Brentford Under-18s enjoyed a 3-2 victory over a strong Japan Under-16s in a friendly on Friday.

Two goals to Ollie Shield and one to Kaya Halil cemented the result for the young Bees at Bedfont Sports Club in an entertaining clash.

Japan wasted little time making their presence felt in the first 45 minutes, with striker Yusei Suenaga’s shot finding the top right corner on three minutes to make it 1-0.

The game evened out after a hot start, Brentford owning possession for the majority of the next 15 minutes without troubling Japan’s defence.

Remy Bennison put the young Bees in a strong position to score as his through ball found Konstantin Ivanov, however the latter’s cross was just long for Emeka Peters in the box.

Shield and Peters made sure to put the ball in the back of the net four minutes later, Shield fighting through two defenders to cross into Peters who scored from close range.

Bennison was proving a headache for Japan’s defence on the left side as he turned his opponent inside out on 25 minutes to create space, however his shot was well saved by Japan’s keeper, Fuga Kanno.

Freddie Taylor was in on the action 30 seconds later, his shot hitting the post before another shot from Bennison was saved by the keeper.

Japan was quick to gain the momentum back after the young Bees’ misses, Gaku Okazaki finding the back of the net on the counter attack to make it 2-1 against the run of play.

The pace of the game continued to be high as Brentford pressed for an equaliser. They found one three minutes later through Halil, who dribbled through multiple Japan defenders and scored his first goal to make it 2-2.

Both sides continued to attack as the break approached, Brentford keeper Connor Wolfheimer forced to dive on the ball to save a certain goal as Suenaga broke free out the back of the young Bees’ defence.

Brentford earned a free kick just shy of the 40-minute mark through a Japan handball, however Halil’s free kick from outside the box was well saved.

Just as Japan started strongly in the first half, Brentford jumped out of the gates to start the second 45 minutes, Shield pouncing on a defensive mistake by Japan to regain possession, however his shot went wide right.

Japan substitute Toya Watanabe returned serve two minutes later and nearly gave the visitors the lead, but his strike smashed into the bar.

Both sides continued to press looking for a third goal, the young Bees enjoying most of the attacking.

Yaw Agyei had an immediate impact when he was subbed on, working his way through the middle of the pitch before finding Bennison on the left side, whose cross was well cleared by Japan’s defence.

Brentford only had to wait a few more minutes before they took the lead, Taylor crossing the ball into Shield from the right side who finished well to make it 3-2.

Halil nearly secured the win for Brentford on 70 minutes after winning the ball back inside the box, however his left foot strike was well saved by Kanno.

The visitors continued to look for an equaliser but couldn’t find a way past Wolfheimer in the final minutes, Brentford securing a 3-2 victory.

The young Bees will now enjoy a weekend off before readying themselves to face Luton Town at home in South East Youth Alliance League action on 28 October.

Brentford U18: Wolfheimer, Taylor, trialist (Francis, 60’), trialist (Payet, 60’), Samuels (Asemokhai, 40’), Ivanov, Halil, Djoro (Agyei, 49’), Bennison, Peters (trialist, 49’), Shield

Subs not used: Anderson

Japan U16: Otake (Okumura, 40’), Ono (Tamura, 40’), Okazaki, Odike (Nakazawa, 40’), Kanno, Kikuchi, Kobayashi, Suenaga (Watanabe, 40’), Hikida, Matsushita, Miyamoto

Subs not used: Arai, Kurabe, Saito, Fueda

Bedford praises first half response

After a slow start to the game, Brentford Under-18 coach Lydia Bedford was pleased with how her side responded to take the win.

"I thought after that (first goal) we settled in quite nicely and as the game went on I thought we had a much greater control over possession, which allowed us to practice some of the things we'd asked them to be focusing on," said Bedford.

"I was pleased with how the boys grew into the game, nice to get the win, but maybe need to look back on the start and why we conceded so early."

Considering there was no league game for the young Bees this weekend, Bedford said the fixture against Japan Under-16s provided a different experience for the players.

"I think it's a great opportunity for them, obviously they're a little bit younger than us so that poses a different problem, I suppose," said Bedford.

"I think for our boys a difference in fixture opportunities and exposure, the more we can give them different experiences, the better."