Colchester 3 - Brentford 3 (and previous matches)

In a lively game in Essex, Brentford recalled David Hunt and Marcus Bean to their starting eleven but were only able to name six substitutes due to a spate of recent injuries.

However the gallant visitors raced into a 2-0 lead in the first half with David Hunt firing home the first and then turned provider - centering for Leon Legge to plunder home from close range.

Hunty then had radar issues as he put the ball into his own net before Colchester equalised through Wordsworth deep into first half stoppage time.

If Brentford had the better of the first half then it is fair to say that Colchester were the dominant side in the second half - however Charlie Macdonald scored an absolute cracker of a goal from a Diagouraga pass to put Brentford back in front. Well worth trying to catch on TV later tonight.

The Bees were unable to hold on for all three points however as U's midfielder David Prutton fired home with fifteen minutes to go. Colchester then pressed heavily for a winner - forcing numerous late corners - but Brentford held out for a useful point which lifts them to 13th in the table on 44 points.

Bees - Chesney, Kev, Legge, Osborne, Wood, Hunt, Bean, Diagouraga, Weston, Mac (Cort 90), Strevens

Subs - Price, Bennett, Foster, Ainsworth, Saunders

This follows on from a 1-0 away win at Stockport

A Charlie Macdonald strike just after half-time was enough to seal an important three points for Brentford against League One's basement club.

Mac stole in at close range to convert a Myles Weston cross/shot that might have been creeping in anyway.

It was a fairly low quality game on a dreadful pitch but both teams had chances to win - with Szczesny making a vital one-on-one save in the first half. Ben Strevens should have added to the Bees lead late on but failed to convert a gilt-edged chance.

Brentford had been boosted prior to kick off with the news that Leon Legge was fit to partner Karleigh Osborne at centre back - however Ryan Dickson limped off late in the game with what looked like a hamstring injury.

Brentford face a tough test on Tuesday night when they face a Colchester team smarting from defeat against ten man Walsall today.

Other results in the division largely went Brentford's way today as The Bees move seven points clear of the relegation spots into 15th position - with at least two games in hand (Colchester and Oldham away) on all of the bottom four.

Bees - Chesney, Foster, Legge, Osborne, Dickson (Hunt), Wood, Kev, Dave (Bean), Weston, Mac, Strevs.

Unused Bees - Price, Blake, Saunders, Ainsworth, Cort

Bennett sees red as Bees crash at Brighton: Brighton 3 - Brentford 0

Brentford put in a well below-par performance as they lost 3-0 in a fairly awful game on the South Coast tonight.

Brighton scored their first just after the half hour mark when Glenn Murray headed home an Elliot Benyon cross from close range.

It was over 75 minutes before Brentford mustered their first and only shot on target via sub Lionel Ainsworth, although Sam Wood steered a header wide in the first half.

Brighton doubled their advantage in injury time when Adam Virgo headed home from deep in the area.

The drama was not over as half time substitute Alan Bennett - who had already been booked for unsporting behaviour - was sent off for handling the ball in the area. Former Brentford favourite Nicky Forster powered home the resulting penalty to seal a fairly easy win for the home team.

Tonight's performance might prompt Bees manager Andy Scott to plunge back into the loan market with the squad looking lethargic ahead of a fairly heavy run of games.

Bees : Chesney, Foster, Phillips (Bennett - SENT OFF), Legge, Dickson, Wood (Ainsworth), Kev, Diagouraga, Macdonald, Strevens (Cort)

Unused Bees : Price, Bean, Saunders, Hunt

3-3 home draw against MK Dons

Carl Cort scored a late equaliser as Brentford refused to lose to Paul Ince's brood of footballing thugs.

Ince has moulded a team in his own image, minus the occasional touch of class, who snarled and tugged their way through a poorly refereed game.

The dislikeable Wilbraham, who cheated and argued his way through the match, both opened and closed the scoring for MK Dons with keeper Szczesny looking culpable on both occasions.

Sam Wood scored Brentford's first, finally finishing a one-on-one opportunity after a delightful through ball from Dave. In truth Brentford had been poor up until this point in the game.

MK took the lead again shortly after half-time from the penalty spot following a poor Phillips challenge, but were pegged back by Ben Strevens second close range finish in a week.

Brentford had chances to take the league but Dons keeper Gueret - another bleating and unpleasant fellow - denied both Tommy Smith and Charlie Macdonald.

It looked like Brentford, and football, had lost the day until substitute Carl Cort rescued the day deep into stoppage time, silencing Franchise's rent-a-mob supporters.

Bees - Szczesny, Phillips, Legge, Smith, Dickson, Wood, Dave, Kev, Weston, Mac, Strevens (Cort)

Unused Bees - Price, Bean, Foster, Saunders, Hunt, Ainsworth

Thanks to beesotted for their match reports.

March 25, 2010