Cardiff City U21s 0 Brentford U21s 3 | OneFootball

Brentford Under-21s extended their stay at the top of the Professional Development League south group table with a 3-0 away win over Cardiff City Under-21s on Tuesday.

A Kyreece Lisbie goal in the first half ensured the young Bees started the game strongly before second-half goals from Beaux Booth and Vonnte Williams made sure that Neil MacFarlane’s side secured all three points.

A new-look starting line-up was fielded at Cardiff International Sports Stadium, with goalkeeper Julian Eyestone, Williams, Conor McManus, Benjamin Fredrick, Booth, Andre Grey and Max Dickov named in the starting XI.

Despite Brentford missing some experienced squad members, the opening minutes of the game reflected where the two sides sit in the table, with both teams starting strongly with clear intent on both sides of the ball.

The young Bees made their intentions known early with their usual strong press. An early Cardiff turnover saw Iwan Morgan receive the ball and fire a shot from outside the box, but it was left of the goal.

The hosts countered soon after as Trey George pounced on a loose Brentford pass, however his shot from outside the box took a deflection and rolled out of play for a corner.

Both sides enjoyed time on the ball, however it was Brentford who enjoyed the momentum as the 20-minute mark passed. A minute later, Morgan’s corner was met by Fredrick at the back post, however his header hit the bar. It dropped to McManus, whose shot went across goal, falling to Isaac Holland who was denied by Cardiff keeper Luke Armstrong.

On 27 minutes, the young Bees got reward for their dominance with another strong defensive effort turning into a goal. Booth pounced on a loose Cardiff pass and drove forward, firing at goal from outside the box. The shot was saved but the rebound fell to Lisbie, who took a touch to his right and shot, the ball taking a small deflection and cannoning into the back of the net.

Cardiff responded well and enjoyed a wave of momentum as the first half edged closer to finishing. On 40 minutes, they pushed deep into the right side of the box and crossed the ball close to the goalline but Brentford were able to clear before the hosts earned a chance to pounce.

Coming out of the break, it was the hosts who came close to scoring first, Isaac Jefferies’ early shot sailing just over the bar.

Brentford countered quickly and doubled their lead on 51 minutes through Booth. After winning the ball back, Lisbie gave it up to his defender, however he quickly recovered to win it back. His ensuing shot was saved and the rebound fell to Booth, who fired it home from close range.

Despite being down 2-0, Cardiff showed why they are high in the table, with Jefferies firing at goal again soon after, the ball cannoning into the side of the net.

He was at it again on 57 minutes, however Eyestone was able to keep the shot in front of him and secure the ball despite some attention from Cardiff’s forwards in the air.

Just after the hour mark, Morgan came inches away from scoring a superb goal. Holland’s cross from the right was headed away but only as far as Morgan, who took a touch on his chest and volley goalwards, the ball smashing into the post before being cleared away.

Eyeing a way back into the game, Cardiff continued to put Brentford under pressure when they had the ball on the counter attack. Morgan Wigley met the ball from a cross on 68 minutes, however his header sailed over the bar.

On a counter attack of their own on 76 minutes, MacFarlane’s side found a third goal to put the game to bed. Dickov’s ball down the right side freed up Lisbie, who pushed into the box before crossing to the back post where Williams was waiting, and he fired it into the back of the net for his first of the afternoon, securing the win for Brentford.

Cardiff City U21s: Armstrong, Spiers, Giles, Twose, Lawlor, Cook, Nyakuhwa, Perrett (Gbadehan 71), Wigley (Johnson 88), George (Barton 65), Jefferies

Subs not used: Griffiths

Brentford U21s: Eyestone, Holland, Williams (Avenell 78), McManus, Fredrick, Stephenson, Booth (Trialist A 78), Grey (Wilcox 71), Lisbie (McSorley 85), Dickov, Morgan (Shield 85)

Squad depth on show in Cardiff win

Brentford Under-21s head coach Neil MacFarlane was rapt with the effort and intensity his side showed throughout Tuesday's win over Cardiff City.

A number of regulars were missing from the line-up due to illness and injury, however MacFarlane praised the way the squad stepped up and filled the void to secure three points.