Brentford U18s beat Milton Keynes Dons 3-0 in an impressive performance on Saturday morning at The Laithwaite Community Stadium.

A top first half performance from the young Bees saw the side go into the break with a 3-0 lead. Omaru King, Remy Bennison and Kaya Halil netted in an opening half which saw Brentford excert their dominance. MK Dons posed little threat as the visitors were unable to produce a comeback as the Bees claimed their first three points in the South East Youth Alliance League.

Lydia Bedford made five changes to the side who started the game against AFC Wimbledon last week with Reggie Rose, Chanse Headman, Beaux Booth, Ollie Shield and Halil all brought in from the start to face MK Dons.

The young Bees got off to an excellent start and nearly grabbed an early goal when Halil drove forward with purpose before letting off a powerful strike which was saved well by the MK Dons keeper.

Brentford made it 1-0 on 17 minutes when Emeka Peters showed great determination to close down Charlie Waller, dispossessing the defender before slipping through to King.

King, who found himself in behind the opposition's backline, saw his first attempt on goal saved but the winger was able to slot home the rebound into an empty net.

Just two minutes later Brentford doubled their lead, Peters the provider again, this time playing a quality ball through to Bennison who confidently slipped his shot into the bottom corner from close range.

Bedford’s side were oozing with confidence with the team playing some great football as they saw a lot of the ball following their two goals.

Bennison was a threat on the left flank and the wing-back nearly grabbed his second of the game just after the half hour mark.

The Brentford number three made space for himself inside the MK Dons box before striking the ball towards the far right corner with his effort going just wide.

The only chance of the half for MK Dons came when the ball was worked out wide to Callum Tripp, the midfielder unleashing a powerful strike from the right side of the box with his shot clipping the outside of the post.

The young Bees made it 3-0 five minutes before the break when a cross from King found Chase Headman at the far post, the Brentford centre-back heading the ball across goal to Halil who flicked the ball into the back of the net.

Brentford began the second half playing with the same intensity which saw the side go into the break with a three-goal lead.

The home side were utilising their attacking wing-backs well with King finding himself in space behind the MK Dons defence again.

This time King delivered a great cross to Peters but the forward saw his first time volley saved well by Ronnie Sanford.

Rose was forced into action just after the hour mark when Joshua Adepoju produced some good skill to get away from Mikel Francis, but the forward was denied by Rose who got down well to make a smart save.

Booth thought he had made it 4-0 on 73 minutes when the midfielder’s strike from outside the box looked destined for the bottom corner only for the Bees to be denied by the post.

Brentford displayed maturity in the remaining 15 minutes of the game as the side controlled the ball in order to see out a great win.

Brentford U18: Rose, Taylor (Francis, 17’), Bennison (Djoro, 65’), Samuels, Headman, Shield, Halil, Peters (Payet, 76’), Booth, Grey, King

Subs not used: Asemokhai, Ivanov

Milton Keynes Dons U18: Sanford, Scholtz, Boyce, Sinclair-Linton, Ebondo, Walker, Lewis-Burgess, Tripp, Adepoju, Anker, Medwynter

Subs: Hall, Stacey, Brammeld, Matthews

Lydia Bedford praises her side

Lydia Bedford was pleased with her side following the 3-0 win against MK Dons, the Brentford Under-18 head coach said it was the best performance she has seen this season.

“I think it was an excellent first half performance that kind of put the game to bed early. It’s the best I’ve seen us play in terms of our football,” said Bedford.

“Regardless of the fact that we won the game, I think our ability to play out of pressure moments and to exploit MK Dons in behind was excellent.

“We were clinical for probably the first time this season and fully deserved to be 3-0 up at half-time."

Bedford highlighted the strong display from the young Bees wing-backs, with a number of areas worked on at training evident during the win on Saturday.

She continued: “Our aim was to try and pin their wing-backs in and I think Remy (Bennison) and Omaru (King) set a real high standard on that.”

“I don’t think their wing-backs played on our last line at all in the first-half, where as we were constantly on their last line and making them defend.”

Under-18s sign Evan Anderson

Our Under-18 side have added a new addition to their squad with Scotland youth international, Evan Anderson signing from St.Mirren. The 16-year-old goalkeeper joins on a two-year scholarship and will be eligible to play for the young Bees in their next league fixture against Cambridge United.