U21 Professional Development League 2
Team: Halliday, Leahy, Da Silva, Manufor, McDowell, Talla, Petrie, Neill, Vaughan, O’Brien, Sanyaolu
Subs: Clark, Balogun, Coomes, Neziri, trialist
On a very warm afternoon at the TSG Training Centre, the team sheet revealed that the strong Brentford starting line-up included the likes of £10m signing Gustavo Nunes, South Korean international Ji Soo Kim and 27-year-old first-teamer, Rico Henry.
The first goalscoring opportunity fell to the hosts when, after the ball had been played around the box, Joao Da Silva shot wide of the post.
Six minutes in and after Romelle Donovan has got himself into the penalty area, the Bees No.7 forced a very good save from Joel Halliday.
It was the visitors who took the lead on 13 minutes after the R’s keeper had put Gustavo Nunes’ curled shot behind. From the resulting corner, Iwan Morgan’s glanced header appeared to come off Jack Leahy before entering the net.
Five minutes or so later, following Donovan’s run through the middle, the Bees No.7 laid the ball off to Gustavo Nunes, whose shot flashed just wide of the upright.
After a cross was dinked into the box, and with Iwan Morgan ready to pounce, an excellent interception by Jack McDowell saw the R’s centre-back put the ball behind.
Iwan Morgan should have doubled Brentford’s lead, but the ball still got to the Bees captain, Paris Maghoma, whose attempt was cleared off the line by Jake Leahy.
However, Brentford did add a second on 32 minutes after Romelle Donovan had squared the ball for Iwan Morgan to take it in his stride and guide it into the bottom corner.
Joel Halliday made a good save at the near-post after Gustavo Nunes had cut-in close to the bye-line.
The Bees increased their lead a few minutes before half-time. Although the R’s keeper had managed to get a hand to the ball, he couldn’t keep out Nunes’ powerful strike from just outside the box.
Just before the break, Lorent Talla’s quick free kick got to Philip Sanyaolu, but his effort lacked power, and Julian Eyestone was able to make a comfortable save. Half-time: 0-3.
There was a brief delay to the second-half as both sides awaited the return of the three match officials!
After a few minutes, Fraser Neill got into a good position before taking aim and forcing Julian Eyestone down to smother the ball.
At the other end, after Romelle Donovan had cut-in, his effort hit the frame of the goal.
Iwan Morgan made it four with a shot on the volley, following Romelle Donovan’s precise cross into the box.
Kieran Petrie’s low strike was saved, and on the hour mark, Paul Furlong made a triple change, which saw the introduction of Isaiah Balogun, Enis Neziri and the trialist, at the expense of a limping Jack McDowell, Lorent Talla and Archie O’Brien respectively.
Rangers pulled a goal back in less than a minute when the trialist belted the ball into the bottom corner.
Jake Coomes replaced Kieran Petrie on 72 minutes.
Romelle Donovan’s angled shot was well-saved by Joel Halliday.
The R’s battled on and Isaiah Balogun’s attempt from a corner was stopped on the line.
But it was the Bees who scored the final goal five minutes from time, when Donovan’s low cross was tapped in at the far-post by substitute Max Dickov.
Paul Furlong’s side then travelled to Oakwell to take on Barnsley.
Steve Russell