and Isaac Holland occupied the flanks and they almost combined expertly when the former crossed to the far post from the left but Holland was unable to keep his header on target. A brilliant chance then fell for Gilbert shortly before the break as Holland intercepted a defensive mix up in the Crewe back line before the ball was squared to Gilbert, but his low effort edged wide.
The home side had spells of possession, though, and they too carried a threat on the counterattack. Charlie Finney darted down the left-hand side before cutting on to his right and curling against the cross bar. But it was Oli Finney who got the game’s first goal when he was found on the edge of the box and the Crewe man struck low into the net.
The Bees were determined not to go into the break behind, though, as they responded instantly to make it 1-1 when a brilliant ball forward from Tristan Crama in central defence found the run of Gilbert. The Brentford man then rounded the onrushing keeper before finding Trevitt who slotted in with composure.
Level at the interval
Brentford took that momentum into the second period as they began to really move through the gears. Chances fell for the likes of Gilbert and Trevitt which preceded the away side’s goal to go ahead shortly after the hour. As Trevitt was found centrally an inch-perfect ball into the path of Gilbert found his teammate as he slotted into the bottom right-hand corner to make it 2-1.
After going ahead the Bees made a change as Dickov entered the field alongside a Trialist and Angel Waruih. It took Dickov just a minute or so to make it 3-1 as the Trialist centre midfielder slotted the ball into the inside left channel for the Brentford man to curl an effort inside the far post.
Max Dickov grabbed a goal off the bench for the side
Five or so minutes later it became 4-1 as Gilbert got his second as good pressing from Yarmoliuk forced the Crewe defender into an error as the Ukrainian then squared the ball for Gilbert to strike first time. Despite the best efforts of the defender, the ball ended up crossing the line in what was a ruthless period for the Bees. The fifth goal then came 13 minutes from time as Gilbert turned provider once again for Trevitt, who curled home with precision just inside the box to round off a brilliant performance.
Crewe Alexandra: Richards, Billington, C. Finney, Williams, Sass-Davies, Lunt, Woodcock, O. Finney, Martins, Holicek, Onyeka
Subs: Webster, Bebbington, Trialist, Trialist
Brentford B: Winterbottom (Tavaziva, 83), Farr (Dickov, 67) Adedokun (Jones, 63), Crama, Pruti, Holland (Trialist, 67), Trevitt, Gilbert, Yarmoliuk (Wilcox, 76), Yogane (Waruih, 67) Trialist (Trialist, 76)