A young Brentford XI drew 1-1 with National League South side Slough Town on Friday evening at Arbour Park.

The side, which comprised of B team and Under-18 players, travelled to Berkshire as an opportunity for the majority of the players to get their first taste of pre-season action in a game where an early Brentford goal from a trialist was cancelled out late by the hosts.

The side were led by Neil MacFarlane and the B team staff with the starting XI made up of B team players, as well as some trialists.

Vincent Angelini lined up in goal with a Byron Wilson, Chanse Headman, who spent last season with the Under-18 team, and Kerron Samuels lining up as a back three. Max Dickov and Conor McManus occupied the wing back roles whilst Angel Waruih and a trialist were deeper midfielders.

In front of them was Romeo Beckham, who played his first minutes since making his move from Inter Miami permanent, and Beaux Booth. Another trialist led the line as a number nine who got on the scoresheet.

There were a few chances for the hosts in the opening 20 minutes or so but despite having efforts aimed towards goal, Angelini was only called into action a couple of times to make relatively routine stops.

Tyrese Dyse saw his curled effort from the right stopped by the B team keeper before Jefferson Louis saw his header following a cross into the box well kept out.

The Bees weren’t necessarily creating clearcut chances themselves but the likes of Beckham and Booth in midfield showed positive glimpses as they looked to get Brentford moving forward with some clever play, frequently feeding the wing backs who crossed dangerously.

On 20 minutes one of those crosses did pay off as Dickov’s ball into the box was recycled by McManus, who floated a low ball into the box and the trialist striker slotted home with his right foot to make it 1-0.

The next 10 minutes was perhaps Brentford’s best spell of the opening period as they began to find some rhythm. Another Dickov ball into the box was cleared into the path of Beckham but his first time shot with his right foot edged over.

A free header for Dyse just after the half hour mark could well have seen Town level but Angelini pulled off an even better stop to push the ball away from goal as the sides went in at the break with Brentford ahead.

As is customary in early pre-season, the Bees made a host of changes at the break. Eight players were substituted with Angelini, Beckham and Samuels the only players returning to the field for the second period. On came a host of under-18 players, who were building on minutes they got last week against Portsmouth. They were added to by a number of trialists too for the second period.

Around the hour mark the Bees put a positive passage of play together with Remy Bennison controlling well in midfield before he slotted a clever looking ball into the path of one of the trialist strikers but it just had too much on it as the keeper rushed out to clear.

In similar circumstances it was Ollie Shield’s turn to try and provide an assist and this time the ball was weighted perfectly as the trialist took the ball round the keeper but his shot was well blocked for a corner.

Shield then had a couple of chances in quick succession. The first, a strike from the edge with his left foot which was well blocked before he rose highest in the area to latch onto a cross from the right but he was unable to keep his header on target.

As the end of the match drew nearer Slough’s Scott Davies struck a free-kick from the edge of the box which hit the top of the cross bar and that preceded a late equaliser for the home side. A giveaway of possession in the defensive third from the young side saw Emmanuel Robe given the chance to slot home despite the tight angle as the game finished level.

Slough Town: Nabbad, Davies, Lucey, Chambers-Parillon, Wilson, Sundire, Dyse, Baxter-Alleyne, Louis, Allsopp, Giles

Subs: Stranks, Bilicki, Ogbonna, Harry, Oyinsan, Robe, North

Brentford first half: Angelini, Wilson, Headman, McManus, Dickov, Waruih, Trialist, Booth, Beckham, Trialist, Samuels

Brentford second half: Angelini (Tavaziva, 57), Taylor, Agyei, Bennison, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, King, Trialist Beckham (Shield, 57), Samuels (Trialist, 57)

Attendance: 667