Jon-Paul Pittman’s young Bees ran out 3-1 winners over our Under 18s in the Professional Development League on Saturday afternoon. 

Brentford Under 18s claimed the points on Saturday afternoon, with the Bees’ trialist setting the tone on 11 minutes, before Luka Bentt and Emeka Peters rounded off a clinical performance. 

Our youngsters started the afternoon on the front-foot, creating a plethora of opportunities in the offensive third, while the backline remained equally stoic.  

Benji McWilliams-Marcano’s wing-play in particular proved fruitful early on, as he tricked his way to the byline, sending in a delivery – escaping the on-rushing Max Beech. 

Bolu Shofowoke looked to open his account on eight minutes; Luca Christoudias won the ball in the middle of the pitch, picking out his path before our front man was denied by a sharp Evan Anderson stop. 

Rylie Fitzpatrick was next to threaten, as the Bees came under siege once more. This time, only the woodwork thwarted our youngsters from breaking the deadlock. 

With Posh prying for the opener, an opportunity cropped up for the Bees’ TRIALIST at the other end, who swept home Emeka Peters’ cross with aplomb. 

Aidan Golden looked to follow suit, proving a handful on the visitors’ set-pieces – but he missed the target twice, sending both headers soaring over the woodwork.  

Our youngsters refused to roll over and created an opening for McWilliams-Marcano in the 38th minutes, whose effort cleared the upright.  

As they were an hour earlier, Jimmy Unwin’s side were quick out of the blocks in the second period, as McWilliams-Marcano broke into the final third at pace. With his delivery knocked free, Noah Freeman looked to take aim, but the Bees’ rearguard was on hand to deny the full-back from finding the target. 

Instead, our young charges were made to rue the missed opportunities when the away side threaded a ball to Domeiro Bobb-Semple, opting to use BENTT in support to his left – who was tasked with a simple finish. 

Beech looked to reduce the arrears at the other end, trying his luck from 25-yards, but his snap-shot failed to threaten the Bees’ gloveman.  

PETERS then took the wind out of our sails on 67 minutes, converting a spot-kick won by Michel Boni – who continued to prove a threat in-behind our backline. 

SHOFOWOKE pulled one back with seven minutes left on the clock, rounding Anderson before picking out an empty net on his return to the fold. 

The pressure was piled on the visitors in the remaining minutes, with McWilliams-Marcano, Shofowoke, Patryk Sykut and Andre Changunda all being denied late efforts in a hectic closure to the game. 

Posh: Bucknor, Claxton (sub Freeman 46min), Joseph, Holley, Aikins (sub Fox 56min), Gilbert, Fitzpatrick (sub Changunda 46min), Christoudias, Shofowoke, Beech (sub Sykut 56min), McWilliams-Marcano. Unused subs: Westcott 

Half-time: Posh Under 18s 0-1 Brentford Under 18s    
Full-time: Posh Under 18s 1-3 Brentford Under 18s