Fine Start to Season for Brentford

Carlisle United 1 Brentford 3

Brentford marked their return to League One with a comprehensive 3-1 victory away at Carlisle United with 511 Bees fans making the trip to Cumbria.

It was Brentford’s first victory away from home on the opening day since 2002 when the Bees beat Huddersfield 2-0.

Lewis Price, Danny Foster, Sam Saunders, Myles Weston and Carl Cort made their first competitive start for Brentford with Steve Kabba coming off the bench late on.

Both sides came out with a purpose with Cleveland Taylor going close for the home side with a header with two minutes on the clock. Sam Wood then got into a good position but shot wide and Carl Cort’s effort was straight at Pidgeley.

Brentford found themselves in front after 12 minutes. The first Brentford scorer of the new season was Myles Weston when he headed home a Sam Saunders corner at the far post. Following that goal Brentford sat back slightly and looked vulnerable as the impressive Cleveland Taylor caused problems down the right-wing ably assisted by Graham Kavanagh.

Carlisle equalised when a Kavanagh cross hit the out-stretched hand of Saunders and the referee pointed to the spot. Ian Harte made no mistake from the spot powering the ball home.

Spurred on by the equaliser Carlisle pushed forward only to be denied by some excellent blocks from the impressive Danny Foster and Alan Bennett which kept Brentford level going into half time.

Whatever Andy Scott said to his team at half time worked and Brentford took the lead a minute into the second half. A Hunt long throw found Myles Weston and he fired the ball through Pidgeley’s legs to give Brentford a 2-1 lead.

Brentford doubled their lead with a goal that that was gifted to them by some woeful defending. A short Pidgeley free kick led to an interception from Sam Wood who went forward and his shot found a deflection past the hapless Pidgeley into the net.

Carlisle pushed forward to try and get back into the game which exposed them at the back and Weston was put through and, instead of trying to complete his hat-trick, crossed for Saunders but the ball just evaded him.

Saunders found himself through on goal minutes later but Pidgeley was equal to his efforts. Cleveland Taylor tried in vain to pull one back to give the Bees an edgy last few minutes however Brentford saw the game out and took three points with them on the long journey back to West London.

Thanks to Tom Moore and BIAS for the match report

August 11, 2009