Flemming Pedersen’s Development Squad were punished for a lethargic start as Bristol City ran out 3-0 winners in their U21 Professional Development League Two South clash this afternoon at The Robins’ Failand Training Ground.
Wade Elliott’s side dominated the opening stages and took the lead after seven minutes when veteran defender Adam El-Abd smashed home as The Bees failed to clear a free-kick. Shawn McCoulsky made it 2-0 on the half-hour and the match was settled just after the break when Connor Evans tapped home from close range.
Despite seeing Chris Mepham dismissed for a professional foul with more than 20 minutes to play The Bees rallied in the closing stages and Frank Fielding needed to be at his best to deny Julius Fenn-Evans and Tom Field as The Bees chased a deserved consolation goal.
It was one of the youngest Brentford Development Squad sides seen in recent times with Under-16 Ellery Balcombe making his debut in goal. There were also three Youth Team players in the starting XI and 19-year-old Jan Holldack was the oldest player in the squad.
The more experienced Robins, with experienced first-team regulars Frank Fielding and El-Abd both in their starting XI, took the game by the scruff of the neck in the early stages. Such was The Robins early dominance the only surprise was that it took them as long as seven minutes to open the scoring. Lloyd Kelly had a shot cleared off the line, El-Abd firing over the rebound, Balcombe denied George Dowling and McCoulsky volleyed over all within the first four minutes.
Three minutes later the home side, who beat Queens Park Rangers 5-4 last time out, did go in front as Balcombe’s punch was worked back into the box and El-Abd spun and lashed home from close range. It could have been worse in the opening stages as Evans dragged a shot across the face of goal, McCoulsky somehow headed over from six yards before the aforementioned duo combined, McCoulsky failing to find the target with his head.
Slowly The Bees grew into the game and managed to exploit the space down the flanks of the home side. With Gradi Milenge and Tom Field pushing right on from full-back Brentford were able to ask some questions of the The Robins defence: Milenge in particular giving Lloyd Kelly a tough first-half. Holldack fired a shot wide from 25 yards but just as it looked like Brentford were going to take control of the match they found themselves two behind: Evans beat Zach Birse to the byline and squared to McCoulsky who had the simple task of tapping home from three yards.
Evans was nearly the provider again five minutes later but this time Tom Fry snatched at his chance and hit the side netting from the angle of the six-yard box. Fielding had been untroubled in the opening 40 minutes but he was called into action just before the break as Milenge turned past Kelly and fired low towards goal: the former England Under-21 international down smartly to claim at his near post. The home side had a chance to make it 3-0 before the break as Joe Morrell and Evans broke but Zain Westbrooke tracked the run of Morrell and got a vital toe in to turn the ball behind.
The second-half began much more evenly and Fielding made an important early save to prevent Field halving the arrears, half-time substitute Kyjuon Marsh-Brown heading the rebound wide. However The Robins made the game safe four minutes later with a controversial goal: Balcombe appeared to have the ball kicked out of his hands as Evans slid in for a low cross, the referee saw nothing wrong and allowed the goal to stand.
Three goals to the good Elliott’s side began to sit off and allowed The Bees plenty of possession and territory without giving up much in the way of chances. Life got even more comfortable for The Robins midway through the half as Chris Mepham clipped McCoulsky’s heels as he bore down on goal, the referee quick to brandish the red card to the Youth Team defender. Charlie Harris sent an effort well over the bar from distance and McCoulsky’s tame effort was easy for Balcombe while at the other end Field again brought the best out of Fielding from a tight angle.
As the game entered the final ten minutes Flemming Pedersen’s side made light of their man disadvantage and put the Bristol City goal under sustained pressure. Fenn-Evans was bravely denied by Fielding as he latched onto Westbrooke’s clever lofted pass. The Robins’ stopper then brilliantly tipped a Holldack free-kick onto the bar, El-Abd blocked from Stuart Wilkin and Westbrooke scooped over from close range. Wilkin’s deflected effort bobbled through to Fielding and City’s clean sheet and three points were confirmed as Fenn-Evans headed well-wide with The Bees final chance deep into injury time.
Bristol City: Frank Fielding; Charlie Harris, Aden Baldwin (sub Ash Harper 73 mins), Adam El-Abd, Lloyd Kelly; Ben Last, Joe Morrell, George Dowling; Tom Fry (sub Harvey Moss 78 mins), Shawn McCoulsky, Connor Evans Subs not used: Max O’Leary, Elijah Chilekwa
Brentford: Ellery Balcombe; Gradi Milenge (sub Audrius Laucys 46 mins), Zach Birse, Chris Mepham, Tom Field; Zain Westbrooke, Stuart Wilkin, Jan Holldack; Danny Parish (sub Kyjuon Marsh-Brown 46 mins), Herson Rodrigues Alves (sub Julius Fenn-Evans 65 mins) Bradley Clayton Subs not used: Cameron Greaves, George Harmes