Brentford Under-18s earned their second win of the new year with a 3-1 victory over Cambridge United on Saturday.

A double from Remy Bennison and one goal from Josh Djoro secured the win at Wheatsheaf Park and three points in the South East Youth Alliance League.

Lydia Bedford made eight changes to the side that lost 4-3 to MK Dons last time out, with Konstantin Ivanov, Gregory Asemokhai, Mikel Francis, Ollie Shield, Adam Poliakov, Josh Djoro, Babu Ombok and Tony Yogane coming into the starting line-up.

The young Bees wasted little time putting the visitors under pressure, Byron Wilson meeting an Ivanov corner in the box one minute into the game, which deflected just right of the goal.

Bedford’s side went one better on four minutes, Djoro meeting a cross in the box, his tap in hitting the post and rolling into the back of the net to hand Brentford a 1-0 lead.

Djoro was in the thick of the action again on 10 minutes, receiving a cross from Yogane and firing a left foot shot that was deflected out of play by Cambridge keeper Jasper Briggs.

The young Bees continued to dominate possession across the opening 25 minutes of play, the visitors managing one look on goal that was well saved by a diving Connor Wolfheimer.

Shield made the most of his 30 minutes in his return to the pitch, the captain nearly hitting the scoreboard after meeting a Yogane cross midway through the half, but his header flew just over the bar.

Despite dominating possession throughout the opening half, Cambridge earned a great chance to equalise when they were awarded a penalty on 36 minutes. George Munday stepped up to take the shot, however it was well saved by Wolfheimer to keep the young Bees’ lead intact.

Hungry for a second goal Brentford continued to press, Yogane firing away a shot as the break approached, the rebound finding Poliakov whose shot went just left of the goal.

Cambridge responded with an improved performance to start the second half, the visitors enjoying a lot of time in Brentford’s half.

The visitors reaped the rewards of their play, Lennon King netting an equaliser on 59 minutes.

Some reinforcements provided energy for the young Bees, Bennison, Matas Klimas and Omaru King helping the home side get back on track.

In his return to the pitch after time on the side lines due to injury, King wasted little time making his presence felt, working his way past multiple defenders before firing a shot that deflected away off multiple defenders.

He was back at it two minutes later, finding Bennison in the box who fired a powerful strike into the back of the net to make it 2-1 with 20 minutes to play.

With a goal separating the two sides it was a tense final half of the second 45 minutes, Cambridge pushing for an equaliser.

The young Bees held off their attacks and countered strongly as full-time approached, Bennison making it a double in 35 minutes of action to hand Bedford’s side a 3-1 win.

Brentford U18: Wolfheimer, Ivanov, Wilson (Klimas, 62’), Asemokhai, Francis, Shield (Annous, 33’), Poliakov, Trialist (Bennison, 56’), Djoro, Ombok (Halil, 74’), Yogane (King, 68’)

Cambridge United U18: Briggs, Elenou (Onus, 45'), Sowden-Fletcher, McCoy, Grace, Ewens-Findlay, Gray, Holmes (King, 45'), Bulakio, Habib, Munday

Subs not used: Murefu, Murefu, Hipwell

Bedford rapt with team display across 90 minutes

Brentford Under-18 head coach Lydia Bedford was full of praise for her side following their 3-1 win on Saturday.

Using all of the subs available to her, Bedford said the depth of the squad was on full display at Wheatsheaf Park.

"I think collaboratively across the game we dominated the ball in possession, we showed some real compsure around trying to stay on it and find ways to play forward," said Bedford.

"Probably should have scored more goals for the amount of the ball that we had, but some really clinical finishes.

"Out of possession, we set the boys a real challenge to be defensively compact in the middle of the pitch and get the ball going wide ... I thought they executed that fantastically."

Shield and King made their comebacks from injury during the win, Shield playing the first 30 minutes and King the last 30.

Both players had a big impact on the result, King tallying an assist in the second half.

"If I start with Ollie, I think first 30 minutes the brightness of our start came from some of that energy from him (and) Tony, really threatening the space in behind," said Bedford.

"(King) was playing so well before he picked up his injury and it's just great to see that all of the work (from) the medics have ... put him in a situation where he can come back on and look as sharp as a player that's been playing regular minutes.

"It's a credit to him and the team around him."