Brentford U21s 5 Ipswich Town U21s 2 | OneFootball

Brentford returned to the top of the Professional Development League table with a 5-2 victory against Ipswich Town at Wheatsheaf Park on Monday.

The young Bees, who fielded several first-team players, went into the break 4-2 up following a thrilling opening half which saw Iwan Morgan score a hat-trick as well as a Romelle Donovan goal. The hosts saw out the second half well with Fábio Carvalho netting the fifth to round off a good day for Neil MacFarlane’s side.

Brentford started the game with a bang as they raced into a two-goal lead in the first four minutes.

Morgan grabbed both of them, with his first coming inside a minute when Ben Krauhaus picked him out inside the Ipswich box and the striker’s first-time shot beat Charlie Binns.

Three minutes later, a pinpoint pass from Paris Maghoma found Morgan, who showed composure to slot the ball into the bottom corner.

The Bees were a constant threat and looked like they could score every time they went forward.

Donovan was linking up well with Michael Kayode down the right channel, with the winger showing he had the beating of his man on a few occasions.

The Birmingham loanee made it 3-0 on 20 minutes when he beat Somto Boniface before cutting inside and smashing the ball into the bottom corner.

Ipswich pulled themselves back into the contest with Josh Pitts netting two goals inside four minutes.

With just over half an hour played, Morgan completed his hat-trick to open up a two-goal cushion.

Conor McManus did well to pick out the striker, who made it 11 goals for the season with a neat left-footed finish.

The Bees started the second half with the same intensity that they began the first with.

Maghoma continued to display his excellence and was a constant threat in the middle of the park as he beat two players before threading through Morgan, but the forward’s effort went just wide.

As the second half progressed, Brentford’s attack became less prominent as they looked to control the game and see out the match.

The Tractor Boys did have a few chances to get themselves back in the game again with perhaps their best opportunity coming on 80 minutes after a deep cross found Tommy Taylor, but his effort went wide.

Brentford wrapped up the game with their fifth and final goal through a Carvalho strike from inside the box.

Maghoma grabbed his second assist as he squeezed the ball through to Carvalho, who picked out the bottom corner.

Brentford U21s: Eyestone, Kayode, McManus, Mee, Ji-soo, Konak, Carvalho, Krauhaus (Laidlaw 58), Morgan (Owen 79), Maghoma, Donovan (Holland 79)

Ipswich Town U21s: Binns, Elliot, Boniface, Agbaje, Heard, Towler, Mendel-Idowu, Taylor, Pitts, Roberts, Morgan

Subs: Lewis, Fletcher, Lorr, Mauge, Adebayo

Neil MacFarlane reacts to another good win

Brentford Under-21s head coach Neil MacFarlane praised his side after another win in the Professional Development League saw the young Bees move back to the top of the table.