Sheffield United U18s 6 Brentford U18s 1 | OneFootball

Brentford Under-18s were knocked out of the Professional Development League Cup by Sheffield United Under-18s on Tuesday following a 6-1 loss.

Following a gritty first half in windy conditions at Sheffield United Football Academy the sides went into the break even at 0-0. The hosts opened the scoring on 62 minutes, however, and carried that momentum through to reach a semi-final, despite Emeka Peters' second half goal for the young Bees.

Jon-Paul Pittman made five changes to the side that lost in the league to Ipswich Town Under-18s at the weekend, with goalkeeper Connor Wolfheimer, Freddie Taylor, Trae Payet, Luka Bentt and Emeka Peters added to the starting line-up.

The game started scrappy, neither side able to dominate possession as the wet and windy conditions made life difficult for the players.

On 22 minutes the hosts had the best chance of the first half, Sam Colechin’s cross met by Jevan Beattie whose shot cannoned into the post. Beattie put the ball in the back of the net seconds later, however he was ruled offside.

Chances were hard to come by across the rest of the first half, as both sides battled hard without being able to trouble either defensive line.

Coming out of the break it was the young Bees who enjoyed a period of momentum as they played with the assistance of a strong breeze.

Adam Poliakov came close to opening the scoring on 55 minutes as he pushed forward down the right side on a Brentford counterattack. He entered the box and fired at goal but it was across the face and out of play.

The visitors continued to attack in a strong period of play, multiple crosses into the box keeping the hosts’ defenders on their toes.

Despite a period of momentum for Brentford, it was the home side who found the opener just after the hour mark through Siem Abraha’s header off Beattie’s cross.

The young Blades added another two goals within the next three minutes, Archie Christie Cranie firing it home for the second and a Brentford own goal resulting in the third.

The hosts made it four on 74 minutes, a corner bouncing around in the box before being headed to Abraha at the back post who headed it home for his second.

Two minutes later Wolfheimer made a strong save off Beattie’s shot, however the rebound fell to the forward’s boot and he fired it home to make it 5-0.

While the result was decided, the young Bees continued to fight and saw some reward for effort on 87 minutes. Great counterattack play saw Trae Payet cross from the right side to Peters at the back post, the winger taking a touch and firing it home.

Jaye Long added a sixth for Sheffield United in added time, the young Blades securing their spot in a PDL Cup semi-final.

Brentford now turn their attention to Millwall in league action on Saturday.

Sheffield United U18s: Hewitson, Colechin, Tawodzera, Tahir, Hough, Okyere, Christie Cranie, Reid, Beattie, Long, Abraha

Subs: Gordon, Grainger, Kiwomya, Dearden, Makhalira

Brentford U18s: Wolfheimer, Taylor (Ivanov, HT), Payet, Golding, Klimas, Honor (Powis, 76), Owusu (Giscombe, 76), Bentt (Bobb-Semple, 70), Poliakov, Halil, Peters

Subs not used: Anderson