Brentford U18s 4 Peterborough United U18s 2: McDermott’s side start PDL season with a win | OneFootball

Brentford Under-18s started their Professional Development League season with a win, defeating Peterborough United Under-18s 4-2 at Wheatsheaf Park.

First-half goals from Jovan Kasujja and Yerime Ouattara ensured the young Bees took a lead into the break before Michel Boni and Naeem Giscombe netted in the second half to secure the three points.

On a perfect day for football in west London, both sides started the game in positive fashion as they looked to gain the early ascendency.

Five minutes into the contest, Giscombe earned an early shot for the hosts. Running onto a Jacob Hanson ball down the right side, he pushed into the box and fought past multiple defenders before his shot was blocked and cleared.

One minute later it was Ouattara who came close to opening the scoring as he fired a powerful strike from outside the box, however goalkeeper Ben Westcott was there to tip the ball over the bar for the visitors.

Following the ensuing corner, Peterborough moved quickly on the counter attack and looked to push towards their box. Defender Reuben Lawal fought back strongly to interrupt the play, before Nathaniel Ogungbemi cleared the ball from the danger area for the hosts.

Five minutes later, the young Bees were rewarded for their good start. Kasujja pressed Westcott in goal and the attempted clearance ricocheting off him and into the net for the opener.

With a goal on the board, Brentford took the momentum and ran with it. On 19 minutes, Ouattara made a run through the middle before passing to Domeiro Bobb-Semple down the left. He pushed forward and crossed to Giscombe at the back post, but his effort was wide of the goal.

As the half-hour mark ticked over, Giscombe broke free down the right side from a Josh Zetter-Plummer pass, his cross finding Bobb-Semple whose effort sailed over the bar.

The early pressure on the visitors was rewarded for Gary McDermott’s side one minute later as Ouattara found the back of the net. Giscombe’s cross was spilled by Westcott on the ground, Ouattara there to tap it home to double Brentford’s lead.

The two-goal buffer was short-lived, however, as Bolu Shofowoke pulled one back on a counter attack for Peterborough six minutes later, putting the ball in the bottom-right corner.

Following a fast-paced opening half, the game steadied as the two sides began the second 45 minutes.

Giscombe had the best early chance 10 minutes into the second half as he broke through the middle of the pitch and fired at goal, but his shot was tipped out for a corner.

Boni came on just after the hour mark and was straight into the action, beginning a frantic few minutes for the hosts. The forward broke down the left side and crossed the ball to Giscombe at the back post, however his effort was blocked out of play for a corner.

The ensuing corner was played short, Zetter-Plummer taking possession and pushing forward to the edge of the box before firing at goal. His effort deflected out for a second-consecutive corner.

The resulting cross floated to the back post and was headed back across goal, Giscombe throwing a foot at the ball near the goal line, however Westcott was there to block it before the ball was cleared.

With under 20 minutes to play, the young Bees found reward for their efforts, this time through substitute Boni. The forward was taken down inside the box, the referee pointing to the spot. He stepped up and made no mistake to make it 3-1.

Six minutes later, Boni was in the action again, this time his shot being blocked following a Bobb-Semple cut back. The rebound fell to Beau Redknapp, returning from an injury for his first game for the U18s, whose shot was kept out by Westcott.

The ensuing corner fell to Redknapp again, but this time his shot was blocked and cleared by the visitors.

In the final 10 minutes, Bobb-Semple pounced on a loose pass and crossed to Giscombe and the winger's composed finish made it 4-1.

Two minutes later, Shofowoke pulled one back for Peterborough, however it was too late for a comeback as the young Bees secured three points.

Brentford U18s: Lyon, Zetter-Plummer, Lawal, Ogungbemi, Golding (Fanoiki HT), Honor (Redknapp 57), Giscombe, Ouattara, Kasujja (Boni 61), Hanson (Bansoodeb 73), Bobb-Semple

Subs not used: Nicholls

Booked: Ogungbemi 70

Peterborough United U18s: Westcott, Bushell, Joseph, Ndonjang, Arber (Fraser 79), Aikins, Simmons, Norville (Mlityalwa HT), Shofowoke, McWilliams-Marcano, Fitzpatrick (Dagne 73)

Subs not used: Bucknor, Crozier

Booked: Arber 73