Brentford Under-18s were beaten 3-1 by Cardiff City Under-18s in a Professional Development League match played at Leckwith Stadium on Saturday.
The Bees trailed 1-0 at halftime and conceded again early in the second half. Jai Nwosu pulled one back for Brentford, but Cardiff sealed the win with a late penalty.
The squad blended U18 and U16 players, with B team goalkeeper Connor Wolfheimer starting among them. Amaru Goppy, Ellis Foster-Jones, Ibrahim Serme, Cameron Giles and Dwayne Mason all made PDL debuts, with Goppy, Foster-Jones and Serme starting. Nwosu has previously featured for the U18s, debuting in a 3-1 victory over Crewe Alexandra in September.
Cardiff moved ahead inside five minutes when Riley Hilaire-Clarke converted a curled shot from just outside the box after a Brentford mistake. Four minutes later Brentford almost levelled as Nwosu’s powerful left-footed strike was stopped by Cardiff keeper Sam Jones.
The game settled into a steady rhythm, but neither side managed consistent pressure on the backlines. Hilaire-Clarke nearly doubled Cardiff’s lead on 23 minutes, racing onto Jack Sykes’ cross but firing narrowly over.
Midfield work from Jai Bansoodeb helped Brentford manufacture chances. He won a challenge under pressure on 26 minutes and fed Ibrahim Serme, who found Nwosu. One-on-one, Nwosu shot over the bar. Bansoodeb then forced another effort wide on 28 minutes after meeting Archie Trimboli’s cross.
As the half hour approached, Harry Watts looked set for a goal for Cardiff with a lob that drifted wide of the target. Staitham Bowen later cleared a shot off the line.
Cardiff’s Trialist A had a late opportunity to add a third before the break, but Brentford defender T-Jay Parfitt blocked well to keep it 1-0 at the interval.
Shortly after the restart Cardiff won a penalty when Hilaire-Clarke was fouled in the box. Barton converted to make it 2-0.
Sykes hit the woodwork moments later after pouncing on a loose Brentford pass. Five minutes after Cardiff’s second, Nwosu bundled in from close range after recovering a loose ball to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
Cardiff responded with a three-on-one counter shortly after, but Wolfheimer produced a fine save to deny Sykes.
From there Brentford grew into the game. Substitutes Naeem Giscombe and Isaiah Powis made immediate impacts around the hour mark, and Brentford looked the brighter side as the second half progressed.
With ten minutes left, Brentford pressed for an equaliser. Bansoodeb’s corner found Bowen, but his header sailed over the bar. Cardiff threatened to seal it when Ellis Yorke got a sight of goal, but Wolfheimer made a sharp save to his left.
The match ended with Cardiff sealing the win through a Brentford handball in the box; Bowen converted the spot kick to make it 3-1 at full time.
Brentford will now switch focus to the FA Youth Cup tie against Chelsea on Tuesday at Wheatsheaf Park. Tickets are available here.
Cardiff City U18s: Jones, Williams, Cartwright, Parfitt (Reynolds 61), Walsh, Hobson (Phelan 84), Hilaire-Clarke, Watts, Sykes, Tobin (Yorke 75), Barton. Subs not used: Donovan, Prickett.
Brentford U18s: Wolfheimer, Trimboli, Goppy (Giles HT), Bowen, Foster-Jones (Powis 63), Trialist A, Nwosu, Serme, Kasujja (Giscombe 63), Trialist B (Mason 63), Bansoodeb. Subs not used: Agyei.
Booked: Kasujja 45, Foster-Jones 46.
