Brentford Under-18s took home a second South East Youth Alliance League draw in as many games, their clash with Gillingham Under-18s finishing 3-3.

An own goal and a goal each by Ollie Shield and a trialist secured a point at Uxbridge Football Club for the young Bees.

Lydia Bedford made eight changes to her side that lost to Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday night in the FA Youth Cup, keeper Reggie Rose, Freddie Taylor, Konstantin Ivanov, Chanse Headman, Trae Payet, Josh Djoro, Emeka Peters and Yaw Agyei all coming into the starting line-up.

Brentford wasted little time getting on the attack, Josh Djoro’s powerful strike from the edge of the box well saved by Gillingham keeper Tobey Smith diving to his right. Payet’s ensuing corner was right on the money, finding Headman in the box whose header flew just over the bar.

Just two minutes later Taylor found himself free to walk into a loose ball, firing it into the bar before it was cleared away.

The young Bees continued to dominate possession and their pressure in Gillingham’s half made sure the ball stayed there for much of the opening 15 minutes. Headman again found himself open in the box for a header on 14 minutes, his ball flying across the face of goal to Ivanov, whose ensuing header found Peters who was unable to convert.

Peters continued to put himself in good positions in the box, the quick winger firing a header away from a Headman cross minutes later but it was well saved by Smith.

Despite Brentford’s dominance, it was the visitors who scored first, Taylor giving away a penalty on 20 minutes, Josh Bayliss then able to find the back of the net to make it 1-0.

They went one better 10 minutes later, Jimmy Heasmann's neat ball finding Kieran Agbebi in the box who put it in the back of the net to make it 2-0.

Following Brentford’s early dominance, the visitors enjoyed their own period of momentum across the second half of the first 45 minutes, Will De-wilde firing a shot away on 39 minutes that hit the right post before it was cleared.

It didn’t deter the young Bees, who continued to press as the break approached. Shield nearly found a goal on 45 minutes, his initial shot deflecting back to him, his follow up strike well saved by Smith.

He went one better less than a minute later, fighting past a defender and putting a powerful left foot strike into the top left corner to make it 2-1.

Beaux Booth and a trialist made their way on to the pitch to start the second half, their fresh legs proving valuable as Brentford started the second half strongly looking for an equaliser.

They got just that on 68 minutes after plenty of back-and-forth play, Shield’s corner deflecting off multiple Gillingham defenders and falling into the back of the net to make it 2-2.

Brentford took that goal and turned it into a stretch of momentum across the middle minutes of the second half, dominating possession as they continued to look for a winner.

The young Bees thought they had done just that on 83 minutes, Shield’s cross finding a trialist at the back post who put the ball into the back of the net to make it 3-2. The lead was short lived, however, Booth giving away a penalty on 86 minutes, Bayliss converting to make it 3-3.

Both sides continued to press for a winner as time wound down, however both had to settle for a point each after an entertaining display.

Brentford U18: Rose, Taylor (Trialist, 45’), Ivanov, Samuels, Headman, Shield, Poliakov, Payet (Booth, 45’), Peters (Francis, 81'), Djoro (Trialist, 68'), Agyei (Asemokhai, 90+2)

Bedford highlights young Bees' first half performance

Brentford Under-18 coach Lydia Bedford labelled her side's opening 20 minutes as the best football they have played so far this season.

Although they didn't get the reward for their efforts until later in the game in terms of goals, the method of play was impressive by the young Bees early on.

"It was actually probably the best football we've played all season ... I thought the first 20 minutes we literally camped in their half, had loads of the ball, created five really good chances, hit the cross bar, had numerous shots blocked off the line," said Bedford.

"We created a mountain to climb. I was really pleased with the boys' reaction in the end parts of the first half and I think coming in with a goal makes a big difference to the second half."

Last time these two sides faced off, Gillingham managed to get a 2-0 lead and went on to win 8-2.

Bedford said the group's resilience this time around proves how far they have come since that first clash.

"The difference between then and now is that when the boys were 2-0 down today, they knew that they could get themselves back in the game. It probably just shows, from a character perspective, where the group's at," said Bedford.

"This time, when they went 2-0 down they continued to believe in what we're trying to do. I think it's just probably a mark of the investment and the time we've had together that means they're a bit more resilient to those moments."