B Team/U23 Friendly at Jersey Road
Team: Dieng, Springer-Downes, Manning, Akinola (Eales), Arthur, Fox, trialist (Paul), trialist (Alfa), Derbyshire, Bowler, Prohouly
Sub Not Used: Herdman
Tim Seny Dieng made a very good save with his legs in the early stages of the game. However, the home side took the lead after 13 minutes following a corner. The ball was played short resulting in Manny Onariase’s powerful finish from Zain Westbrooke’s cross.
A ball was lofted out to the right flank which led to the Bees player cutting in, squaring the ball, but an outstanding defender’s block denied the home side from going further ahead.
Rangers then went close after Axel Prohouly had sprinted upfield through the middle, and his effort may well have just clipped the crossbar.
The Bees doubled their lead around five minutes before half-time when a ball from Lukas Talbro on the right-wing, was knocked in by Herson Alves.
Brentford scored their third a minute or so later when a through ball from midfield set-up Justin Shaibu. Facing Tim Seny Dieng one-on-one and looking offside to the R’s contingent, he proceeded to place the ball in the bottom corner.
The 3-0 half-time score-line certainly flattered the home side and there had also been a question mark surrounding the Bees second goal and I have to say that the referee was poor. Ernie Moore’s decisions often contradicted those of his linesmen!
Brentford really should have added a fourth after the break when a shot missed the target when it seemed easier to score. Then another ball from the right flank was met with a shot that came off an R’s defender who was standing in front of Tim Seny Dieng, and went out for a corner.
After 56 minutes the two trialists, who hadn’t really made much of an impression, were taken off and replaced by Christopher Paul and Ody Alfa respectively.
Brentford continued to create a number of goalscoring chances and a strong, free header from a corner only just evaded the crossbar.
Around the hour mark, the referee and a number of players from both sides congregated in a huddle, seemingly in response to an earlier off the ball incident?
This led to a Bees player pointing out to Romeo Akinola that he had been instructed to go off, which he did, and Jake Eales came on to replace him.
The R’s custodian made a good save with his legs and the follow-up shot was blazed over the bar.
The home side were certainly dominating the second-half and a rare goalscoring chance for the R’s saw Jeremy Arthur head wide.
Ryan Manning was clearly wasted at left-back. He had been tried in this position before and he didn’t look at all comfortable. It was obvious to me that he should have been switched to central-midfield!
Lukas Talbro put a ball in from the right, which was dummied and it then let in Zain Westbooke whose shot came off the left-hand post.
Rangers were denied a blatant penalty after the ball ricocheted off the Bees keeper, who then clearly tugged the R’s player, but Mr Moore wasn’t interested and just signalled a corner! Ellery Balcombe then made a very good finger-tip save from Jeremy Arthur’s looping header.
Mr Moore briefly held up the game in order to speak to a Bees player after he had complained following a foul on Ryan Manning. He abruptly told him to learn the rules of the game!
The QPR goalkeeper made another very good stop with his legs following a corner.
Good inter-play and run by Ryan Manning in the Brentford half, resulted in the ball going out for a corner.
A dangerous ball across the Rangers box found Herson Alves whose powerful shot hit Tim Seny Dieng, who then went down to his right and he somehow managed to clutch the ball on the line.
The Rangers keeper also did well to stop a close-range angled shot and then recover. Mr Moore then blew his whistle to end the game.
The travelling R’s contingent also included Keith, Roger Stokes, Moreno and Ray Marno.
Steve Russell