Trophy joy for Bees (From Your Local Guardian)

Trophy joy for Bees

11:28am Wednesday 1st September 2010 in Sport By Simon Webster

A well worked goal finished by Robbie Simpson, combined with a first clean sheet of the season, gave Brentford a narrow 1-0 win over Stevenage in the first round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy at Lamex Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Bees survived a Boro onslaught during the second half to emerge victorious and take their place in the draw for the second round.

Afterwards Bees’ boss Andy Scott said saw definite signs of improvement in his side’s form: “We haven’t got a fantastic record of winning games away from home, but to come here and get a good result and a clean sheet is a real boost for us.

“They put a lot of balls into the box from set pieces, long throws and corners and we defended very well.”

Scott made five changes to the side which lost to Rochdale on Saturday, with Richard Lee, Michael Spillane, Pim Balkestein, Nicky Adams and Nicky Forster all earning starting berths.

During the opening exchanges Myles Weston created an early chance down the left, from where his cross to the back post was headed clear before Simpson could get his forehead to it.

Stevenage’s first chance saw Lee do well to punch clear Mark Roberts’ header at the back post.

Midway through the half Brentford saw their claims for a penalty following a push on Forster denied, before Adams picked up the ball and his low shot was well saved at the near post by Chris Day.

At the other end Yemi Odubade broke down the right and his cross into the box was met by former Bee John Mousinho, whose header was comfortably saved by Lee.

Stevenage looked to hit Brentford on the break again with Chris Beardsley doing well to hold up the ball and play in Odubade, whose shot was again held by Lee.

After half an hour the Bees took the lead when Karleigh Osborne hit a terrific pass out to Adams wide on the right, who did well to control the ball before cutting inside and playing in a lovely cross that was met by a glancing header past Day by Robbie Simpson.

Brentford wasted a terrific chance to double their lead when Adams’ twinkle toes created space on the right before cutting the ball back to Forster, who blazed over the bar from six yards out.

Early in the second half a patient build up down the right saw Kevin O’Connor pick out Forster wide on the right and his cross flashed across the Stevenage goal.

For a spell during the second half Stevenage were on top, but failed to take any of their chances. Odubade first blasted over from just inside the box, before seeing further efforts well blocked by Osborne and then held by Lee.

The Bees continued to ride their luck at the back when Stevenge carved out a chance for Joel Byrom on the edge of the box and his shot produced an excellent save from Lee.

Lee was once again called into action when he gathered Michael Bostwick’s low shot at the second attempt, as his side eventually saw out time to book their place in the next round.

Brentford: Lee; Spillane, Balkestein, Osborne, Woodman; Adams (sub Cort 87), O’Connor, Diagouraga, Weston; Simpson, Forster (sub Wood 79) Subs: Moore, Legge, Bean Attendance: 1916 (365 Bees) Man of the Match: Richard Lee Goals: Simpson 30