Brentford B were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Huddersfield Town B at the Robert Rowan Performance Centre on Tuesday afternoon.
Nathan Young-Coombes and Ryan Trevitt got the goals in the first half for the young Bees before two late strikes from Town ensured that they headed back north with a draw.
There were four players from Thomas Frank’s first team named in the starting XI as Vitaly Janelt, Frank Onyeka, Zanka and Fin Stevens all built important minutes at Jersey Road as they came up against the West Yorkshire side.
It was a half which the Bees dominated as they limited Huddersfield to very little in front of goal in terms of chances whilst they created a host of opportunities.
Just seven minutes in the B team had their first real sight of goal as the ball was switched wide to Michael Olakigbe before he cut in from the left and saw his curled attempt saved. The ball fell kindly into the path of captain Alex Gilbert but his first time effort with his left foot forced another save from the Town keeper.
Brentford were getting a lot of luck down both flanks as crosses were flashed in but they weren’t quite able to make their chances count with the likes of Young-Coombes and Trevitt stretching but they were unable to convert following some pacy moves from the side.
Around the half hour mark Janelt almost turned provider for Trevitt when the ball was patiently worked across goal before the German sped up play and cleverly chipped into the path of Trevitt, but he was unable to convert as the keeper closed him down and collected. That preceded a chance for the captain, Gilbert, whose powerful drive edged over the bar after winning back possession high.
On 41 minutes Brentford had their breakthrough and it came from a brilliant Fin Stevens cross from the right which found the head of Young-Coombes who nodded home to make it 1-0.
It took just two minutes for Brentford to double their advantage, and this time it came from a Gilbert corner which was headed back into the danger area and Trevitt was on hand to knock home from close range.
Ryan Trevitt has netted three goals in his last two games
The away side then had a header go just over shortly after the break before Stevens threatened once again down the right as he crossed for his opposite defender Val Adedokun but his right foot shot was pushed round the post by the keeper.
Two more chances fell for Olakigbe as he fired two efforts goalwards from the far post before two more saves from the Huddersfield keeper kept them in it. It could have been 3-0 on 75 minutes when substitute Tristan Crama was found unmarked at the far post from a Brentford free-kick. The defender finished expertly with a volley but the referee blew after adjudging there to have been a foul in the build-up.
Nathan Young-Coombes led the line once again for the B team
Despite having the lead and dominating in terms of chances, Huddersfield pulled a goal back when a corner was recycled, and the ball came back into the box for David Adewoju to head home on 80 minutes. Momentum then swung in the favour of the away side as they began to threaten the Brentford goal more and more. One of the Huddersfield substitutes fired over from the edge of the box before they then drew level with a couple of minutes to play. Quick thinking from Tom Iorpenda saw him fire a free-kick from half way, catching Roco Rees out as the ball looped just beyond his grasp and into the net to make it 2-2.
Rees was then called into action in the dying moments when another aerial challenge came Brentford’s way as a Huddersfield midfielder headed towards the top right corner but for an impressive save from Rees.
Brentford B: Angelini (Rees, 45) Stevens, Adedokun, Janelt (Bennett, 62) Oyegoke (Crama, 45), Olakigbe, Trevitt, Young-Coombes, Gilbert, Onyeka (Syla, 62) Zanka
Subs not used: Yogane, Dickov, McManus