Brentford U18s face Leeds United, Wigan Athletic and Oldham Athletic at St George’s Park | OneFootball

Brentford Under-18s kicked-off their pre-season campaign with three 40-minute clashes against Leeds United, Wigan Athletic and Oldham United at St George’s Park on Saturday.

The tri-series fixtures saw a host of first-year scholars feature for Gary McDermott’s side for the first time since stepping into the U18s set-up at Jersey Road, alongside returning second-year scholars and three Under-16s players.

The young Bees played out two wins and a loss in the three games and will now look towards an exciting remainder of pre-season ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Brentford U18s 1 Leeds United U18s 3

In sunny conditions at St George’s Park, Brentford started with intent against Leeds. On three minutes, Coran Madden made a slick run through the middle before looking to play in striker Jai Nwosu, but the pass had too much pace on it and was met by the Leeds goalkeeper.

Andrew Noni nearly went one better three minutes later as he took the ball across the edge of the box before looking to score, with the ball cannoning against the post.

McDermott’s side were rewarded for their early dominance and took the lead soon after. A threatening Micaiah Fanoiki run saw the right-back cross to Nwosu at the back post and the striker made no mistake from close range.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Leeds quickly found themselves deep in Brentford’s box and through a well-placed effort into the bottom-left corner, levelled the game at 1-1.

Leeds had a second on 20 minutes as they pounced on a loose Brentford pass in their own half, rounding Felix Lyon in goal for the Bees and finishing into an empty net.

The Whites thought they had a third on 28 minutes, however it was ruled out for offside. That kicked McDermott’s side into gear as they put multiple dangerous crosses into Leeds’ box, the best a corner that found Ellis Foster-Jones, however his header sailed wide.

Down the other end, Leeds did find their third, with a cross from the right side finished well to make it 3-1.

Despite conceding, the west Londoners continued to threaten when in possession. Nedved Owusu’s strike from inside the box was saved, before Fanoiki’s cross was just out of the reach of Nwosu inside the box.

Brentford U18s: Lyon, Fanoiki, Foster-Jones, Oladapo-Gamu, Danso, Cohalan, Trialist A, Noni, Nwosu, Madden, Owusu

Brentford U18s 3 Wigan Athletic U18s 0

McDermott made eight changes to his side for the second game against Wigan and was immediately rewarded.

Inside the first minute, U16s forward Hatim Belhaj was taken down inside the box, the referee immediately pointing to the spot. Chris Cohalan stepped up and calmly slotted the ball into the right side of the net, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way in the process.

On 15 minutes, Wigan made a dangerous move down the right side but the cross towards the near post kept out by Lyon diving quick to his left.

Following an entertaining start, chances were few and far between for both sides. That changed on 31 minutes.

Belhaj won the ball back on the halfway line and immediately counter attacked through the middle. The midfielder outmuscled multiple defenders as he kept control of the ball before playing through the line to Dwayne Mason, the winger finding the back of the net with a neat finish to make it 2-0.

McDermott’s side didn’t have to wait long for their third goal. A loose pass in Wigan’s half was pounced on by U16s striker Oliver Theobald, who found himself one-on-one with the Wigan goalkeeper and finished well to put the result beyond doubt.

Brentford U18s: Lyon, Oladapo-Gamu, Cohalan, Trialist B, Mason, Balogun, Theobald, Nutter, Zetter-Plummer, Belhaj, Serme

Brentford U18s 4 Oldham Athletic 1 U18s

Despite the clash being the last of the day, Brentford and Oldham started their fixture enthusiastically.

Inside the first minute, Trialist A made a superb move past multiple defenders inside the Latics' box before firing seeing his shot saved. The rebound fell back to his him, however the ensuing effort sailed over the bar.

Eight minutes later, a dangerous corner fell to Josh Zetter-Plummer, the right-back steadying himself before launching the ball back toward goal, however it came back off the post.

Down the other end an Oldham corner found its way to the back post and looked to be headed in, however Brentford goalkeeper Kai Agyei did well to track back and tip it away from danger.

The breakthrough came through Owusu. The winger took possession on the left side of the box and didn’t hesitate to whip a superb strike into the right side of the net to give the Bees the lead.

A second came less than a minute later, Owusu and Madden combining to help drag Oldham’s goalkeeper out of his goal, the latter then able to finish into an empty net.

Despite Brentford’s early dominance it was Oldham who scored next, a well-worked corner eventually finding its way into the back of the net to make it 2-1 on 31 minutes.

Four minutes later, Trialist A found space following a short corner from Madden and looked to score, but his powerful strike was kept out.

Soon after, it was Trialist B who secured the win for McDermott’s side, a well-worked counter attack seeing him find space in the box to fire the ball past the Oldham goalkeeper for Brentford’s third.

The Bees weren’t done there, though, as Nwosu found space in the box in stoppage-time, turned and fired it home to secure a 4-1 win.

Brentford U18s: Agyei, Fanoiki, Trialist A, Noni, Nwosu, Madden, Owusu, Balogun, Nutter, Zetter-Plummer, Serme