Fleetwood Town U18s 1 Brentford U18s 5: Match report and reaction | OneFootball

Brentford Under-18s secured a third win in a row on Saturday afternoon with an impressive 5-1 victory over Fleetwood Town Under-18s.

The young Bees came into the clash with momentum following two-straight Professional Development League wins and continued that good form against the Lancashire side away from home, making it 15 goals in three games.

After going down early in the contest, Michel Boni and Naeem Giscombe scored first-half goals to give the visitors a lead going into half-time. Second-half strikes from Otis Honor, trialist B and Nedved Owusu secured all three points for Brentford.

The young Bees kicked against a strong breeze in the first half, the conditions making it tough to piece together attacking moves.

It was the hosts who struck first through a trialist. His initial shot was saved by Connor Wolfheimer in goal, however the ball stayed in play. The trialist took possession again and made the most of his second chance, finding the back of the net.

Brentford dominated possession across the next 15 minutes, however chances were few and far between.

Boni made the most of his chance on 21 minutes. The forward beat Fleetwood’s keeper to the ball, before firing it home into an empty net to equalise.

The young Bees didn’t have to wait long to go ahead, Giscombe scoring three minutes later to give the visitors all the momentum.

Brentford continued to dominate the ball, however chances dried up as the half-time whistle approached. Yerime Ouattara came close to finding the visitors’ third goal on 37 minutes as he tried to finish a cross from trialist B, however his effort sailed over the bar.

As the first half entered stoppage-time, the hosts nearly found an equaliser. The first effort went wide, before a trialist pounced on a loose pass and tried to lob Wolfheimer, the effort going over the bar.

Coming out for the second half, Bobby Quinn went close for the hosts, however his effort from the right side of the box cannoned into the side of the net.

The young Bees wasted little time going back on the attack, as Matas Klimas played a superb long ball to free up Ouattara down the right side. He crossed to Giscombe at the back post, however he couldn’t control the ball before it was cleared by the Fleetwood defence.

As the hour mark passed, David Animasaun pushed forward and fired at goal from the left side of the box, however Wolfheimer made a strong save diving to his right.

While chances on goal were rare across the next 15 minutes, the young Bees continued to dominant possession.

They found reward for their efforts on 83 minutes through Honor. The midfielder fired at goal but the shot was saved, however he pushed on to score off the rebound to make it 3-1.

Brentford’s trialist B was next, the defender receiving the ball at the back post and smashing his shot into the top of the net for the visitors' fourth.

Owusu finished off what was a dominant display by the young Bees as he scored off Domeiro Bobb-Semple’s assist in injury-time to make it 5-1.

Fleetwood Town U18s: Trialist A, Ruocco, Doherty, Elmore (Hughes 37), Slater (Thompson HT), Dunne, Haselden, Wilkes, Trialist B, Scrivens, Animasaun (Quinn HT)

Subs not used: Trialist C, Chapman

Brentford U18s: Wolfheimer, Trialist A, Trialist B, Golding, Klimas (Bowen 66), Powis, Owusu, Honor, Boni (Trimboli 79), Ouattara, Giscombe (Bobb-Semple 66)

Subs not used: Trialist C

Pittman pleased with response

Jon-Paul Pittman was pleased with his side’s response after going 1-0 down early to Fleetwood Town away from home.

The young Bees’ line-up, dominated by first-year scholars and trialists, quickly turned the momentum and finished strongly.

“I'm delighted again, Said Pittman.

"After being a goal down early, we said to the players ‘stick to the plan, remain patient because our play will dictate that there’ll be lots of chances.’

“We had a couple of 15-year-olds and a few 16-year-olds playing today in an Under-18s fixture... they did tremendously well.

“To see the same style and identity come out regardless of who’s playing, that’s credit to all the interdisciplinary team.”