Huddersfield Town U21s 1 Brentford U21s 2: Morgan's strike secures three points | OneFootball

Brentford Under-21s defeated Huddersfield Town Under-21s 2-1 in Professional Development League action away from home on Tuesday afternoon.

The hosts went ahead early on at Canalside Training Centre, before Ollie Shield found an equaliser midway through the first half. A dominant second half for the visitors was rewarded with an Iwan Morgan winner.

In sunny conditions in the north of the country, it didn’t take long for the hosts to go ahead, Peter Thomas heading it home off a pin-point cross from the left side on three minutes.

The young Bees responded positively, however. Four minutes later Otis Honor freed up Shield down the right with a superb pass, the winger’s cross just missing Michel Boni cutting through the box.

The game continued evenly, both sides enjoying time on the ball. Brentford’s best early chance came on 22 minutes as Riley Owen sent a piercing corner into the box, Chanse Headman meeting the ball but putting his header just over the bar.

Soon after it was Huddersfield’s turn to attack, Thomas again proving a hassle down the right side. His cross hit Sahil Bashir at the back post, but the winger’s effort sailed over the bar.

As the game inched closer to half-time, Sam Saunders’ side continued to press and found reward for effort soon after. Great build up play saw Boni freed up down the left side before crossing back to trialist A in the middle of the box. He continued the ball onto Shield on the right side who took a touch before cannoning his shot into the back of the net to equalise.

Minutes before half-time the hosts came close to taking back the lead. After Reggie Rose saved an initial shot in goal for Brentford, Thomas was there to put home the rebound, but his effort went wide of the goal.

Out of the half-time break Saunders’ side started strongly and began to dominate the game. Ethan Laidlaw had his eyes on goal inside the opening 10 minutes, however his shot was blocked.

The young Bees continued to dominate possession and get themselves into dangerous areas in attack, however were unable to piece it together in the final third.

Despite Brentford’s dominance, Huddersfield had the next best chance to go ahead. George Sebine took possession on the counterattack, attempting to go around Rose and score in a one-on-one situation. Despite the open goal, his effort was cleared off the line by Headman.

Three minutes later Brentford broke the stranglehold and went ahead thanks to substitute Morgan. The forward ran onto Shield’s pass down the right side and pushed his way into the box, firing the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-1.

Despite going up, the visitors continued to possess the ball and look to attack when the right moment opened up. Josh Stephenson nearly pounced on one such occasion following some strong build up play on 87 minutes, but his shot skimmed across the face of goal and out of play.

It mattered little, with Brentford securing a 2-1 win. The young Bees return to Wheatsheaf Park next week, facing Wigan Athletic on Tuesday 9 September from 12pm.

Huddersfield Town U21s: Litherland-Riding, Mrisho (Murray HT), Daley (Knowles 74), Iorpenda, Togo, Solomon, Thomas (Bowker 70), Shorrocks, Sebine, Calland (Spencer 80), Bashir

Subs not used: Walpole

Brentford U21s: Rose, Trialist A, Stephenson, Avenell, Headman, Owen, Shield, Trialist B (Olakigbe 61), Laidlaw, Honor (Grey 61), Boni (Morgan 61)

Subs not used: Trialist C, Mawene

Saunders: I'm pleased for the group

Brentford Under-21s head coach Sam Saunders full of praise for his squad after Huddersfield Town win.

"We did well. I'm pleased for the group, they had a good week's training, main focuses were reacting, working hard, sticking together, so really pleased that we came back from going a goal down.

"The boys stayed cool, stuck to the principles and played in the structure that we like them to play ... and they got what they deserved I think.

"I think we're about a year younger than we were last year as a squad average, so we're a little bit younger and that year at this age makes quite a big difference. But the boys will get lots of benefits from that.

"In the next six to nine months you'll start to see those players will grow and develop."