Anthony Hayes's Under-17s survived a late onslaught from the Lusaka Academy to secure a winning start to their 2014 Dale Farm Milk Cup campaign.

Goals from Tom Field, Bradley Clayton and Courtney Austin put Brentford 3-1 ahead after 40 minutes against a physical, tough tackling Lusaka side.

However the African side grabbed one back from the spot with seven minutes to go and they piled men forward in the closing stages looking for the equaliser.

The Bees defence held firm to ensure that they finish Day One amongst the early pacesetters in the Premier Section of the Milk Cup.

Six members of the victorious 2012 Junior Section team started for Brentford in front of a small crowd in the village of Clough.

The Zambians were making their debut at this competition and were keen to make an impression early on.

Jordan Carey saved a free-kick from Abel Kangwa but the Zambians took the lead after six minutes when Bellington Mwiza Vwalika reached a long ball before Carey and managed to poke home from 15 yards.

That goal seemed to stun The Bees into life and they equalised less than a minute later as Field arrived unmarked to head home Seika Jatta's perfect cross from eight yards.

The game was being played at a frantic pace with Lusaka pressing high up the pitch and forcing Brentford into playing longer.

Twiza Siwakwi Chaibela shot straight at Carey from 25 yards and Kaliza Nthere nearly turned Jeremiah Kamanzi's centre into his own net as the sides exchanged chances.

Courtney Senior saw an effort cleared off the line before Reece Cole and Jatta both shot straight at Timothy Phiri in the home goal as The Bees began to take control.

Phiri had looked uncertain under the high ball in the early stages and so that proved for Brentford's second as he spilled a high hanging cross from Jatta and Clayton pounced to turn home.

Lusaka were then denied an instant leveller as Sichone Phiri's shot was briliiantly hooked off the line by Kamanzi after he had beaten Carey to a ball well outside his box.

The African side were certainly not afraid of a strong challenge and George Nsofwa had already gone into the book before Netson Ndashe was lucky to only see yellow for a wild tackle on Clayton.

Brentford appeared to have the game wrapped up six minutes into the second-half as Austin nipped ahead of Phiri and chested home from 15 yards after a fine searching ball from Courtney Senior.

Senior then headed straight at Phiri from eight yards after good work by Clayton and Cole's free-kick was straight at the Zambian keeper.

As the game entered the final stages frustrations seemed to come to the boil for the visitors and captain Paul Katema was lucky that none of the officials saw his kick to the head of Bees substitute Danny Parish.

The Zambians had another reason to be thankful to the officials with seven minutes remaining as Anthony Mubanga Vwalika went to ground in the box under little pressure from Field and the subsequent penalty was coolly dispatched by Soloman Salaka.

That set up a nervy ending with The Bees knowing that an equaliser could be fatal to their chances of making the Cup finals.

Lusaka threw everything forward but were repelled by The Bees backline.

With every minute that passed their desperation grew and it was no surprise when tempers flared after a wild lunge on Herson Rodrigues Alves, the outcome being a booking for Katema.

Brentford held on and nearly made it four in the dying seconds but Cole's free-kick was punched to safety by Phiri before the referee drew time on the action to confirm a winning start for The Bees.

: Jordan Carey; Jeremiah Kamanzi, Audrius Laucys, Seth Owens, Tom Field; Seika Jatta (sub George Harmes 60 mins), Reece Cole, James Ferry (Robert Mensah 39 mins), Courtney Senior (sub Dylan Hamilton-Burke 53 mins); Bradley Clayton (sub Danny Parish 53 minw), Courtney Austin (sub Herson Rodrigues Alves 46 mins)

: Seth Owens 51 mins

: Tom Field 7; Bradley Clayton 25; Courtney Austin 41