Brentford B 1 Cheltenham Town 4: Important minutes in the tank against League Two opposition for Saunders' side | OneFootball

Brentford B ended their pre-season camp in Wales with a 4-1 defeat to Cheltenham Town.

Sam Saunders' side found themselves 3-0 down at the break but were much improved in the second half.

After a successful week of training in the Vale of Glamorgan, the young Bees faced a tough challenge in League Two opponents Cheltenham, who opened the scoring within two minutes when full-back Arkell Jude-Boyd swept home with a neat finish into the bottom-left corner.

Saunders’ team forged their first good attack on 20 minutes, breaking well out of a tight area and setting Caelan Avenell free down the right. His deep cross found Ethan Laidlaw, who couldn’t judge the slightly awkward height of the ball right.

It was the Robins who looked more likely to get the second of the game though, Chanse Headman preventing a certain goal with a wonderful, stooped headed clearance off the line as a Cheltenham shot bent towards the bottom corner.

On 33 minutes, the League Two outfit doubled their lead when Trialist fired into the side of the goal from the edge of the box after a cross was only half cleared.

Michael Olakigbe pulled an effort wide shortly after but Cheltenham’s Harry Tustin looped a slightly fortunate finish in to add a third before the break.

The west Londoners came out faster in the second period, and Headman saw a free header from a cleverly worked free-kick turned round the post three minutes after the restart.

On 53 minutes, Cheltenham made it four, when Trialist A made a good save in the Brentford net but couldn't prevent the rebound from Charlie Croose creeping in.

After that goal, the game was well-matched. Theo Mawene had a good chance after cutting in on 75 minutes but was denied well by the Cheltenham keeper.

Saunders' side pulled one back on 77 minutes after a nice move on the right side. Trialist C fed Iwan Morgan down the flank, who pulled the ball back to Trialist E and his deflected shot found the back of the net.

The game ended at 4-1 but there were plenty of valuable minutes in legs and positives to take from the second half against senior opposition.

Brentford: Trialist A (Trialist D 83), Holland (Trialist E 70), Trialist B (Shield 60), Asemokhai (Klimas 70), Avenell (Trialist F 80), Headman, Olakigbe (Pierre 60), Grey (Honor 70), Laidlaw (Morgan 60), Owen (Trialist C 80), Mawene