Nathan Young-Coombes grabbed the game’s only goal in the 82nd minute with a close range finish as he notched his 27th of the season.

With a quick turnaround following Tuesday’s win at Dartford in the London Senior Cup, Neil MacFarlane shuffled his starting XI with Young-Coombes beginning the match on the bench which allowed Hans Mpongo to make his first start for the B Team since his arrival from Needham Market. Paris Maghoma and Jaakko Oksanen also came into the side, as did Lewis Gordon as left wing back, and Alex Gilbert who was a constant threat going forwards.

The Bees started the match brightly as they saw lots of possession with the likes of Gilbert and Myles Peart-Harris getting on the ball and turning well after receiving the ball from the back three who quickly looked to progress the play. On four minutes Gilbert played a lovely switched pass out to Gordon who played a cross into the box which was headed away into the path of Maghoma, who shot over from the edge of the box.

A couple of minutes later Maghoma was creating from deep, and he chipped a ball into the box which Mpongo tried to get onto the end of but for the Saints keeper who blocked well.

It took until the 17th minute for Southampton to threaten the Brentford goal, and it came with an effort from distance for Benni Smales-Braithwaite but his effort sailed over. On 25 minutes The Bees were caught in possession in their own half when Ethan Burnett won the ball before testing Ben Winterbottom and forcing him into a smart save. Oksanen then blocked a follow-up attempt well.

Brentford’s best chance of the first period then arrived five minutes before the break when Mpongo received the ball to his feet in the area. It looked as though his opportunity to shoot had passed him by as the Southampton bodies crowded around him, but credit to the forward who worked some space, before his powerful effort was saved well by Ollie Wright. A Tristan Crama header at the far post was the last action of the half as the sides went in level.

10 minutes after the restart, Peart-Harris had the chance to try his luck when great feet from Maghoma saw him beat his man before teeing up his teammate who shot over from distance.

As the half wore on, Neil MacFarlane’s side took more and more control of the game and continued to look the more likely. Daniel Oyegoke had a good chance when he drove inside but his left-footed effort went over, and that preceded the introduction of Young-Coombes who had 25 minutes to make an impact.

He almost did just that just a few moments after coming on when he got on the end of a cross to knock the ball home, but for the linesman’s flag, as the youngster was denied having been offside. The forward had another opportunity on 79 minutes when he headed straight at Wright following a good cross from Roy Syla.

The all-important goal then came with eight minutes to play when good work down the left saw Dom Jefferies get in on goal. The midfielder floated an effort from a tight angle against the crossbar, but it fell kindly for Young-Coombes to shoot, and despite the keeper’s best efforts, the ball found its way over the line to give Brentford B another victory on the road.

The side will now prepare for a Middlesex Senior Cup Semi-Final with Hampton & Richmond on Tuesday next week.

Southampton B: Wright, Otseh-Taiwo, Ross-Lang, Olufunwa, Tizzard, Tshaka, Woods, Burnett, Smith, Smales-Braithwaite, Olaugbe

Subs: Pearce, Trialist, Lawrence, Chauke, Trialist

Brentford B: Winterbottom (Cox, 45) Oyegoke (Trialist, 82) Gordon, Hockenhull, Jones (Sotona, 76), Gilbert (Jefferies, 76) Mpongo (Young-Coombes, 65) Oksanen (Syla, 58), Maghoma (Adedokun, 76) Crama, Peart-Harris (Trevitt, 58)

Subs not used: Hercules