Cardiff City U18s 3 Brentford U18s 1 | OneFootball

Brentford Under-18s fell to a 3-1 Professional Development League defeat at the hands of Cardiff City Under-18s on Saturday afternoon.

A Michael McSorley goal midway through the first half got things back on level terms following Cardiff’s early strike, however two more goals secured all three points for the home side at Cardiff International Sports Campus.

The hosts started the stronger of the two sides inside the opening 10 minutes and nearly struck early, Daniel Ola through on goal but putting it wide.

Six minutes later Harry Watts put Cardiff ahead, the no.8 finding the back of the net to put them 1-0 up.

The young Bees proceeded to turn the momentum from then on and dominated possession across the next 10 minutes. Numerous quality attacking moves were pieced together, however none were able to be finished off in the final third.

Despite enjoying some positive play, Brentford nearly went 2-0 down on 16 minutes as Mannie Baston forced his way into the box. Konstantin Ivanov was there, however, to make a goal-saving tackle and force a corner.

The young Bees’ best chance of the opening 20 minutes came soon after. Ollie Shield won the ball back high up the pitch and immediately played the ball to Trae Payet running into the box. His cross was headed straight for the goal line before being cleared away.

Brentford got reward for effort as the half-hour mark approached, finding an equaliser. Shield won the ball back inside the box and shot for goal, the ball hitting the bar and launching into the air. Shield and Cardiff goalkeeper Sam Jones contested the ball on the goal line, the ball smashing into the post and going back across goal where McSorley stood to tap it home.

Despite the young Bees enjoying a dominant period in the game, it was Cardiff who almost went back ahead two minutes later, their shot being cleared off the line by Greg Asemokhai.

Connor Wolfheimer was called into action on 36 minutes as Ola fired a shot through congestion from the penalty spot, the Brentford goalkeeper able to keep the ball out to leave the score 1-1.

As half-time approached it was Cardiff who found themselves back ahead. Baston pushed his way into the box down the left side, crossing to Ola who tapped it home from close range.

The hosts nearly added a third in added time, a corner falling to the back post and headed toward goal but kept out by Wolfheimer. The ensuing shot was tipped over the bar by the Brentford goalkeeper to keep the score 2-1 at half-time.

Coming out of the break both sides started on the attack as they eyed an early goal. Wolfheimer was brought out of his goal as Ola approached one 53 minutes, his cross finding a team-mate whose strike was kept out of the goal by Ivanov.

On the counter attack, Asemokhai crossed the ball to Shield, the midfielder taking a touch to his left and firing at goal, Jones there to save it for Cardiff.

Six minutes later the young Bees came inches from equalising. Naeem Giscombe won the ball back on the left side, the ball eventually finding Isiaih Powis who pushed his way into the box and crossed the ball to Shield who was one-on-one with Jones. The Cardiff keeper made a superb save to keep their lead.

Minutes later Cardiff's Jac Thomas was shown a red card following a clash with Payet, the latter then replaced by Nedved Owusu in his return from injury.

Despite being down to 10 men it was Cardiff who nearly scored next, Jake Davies running across the box and firing at goal, Wolfheimer there to keep it out.

As the full-time whistle approached it was Cardiff who landed the final blow, Davies going one better than his earlier attempt and finding the back of the net to make it 3-1.

Cardiff City U18s: Jones, Talbot, Thomas, Debono, Edwards, Williams, Davies, Watts, Ola, Perrett, Baston

Subs: Rees, Higgs, Parfitt, Hobson, Phelan

Brentford U18s: Wolfheimer, Payet (Owusu 67), Ivanov, Klimas, Asemokhai, Francis, Shield, Powis (Honor 70), McSorley (Redhead 70), Poliakov, Giscombe (Djoro 76)

Subs not used: Anderson

Pittman thrilled with young Bees' display

Brentford Under-18s assistant coach Jon-Paul Pittman was thrilled with his side's performance against Cardiff City Under-18s.

Despite falling to a 3-1 defeat, Pittman said the young Bees put together a strong performance away from home following a poor showing last time out.