Brentford U21s 3 Colchester United U21s 2 | OneFootball

Brentford Under-21s left it late to narrowly secure the three points against Colchester United Under-21s at Wheatsheaf Park on Monday afternoon.

Ethan Laidlaw scored the winner, tapping in from close range following a perfect pass across goal from Max Dickov. Ben Krauhaus and Ethan Brierley were also on the scoresheet.

There were a number of changes to the side that beat Peterborough United Under-21s in Brentford's last league game, with the young Bees looking to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to seven games.

It was not the best of starts from Neil MacFarlane's side as the visitors pressed aggressively, recovering possession on a couple occasions in the early exchanges.

The away side took the lead as Amine Sassi reacted quickest in the box, diverting a cross past Julian Eyestone.

The lead lasted two minutes as Iwan Morgan drove into the box, beat his man and found an unmarked Krauhaus who tapped into the net.

Laidlaw went close to giving Brentford the lead as he connected with a Brierley cross but it just went wide of the post.

Brentford were in firm control of the contest, penning their opponents back, but Isaac Holland was dispossessed in a dangerous area and the away side took advantage as Alex Kokoski finished well from close range.

In similar fashion to the first, the west London side did not take long to draw level again as Laidlaw pounced on a loose touch, feeding Morgan who found Brierley with a great cross and the latter dispatched comfortably from close range.

Brierley went close to giving Brentford the lead with an intelligent free-kick that almost caught out the keeper but Harrison Chamberlain just got there in time to make the save and then deny Morgan on the follow-up with a brilliant reflex save.

Brentford did control much of the second period but chances were few and far between.

Laidlaw had the ball in the back of the net with just over 10 minutes to go but he was adjudged to have been offside.

Late in the game though, Laidlaw pounced on a Max Dickov cross to score the winner and secure all three points.

Monday's win means that Brentford rise to second place in the league table with the leaders Bournemouth only ahead of the Bees due to a superior goal difference.

MacFarlane's side turn their attention to the Premier League Cup where they take on Derby County away from home on Friday 6 December.

Brentford: Eyestone, Holland (Dickov 77), Yogane (Jones (T) 77), Williams, Fredrick, Stephenson (Headman 61), Krauhaus, Brierley (c), Laidlaw, Owen, Morgan (Redhead (T) 88).

Unused subs: Avenell.

Booked: Williams 89

Colchester United: Chamberlain, Akor, Oliver (Harvey 86), Edwards (c), Abidekun, Sassi, Joliffe, Folarin (Banjoko 71), Sandah, Kokoski (Green 86), Newby

Unused subs: Drysdale, Sexton

Booked: Sassi 43, Kokoski 59

MacFarlane proud of young Bees' determination

Brentford Under-21s head coach Neil MacFarlane praised his side for their determination to fight back from being down on two occassions to beat Colchester United 3-2.

The win helps the young Bees jump to equal-first on the Professional Development League table.