Friendly Report: Bray Wanderers 0 - 3 Brentford B
Conor McManus (left) in action for Brentford B against former club Bray Wanderers and Phil Cooney (right) Credit: Al Robinson (ETPhotos)
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Andrew Dempsey reports from the Carlisle Grounds
An experimental Bray Wanderers fell to a 3-0 loss at home to Brentford B at the Carlisle Grounds on Tuesday night in a mid-season friendly.
But it was a polished display from the Seagulls’ English opponents as Iwan Morgan netted a brace and Ethan Laidlaw was also on target for the visitors.
And it was a comfortable return to the seaside for former Bray Wanderers defender Conor McManus who lined out for the Bees.
The defender joined the West London side just over a year ago and has established himself as a regular starter in Brentford’s second-string side.
Although, he is unlikely to enjoy a more stress-free game than against his former side as Brentford showed their class against the Seagulls.
“It was a terrific night,” Brentford B boss Neil McFarlane said. “It was also a great night for Conor who came back to his former club.
“He performed really well and that was good to see. I thought we played some outstanding football and we were clinical.”
The Bees took a deserved lead four minutes before the half-time break when Morgan thumped a header past Bray keeper Ben Clark following a Kyreece Lisbie cross.
They doubled their advantage in the second half just four minutes past the hour mark.
Laidlaw and Max Dickov combined on the left before the latter forced a save from Clark, which was parried into the path of Morgan allowing the forward to tap the ball into an empty net.
The Bees sealed the deal in the 86th minute when Dickov’s shot was parried into the path of Laidlaw to score.
Bray Wanderers:Ben Clark; Leo Ajala, Kilian Cantwell (Paul Murphy, 22 (Evan Osam, 62)), Jamie Duggan, Zach Nolan; Conor Knight (Phil Cooney, 62), Guillermo Almirall (Billy O’Neill, 62), Harry Groome (Darren Craven, 46), Kieran Cruise (Thomas Morgan, 46); Rhys Knight (Luke Smyth, 62); Cristian Magerusan (Peter Grogan, 46).
Brentford B: Angelini (Rose, 45’), Lisbie (Beckham, 60’), McManus (Headman, 82), Oyegoke, Arthur, Hay (Holland 60’), Waruih, Morgan (Booth, 82’), Owen, Urinboev (Laidlaw, 60’), Yogane (Dickov, 60’).
