Brentford Under-18s had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Bristol City Under-18s at Robins High Performance Centre on Tuesday afternoon.
Michel Boni’s first goal of the season midway through the first half gave the young Bees momentum going into the second half, a Bristol City equaliser early in the second half ensuring the points were shared in the Professional Development League clash.
On a windy day in Bristol Brentford attacked with the breeze in the opening half, both sides taking time to adjust to the conditions. On two minutes Harry Hogg almost scored the unlikeliest of goals for the hosts as his corner quickly cannoned into the near post before being cleared.
On nine minutes Brentford impressed with end-to-end play as they played out from the back through Bristol City’s press. Ollie Shield managed to break through and make a run through the middle of the pitch, playing the ball down the right to Nedved Owusu whose shot hit the post. Emeka Peters was there to shoot from the rebound but it was blocked and sent out for a corner.
The young Bees thought they had the opener soon after as the hosts put the ball in their own net, however Boni was ruled offside and deemed to have impacted the play.
Despite the goal being ruled out the visitors were on top. Four minutes later Shield put in a dangerous cross to Boni at the back post who headed it back across goal to Luka Bentt, however young Robins’ goalkeeper Jack Witchard secured the loose ball.
Bristol City’s best chance of the opening half came soon after as they pounced on a loose Brentford pass in their own half. Hogg took possession and sent the ball goalward, however it went left of the post and out of play.
Two minutes later the young Bees broke the stranglehold. Another strong run through the middle from Shield freed up Owusu down the right, the winger pushing into the box and cutting the ball back to Boni who tapped it home on 28 minutes.
⏱️ 28' GOAL!!!
Ollie Shield makes a great run through the middle, finding Nedved Owusu down the right side who cuts it back to Michel Boni who taps it home
🔴0-1🐝#BrentfordFC pic.twitter.com/HWlKy3PKeJ
— Brentford Academy (@BrentfordFCPDP) March 18, 2025
Despite the momentum being with Brentford as they played with the wind, the hosts had their chances in the opening 45 minutes. On 33 minutes Rushon Walker-Brown had a good look on goal, however put it left of the post and out of play.
As half-time approached the young Bees came close to doubling their lead. Aidan Golding played a superb ball over the top to Bentt breaking forward, however he was able to be stopped by the Bristol City defence as the ball bounced high before he could fire a shot.
As the game entered added time Boni had two chances to add his second goal. Witchard made a strong save to deny his first shot from close range, his shot a minute later blocked and cleared, leaving the score 1-0 at the break.
Out of half-time it was the hosts who started the better of the two sides and they quickly found an equaliser, Excellent Ikpeama heading it home from Walker-Brown’s cross on 49 minutes.
Now playing against a strong breeze the young Bees adjusted and the game evened out across the next 20 minutes, both sides enjoying time on the ball without threatening in attack.
Brentford goalkeeper Connor Wolfheimer was called into action on 67 minutes as Walker-Brown had a free looking on goal, the young Bee able to make a potentially goal-saving save before the ball was cleared.
While both sides continued to attack, chances were few and far between, until a pulsating final 10 minutes.
Ikpeama’s shot on 80 minutes was over the bar, before Kaya Halil put a shot over the bar for Brentford five minutes later.
The visitors came close to a winner as the game entered its final minutes, Owusu’s cross finding Domeiro Bobb-Semple whose effort hit the bar.
Bristol City nearly went one better as the second half entered added time, captain Jaiden Foxwell’s shot crashing into the post, the game ending 1-1 and the points shared.
Brentford now turn their attention to Watford away from home on Saturday afternoon.
Bristol City U18s: Witchard, Thelwell, Davies, Foxwell, Hooper (Ababio HT), Inman, Walker-Brown (Barimah 81), Hogg, Jackson, Ikpeama (Wood 81), Walker (Kalkowski 70)
Subs not used: Sainsbury
Brentford U18s: Wolfheimer, Shield (Halil 62), Ivanov (Trimboli 79), Golding (Bowen 90), Powis, Francis, Owusu, Honor, Boni (Bobb-Semple 70), Bentt, Peters
Subs not used: Anderson