Cardiff City U21s 0 Brentford U21s 3

Brentford Under-21s have extended their stay at the top of the Professional Development League south group table with a 3-0 away win over Cardiff City Under-21s on Tuesday.

A Kyreece Lisbie goal in the first half ensured the young Bees started the game strongly. Second half goals from Beaux Booth and Vonnte Williams made sure that Neil MacFarlane’s side secured all three points.

A new-look starting line-up was fielded at Cardiff International Sports Stadium, with goalkeeper Julian Eyestone, Williams, Conor McManus, Benjamin Fredrick, Booth, Andre Grey and Max Dickov brought into the starting XI.

Despite Brentford missing some experienced squad members, the opening minutes of the game reflected where the two sides sit in the table, both teams starting strongly with clear intent on both sides of the ball.

The young Bees made their intentions known early with their usual strong press. An early Cardiff turnover saw Iwan Morgan receive the ball and fire a shot from outside the box, but it was left of the goal.

The hosts countered soon after as Trey George pounced on a loose Brentford pass, however his shot from outside the box took a deflection and rolled out of play for a corner.

Both sides enjoyed time on the ball, however it was Brentford who enjoyed the momentum as the 20-minute mark passed. A minute later Morgan’s corner was met by Fredrick at the back post, however his header hit the bar. It rebounded to McManus whose shot went across goal, falling to Isaac Holland who fired at goal, the ball kept out by Luke Armstrong in goal for Cardiff.

On 27 minutes the young Bees got reward for effort with another strong defensive effort turning into a goal. Booth pounced on a loose Cardiff pass and drove forward, firing at goal from outside the box. The shot was saved but the rebound fell to Lisbie, who took a touch to his right and shot, the ball taking a small deflection and cannoning into the back of the net.

Cardiff responded strongly and enjoyed a wave of momentum as the first half edged closer to finishing. On 40 minutes they pushed deep into the right side of the box and crossed the ball close to the goal line, Brentford able to clear the danger zone before the hosts earned a chance to pounce.

Coming out of the break it was the hosts who came close to scoring first, Isaac Jefferies’ early shot sailing just over the bar.

Brentford countered quickly and doubled their lead on 51 minutes through Booth. After winning the ball back, Lisbie gave it up to his defender, however quickly recovered to win it back. His ensuing shot was saved, the rebound falling to Booth who fired it home from close range.

Despite being down 2-0, Cardiff showed why they are high in the table, with Jefferies firing at goal again soon after, the ball cannoning into the side of the net.

He was at it again on 57 minutes, however Eyestone was able to keep the shot in front of him and secure the ball despite some attention from Cardiff’s forwards in the air.

Just after the hour mark Morgan came inches away from scoring a superb goal. Holland’s cross from the right was headed away, however sailed across the box to Morgan, who took a touch off his chest and fired at goal off the volley, the ball smashing into the post before being cleared away.

Eyeing their opening goal as they tried to stay in the game, Cardiff continued to put Brentford under pressure when they had the ball on the counterattack. Morgan Wigley met the ball from a cross on 68 minutes, however his header sailed over the bar.

On a counterattack of their own on 76 minutes, MacFarlane’s side found a third goal to put the game to bed. Dickov’s ball down the right side freed up Lisbie who pushed into the box, his ball crossing quickly to the back post where Williams was waiting, firing it into the back of the net for his first of the afternoon, securing the win for Brentford.

Cardiff City U21s: Armstrong, Spiers, Giles, Twose, Lawlor, Cook, Nyakuhwa, Perrett (Gbadehan, 71’), Wigley (Johnson, 88’), George (Barton, 65’), Jefferies

Subs not used: Griffiths

Brentford U21s: Eyestone, Holland, Williams (Avenell, 78’), McManus, Fredrick, Stephenson, Booth (Trialist A, 78’), Grey (Wilcox, 71’), Lisbie (McSorley, 85’), Dickov, Morgan (Shield, 85’)

Squad depth on show in Cardiff win

Brentford Under-21s head coach Neil MacFarlane was rapt with the effort and intensity his side showed through Tuesday's win over Cardiff City.

A number of regulars were missing from the line-up owing to illness and injury, however MacFarlane praised the way the squad stepped up and filled the void to secure three points.