Brentford’s Development Squad let a 2-0 half time lead slip as they were beaten by Millwall in their latest Under-21 Professional Development League Two South match.
The Bees appeared to have complete control at the break following two Tyrell Miller-Rodney goals in a first half they had the better of, albeit they were not completely dominant.
But Millwall, playing at their Training Ground, in Bromley, had levelled within ten minutes of the re-start.
With first team boss Ian Holloway barking orders from the touchline, Millwall were markedly improved after the break.
And they won the game late on to leave Brentford with nothing to show for their efforts.
The Bees started the match slowly and Jack Bonham had to make an early save from Aiden O’Brien.
The home side went even closer soon after when James Philpot headed a Justin Hoyte cross against the crossbar and then watched as it bounced down on top of the frame of the goal.
In a lively opening, Montell Moore had a shot blocked and Kieran Morris missed the target with a volley from close range for The Bees.
Once the game settled in to a pattern, Brentford had the upper hand.
Making advantage of the extra man in midfield, they were able to dominate possession.
And Josh Clarke, on the right wing, was again able to torment the left back tasked with shackling him.
Clarke held a wide position and was able to isolate himself on Dexter Peter regularly and beat him enough to give Brentford cause for optimism.
One cross from the right was met by Kojo Awotwi but Stephen Bywater turned away his low effort.
Louis Hutton released Awotwi again moments later and his cut back was fired wide by Moore.
Brentford got their noses in front just before the half hour and it was no surprise that Clarke supplied the goal.
He got to the by-line and cut the ball back to Miller-Rodney, who arrived from midfield and fired low in to the bottom corner.
The Bees doubled their lead eight minutes later when, after a period of interplay, Miller-Rodney let fly from 30 yards and Bywater was unable to prevent the shot going in to the bottom corner.
Millwall tried to respond – O’Brien shot wide and Bonham saved at the feet of Philpot – but Brentford had control.
They almost got a third before the break when, after Hutton had released him, Awotwi set up Scott Barron to shoot inches past the far post.
Hutton also had a shot blocked before the break but a pair of injuries to Morris and Miller-Rodney either side of half time changed matters.
Both were unable to continue and Youth Team players Lionel Stone and Fabian Rowe had to be thrown in to the game.
Miller-Rodney was receiving treatment, and Brentford were down to ten, when Millwall got their first goal seven minutes after the break.
Josh Siafa, pushed forward in the second half, crossed from the right and when Brentford only got it half away Kyron Farrell fired home from 22 yards.
The goal would have been especially frustrating for Brentford as the strike came from the sort of position that Miller-Rodney had been occupying when defending.
The home side got their equaliser within two minutes.
Kris Twardek, the left winger, popped up on the right and skipped free, his cross was inch prefect for O’Brien and he headed in from close range.
After that double blow Brentford regained a measure of control.
But they were up against a different Millwall outfit.
They pressed higher and worked harder, making it harder for Brentford to play the ball forward and through midfield in the way they did in the first half.
Moore was unable to turn in an Awotwi cross and Twardek sliced wide when well-placed before a lofted Rowe effort was saved.
Clarke had a shot blocked for Brentford and the winger then shot wide after being set up by Emmanuel Oyeleke.
Awotwi had a shot blocked while Philpot shot wide for the hosts after being played through by Farrell.
Farrell then shot wide for the home side before the winner came ten minutes from the end.
When a free kick was half cleared, Twardek put it back in with an overhead pass; O’Brien was unmarked in the middle and put the ball in while Brentford appealed in vain for offside.
Siafa shot over for Millwall as they looked for a fourth to make the game safe and Brentford pressed hard at the other end for a leveller.
They were, however, unable to create a good chance and Millwall took the points.
Millwall Development Squad: Stephen Bywater; Josh Siafa, Side Nelson, Keaton Wood, Dexter Peter; Justin Hoyte, Jack Smith, Kyron Farrell, Kris Twardek; Jamie Philpot, Aiden O’Brien
Subs (not used): Chris Parr, Denzell Gerrar, Zak Byron, Mikael Bongili
Brentford Development Squad: Jack Bonham; Joe Maloney, Raphaël Calvet, Kieran Morris (sub Lionel Stone 45 mins), Scott Barron; Tyrell Miller-Rodney (sub Fabian Rowe 54 mins), Louis Hutton, Emmanuel Oyeleke; Josh Clarke, Montell Moore (sub Josh Stockwell 76 mins), Kojo Awotwi
Subs (not used): Melvin Minter
By Chris Wickham