Central defender Chris Smith (pictured) netted a second-half equaliser as Town’s U21s drew 1-1 with Brentford at a windy Griffin Park this afternoon. Bradley Clayton had put the Bees ahead in a first half in which the home side were on top but the Blues - with no senior players involved - improved after the break and the draw was a fair result.
Blues keeper Jacob Marsden, continuing his comeback had more than a year out with a knee injury, made an early save from Jan Holldack’s strike from the edge of the box after he was found by Bradley Clayton.
Danish U18 international Victor Guldbrandsen, who returned to action recently having suffered a knee problem in pre-season, struck Town’s first effort in the 11th minute but shot over.
Three minutes later, a cross from Kyle Hammond from the right reached Conor McKendry but his shot was also too high.
Chances were rare at both ends until the 34th minute when Clayton put the home side in front.
Jermaine Udamaga rode a number of tackles as he took the ball down the middle and into the area before laying off to his right to Reece Cole and Clayton turned his pass into the net from close range.
McKendry shot wide from distance for the Blues a minute later then on 44, after Sam Ford had caught a defender in possession on the right, the Northern Irish U17 international headed an Adam McDonnell cross off the post but having strayed offside, according to the linesman.
At the break, James Blanchfield replaced Guldbrandsen, who had suffered a knock in the first half.
The home side went close shortly after the restart, Herson Rodrigues Alves scraping a cross from the left wide from eight yards, then on 50 McDonnell saw a strike deflect wide.
On 55 Marsden came off his line quickly to claim ahead of Udamaga, then moments later Gradi Milenge was booked for a foul on McKendry. Just before the hour mark, Cole hit a 25-yard freekick which gave Marsden little trouble.
Town gradually began to get more and more into the game and in the 68th minute they deservedly got back on terms.
A McDonnell freekick from deep on the left reached Hammond on the right of the area and he fed central defender Chris Smith, who smashed a low shot through a crowd of players and into the opposite corner of the net.
As the game moved into its final 15 minutes Rodrigues Alves bundled a Holldack cross from the left through to Marsden when he will feel he ought to have done better.
But it was the Blues who were looking the more threatening side and on 77 Bees defender Tom Field did well to slide in and dispossess Shane McLoughlin after he had been threaded through on goal. In the 83rd minute Blanchfield was booked for a foul.
Town ended the game looking the more dangerous side - Hammond forced a save from Bees keeper Jack Bonham and Myles Kenlock's follow-up was blocked - but without creating the opening which would have led to a winning goal.
Brentford were very much on top in the first half but the young Blues grew into the game and deserved their equaliser when it came through second-year scholar Smith, one of Town’s standout performers both for his very well taken goal and for his defensive performance.
Brentford U21s: Bonham, Milenge (Birse 77), Field, Cole, Onariase, Mepham, Marsh-Brown, Holldack, Clayton, Udumaga (Westbrooke 62), Rodrigues Alves (Senior 77). Unused: Tzanev.
Town U21s: Marsden, Emmanuel, C Smith, Robinson, Kenlock, Hammond, Guldbrandsen (Blanchfield 46), McDonnell, McKendry (Meldrum 90), Ford (Ramadan 81), McLoughlin. Unused: Wright, Salaudeen.