Colchester U18s 2 Brentford U18s 3: Bees edge five-goal PDL thriller as Bansoodeb, Bobb-Semple and Ogungbemi strike
Colchester U18s 2 Brentford U18s 3: Bees edge five-goal PDL thriller as Bansoodeb, Bobb-Semple and Ogungbemi strike Brentford Under-18s claimed a 3-2 Professional Development League win over Colchester United Under-18s at Florence Park, holding on to the win despite the home side's late goals. The Bees produced a dominant second-half performance to begin with as they raced into a 3-0 lead through a Jai Bansoodeb volley, a Domeiro Bobb-Semple penalty and a Nathaniel Ogungbemi header, before conceding twice late on to set up a tense finish. It was a strong opening from Brentford, with the windy conditions doing little to disrupt the away side’s positive approach.
Colchester created the first chance of the match, though, as Layton Nicholls produced a sharp save to keep out Leo Makatta. Jai Nwosu came close to putting his team ahead when Nicholls’ long ball picked him out, but his attempted lob drifted just inches wide. On 26 minutes, Nwosu was in the mix again as he took on a volley from just inside the area which smashed against the post.
Brentford raised the tempo after the break, and that pressure told when Beau Redknapp delivered an excellent pass to Bansoodeb, who fired a superb left-footed volley into the bottom corner. On 56 minutes, the west Londoners doubled their lead as Bobb-Semple's trickery won his side a penalty after a foul just inside the area. The winger stepped up to take it and converted confidently.
The visitors remained in complete control and added a third goal when Yerime Ouattara’s cross was met by Ogungbemi, who powered a header into the net. Nwosu believed he had earned a goal for his efforts after heading home from a corner, but the referee ruled it out for a foul on his marker. The young U's managed to pull a goal back in the game through Donte Frank who powered through on goal before finding the finish.
On 80 minutes, the home side set up a tense finish for the game as second-half substitute Noah Kalema pounced on a loose pass to put his side within one goal of the away side. Gary McDermott's side managed to see out the game to secure the three points. Today's win is the Bees' 11th this season as they rise above Bournemouth to fourth in the table, albeit having played two more games than the young Cherries.