Brentford B put six past Tottenham Hotspur U21 in commanding Robert Rowan Invitational win
Brentford B looked impressive at the Gtech Community Stadium tonight (Monday, 19 May) with a resounding 6-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur U21 in the third annual Robert Rowan Invitational.
Goals were spread across the team, with Andre Gray, Chanse Headman, and Aaron Hickey getting on the scoresheet, alongside U18 substitutes Emeka Peters and Michel Boni — the latter earning himself a brace.
The young Bees fielded a strong side featuring first-team names such as Aaron Hickey, Yunus Emre Konak, Gustavo Nunes, and Michael Olakigbe and wasted no time in asserting dominance against a shaky Spurs defence.
First Half
It took just seven minutes for Brentford to open the scoring. Grey pressed high and forced a mistake from Tottenham's centre-half, finishing calmly into the bottom corner to make it 1-0.
Moments later, Olakigbe squandered a three-on-one opportunity, but the hosts continued to press relentlessly.
By the 30th minute, the Bees had doubled their lead when Headman rose highest to head home a superb delivery from Nunes, who was influential throughout the first half.
Tottenham had chances of their own, with Tyrese Hall and Yusuf Akhamrich both going close, but it was Brentford who remained clinical on the break.
A flowing counter-attack saw Olakigbe tee up Aaron Hickey, who slotted home to send the Bees into half-time with a commanding 3-0 lead.
Second Half
Tottenham responded early in the second half through Ellis Lehane, who curled his effort from the edge of the box just after the restart.
The visitors enjoyed a short spell of pressure, forcing a string of corners and efforts from Hall and Oliver Irow, but Matthew Cox stood firm in the Brentford goal.
Substitute Peters restored the Bees' three-goal cushion in the 78th minute, racing onto a perfectly timed pass from Shield to make it 4-1. From there, Brentford ran riot.
Michel Boni, who came on for Hickey, added a fifth with a close-range finish from Freddie Taylor's assist, before grabbing his second of the evening just minutes later after a neat move involving Peters.
Full-Time
The 6-1 final scoreline was a testament to Brentford B's dominant performance and sharp attacking play, particularly from their substitutes who made a real impact in the latter stages.
Following his side's victory Brentford B Head Coach, Neil MacFarlane, said: "Firstly an amazing night for the players, an amazing night for the club and more importantly like we said at the start of the night, as we have done at the previous two games here for the Rob Rowan Invitational to make Rob and his family proud and to see Suzanne (Rowan) hand over the trophy to the lads is another terrific night."
He added: "We've had an unbelievable season. It just keeps going and going right to the end and these players were terrific."
Reacting to getting involved in two of the goals tonight off the bench, Brentford U18s player Emeka Peters, commented: "It's an amazing feeling, the occasion today for Robert Rowan, who is a monumental person for the club, and just come out here...and make an impact like that it's just beautiful to see and in front of the fans who were excellent today."
The forward continued: "The club has a philosophy in which all age groups work in the same direction so coming in, the first team players put their arm around you.
"Michael, who's just come back from loan, is a big role model for me who plays in the same position and just having players like that in the changing room giving you confidence and telling you to go out and express yourself, just gives you confidence."
The win serves as a fitting tribute to the memory of Robert Rowan, the club's late technical director, and sets up MacFarlane's side nicely for their Professional Development League final against Bournemouth this Wednesday, 21 May at 7pm in the Vitality Stadium.
With spirits high and goals flowing, Brentford B will be eager to end their season on a silverware-winning note.
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