A late goal from Romeo Beckham ensured Brentford B progressed to the semi-finals of the Middlesex Senior Cup with a 3-2 win over Wealdstone at Grosvenor Vale.

Early goals from Tristan Crama and Frank Onyeka put the Bees ahead before the National League side managed to get back level with a goal in each half. A Conor McManus cross then found the head of Beckham at the far post who stooped to nod home.

The notable name in the Brentford starting XI was Frank Onyeka as he stepped up his return from injury against the National League side on a chilly evening of Middlesex Senior Cup action. Fin Stevens was also included in the side as he got more minutes under his belt.

It was a lightning start for the Bees who looked to take the game to their opponents with intensity and energy in the early stages. A couple of crosses a few minutes in had to be dealt with before Brentford went ahead on 10 minutes. Normally one for a forward threat from set pieces, Crama displayed his ability from range as he was found in space on the edge of the area following a sustained period of Bees pressure. The Frenchman then let fly with a powerful low drive past Dante-Astor Baptiste in the Wealdstone goal.

Tristan Crama netted early for the young Bees

The Bees kept up their positive start and created a couple more dangerous opportunities from wide areas on 18 minutes. First Isaac Holland’s first time cross had to be dealt with by the Stones back line before McManus supplied a dangerous ball from the left which found forward Lucias Vine. His powerful shot from close range was then well blocked.

Wealdstone’s first chance came from a free-kick from Lewis Kinsella but his curled effort was just wide of Ben Winterbottom’s goal. That preceded Brentford’s second of the night when intricate play on the edge of the box between Onyeka and Roy Syla saw the former slot in just inside the box. Despite being under pressure the Nigerian international held off the defender before slotting home into the bottom right-hand corner to make it 2-0.

Kyreece Lisbie provided a constant threat throughout the first period and on 38 minutes he could well have been on the scoresheet himself. After intercepting a Wealdstone pass he drove into space and sent a low effort towards the onrushing Onyeka. The Nigerian looked to dummy and step over the ball in a bid to outwit the keeper but credit to the Wealdstone man who cut the effort out as he also followed up by saving from another Vine strike.

On 43 minutes Wealdstone went close again as Giovanni McGregor tried his luck from a free-kick which cannoned back off the cross bar. The home side then got their goal in stoppage time of the first half when Tarrelle Whittaker fired an impressive effort from a long way out which arrowed into the top left corner as Brentford’s lead was halved.

The second period was eight minutes old before the home side managed to level through Olufela Olomola when he managed to work some space before slotting home with his right foot past Winterbottom.

Wealdstone continued to have a more chances with shots from the edge of the box whilst Olomola’s shot from a narrow angle saw Winterbottom claim well.

A shot from Stevens followed soon after but his left footed drive edged just wide of goal from the edge of the box. Lisbie once again threatened after Max Wilcox played a cross field ball out to the left into the path of the winger. He then managed to beat his man on the outside before seeing his shot parried away by the keeper.

The Bees almost took the lead again on 90 minutes when Tony Yogane crossed low for J’Neil Bennett but his first time shot with his left foot flashed over. As it looked like penalties were an inevitability as the matched move into stoppage time there was one more chance for Neil MacFarlane’s group who once again showed fantastic character as young defender McManus crossed to the far post for Beckham to finish well and confirm the win for the side.

Wealdstone: Baptiste, Hearn (Charles, HT) Kinsella, Mundle-Smith, Kretzschmar, Barrett, McGreogor, Ferguson, Olomola, Whittaker (Obiero, 78) Hutchinson (Ilunga, 74)

Subs not used: Barker, Shrowder

Booked: Ilunga

Brentford B: Winterbottom, Stevens, McManus, Waruih (Bennett, 58), Crama, Jones, Holland (Beckham, 75) Onyeka (Wilcox, 58), Vine (Yogane, 75) Lisbie (Wilson, 90+2), Syla

Booked: Lisbie, Wilcox