U21 Professional Development League 2 (South)
Team: Lumley, Shodipo (Wise), Kakay, Jones, Haran, Mitchell, Mulraney, Diakite (Sutherland), Best, Manning, Prohouly (Crichlow)
Sub Not Used: Hudnott
On a very overcast afternoon at Harlington, the hope was that the windy conditions would help keep the rain at bay.
As we took up our positions on pitch ‘number three’, with no team sheet available, we scanned the QPR players on view. We didn’t doubt Keith when he assured us that Leon Best was wearing the No.9 shirt, and indeed he was. I later ascertained that Sam Jones was also in the R’s starting line-up.
Following a good passage of play, Brentford took the lead after five minutes with the Bees player slotting home with relative ease. Within ten minutes the visitors were 2-0 up when Montell Moore was able set himself up and pick his spot at the far post from 12 yards.
Soon after, Jake Mulraney was tripped in the box, but the chance for Rangers to get back into the game was blown when Samba Diakite’s spot kick was easily saved by the Bees custodian.
Brentford really should have gone 3-0 up when the Bees player got into a one-on-one situation but his weak shot was directed straight at Joe Lumley from close range.
The visitors continued to squander chances after the interval and Joe Lumley was able to save one effort with his feet at the near post. The rain increased and this prompted Keith, Clive, Roger and myself to head for the relative sanctuary of the trees.
Joe Lumley made some decent saves but the Bees should have notched up further goals. After 62 minutes with Chris Ramsey looking on, Paul Hall made three changes with Wise, Crichlow and Sutherland replacing Shodipo, Diakite and Prohouly respectively.
Brentford scored a third as a 25-yard shot evaded a diving Joe Lumley’s grasp. As for the R’s, their first shot on target in earnest wasn’t until 10 minutes or so from the end!
Straight after Frankie Sutherland had troubled the Bees keeper, the visitors hit the post with a chipped strike and Lumley was then forced down to make a good save which he did well to hold.
Late on, Rangers looked like scoring a consolation goal but a superb challenge in the Brentford defence thwarted the chance.
Steve Russell
Leon Best, the most inappropriately named footballer ever. Unlike his namesake George. He was involved in the open trying day yesterday as well.