Brentford B played out a pulsating 2-2 draw at Wheatsheaf Park against Burnley on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League Cup.
Our young Bees scored the first through Iwan Morgan who finished well from just outside the box, whilst our second was a clean strike from Ashley Hay.
Neil MacFarlane’s men headed into this game knowing that a win would all but secure their place in the next round of the competition and we started the game well.
In search for the opener, Burnley were trying ensure we could not find our rhythm and the closest we came in the opening moments of the game was a half chance from Hay.
Following a long spell of no action, we brought the game to life as a quarter of the way into the half, Morgan latched onto a cross and drove a shot past Sam Waller in goal, to give us the lead.
Morgan almost grabbed a brace as he took a snapshot in the box, but the ball was cleared off the line by Bradley Grant.
Against the run of play, the young Clarets levelled the scores through Mikey O’Neill, as the ball dropped to him kindly in the box and he found the finish to give his side their first goal of the game.
The action would end there for the first period but in the second period we were dominant from the start.
In a flurry of chances for our boys, Benjamin Frederick, Hay and Morgan all had shots in the box, one after another, that were blocked by the Burnley defence who were struggling to clear the ball. Lisbie had the final chance in that sequence as he blazed over the bar.
Soon after, Morgan had a shot from just outside the box which was tipped onto the post and then with the follow-up Kyreece Lisbie could only hit the crossbar. We were getting closer.
Frederick was next to go close, as he leapt highest from a corner and powered a header which seemed destined for the bottom corner but Waller saved well to keep the scores level.
As we pushed for a go-ahead goal, Burnley hit us on the counter and striker Lewis Richardson was clean through on goal but Lisbie did well to sprint back and put him under enough pressure so his resulting shot, did not trouble our goalkeeper.
We took a deserved lead and it came through Hay who timed his run well and with only the keeper to beat, he caressed the ball into the bottom corner of the net. A fine finish.
Fifteen minutes from time Burnley levelled the scores through Richardson who jinked his way into the box and found the finish that gave Winterbottom no chance of saving.
Hay had a free header ten minutes from time in the box as he was unmarked but he failed to get the right contact as Waller saved with ease.
The game would end all square as our boys performed admirably but could not secure the win.
Brentford B: Winterbottom, Farr, Adedokun (c), McManus (Zabeli 48), Frederick, Arthur, Hay, Breirley, Morgan (Yogane 88), Owen, Lisbie (Laidlaw 76).
Subs not used: Dickov, Holland
Burnley U21: Waller, Healy-Byrne, Grant, Pye (Parker 90+6), Sassi, Davies, Rieno Socoliche (Torraj 76), Hugill, Richardson, McDermott (Burrell 66), O’Neill (Berry 66).
Subs not used: Moss
MacFarlane rapt with 90-minute performance
Brentford B head coach Neil MacFarlane was full of praise for his squad after they battled out a 2-2 draw with Burnley at Wheatsheaf Park.
Although the young Bees had multiple chances to find a winner, MacFarlane highlighted the overall performance as a positive moving forward in the Premier League Cup.
Goalscorer Hay praises teammates’ efforts in draw
Ashley Hay made it two goals from as many games against Burnley so far this season, the forward finishing off a Benjamin Arthur assist in the second half to help the young Bees to a 2-2 draw.
Hay also scored against Burnley away late last year, the forward enjoying a strong run of form in the Premier League Cup.
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