Two second-half goals within a minute of each other from Aaron Pressley and Edon Pruti saw Brentford B leave the Weston Homes Stadium with a win over Peterborough United Under-21s in the Premier League Cup.

The Bees were faced with numerous changes to their side with several players involved with the First Team back in London.

This didn’t seem to cause Neil MacFarlane’s team any discomfort in the opening stages though and they came agonisingly close to taking the lead just a minute in. The visitors pressed Peterborough into their own box with Isaac Holland dispossessing Aaron Powell, Max Dickov got onto the loose ball and slipped through debutant J’Neil Bennett. The number 10 delivered a flash cross into the box which was inches away from finding Michael Olakigbe at the far post.

The away team’s high press seemed to be causing the hosts problems, centre back Emmanuel Fernandez gave away the ball inside his box with Pressley lurking. Fortunately for Peterborough’s number six, Pressley wasn’t able to generate enough power on his first-time effort, leaving William Lakin with a comfortable save in the end.

Pressley, who was captaining the side on the day, had another effort saved on 20 minutes. The number nine showed great skill to skip around Mackenzie Lamb, but his left-footed strike from just inside the box was straight at the Posh keeper.

Despite the early pressure from the Bees, the home side grew into the game and came inches away from opening the scoring just before the half-hour mark.

Joseph Taylor ran onto a through ball from Johnson Gyamfi and skipped around Brentford’s Trialist goalkeeper leaving the striker with an open goal. The number nine’s touch may have pushed him too wide, though, as he attempted to pass the ball into the net from a tight angle but was denied by the outside of the post.

On 41 minutes Posh had another good chance to put themselves in front when Roddy McGlinchey played through Gyamfi. The number seven chipped the ball over Brentford’s keeper but saw his effort go just wide of the post.

Brentford were denied a potential penalty moments before the break when Kyreece Lisbie was brought down by Powell, but the referee didn’t feel there was enough contact to point to the spot.

Both sides began the second half in a steadier manner than the first, but despite a draw being enough to see the Bees progress to the knockout rounds of the Premier League Cup, they still looked determined to gain all three points.

On 55 minutes Bennett displayed his pace as he flew past Powell on the right flank and put a deadly cross into the box, but the ball had too much pace on it as it flashed past Pressley.

Just two minutes later the number nine deservedly broke the deadlock for Brentford, an excellent pass from Angel Waruih found Pressley who confidently slotted home into the bottom left corner from 10-yards out.

On 59 minutes MacFarlane’s side got their second, a perfectly placed corner kick from Val Adedokun found Pruti, who showed composure to head the ball into the bottom corner grabbing his first goal of the season.

The Bees seemed to gain control of the game limiting Peterborough’s chances on their goal, the visitors nearly made it three on 76 minutes through new signing, Bennett.

Holland did well to find his teammate from the right wing with a cutback pass, but Bennett put too much on his shot as it flew over the bar.

Although Brentford nullified Posh for the majority of the second half, Kai Corbett nearly pulled one back for his side on 87 minutes, but his right-footed shot was well saved by Brentford’s keeper who had a good day between the sticks.

The Bees saw out the rest of the game in comfortable fashion as they ensured their victory after a top performance as they proceed to the knockout stages of the Premier League Cup.

Brentford B: Trialist, Adedokun, Wilson, Pruti, Olakigbe (45’ Yogane), Waruih, Pressley (90’ Vine), Bennett (84’ Wilcox), Holland, Lisbie, Dickov

Subs not used: Trialist, Jones

Booked: Wilson

Peterborough United Under-21: Lakin, Tomlinson, Powell, McGlinchey, Lamb (60’ Fox), Fernandez, Gyamfi (51’ Marshall), Hickinson, Taylor, Harris, Corbett

Subs not used: Bodnar, Laycock, Titchmarsh

Booked: Corbett